Become a skilled and versatile animator, illustrator or interactive comic artist at Cambridge School of Art, and turn your creative ideas into a rewarding career as visual storyteller.
Develop your distinctive visual language in our supportive and vibrant studio culture.
Our BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation course explores the connections between illustration and animation, helping you to create sequential narratives using a variety of methods – from observational drawing and traditional handmade image-making, to the latest specialist digital animation software and cutting-edge interactive techniques.
You’ll become an experienced creator of innovative, engaging visual content with training in both traditional processes and the latest digital technologies. Perhaps most importantly, you’ll get time, guidance and support from a team of illustrators, animators and visiting professionals who are dedicated to your creative development.
At Cambridge School of Art, you’ll experiment and discover, make mistakes and find solutions, develop and create. Our Design & Crafts courses ranked 8th in the UK for 'Satisfied with Course' and 3rd for 'Satisfied with Teaching' in The Guardian University Guide 2020, reflecting how our students’ value their experience with us.
While developing a unique visual style, you’ll also focus on the core foundations: studying the world around you, refining your drawing skills and learning to tell stories through moving images.
You’ll go on group reportage drawing trips, with opportunities to visit museums, galleries and animation festivals in the UK and overseas. You’ll find lots of visual inspiration in Cambridge – from the Botanic Gardens to the art collection in the Fitzwilliam Museum, to the city’s architectural beauty and vibrant cultural and student life.
On campus, you’ll have access to our dedicated animation production suites, which feature high-end 3D CGI and camera, lighting and sound recording equipment. They're full of the tools you need for traditional hand-drawn and stop-motion animation, experimental and industry-focused digital animation. As well as this, all our Illustration and Animation students have access to printmaking facilities and life drawing studios.
As a student at ARU you’ll receive ongoing support to find placements and work experience and you can also take an optional placement year. You'll develop a professional showreel, and present your work at festivals and fairs, as well as on our Instagram page. You can also take advantage of our relationships with animators, illustrators and production studios such as Curveball Media and Allia Future Business Centre, to build a strong body of work ready for a professional career in the creative industry.
Course Details - Modules
Year 1 Core modules
Animation Skills
Illustration and Animation Practice
Sequential Practice
Sequential Structures and Contexts
Year 2 Core modules
Animation Practice
Computer Generated Imagery
Perspectives on Practice
Year 3
Work placement
Year 4 Core modules
Professional Sequential Practice
Course Details – Assessment Method
Assessment Methods are not listed for this Course.
Course Details – Professional Bodies
Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.
How to Apply
26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application Codes
Course code:
WW28
Institution code:
A60
Campus Name:
Cambridge Campus
Campus code:
Points of Entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Year 1
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.
International applicants
Standard Qualification Requirements
from a minimum of 2 A Levels (or equivalent level 3 qualifications), including Art, Design or Media subjects.
You will be asked to provide a digital portfolio for review and will be given the option to book a meeting to discuss this with us.
If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.0 (Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.
You may also be accepted to this course with an IELTS 5.5 (Academic level- with no individual score being lower than 5.5) or equivalent English Language qualification as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University, but will then be required to undertake additional compulsory free English language modules in your first year.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Minimum Further Information are not listed for this Course.
English language requirements
Test
Grade
AdditionalDetails
English Language Entry Requirement Information are not listed for this Course.
Unistats information
Student satisfaction :
68%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs):
50%
Go onto work and study:
65%
Fees and funding
England
9250.0
Year 1
Northern Ireland
9250.0
Year 1
Scotland
9250.0
Year 1
Wales
9250.0
Year 1
Channel Islands
9250.0
Year 1
Republic of Ireland
9250.0
Year 1
Additional Fee Information
Please note the fee for the placement year is £1250 (This is a provisional fee and subject to change)
https://aru.ac.uk/student-life/preparing-for-university/help-with-finances/undergraduate
2022 international fees are to be confirmed
Provider information
East Road
Address2 are not listed for this Course.
Address3 are not listed for this Course.
Cambridge
CB1 1PT
Career tips, advice and guides straight to your inbox.