Animation Production MA
Start Dates
21 September 2026
Duration
1 year full-time
Overview
Why choose Huddersfield for this course?
- Tell stories that move - work across 2D, 3D and motion graphics, perusing your own specialism.
- Collaborate across disciplines - combine sound, design and performance to produce animation that feels alive and relevant.
- Use professional facilities with creative freedom - access industry-standard software and studios while developing your own style and workflow.
The Animation Design MA is part of the School of Art and Humanities MA Art & Design Suite, an innovative approach to postgraduate taught education that brings together disciplines from across art and design to produce a collaborative programme of courses that foreground the shared practices, processes and values of art and design in the 21st century.
Animation Production is at the forefront of storytelling, creating a deep emotional connection to a global audience.
Animation is made up of many different creative processes and inhabits a multitude of contexts. The Masters course allows you to hone your professional approaches to the discipline. In creating animation for different commercial and artistic platforms, the world of the animator occupies both physical and digital arenas and is increasingly seen as an innovative and dynamic communication tool of the future. Our course offers continuing students or graduates from creative art and design subjects an opportunity to enhance their knowledge, creative skills and employment prospects.
Our course aims to enable you to:
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Critically appraise the importance of social, ethical, technological and cultural dimensions of animation production as applied to your personal practice and that of others.
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Evidence advanced knowledge and understanding of animation production and its current and emerging global applications such as, but not limited to, 2D and 3D analogue, digital and computer animation, motion graphics, game art and design.
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Systematically plan, negotiate and implement topical research to substantiate a coherent body of practice in advanced animation production.
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Contribute to the principles and processes of animation production in supporting innovation within commercial or creative industries.
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Evidence awareness and relevance of your practice and skills in relation to professional standards in animation production, such as through appropriately developed animation pipeline processes
Our course aims to encourage you to push the boundaries of animation practice with the development of innovative and imaginative concepts and ideas relevant to the design of animated products and artefacts. We will introduce you to a variety of platforms and a range of situations and contexts within which animation sits, enabling you to experiment, expand, progress and communicate your ideas through different forms and processes, both digital and analogue.
Career opportunities after the course *
Graphic Designer
Motion Graphics Design
Motion Designer
Technical Artist
Animator
*Lightcast
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements for this course are normally:
- An Honours degree (2:2 or above) in a relevant subject or an equivalent professional qualification.
- Alternative qualifications and/or significant experience may be accepted, subject to approval.
- International students with qualifications in 'creative' or 'practice' subjects should submit a digital portfolio (pdf) of work with their application.
- All suitably qualified applicants are normally invited in for an informal chat with a portfolio or considered for admittance under alternative arrangements, such as a skype chat.
If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.
Course Details
Teaching and Assessment
Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.
Your Career
Graduates from the Animation Production MA can progress into a diverse range of creative and technical careers across film, TV, games, advertising and digital media. Many go on to work as Animators, CGI or VFX Artists, Character Artists and Technical Artists, developing assets and sequences for screens big and small. Careers also include roles such as Graphic Designer, Motion Designer, Video Editor, Compositor and 3D Visualiser, where you’ll bring stories and concepts to life through engaging visual content. These skills are valued by animation and post-production studios, game developers, creative agencies and in-house design teams.
Source: Lightcast data extracted from the Graduate Career Explorer
98%
Percentage of the University's postgraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating.
* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022/23, UK domiciled.
£38.5k
The average salary of our postgraduates fifteen months after graduating.
* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022/23, mean salary, UK domiciled, full-time UK employment as main activity.
Fees and Finance
This information is for Home students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.
Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy.
From January 2027 the UK government is launching a new student funding system for people starting university education. Read more about the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).
For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/study/fees/
This information is for international students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.
Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy.
For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/
Field Trips:
Field trips are usually organised and executed in conjunction with specific modules to experience relevant cultural events and/or exhibitions. Tutors will explain the designated destinations and the procedure for travel. Students are also encouraged to visit museums, galleries, exhibitions, animation practices and studios. The estimated cost of this is £100 depending on the exhibition/studio you chose to visit.
Materials:
You will need to cover the cost of manufacturing and printing your work during the course. You will need to consider how you document and back up your work. You will also need to supply your own materials for some aspects of your studies, which may include sketchbooks, general art materials, and some specialist materials and tools for the Major Project. The approximate cost of material items is estimated at around £500. Costs may vary based on the materials you choose and the approximate costs are given as a guide only.
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When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.
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Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.
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