London College of Communication

• Industry links: Lectures, workshops and visiting practitioner sessions will inspire and immerse you within an evolving field. Learning from industry guests including animators, directors and producers, you’ll connect with organisations such as Union VFX, Supermassive Games and The Third Floor.
• Flexibility and personalisation: You’ll position yourself as a specialist who can push the boundaries of what’s possible in 3D computer animation.
• Creative and critical skills: You’ll have the freedom and encouragement to nurture ideas and forms of play through projects and workshops in experimental image-making, filmmaking and research. You’ll also develop a critical understanding of film language, animation, games and immersive experiences, and apply these approaches to your practice.
• Collaborative community: Opportunities to collaborate with other Screen School courses such as MA Games Design, MA Visual Effects, MA Animation and MA Virtual Reality will enable you to consider different perspectives while producing exciting work.
• Outstanding facilities: You’ll have access to workshops and studios where you’ll be supported to develop intermediate and advanced 3D computer animation skills.

In an era of unparalleled opportunities for skilled visual players and sequential image-makers, you will create, explore and play with 3D digital technologies and develop a specialist personal practice.
The animation industry is rapidly evolving, with new developments in real-time animation and immersive digital world-building.
Through experimentation and learning of advanced technical skills, you’ll instigate innovative approaches driven by critical understanding and self-reflection.
During the course, you’ll create 3D computer animation sequences and assets, both individually and as part of creative teams comprising students from different media disciplines.
Collaborative work forms an important part of the course philosophy and you'll work with external industry partners as well as other courses within LCC such as MA Games Design , MA Illustration and Visual Media , MA Visual Effects and MA Animation .
The course curriculum covers to two main areas:

​Animation for Film and Motion Graphics

In this area, you'll learn the skills to be a specialist in the latest technologies within animation, lighting and compositing.
Building on the principles of animation, cinematography and film language, you’ll explore filmic storytelling and characterisation within short animated sequences, motion graphics and/or short films.

Animation for Games and Immersive Storytelling

You’ll learn specialist 3D animation techniques such as real-time animation, environment design, interactive design and 360° storytelling.

What can you expect?

As well as developing skills in 3D space narrative and interpreting ideas for the flat screen, you’ll also explore the differences between producing linear storytelling and viewer-led interactive experiences.
You’ll be encouraged to work across multiple formats, exploring how animation can be used in different contexts such as in the digital media, online, mobile and interactive games and installations, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).

Work experience and opportunities

Live industry projects, workshops and professionals masterclasses, will introduce you to a field that’s constantly growing and developing, giving you skills for work in a collaborative and/or independent practice.
Through engagement with a range of industry professionals and permanent teaching staff, you’ll have access to workshops that build in complexity from intermediate to advanced levels across 3D computer animation skills.
Academic contextualisation, criticality and curiosity underpin studio practice, while collaboration across courses and programmes within the Screen School are encouraged.
The course supports progression to research at MPhil/PhD level as well as to advanced self-directed practice.

Mode of Study

MA 3D Computer Animation is in Full Time mode which runs for 45 weeks over 15 months. You will be expected to commit 40 hours per week to study.

Contact us

Register your interest to receive information and updates about studying at UAL.

Contact us to make an enquiry.

Course units

In response to the Climate Emergency, UAL has embedded responsible practices within the curriculum. We shaped our courses around principles of social and racial justice, and environmental sustainability that ensure learning outcomes reflect the urgent need to equip you with the understanding, skills, and values for ethical practice and empower you to work towards an equitable future.

MA 3D Computer Animation is delivered across four terms, starting in September and finishing in December the year after. Incorporating a summer break, this is a one-year full-time course (45 taught weeks), delivered over 15 months.

You will respond to briefs that are set to test the learning in the units described below. Each course is divided into units, which are credit-rated. The minimum unit size is 20 credits. The MA course structure involves five units, totalling 180 credits.

Autumn, Term 1

3D Computer Animation Fundamentals (40 credits)
Design for Animation, Narrative Structures and Film Language (20 Credits)

In Term 1, you will explore a range of both technical and conceptual approaches to 3D computer animation and real-time motion graphics.

Work will explore technologies and processes by producing short-form animation across the 3D computer animation spectrum to set briefs.

You'll also engage in a programme of theoretical seminars that explore the cinematic and interactive underpinning of this practice.

This phase is the technical and conceptual basis for the subsequent phases of the course.

Spring and Summer, Terms 2 and 3

Advanced and Experimental 3D Computer Animation Techniques (40 credits)
Collaborative Unit (20 Credits)

In Terms 2 and 3, you will engage in experimental 3D computer animation processes and practice, developing your distinct visual voice.

This is underpinned by a critical study that will significantly expand your understanding of what themes animation can address in a critical context and across interdisciplinary fields.

You will experiment widely across a technical programme introducing you to various 3D computer animation techniques.

These techniques focus on pushing the boundary of what 3D computer animation can deliver, exploring formats from flat screen to AR and VR, and potential interactive approaches and games.

Autumn, Term 4

Final Major Project and Thesis (60 Credits)

In Term 4, you will use the knowledge, skills and experience gained on the course so far, and synthesise these through the production of a collaborative interdisciplinary or self-directed longer final major project and associated thesis.

The thesis is a 5000-word reflective report should show that the design and production processes carried out in your final major project exhibit the required characteristics for a Masters degree.

It should discuss the decisions that have been made and placed in the context of current industry practice and research in the area and reflect on the process and the final multimedia content to identify its strengths and weaknesses.

It is an opportunity for you to demonstrate the depth of critical understanding of your field and to show that you can objectively analyse your own work.

Programme specification

Download course specification (PDF File 287.9 KB)

This fee is correct for 2025/26 entry and is subject to change for 2026/27 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£29,990

This fee is correct for 2025/26 entry and is subject to change for 2026/27 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Additional costs

Accommodation

Find out about accommodation options and how much they will cost, and other living expenses you’ll need to consider.

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

If you’ve completed a qualifying course at UAL, you may be eligible for a tuition fee discount on this course. Find out more about our Progression discount .

You can also find out more about the Postgraduate Masters Loan (Home students only) and scholarships , including £7,000 scholarships for Home and International students. Discover more about student funding .

If you’re based in the UK and plan to visit UAL for an Open Event , check if you’re eligible for our UAL Travel Bursary . This covers the costs of mainland train or airline travel to visit UAL.

How to pay

Find out how you can pay your tuition fees .

3D design and product design Accessories, footwear and jewellery Animation, interactive, film and sound Architecture and spatial design Business & management, and science Communication and graphic design Curation and culture Fashion design Fine art Illustration Journalism, PR, media and publishing Photography Textiles and materials Theatre, screen and performance design

An applicant will normally be considered for admission if they have achieved an educational level equivalent to an honours degree in either animation, illustration, visual communication, graphic design or closely related subject, and present a portfolio of moving-image work. However, we do not exclude candidates who have graduated from other less strongly aligned disciplines.

This educational level may be demonstrated by:

Honours degree (named above);

Possession of equivalent qualifications;

Prior experiential learning, the outcome of which can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required;

Or a combination of formal qualifications and experiential learning which, taken together, can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

Related academic or work experience

The quality of the personal statement

A strong academic or other professional reference

OR a combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

Language requirements

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend you let us know your English language test score in your application. If you have booked a test or are awaiting your results, please indicate this in your application. When asked to upload a CV as part of your application, please include any information about your English test score.

IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required, with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four skills.

If your first language is not English, you can check you have achieved the correct IELTS level in English on the Language Requirements page.

For further details regarding international admissions and advice please visit the International Applications page .

Selection criteria

Offers will be made based on the following selection criteria, which applicants are expected to demonstrate:

Sufficient prior knowledge and experience of and/or potential in animation practice to be able to successfully complete the programme of study, and have an academic or professional background in a relevant subject

Knowledge of visual culture and an ability to engage in critical discussion

Information for disabled applicants

UAL is committed to achieving inclusion and equality for disabled students. This includes students who have:

Dyslexia or another Specific Learning Difference

A sensory impairment

A physical impairment

A long-term health or mental health condition

Autism

Another long-term condition which has an impact on your day-to-day life

Our Disability Service arranges adjustments and support for disabled applicants and students.

Read our Disability and dyslexia: applying for a course and joining UAL information.

Based across the world, our local UAL representatives can support you with your application from your home country. Check to see if there is a representative available in your country currently.

Find your representative

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal .

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Applying to more than 1 course

From October 2024, you can only apply for a maximum of 3 postgraduate courses each year at UAL. This excludes online or low-residency courses and Graduate Diplomas, which you can apply to in addition to 3 other postgraduate courses. If you apply for more than 3 postgraduate courses between October 2024 and August 2025, we won’t accept the 4th application. It’s not possible to withdraw an application to replace it with another. You need to tailor your application, supporting documents and portfolio to each course, so applying for many different courses could risk the overall quality of your application. If you receive offers for multiple courses, you'll only be able to accept 1 offer.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. If your course requires a portfolio and/or video task, we may request these before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer . This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

We do not accept any deferral requests for our postgraduate courses. This means that you must apply in the year that you plan to start your course and you will not be able to defer your place to start at a later date.

Application deadlines

Most of our postgraduate courses have 2 rounds of deadlines: one in December and one in March. As long as you apply ahead of each deadline we will consider your application alongside all the other applications in that round. We always make sure to hold enough places back for round 2 to make sure we can consider your application fairly, no matter which round you apply in. If there are still places available after the second deadline, the course will remain open to applications until all places have been filled.