BA (Hons) 3D Animation with Year 0

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Course overview

Starts: Sep 2024
Duration: 1 year (of 4-yr degree)
Mode: Full time
UCAS code: WQ16
Fees: UK: £9,250 / INT: £17,000

Ideal for... aspiring 3D animators and visual creatives who wish to build up foundational knowledge prior to entering an undergraduate degree.

Take your first steps in 3D animation.

The year zero 3D animation course is a preparatory year as part of a four-year BA (Hons) 3D Animation degree and is aimed at students who require more time to develop their portfolio and skillset prior to year one of undergraduate study. This course will ignite your creativity and imagination, so you can discover new ways of making, thinking and documenting.

Student work

Undergraduate work on the animation course

Why study this course?

Excellent location with a host of animation studios on the doorstep
Opportunities for mentorships with top industry players
Collaborate on live briefs within industry
Acquire the technical skills to apply your creative talent to a successful career in character animation
Work collaboratively with other students to tackle creative briefs and bring ideas to life.

The UK’s animation industry is a global success story. Visual communication has augmented in recent decades, with animators in high demand in sectors such as: TV, film, gaming, corporate films, advertising and the media.

BA (Hons) 3D Animation Year 0 is not a standalone course; it is the first stage of a full four-year undergraduate degree. When you successfully complete your prep year, you will be able to progress smoothly into the first year of our BA (Hons) 3D Animation degree in London.

Your tutors will nurture your creative potential and support you while you learn the essential practical, intellectual and transferable skills needed to confidently enter undergraduate study.

As well as developing fundamental skills, you will also be given a broad grounding in your chosen specialist area, an understanding of the cultural contexts of the creative industries, and the ability to develop hardware and software suitable for animation practice.

This is your entry point into a thrilling academic journey and career in animation and related creative disciplines.

Why study a four-year degree with year zero?

If you’re not quite ready to apply for one of our undergraduate degrees, then our year zero route into higher education can provide you with a basic grounding in your subject and a smooth transition into your chosen degree.

These are not standalone courses; they are the first stage of a full bachelor’s degree, designed to encourage creativity, stimulate imagination and develop skills.

It’s the ideal option if you:

Don’t have the necessary grades for direct entry to an undergraduate course
Have a non-standard qualification or experience of the subject
Have changed your mind about the direction of your career
Want to recommence your educational career after time away
Require support during the transition into university study.

During the additional year of study, you’ll gain the fundamental knowledge, critical awareness and practical skills which are essential when embarking on degree-level studies. Our friendly and dedicated tutors will nurture your creative potential and support you while you learn the essential practical, intellectual and transferable skillset needed to confidently enter into Year 1.

You’ll be supported by a dedicated team of professional staff who will place emphasis on building your confidence and fostering your creative potential. In a stimulating studio environment, you’ll explore and experiment with processes and ideas.

You will be taught within an open and inclusive design and media environment that supports the development of the creative individual. You’re encouraged to collaborate whilst developing your specialist portfolio and honing professional skills, ethics and industry knowledge.

Alongside your portfolio, you will have had the opportunity to cultivate your creative voice and to think broadly and adaptively, improving your ability to take initiative, communicate effectively and develop a strong global perspective.

Key study topics

You'll explore animation fundamentals, body mechanics, acting performance, visual narrative and rigging.

You’ll engage with the animation industry and collaborate with different disciplines to explore a range of observational and contextual subject-related areas.

The specifics

Downloadable Year 0 course specification

Downloadable BA (Hons) 3D Animation course specification

Year 0 is a preparatory year as part of the four-year BA (Hons) 3D Animation course. It is an ideal opportunity for you to further develop your portfolio skills ahead of degree study.

Crafting Your Practice 1
Crafting Your Practice 2
Development of Creative Skills
Integrating Creative Skills
Exploring Culture and Context
Influencing Culture and Context.

BA (Hons) Animation with Year 0 Welcome Slide — In this video, you will meet Year 0 course leader, Oliver O'Keeffe, who will give you an in depth overview of the Year 0 course.

You will build fundamental skills in contemporary animation software and equipment and begin to learn the art of storytelling, combining creative thinking and applied techniques.

We will encourage you to start thinking about your own reflective practice and contextual studies research.

Modules:

Animation Fundamentals
Animation Character Mechanics
Animation Narrative 1
Animation Narrative 2
Professional Life Practice.

You will specialise within animation production, in areas such as visual effects and character performance. This will allow you to enhance your practice and develop an approach to your personal creative output.

We aim to set a variety of live project briefs, giving students the opportunity to work with industry and find mentors in order to develop and hone their professional skills.

Students are further supported in securing a work-based learning opportunity at the end of their second year.

Animation Character Performance
Animation Rigging
Animation Industry Exercises
Professional Life Practice
Work-Based Learning.

You will bring your learnings together in a final major animation project, with the aim of pitching your skills to other students on the course and eventually to industry.

We will also ask you to show your contextual studies research and thinking through a long-form dissertation.

Finally, you will complete a personal portfolio of your skills, so you are ready for entry into your industry of choice.

Animation Production
Animation Portfolio
Professional Life Practice
Animation Industry Prep.

Animation is an increasingly widespread form of media and good animators are becoming more sought after in film, television, visual effects (VFX), gaming and the web.

Animation graduates often go on to secure work as 3D/2D generalists or specialists in areas such as: concept, modelling, animation and VFX production.

Past Ravensbourne University London animation graduates have been employed in roles within film and television, VFX, advertising, post-production, apps and games.

Students should ideally have a background in art, creative media, or design.

We welcome applicants who are able to demonstrate their abilities through the submission of a relevant portfolio showing their skills, abilities and suitability to the course.

When assessing if an applicant meets our entry requirements we may also consider the combination of a portfolio and academic qualifications, progress made during studies and/or relevant work experience.

For entry to Year 0 applicants are selected on the basis of:

An applicant’s prior academic achievement/qualifications and/or previous employment/life experience;
Assessment of the applicant’s ability and aptitude to succeed on the course for which s/he has applied.

At Ravensbourne we accept a wide range of qualifications for entry onto our courses, whilst also considering the context in which they were achieved. For this course, we would usually require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English in addition to any of the below;

Two A Levels at grade CC or above
BTEC Extended Diploma at grade MPP
UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma
T Level (pass or above)
Access to Higher Education Diploma
International Baccalaureate at grade 24 or above
Other/mixed qualifications equivalent to 64 UCAS Tariff points

At Ravensbourne we take a flexible approach to admissions, as we want you to know exactly what you need to achieve in your exams to guarantee a place on the course. We still think exams are important and look forward to hearing about your successes, but we place just as much importance on the work you will share with us as part of our interview and/or portfolio process.

Admission onto this course is also subject to successful completion of an interview and portfolio (or showreel).

If you wish to study our BA (Hons) 3D Animation with Year 0 degree course, we will need to see examples of previous art, new media and/or design work that showcases your suitability for the course.

Drawing: Although you might go on and specialise in a discipline that is not drawing heavy, drawing is the DNA of what we do in year 0. Your portfolio should include evidence of drawing. This could include; life drawing, character design, landscape drawing, experimental drawing or even technical drawing.

Animation: Animators could have storyboards, animatics, rudimentary animations, some narrative development like a comic or an illustrated children’s book or even a working knowledge of some of the basic principles of animation.

Sketchbooks: It’s really important that we see evidence of how you work things out in your head. A sketchbook is a perfect place to do that. If it’s a digital portfolio submission then scan a couple of strong pages in your sketchbook, if it’s physical then bring two or three.

This page offers great tips for completing your portfolio/showreel and preparing for your interview. It also details our specific requirements.

UK students

Simply select your chosen start date using the 'Apply now' dropdown at the top of this page, and you will be directed to the appropriate course page on the UCAS website. The UCAS code for this course is located in the course overview bar at the top of this page.

The UCAS website will guide you through the simple application process. You can also apply through your school or college using the UCAS system.

Learn more: how to apply for an undergraduate degree course

The entry requirements for this course can be found in the relevant section above.

International students

International students can apply directly via our Online Applicant Portal. Please see bespoke advice for international students in the dedicated section below.

For information on study routes, visa requirements, studying in England, language and entry requirements, application requirements and access to international agents, please visit our international section.

Quick links:

At Ravensbourne University London, industry connection is ingrained into everything we do. We will equip you for success in the creative and digital industries, ensuring you are truly industry ready upon graduation. Our tutors are respected academics and practitioners with substantial experience and industry links.

You will be part of a diverse community of creatives, working collaboratively to explore new professional practices. Ravensbourne have strong industry links with a range of high-profile companies, including: Apple, Barclays, the BBC, European Space Agency, Marks & Spencer, Museum of London, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Samsung and many more.

Learn about the full degree