Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £14,415 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
Course summary
- Work across a variety of forms including 2D drawn and digital-based animation, stop motion and 3D CGI animation.
- Specialise in your preferred animation discipline for your major project film.
- Produce a portfolio of project work to showcase your skills to potential employers.
Learn a broad range of techniques and theoretical knowledge underpinning the form, including storyboarding, life drawing and concept art with this practical animation course. You graduate with the experience necessary to work in the animation industry, or in a wide range of other sectors that require creative professionals with animation skills.
View our students' work
Find out more about the Media Arts and Communications department and view the work of some of our students.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
Throughout the course you will experience a range of teaching methods, from specialist workshops and media labs to lectures and seminars, individual tutorials and group work. You will be able to develop your own area of interest and specialise in your preferred discipline for your major project film (including 2D drawn, stop motion or 3D CGI animation).
You learn through
- coursework
- portfolios
- projects
- written reports
- peer critique groups
There are opportunities to study abroad at one of our partner universities with the possibility of funding through the Erasmus+ programme (until 2023) or the Turing Scheme.
Course leaders and tutors
Marta Madrid Manrique
Senior Lecturer in AnimationStaff profile for Marta Madrid-Manrique Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University
Applied learning
Work placements
You will have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your second and third years. This gives you a real-world experience to prepare you for your future career.
Field trips
To help create a stimulating environment and to ensure that you gain the latest industry knowledge, you attend animation festival trips, film seminars and guest lectures by industry experts. Our industry links include Aardman, Double Negative, Frame Store, MacKinnon and Saunders, Cartoon Saloon, Finger Industries and Mew Lab.
Competitions
In your third year you have the opportunity to submit your work for the Nick Park Award, an annual competition exclusive to Sheffield Hallam students which is judged by the team at Aardman. You may also have the chance to enter other prestigious competitions, such as the annual Royal Television Society Yorkshire Student Television awards, where our students have won multiple prizes.
Student work
A collection of work from our animation students covering 2D, Stop Motion and 3D animation work.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career as a
- stop motion animator
- 3D CGI animator
- set designer
- puppet builder
- lighting technician
- texture artist
- modeller
- rigger
- compositor
- producer
- editor
- storyboard artist
- character designer
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for
- Industrial Light and Magic
- BBC (CBeebies)
- Double Negative
- Warner Brothers studios
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course you work with
- industry-standard stop motion studio
- multi-disciplinary 2D animation project room
- Adobe CC suite
- ToonBoom Harmony
- Dragon Frame
- Autodesk Maya
- 3D Studio Max
- VRay Render engine
Learn more about your department
Media, Arts and Communications Facilities Tour
Take a look around the media, arts and communication facilities at Sheffield Hallam University with lecturer Saskia Wilson.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 112
This must include at least 64 points from two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:
- BBC at A Level.
- DMM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language at grade C or 4
- Maths at grade C or 4
• Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, in a media-related programme from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate
If English is not your first language you, will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
If your application is successful, you will be invited to submit a portfolio of work to demonstrate your ability. Find out about the selection process and how to produce a strong portfolio.
We welcome applications from people of any age. We may be flexible in our normal offer if you can show a commitment to succeed and have the relevant skills and experience. This must show that you will benefit from and finish the course successfully.
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page. You can also watch a video guide on how to apply.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: 2D Animation Foundation | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Animation Analysis | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Cgi Animation Foundation | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Creative Challenges | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Drawing For Animation | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Stop Motion Animation Foundation | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 2
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Level 5 Live Industry Project | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Practical |
| Module: Showreel Project | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Visual Storytelling | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 3
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Module: Placement Year | Credits: - |
Final year
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Dissertation | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Major Animation Project | Credits: 80 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Life Drawing | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Professional Design Project | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Sound Design And Sonic Arts Practice | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Visual Effects Project | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2022/23 is £9,250 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
† If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2022/23 is £14,415 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Digital media courses (PDF, 227.4KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
