Must be at least 18 years old. International students who speak English as a second language must have, within the preceding two years
IELTS Test: Score of 6, with no band score lower than 5.5
TOEFL Paper-based test (pBT): Score of 550 (with an essay score of 5 TWE)
TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT): Score of 79, or higher (with a writing score of 18)
University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations: FCE or CAE with a score of 52, or higher
NZCEL: Level 4, with the Academic endorsement
Ready to start your career in Animation?
Our Bachelor of Animation is New Zealand’s only degree-level course specialising in 2D and 3D character animation, producing world-class animators who are at the very top of their field.
This unique and diverse degree will equip you with everything you need to launch your career as a specialist in story and character, world-building and visual effects, or interactive media and games.
The programme kicks off with a thorough grounding in all disciplines, giving you the animation chops to work as a generalist or as part of a studio team. From there you’ll delve deeper into your own chosen field, developing the academic, creative and technical expertise to really set you apart.
Constantly evolving to stay abreast of industry needs, this vocational degree programme will equip you with technical aptitude, expertise and the creative smarts you need to produce work that is engaging, captivating and inspiring.
Level up your Degree, with Honours
Take your degree to the next level by developing your passion project concepts during this self-directed Honours year.
An Honours year gives you opportunity to develop a unique industry-ready project, backed by your own research and development, that will help you position yourself for future industry development and delivery opportunities. Or, to produce a substantial piece of research at a high academic standard, to help lead you on to a Masters, or PHD study in the future.
You will be supported by a dedicated supervisor, peer support, optional mentors, and access to our industry-standard resources. Expert Yoobee tutor knowledge and skills will be on-hand to help you while you flesh out and develop your practice-based project, or written thesis. Talk to our team about our Honours option during your third year of the Degree.
More info: Click here
Year One
Principles of storytelling for film and animation
We’ll introduce you to principles of storytelling for film and animation, and we’ll peek into the minds of scriptwriters and designers — after all, they’re the guys you’ll be collaborating with further down the track.
Studio-based life drawing classes
Sharpen your pencil for our studio-based life drawing classes and discover how critique and reflection can really enhance your work.
Visual communication design
You’ll gain a grounding in the principles of visual communication design and we’ll step back in time to see the impact that cultural, historical and social influences, not to mention technology, have had on the animation industry.
2D and 3D animation and modelling
You’ll also start developing your 2D and 3D skills. Learn how to convey your ideas with moving image, and produce your own short 2D animations. Then you’ll turn your 2D images into 3D models and start to develop your own 3D art assets and animations.
Year Two
Interactive narrative
Studies on interactive narrative will help you develop stories, worlds and characters for a variety of different genres and media types, and you’ll explore game creation software, zooming in on storytelling rather than coding.
Advanced drawing
Hone your advanced drawing skills in our life drawing studio sessions, and learn how to merge your artistic and animation skills with your creativity, ideation and transdisciplinary thinking.
3D graphics and visual effects
Dip your toes into advanced 3D graphics practices and visual effects techniques, and learn about compositing digital imagery with live-action footage.
Professional practices
Build up your academic, investigative and analytic skills, and boost your understanding of important stuff like professional practice, ethics and project management. Plus study interactive production, nailing all touchpoints of the pipeline from pre-production to production and post-production.
Year Three
Interactive narrative
Studies on interactive narrative will help you develop stories, worlds and characters for a variety of different genres and media types, and you’ll explore game creation software, zooming in on storytelling rather than coding.
Advanced drawing
Hone your advanced drawing skills in our life drawing studio sessions, and learn how to merge your artistic and animation skills with your creativity, ideation and transdisciplinary thinking.
3D graphics and visual effects
Dip your toes into advanced 3D graphics practices and visual effects techniques, and learn about compositing digital imagery with live-action footage.
Professional practices
Build up your academic, investigative and analytic skills, and boost your understanding of important stuff like professional practice, ethics and project management. Plus study interactive production, nailing all touchpoints of the pipeline from pre-production to production and post-production.
Optional Honours
You may choose to continue studying by opting for an Honours year.
Pre-requisites into our optional Honours year, requires a successful pass of Years One, Two and Three of your Degree; an achievement of 360 credits, and your proposal to undertake the Honours programme.
Health Insurance: 600 per year
