Futureworks has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
Our Animation with Illustration degree is a practical skills-based course tailored directly to the needs of the animation and illustration industries. All our staff are active within the industry and teach you the skills that you’ll need to gain employment after graduating. The course utilises a mix of lectures, hands-on workshops, tutorial classes, and practical exercises such as life drawing, to give you a rounded education in the animated and illustrative arts. We fuse cutting-edge industry-standard software skills with lessons learned from over a hundred years of animated tradition: lessons summed up in the core 12 principles. The course is designed to take you from a solid grounding in fundamentals through to developing your own personal specialism and getting you ready for the industry.
Modules
YEAR 1 Fundamentals of 2D Animation (20 credits) Year 1 Animation Project (20 credits) Pre-Production (20 credits) History of Animation and Illustration (20 credits) Fundamentals of Illustration (40 credits) YEAR 2 Fundamentals of 3D Animation (20 credits) Year 2 Animation Project (20 credits) 3D Modelling (20 credits) Motion Graphics (20 credits) Rigging Fundamentals (20 credits) Applied Illustration (20 credits) YEAR 3 Final Year Project (40 credits) Year 3 Animation Project (40 credits) Research Project (20 credits) Professional Development (20 credits)
Assessment method
We don’t believe in exams. All assessment takes the form of coursework, portfolios, presentations, and essays. If you are being taught animation, you will submit a portfolio of completed animations. If you are being taught how to pitch a show, you will do a presentation pitching a show. If you are studying the history of animation, you will synthesise that research into an essay on the history of animation. In other words, all assessment is directly related to the skills being taught. You will often have the opportunity to receive feedback along the way, via formative submission points, with official summative submissions falling at the ends of first and second semesters.
How to apply
29Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- W216
- Institution code:
- F98
- Campus name:
- Futureworks (Manchester)
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
International applicants
We are able to accept applications from students requiring a Student visa.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 104 - 120 points
A level - BCC
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM
Remember that qualifications such as Graded Examinations in Music Performance and Arts Award (Gold) can also count towards your UCAS points – check the tariff calculator. Applicants who do not have the required qualifications, but do have the industry experience and/or proven interest in the subject will also be considered All applicants are expected to have at least a grade 4 in GCSEs Maths and English Language. Non-UK applicants will need to have an English Language qualification at International Level B2 or higher, such as an IELTS of 6.0 or better (with no component below 5.5). Students with equivalent qualifications will also be accepted. Applications from individuals with non-standard qualifications, relevant work or life experience will be equally considered. If your application is successful, you will be invited to an interview where you will have the opportunity to talk about your work, influences and interests. Ideal applicants will have a keen interest in animation, illustration, and production. You will be asked to provide a portfolio of your work. The portfolio should consist of 8-10 pieces of work, and must include some observational drawing, ideally life drawings.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Additional entry requirements
Interview
Interviewer: Joe Darlington (Programme Leader) If your application is successful, you will be invited to an interview where you will have the opportunity to talk about your work, influences and interests. Ideal applicants will have a keen interest in animation, illustration, and production. You will be asked to bring any relevant examples of work with you, in the form of a portfolio.
Portfolio
For your portfolio we recommend including some observational drawing, ideally life drawings. Experience in digital working and animation is not necessary prior to starting the degree, but if you have explored any of these avenues already then we'd love to see them. Other than that, bring in any work you are particularly proud of, between 8 and 10 pieces in total, and be prepared to talk through your working process in the interview.
English language requirements
GCSE level 4 & above or equivalent
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Republic of Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| England | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9535 | Year 1 |
| EU | £17000 | Year 1 |
| International | £17000 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
Futureworks
Riverside
New Bailey Street
Manchester
M3 5FS