Animation
Entry requirements
A minimum of 2:2 Honours undergraduate degree is required, in one of the following subjects: Animation, 3D Animation/Character Animation, Motion Graphics, Illustration, Games Art, Concept Art, Visual Effects, Filmmaking, Post-production, Moving Image and Computer Graphics.
Equivalent EU/international qualifications are also accepted.
Applicants who do not meet these criteria will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be required to submit a portfolio of work to provide the academic team with evidence that they possess the appropriate skills. Other professional qualifications will be considered on merit and/or with relevant professional experience.
Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English language qualification.
Find out about English language requirements.
If you are an international student, you will usually need to get a student visa before you can study in the UK.
Months of entry
September
Course content
If you have a passion for visual storytelling and a desire to build a competitive industry portfolio, the MA Animation programme offers the space and support to innovate your practice, refine your artistic perspective, and develop your professional and academic skills.
MA Animation focuses on storytelling through a wide range of mediums, including 2D hand-drawn and cut-out animation, 3D, stop motion, and mixed media. As a student at the School of Digital Arts (SODA), you’ll have access to state-of-the-art facilities and a team of academic and technical staff who are active practitioners and researchers.
Throughout the course, you’ll explore diverse animation methods, approaches, and styles through practical projects tailored to your artistic voice, narrative goals, and career aspirations. The programme is practice-focused, encouraging both creative exploration and professional development. It also embraces critical discussion, challenging you to consider how animation can engage with contemporary debates, emerging technologies, and pressing global issues.
Features and benefits:
- Industry links - You will join a course that fosters engagement with industry connections within Manchester, the region, nationally and internationally. This could include the opportunity to work on live briefs with external partners and communities.
- Creative community - You will become an integral part of SODA - home to a creative community of research active staff with expertise in diverse fields of practice such as animation, filmmaking, photography, games art and sound design.
- Expert staff - Learn from internationally recognised, expert tutors who are active artists and practitioners. You'll also have support from a team of specialist technical staff who offer bespoke inductions and support for software, hardware and studio spaces.
- State-of-the-art facilities - You'll have access to a full suite of industry standard facilities, including studio spaces, specialist workshops and resources for a broad range of animated mediums, such as 2D, 3D, stop motion, motion capture and mixed media.
- Top ranked - The Guardian University Guide 2025 ranked Manchester Met in the UK's top six for Animation, highlighting our reputation for excellence.
- Professionally recognised - MA Animation at Manchester Met has received the status of Toon Boom Centre of Excellence, meaning we provide industry recognised software training to students and staff with input from professionals in the field.
Information for international students
Please visit the international page.
Fees and funding
For further information please see the fees and funding page.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MA
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Course Enquiries Team
- courses@mmu.ac.uk
- Phone
- +44 (0)161 247 6969