Animation with Foundation Year BA (Hons)

**Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information** <br/><br/>**Course summary**<br/>- Explore the unique capabilities of 2D, stop-motion and 3D animation. <br/><br/><br/>- Supercharge your skillset using industry-standard tools and techniques. <br/><br/><br/>- Share your story, perfect character performance and interpret motion. <br/><br/><br/>- Adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of animation-related practice.<br/><br/><br/>- Study career routes, plan for festival submission and craft your online portfolio. <br/><br/><br/>Through our industry-focused learning and connections, you’ll learn to embrace innovation and challenge expectations. You’ll develop and showcase your skills in ways that are individual to your creative identity.<br/><br/>**How you learn**<br/>On this course you’ll be based in our bespoke studios, workshops and digital spaces, joining a dynamic and collaborative learning community. With their support you’ll undertake creative adventures, explore possibilities and challenge conventions.   <br/><br/>Through our teaching, we’ll unfold your potential to contribute as a creative thinker and doer and apply your knowledge to industry, culture, society and life systems. The course covers a wide range of topics related to 2D, stop motion and 3D animation – from storyboarding and animatics to concept art, writing, direction, character animation and performance. You’ll explore model making, set building, art direction, rigging and professional distribution methods – as well as sustainable and ethical animation practices.   <br/><br/>You learn through:<br/>- studio practice<br/><br/><br/>- workshops<br/><br/><br/>- technical demonstrations<br/><br/><br/>- group and individual tutorials<br/><br/><br/>- reviews<br/><br/><br/>- lectures<br/><br/><br/>- guest lectures<br/><br/><br/>- external visits and field trips<br/><br/><br/>- film screenings<br/><br/><br/>**Key themes**<br/>Your first year introduces you to the world of professional animation practice. You’ll explore the skills required to develop your own original animated projects and respond to live client briefs.<br/><br/>The second year builds on this learning, focusing on professional portfolio development and the curation of your industry presence – through practice, research, industry interaction and cross-discipline projects.<br/><br/>You can then choose to enter the industry during an optional placement year, working in studios and agencies, or setting up a business of your own.<br/><br/>In your final year you’ll lead industry-focused animated projects, focusing on sustainable production practices and the importance of getting your work seen in festivals and exhibition spaces. <br/><br/>**Applied learning**<br/>We’ve designed the course to embrace real-world challenges and provide you with the practical skills and knowledge to be successful. You’ll develop your expertise in collaboration with various industry, commercial and creative practitioners, clients and organisations. <br/><br/>**Work Placements**<br/>Through a series of work experience opportunities, you’ll gain knowledge, skills and professional behaviours to help you reflect on your goals, and future career paths. You’ll become more confident, resilient and practised in professional interactions, preparing you to succeed when you graduate.<br/><br/>You’re encouraged and supported to undertake a full-time work placement between your second and third year of the course. Sandwich placements give you valuable additional work experience to help prepare you for your future career. They can have a transformative impact on your personal and professional development, which you can enhance further by completing Sheffield Hallam’s Applied Professional Diploma.    <br/><br/>Previous students have gained work experience at local animation studios and thrived as freelance artists – both alongside their studies and through the dedicated placement year. Work experience and placements particularly enhance your final-year student experience, underpinning independent practice with real-world experience.

Do you want to be part of a friendly, inclusive student community? <br/><br/>Sheffield Hallam's commitment to equal opportunities has seen them ranked 5th best university in the world for their impact on reducing inequality (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024). That means friendly staff and access to specialist academic study, wellbeing and career support services.<br/><br/>They have gold-standard teaching across all colleges (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023) and each course has real-world learning opportunities to get you career ready.<br/><br/>All courses offer placement opportunities; computer scientists could work with brands like IBM, lawyers with DLA Piper, engineers with Rolls-Royce and business students with major companies like Disney and Adidas. <br/><br/>You'll also be studying in one of the UK’s top student cities – Bringing you exciting nightlife, delicious food and the stunning Peak District all on your doorstep!<br/><br/>Call today!