Animation and VFX (Full-time) (HNC - Higher National Certificate)

80 UCAS Tariff Points  

• e.g. A-levels: BB, BTEC: DMM, IB: 28 and Portfolio

The UCAS tariff score is applicable to you if you have recently studied a qualification that has a UCAS tariff equivalence. UCAS provides a tariff calculator for you to work out what your qualification is worth within the UCAS tariff.  

We are interested in creative people who demonstrate a strong commitment to art and/or design and, therefore, we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. 

We arrange interviews for all applicants to assess suitability for the chosen course. Your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered, as well as your portfolio of work. 

GCSEs  

GCSE grade A*-C (grade 9-4 in England) in English and Mathematics is also required.   

Admissions Advice and Support  

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, such as your background, experiences and individual circumstances. This is known as ‘Contextual Admissions’. For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements.  

English language requirements  

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.  

Visit the International Applications section of our website to find out more about our English Language Requirements and pre-sessional English Language Courses. 

Visa and funding requirements  

If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.  

For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa.  

International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship.   

For full information read our visa application and guides.    

Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study. 

A lot of the briefs and coursework and submissions ask you to create something fresh, new, inspiring — and all industry leaning. You have creative input on new worlds and imaginings.

Visually enriched tutorials, lectures, presentations, overviews and exercises — always with an eye on concept; always thinking on how to extend this work for showreels. Feedback can often be illustrated and/or filled with more visual tips and guides to help with alternative designs, movements, narrative structure, etc, etc.

We ask you to engage with some amazing kit. We harness technology — we control it - via drawing, cintiqs, model-making, 2D and 3D software, production techniques and skillsets.

We provide a lot of the basics, with specific challenges to get you off the ground  — and in HE — ask you to fly high.

Our students have access to a diverse range of equipment and resources, which in most cases are sufficient to complete their programme of study. We provide the basic materials necessary for students to develop their practical work within our extensive workshop and studio facilities.

However, it is likely that art and design students will incur some additional costs to extend their investigation of their personal practice. For example, purchasing their own specialised materials and equipment, joining in optional study trips, and printing.

Students are expected to bring their own personal art and design equipment with them when they commence the course.  We can advise on the correct equipment needed for your programme of studies and signpost appropriate suppliers if you wish to purchase essential items before or during your studies.  

A basic ‘art and design kit’ will cost approximately £100 but you may well already have much of the equipment required so check with us first.  Also, although we have extensive dedicated digital design studios (PC and MAC) for you to undertake your coursework you may wish to bring your own digital devices, again check with us first before making a purchase.

Depending on distance and duration, optional study visits can vary in cost from approximately £10 to visit local galleries and exhibitions to £200+ for overseas visits – these costs cover things like transport, entry to venues and accommodation and are normally at reduced rates for our students.

Some modules in this course are available to study through the medium of Welsh either fully or partially. In all cases students will be able to submit written assessments through the medium of Welsh.  

If you choose to study your course either fully or partially through the medium of Welsh, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships and bursaries to support you with your studies. 

We are continuously reviewing our Welsh medium provision, the precise availability of modules will vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course offers modules available through the medium of Welsh this may vary from year to year, and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific Welsh medium modules cannot be guaranteed.  

Extracurricular Welsh Opportunities 

There are many ways to engage with Welsh culture and life at UWTSD, including joining clubs and societies for Welsh speakers and becoming a member of our vibrant Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol branch.  

Opportunities to Learn Welsh 

We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills.   

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.

Students can also take up the opportunity to study a semester in the USA and Canada.

Stepping stones to industry!

An animation degree under your belt allows you to think about a lot of different industries — and you will have transferable skills to make these moves. Some of our graduates have their own games, visualisation or production companies. Some work as entrepreneurs on their own animation brands. A lot find work on some outstanding projects, feature films and in production houses.

Graduates have gone on to work in Oscar-winning teams and on the feature films

• Boxtrolls
• Captain America
• Chronicles of Narnia
• Fantastic Beasts
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Hotel Transylvania
• Iron Man 2
• Jungle Book
• Kubo and The Two Strings
• Man of Steel
• Prometheus
• Skyfall
• Thor
• World War Z

and many, many more.

Your natural academic progression from our HNC Animation and VFX programme would be to BA (Hons) Animation and VFX.

More information about progressing from HNC, HND, CertHE and DipHE

Students graduating with a Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND), Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), or Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) can follow structured, advanced-entry routes into related Honours degree programmes at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD). 

• CertHE holders typically enter Year 2 of a related BA or BSc degree. 
• DipHE and HND holders can apply directly into Year 3 (final year) of honours degrees.
• HNC holders are eligible for Year 2 entry, depending on subject and credits. 

These top-up programmes span a wide range of disciplines – including Business, Computing, Engineering, Construction, Environment, Creative Industries, and Sports – and allow you to build on your prior learning to earn a full BA or BSc (Hons) degree.