University of Salford
BA (Hons) Animation
| Study Mode | Full-time, part-time |
|---|---|
| Start Date | September |
| Duration | 3 years full-time |
| Tuition Fees | See University of Salford website for full details |
| Alumni | Manchester Animation Festival, Cosgrove Hall Film archives, Aardman, Kilogramme, Flow Creative, Bearded Fellows, Fuzzy Duck, Carbon Digital, Lowry, Dock10, Quays Culture, ToonBoom |
Our BA (Hons) Animation programme at Salford University is designed to develop the next generation of storytellers and digital creatives. Combining artistic experimentation with technical production skills, this course prepares you for specialist creative industry careers across animation, television, film, games design and digital media.
Immerse yourself at the heart of Manchester’s MediaCity, one of the UK’s leading centres for media production. Benefit from being surrounded by major broadcasters and studios and an experienced team of lecturers in close contact with the industry.
You will explore animation techniques while using studio-quality facilities, developing specialist industry-ready skills in 2D animation, 3D animation, stop motion, motion graphics and immersive media.
During this course, you will:
- Develop the skills needed to pursue a career in animation, TV or digital media
- Collaborate on live briefs and real-world projects with industry partners
- Build a job-ready portfolio in your specialist field
- Gain experience in studio-quality facilities
- Learn using industry-standard software
- Be based in the heart of MediaCity, alongside major broadcasters and studios
Showreel
Entry Requirements
For 2026 entry: Our standard entry requirements for this course are English Language and Maths at grade C/level 4 or above (or equivalent), plus 96-112 UCAS points from A levels, T levels, BTECs, Access to HE Diplomas or equivalent qualifications. Applicants who do not meet the standard entry criteria may also be considered through the University’s Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES). You can find full, up to date requirement information on the University of Salford website.
Graduate Prospects
When you graduate from this course you will be equipped with the skills to pursue a range of careers in animation, TV and film. Many of our graduates have started jobs in animation at local studios, freelance animation for industry, storyboarding and pre-production, animation for games design, visuals for music videos and at independent film companies. You will also have the option to go into further postgraduate study:
Find out more about BA Animation by booking onto an upcoming open day.
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MA Animation
| Study Mode | Full-time, part-time |
|---|---|
| Start Date | September |
| Duration | 1-year full-time |
| Tuition Fees | See the University of Salford website for full details |
| Alumni | Kilogramme, Flow Creative, Bearded Fellows, Fuzzy Duck, Carbon Digital |
Develop your creative practice with our MA in Animation. This postgraduate course is designed to help you develop contemporary storytelling and transmedia techniques within your body of work and as a director, and/or deepen your knowledge of a specialist creative industry role (e.g. Storyboard Artist, Art Director, Character Designer, Rigging Artist).
This course is designed to provide you with the knowledge to apply innovative production processes into your animation projects, including 2D, 3D, motion graphics, stop motion, or virtual production technologies and workflows. As a contemporary programme of study, you will also explore ‘expanded cinema’ techniques, such as extended reality (XR), projection mapping, motion capture, immersive installation and theatre.
During this course you will:
- Have access to industry-standard animation resources and equipment
- Be encouraged to experiment, collaborate and embrace new technologies
- Be a part of a vibrant community of peers and tutors to help develop your practice
- Benefit from the University’s campus and relationships at MediaCity, allowing you to build strong industry contacts in one of the key areas of UK animation production
Showreel
Entry Requirements
All applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have knowledge of animation, including fundamental techniques and workflows, and are highly motivated and able to work independently. This will be evaluated by a portfolio or showreel, plus a proposal of self-directed study that demonstrates an area of personal development or creative idea that you want to pursue whilst on the course.
For 2026 entry: We expect students to have a relevant undergraduate degree, normally at 2:1 or above. Applicants with a 2:2 will be considered where a high-quality portfolio of work is presented. Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) will also be considered, depending on your portfolio. You can find full, up to date requirement information on the University of Salford website.
Graduate Prospects
Animation is one of the fastest-growing sectors within the UK’s creative industries, offering many exciting opportunities for graduates. As the official higher education partner of Manchester Animation Festival, the course has excellent industry networking opportunities. Other networking groups such as Film Hub North, Motion North and Games Republic are also there to support your development during and beyond the course.
Find out more about MA Animation by signing up to one of our upcoming open days.
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BSc (Hons) Games Design and Production
| Study Mode | Full-time, part-time |
|---|---|
| Start Date | September |
| Duration | 3 years full-time |
| Tuition Fees | See the University of Salford website for full details |
| Alumni | Rockstar, Sony, EA, Saga, and Namco, Travellers Tales, Team 17 |
Kick-start your career in the games industry with BSc Games Design and Production at Salford. This degree will help you develop the skills and experience you need to design and build functional games.
Aspiring programmer, designer or artist? This games design and production course will give you the chance to experience the world of professional games design, giving you a competitive edge in the job market.
You will study gaming in a range of contexts, from the fundamentals of games design, art and programming to digital art, creative and immersive technologies. As you progress in your degree, you will be able to specialise in an area that interests you, choosing from optional modules taught by leading experts in the field. You will learn about narrative and storytelling, human-computer interaction and user experience, developing a broad understanding of historical and emerging technologies.
During the course, you will:
- Learn how to think creatively and technically as a games designer and producer
- Gain fundamental and advanced knowledge in creative computer programming, digital graphics and art
- Develop specialist skills in planning, prototyping and producing computer games
- Work in multidisciplinary teams to produce functional polished games
- Benefit from industry partnerships, such as that with Game Republic
Entry Requirements
For 2026 entry: Our standard entry requirements for this course are English Language and Maths at grade C/level 4 or above (or equivalent), plus 104-112 UCAS points from A levels, T levels, BTECs, Access to HE Diplomas or equivalent qualifications. Applicants who do not meet the standard entry criteria may also be considered through the University’s Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES). You can find full, up to date requirement information on the University of Salford website.
Graduate Prospects
A degree in Games Design and Production puts you in an ideal position to take your first step into the dynamic games design industry. You’ll be set to secure roles in designing, producing and programming. Many of our graduates have gone onto work at world-renowned development companies, including Rockstar Games, Sony, EA, Saga and Team 17.
Graduates from this course could go on to study one of our postgraduate courses, including:
Find out more about BSc Games Design and Production by booking onto an upcoming open day.
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BSc (Hons) Creative Computing
| Study Mode | Full-time, part-time |
|---|---|
| Start Date | September |
| Duration | 3 years full-time |
| Tuition Fees | See the University of Salford website for full details |
| Alumni | BBC, Matmi New Media, Trunk Manchester, Yippee Entertainment, Carbon Digital |
Sitting at the intersection of art, design and computer science, our Creative Computing course is perfect for anyone looking to explore the realms of digital innovation. You will harness computing tools for imaginative expression, allowing you to build interactive systems, virtual realities, AI-driven art and immersive experiences.
The world is becoming increasingly digitalised, and companies across various sectors, including entertainment and media, education and healthcare are seeking individuals who can think creatively while being able to utilise advanced technological skills.
This course will enable you to:
- Develop critical problem-solving abilities and a deep understanding of user-centred design
- Pursue diverse career paths in pioneering research and innovative applications, such as generative art, game design and interactive storytelling
Our Creative Computing course is based in MediaCity, at the heart of technological innovation in the North. Our campus serves as a platform for students to engage directly with industry through live briefs, behind-the-scenes tours, networking events and more.
This course is for you if:
- You are a creative thinker, with a passion for digital art
- You are tech-savvy and eager to learn
- You enjoy experimenting with different solutions to tackle complex challenges
- You are collaborative and open-minded
- You are self-motivated, proactive and ready to keep up with rapidly evolving technologies
Showreel
Entry Requirements
For 2026 entry: This course is suited to individuals with a blend of technical and creative skills, driven by curiosity and innovation. Our standard entry requirements for this course are English Language and Maths at grade C/level 4 or above (or equivalent), plus 96-112 UCAS points from A levels, T levels, BTECs, Access to HE Diplomas or equivalent qualifications. Applicants who may not meet the standard entry criteria may also be considered through the University’s Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES). You can find full, up to date requirement information on the University of Salford website.
Graduate Prospects
The expertise you will gain in coding, design and digital media will allow you to work across diverse industries including, but not limited to, technology, entertainment and advertising. You will be equipped to develop interactive applications, websites and immersive experiences, meeting the increasing demand for creative tech solutions. Interdisciplinary study opens doors to roles like UI/UX designer, digital artist, digital content creator, full-stack web developer and software engineer.
This course benefits from established partnerships with many creative companies in the UK. These include the BBC, Matmi New Media, Trunk Manchester, Yippee Entertainment and Carbon Digital, among others.
Graduates could also go into further study:
- MA Animation
- MSc Games and Extended Reality
- MA Creative Technology
- MSc Data Science
- MSc Internet of Things with Data Science
- MSc Software Engineering
Find out more about BSc Creative Computing by booking onto an upcoming open day.
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MSc Games and Extended Reality
| Study Mode | Full-time, part-time |
|---|---|
| Start Date | September |
| Duration | 1-year full-time |
| Tuition Fees | See the University of Salford website for full details |
| Alumni | BBC, Matmi New Media, Trunk Manchester, Yippee Entertainment, Carbon Digital |
This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge to break into the new and exciting field of Gaming and Extended Reality (XR). You will focus on the creative application of immersive and XR technologies for a wide range of design contexts.
XR is driving radical transformations in the production and consumption of digital media. The growth of virtual, augmented and mixed reality applications will redefine the ways in which we interact with the world around us. This explosive growth is increasing the demand for professionals with the creative and technical skills to lead the way.
During this course, you will:
- Gain an in-depth knowledge and skills on the technologies that are shaping the future
- Be part of an active and vibrant learning community
- Boost your creative, technical and entrepreneurial skills
- Have access to a range of cutting-edge technologies and equipment that will turn you into a confident and capable developer
- Be guided by an enthusiastic team of active practitioners and leading scholars in games and XR
- Develop contacts and relationships with leading industries in Manchester, a city leading the next wave of innovation in the UK and Worldwide
- Benefit from industry partnerships such as that with Game Republic
Entry Requirements
For 2026 entry: This course is open to students from a wide range of backgrounds, however, previous academic or industry experience in any of the following disciplines would be beneficial: game design and development, 3D art and animation, game programming, digital media and computer science. We will want to see a portfolio of work as part of the application progress.
Prospective students will normally be required to have achieved a 2:1 Honours degree, but consideration will be given to students with a 2:2 with appropriate experience. We also welcome applications from students who may not have traditional entry criteria but have relevant experience. You can find full, up to date requirement information on the University of Salford website.
Graduate Prospects
When you graduate from this course you will find professional opportunities in games design and development, XR development, instructional design and software engineering. You may also want to launch your own start-up business, where we will be able to support you.
This course benefits from established partnerships and links with creative industries in the UK. These include the BBC, Matmi New Media, Trunk Manchester, Yippee Entertainment, Carbon Digital and more.
Find out more about MSc Games and Extended Reality by signing up to one of our upcoming open days.
