University of the Arts London (UAL) BA (Hons) Animation Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies Date of production/revision July 2015

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1 Programme Specification Every taught course of study leading to a UAL award is required to have a Programme Specification. This summarises the course aims, learning outcomes, teaching, learning and assessment methods, and course structure. Programme Specifications are developed through course validation and are formally approved by UAL Validation Sub Committee (VSC). They are available to prospective students through the course web page, and must be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure currency of information (for example, following any minor modification or local developments). Awarding Body University of the Arts London (UAL) Teaching Institution London College of Communication Final Award Relevant QAA Benchmark Statement BA (Hons) Animation Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies Date of production/revision July 2015 This section is available to provide any introductory information on the course. It might include explanation of the position of courses which form a named pathway within an umbrella programme. The BA (Hons) Animation is an innovative and exciting course that has been designed to prepare you for a career in animation and the creative industries. In a rapidly changing media environment, new technologies are revolutionising how animation is created, understood and experienced. Animation has diversified and is now found everywhere. These increase the demands on the graduate to not only command a virtuoso dexterity with the tools of animation but to also be an auteur, boasting originality in design and creative ideas. The philosophy of BA (Hons) Animation at LCC is that your animation education will be built on the three corner stones of creativity, technical expertise and the theory which contextualises your work. Course Aims The aims of the course identify the rationale underlying the student s educational experience and own personal achievement from studying on the course and its affect upon the student s long term achievement and career. This course aims to: Provide a challenging and stimulating specialist educational experience that enables you to work in animation as a specific discipline but also to understand its application in interdisciplinary practice. Ensure you have the digital and cross-media production skills and to engage with the creative industries in experimental and innovative ways. 1

2 Develop a professional understanding of the role of an animator, through professional research, studio visits, live projects, competitions and industry links. Encourage you to develop creative, innovative and experimental approaches to animation practice by being critically engaged, analytical practitioners who can communicate and exchange ideas in a range of contexts. Enable you to develop a strong portfolio that will allow you to progress to the creative industries or further post-graduate study. Provide you with the opportunity for progression to Postgraduate courses. Educational aim Provide a challenging and stimulating specialist educational experience that enables you to work in animation as a specific discipline but also to understand its application in interdisciplinary practice. Encourage you to develop creative, innovative and experimental approaches to animation theory and practice by being critically engaged, analytical practitioners who can present, communicate and exchange ideas in a range of contexts. Enable you to develop a strong portfolio that will allow you to progress to the creative industries or further post-graduate study. Personal Achievement aim Ensure that students are able to maximise their potential, enjoying the opportunity to integrate and share knowledge with students from diverse backgrounds and experience. Career aim Provide a challenging and stimulating educational experience which will enable you to develop a range of practical and cognitive skills necessary for a career in the media industry. Ensure you have the digital and cross-media production skills and to engage with the creative industries in experimental and innovative ways. Develop a professional understanding of the role of an animator, through professional research, studio visits, live projects, competitions and industry links 2

3 Course Outcomes The course enables the student to demonstrate the following subject knowledge and understanding, intellectual and academic skills, practical subject skills, key attributes and transferable skills. Each outcome should be detailed below. The objectives that you will have demonstrated upon completion of the course, are (the applicable university marking criteria are in brackets at the end of each course outcome): Outcome: Demonstrate critically informed knowledge of the principles, methodologies and technologies used in Animation production. Outcome: Produce a range of creative work that will demonstrate your personal development and ability to work to a standard necessary for progression to the creative industries and/ or Postgraduate study. Outcome: Use a variety of key communication, interpersonal and enterprise skills required for effective practice in industry. Outcome: Demonstrate a critically informed knowledge of the history and practice of animation as a specialist discipline. Outcome: Show personal visual development through creative animation practice by demonstrating an understanding of animation in an interdisciplinary context. Outcome: Work in creative teams and make a significant contribution to joint creative Objectives, accommodating change and uncertainty as part of the creative process. outcome: Adopt an evaluative and experimental approach in applying and using a variety of techniques and equipment in creating animation and other time-based media for a diverse range of audiences. Outcome: Benefit from the critical judgement of others and recognise your personal strengths and needs and in response set realistic goals, priorities and action plans. Learning and Teaching Methods: Provide a summary of the relevant learning and teaching methods for the course. Seminars Study Visits Personal Tutorials Group Tutorials Lectures Workshops Assessment Methods: Provide a summary of the relevant assessment methods for the course. Supervision 3

4 Tutorials Peer review Report Presentation Lectures Seminar Tutorials Workshops supporting individual and group needs Guest lectures Self-assessment document Reflective diary Reference Points List any policies, descriptors, initiatives or benchmark statements used in the development of the course. The following reference points were used in designing the course: The College Learning and Teaching Strategy The College Assessment Strategy The College approach to Personal and Professional Development The Learning and Teaching policies of the University of the Arts London University of the Arts London Level Descriptors Framework for Higher Education Qualifications QAA Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies Benchmark statement Course forums whereby students on similar courses had direct input into course design and structure Industry panel feedback Details of college policies and initiatives can be accessed at including a link to the UAL assessment website which provides fact sheets on marking criteria and the 15-point marking scale. Course Regulations which provide the framework for assessment can be found at and include a range of student guides. Programme Summary Programme structures, features, units, credit and award requirements: List the course details that constitute the agreed student entitlement for this course. This should include unit titles and credit, types of learning, learning hours per week and details of tutorial support. In common with all courses at the University of the Arts London, this course is credit rated. The course is 3 years, levels 4-6. Each year requires you to achieve 120 credit points. To be awarded the BA (Hons) Animation qualification, you need to accumulate a total of 360 credits. 4

5 Distinctive features of the course: Identify and list those characteristics that distinguish your course from other, similar courses. Refer to both the student experience on the course and future possible career opportunities. You will learn core traditional skills and principles in animation to underpin any future specialism such as 3D Digital Animation and Modelling or Stop-motion animation, as well as 2D analogue and digital. You will be taught drawing as a key skill that informs all aspects of your subject knowledge and technical expertise. Solid drawing underpins strong animation and design skills and enables you to express your creative ideas with skill and dexterity. A strong emphasis on communication and presentation skills giving you the confidence and ability to articulate your ideas and communicate with colleagues and clients in a professional context. Digital animation is taught intensively from year one onwards to students who choose 3DCG animation as their specialism, recognising the particular demands in becoming skilled in this technique and the levels of expertise expected of graduates by the industry. Students work in teams throughout the course and are encouraged to develop an appreciation and understanding of the importance of roles and specialisms within a project collaboration, which helps prepare them for a career in the industry. Collaboration and communities of practice flourish most notably as animation is a key part of the Interaction and Visual Communication programme within the Design School. You will benefit from close collaboration with the other UG courses, sharing knowledge, practice and common approaches. You will have the possibility to learn your craft in a range of animation techniques supported by a skilled core teaching team who are also practitioners with a range of specialist skills, working in the creative industries. The course actively encourages students to identify and explore outcomes beyond traditional formats, equipping graduates with the ability to be able to offer multidisciplinary solutions. Industry led and mentored Live projects and competitions are delivered in collaboration with external industry partners giving you the opportunity to practice your skills in a professional context and to build a professional portfolio of work - previous industry partners include: Channel 4, MTV, National Trust, All Saints Records, Marmite, The Royal Society. London is now the recognised European centre of media employment. BA (Hons) Animation, as one of few courses of its kind in Greater London uses its location as 5

6 a key asset, giving students access to the specialist creative industries and other colleges within the University, and a network of professionals and key industry partners. The course encourages you to consider your future vocation and prepares you for employment within your specialist field by enabling you to acquire a broad range of employment skills through work placement and professional practice units, building a strong portfolio of professional work, and by ensuring that you are able to respond positively to developments within the creative industries. Recruitment and Admissions Admission Policy/Selection Criteria Summarise relevant details contained in the validation papers i.e. list the methods used in selection such as interviewing. Selection criteria should be fully listed. The BA (Hons) Animation team recognise applicants come from a broad spectrum of backgrounds from across the world. The course in the main attracts students who apply direct from Foundation Diploma in Art and Design or other equivalent qualifications but it also welcomes students from other art courses as well as mature students who may have worked in industry. Entry Requirements List the entry requirements relevant to the course. For admission to the BA (Hons) Animation course applicants normally need: At least 160 UCAS Tariff points (two GCE Advanced level passes at grade C or above); PLUS a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design; PLUS passes in three other subjects at GCSE Grade C or above. In addition, the University of the Arts London Awarding Body Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design will be considered. We also accept people with the equivalent qualifications obtained through a National Diploma, Access, NVQ and a variety of other pre-university level qualifications including International and European Baccalaureate. Other qualifications, including overseas, may be considered. We also accept those with relevant professional and vocational qualifications. The subjects the Course Team will be looking for in your application are wide ranging: your A levels (or equivalents) would ideally be achieved at grade C or above and may include English, History, Media, Business, Art and Design or other Social Science subjects. 6

7 Other entry routes We also welcome applicants such as mature students who do not have formal qualifications but may have relevant experience. Students applying to this course will be expected to demonstrate a specific interest in this area of study and should have a commitment to engaging with Animation Theory and practice. In such cases students applying on the basis of their previous experience or who wish to enter the course with through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes should apply via UCAS and will be guided by the admissions staff on the AP(E)L processes. Language requirements (International/EU) International and EU students: In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) is required overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four skills. If your first language is not English you should check you have achieved the correct IELTS level in English. Further information is available on the Language Requirements page: International Applicants visit the Support for International Students page for contact details for International Admissions Study Abroad Applicants International undergraduate students can apply to join this BA course for a period of up to three terms as a Study Abroad student. Please visit the Study Abroad section on the UAL website for details of how to apply, or contact the Study Abroad office: T: +44 (0) E: studyabroad@arts.ac.uk Or for further information on Study Abroad and Erasmus schemes, please follow the links below: Study Abroad: 7

8 Deferred entry For Home/EU applicants, the Course Leader will determine whether deferred places are available for the course. If you wish to defer your place, it is advisable to indicate this on your application form and/or discuss this with the admissions team and course leader before/after applying at the earliest opportunity. In all cases, deferred places will only be held for one year. International applicants are normally permitted to defer entry to any programme of study for one year only, after which they will be asked to re-apply. Minimum UAL Entry Requirements To see the University s Regulations on Admissions, please go to the following link: admissions Admission Procedures The selection procedures for the course must adhere to the Equal Opportunities Policy of UAL. The selection procedures for the course adhere to the Equal Opportunities policy of the University of the Arts London. Applications are normally made through UCAS. Applications for this course are assessed on the basis of qualifications and the personal statement. If more information is required, a member of the course team may contact the applicant and in some cases, may request the candidate to attend an interview. Student Selection Criteria / what do we look for? All applications will be considered by the course team and offers will be made based upon the following selection criteria. The team will consider five key elements when making a decision on your suitability to join the course: 1) They will look at your qualifications (or projected results). 2) They will review your academic or personal reference. 3) They will scrutinise your personal statement. 4) They will then review your portfolio. 5) Finally and most importantly if your portfolio of work seems appropriate to the requirements of the course, you will be invited to attend a short interview (approximately minutes). Personal Statement The personal statement is a very important part of your application and should demonstrate to the team that you are interested in Animation and that you have 8

9 thought very carefully about why you want to study on this course. You should take great care when writing your personal statement to ensure that it is well written, clear and free of any spelling mistakes. It is a chance to impress the team by demonstrating your appreciation of what the course can offer you and how you feel it might help you in the future. It is also an opportunity for you to state what you feel you would bring to the course. Through your personal statement, you should show a strong interest in Animation. This can be demonstrated through work experience, studying and personal experience and your ambitions for personal development as a student at the LCC. Portfolio Advice Your portfolio should give a genuine sense of your skills and interests. We are not looking for polished, perfected, finished pieces of work but are looking more for strong research, design, experimentation and an inquisitive approach using a range of materials. Your portfolio should indicate an interest in moving image but again this might be through script, storyboards or image sequences rather than completed animated pieces. Interview Advice The purpose of the interview is to try to find out more about you and ultimately to assess whether the course is right for you and vice versa, so it is important to be as open and honest as possible and to try not to be too nervous or formal. If you are invited for interview you can prepare yourself in advance by re-familiarising yourself with your UCAS personal statement, from which some of the interviewer s questions will arise. You should familiarise yourself with the course outline so that you can have a discussion as to where your interests lay and why you have chosen this course in particular. It is helpful for us to get a sense of your influences and interests and so we might question you about what film makers or designers you are currently interested in. You will be asked to bring your portfolio to the interview and so you might be asked about ideas and themes in your work. This is also a good opportunity for you to ask any questions you might have about the course. The interview will be relatively informal and will take place at the LCC. Occasionally if there is no other option, an interview can be conducted via Skype. Students are admitted to the course having fulfilled the necessary entry requirements and on the basis of their potential to benefit from the programme. 9

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