Start your journey with animation with our range of courses, equipping you with the varied skills and knowledge you need to succeed in creating believable character animations. You will leave our specialist university college with the portfolio needed for entry into an exciting new and ever evolving industry.
University College 3 years Online Studies
Oslo Kristiansand
A wide range of possibilities
The animation industry is extremely varied and deeply connected to many diverse outputs, with TV and Film, Games, Training and Education, and many other forms of visualisation. Animation illustrates important messages to audiences globally that are educating, informing, or entertaining in new and exciting ways.
It is time to start your journey of becoming an animator and join the community of those that bring characters to life!
It has always been the dream to work with this. Konrad Kaminski, student
The teachers are very friendly and helpful. Bill Supawut Limkanchanawat, student
Bachelor in Interactive Media - Animation features a broad overview of future professional opportunities. Among these, you will be able to design and animate 3D characters, construct virtual environments, and work on live industry projects.
How to develop a concept from initial design to finished product through narrative design is a focus of the programme. By combining traditional design skills and creative processes with cutting-edge technologies, we focus on your creative ability and developed specialism.
The aim of the study is to prepare you for entry into the animation industry, producing a strong portfolio for work applications and to encourage entrepreneurship, and for applications to further studies.
Programme Structure
During the first year of study, you will explore the theoretical foundation of visual culture, learn animation principles, narrative theory, communication skills, in addition to preliminary software skills.
The second year focuses on your skill development and in-depth with the methods and procedures used to create rigged characters ready for animation and explore animating humanoid characters.
The third year is centered around a final project of your own design, supporting every step in making an animated short, from storyboarding, to final render under the supervision and guidance of experienced staff.
The final year opens for mobility and student exchange.
Year 1: 60 ECTS
- Problem Based Learning and Research Methodologies (5 ECTS)
- Form and Context (10 ECTS)
- 3D Rigging 1 (10 ECTS)
- Narrative (10 ECTS)
- 3D Animation 1 (10 ECTS)
- Animation Craft (5 ECTS)
- Studio 1 (10 ECTS)
Year 2: 60 ECTS
- Editing (5 ECTS)
- 3D Rigging 2 (10 ECTS)
- Conceptualisation (10 ECTS)
- Post Production (5 ECTS)
- 3D Animation 2 (10 ECTS)
- 3D Animation 3 (10 ECTS)
- Studio 2 (10 ECTS)
Year 3: 60 ECTS
- Design for Interactivity (10 ECTS)
- Procedural Animation (10 ECTS)
- Industry Studies (5 ECTS)
- Bachelor Project (35 ECTS)
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of important topics, theories, issues, processes, tools and methods within the fields of Interactive Media and Animation
- Demonstrate familiarity with current research and development work in the general Interactive Media and Animation field
- Knowledge of the key principles, theories, tools and techniques in the area of Interactive Media (Animation), ability to evaluate these tools and techniques, and to apply them in a variety of situations
- Demonstrate ability to update his/her knowledge in the area of Interactive Media (Animation), both through academic study and professional development
- Knowledge of the history, traditions, and distinctive character of Interactive Media (Animation) and its place in, and potential impact on society
- Understand social, psychological and ethical issues relating to Interactive Media (Animation) and
presenting the results to stakeholders
- Knowledge of applying Interactive Media principles, tools and techniques within complex scientific and industrial fields
Skills:
- Demonstrate the ability to apply academic knowledge and relevant results of research and development work to practical and theoretical Interactive Media (Animation), and make well-founded, informed and justified decisions and choices
- Demonstrate ability to reflect upon own academic practice and professional development, identify areas for improvement, and to adapt to future tools, techniques and technology
- Demonstrate ability to find, evaluate and refer to information and scholarly subject matter and present it in a manner that sheds light on the problem
- Demonstrate ability to appropriately and effectively create and develop Interactive Media and Animation projects in an appropriate multimedia format for each particular challenge
- Demonstrate ability to select and use the primary tools and techniques for managing, manipulating and visualising data in an appropriate and professional manor
- To critically select and apply a range of analytical and methodological problem solving techniques, based on research, and to be able to interpret the solutions and present results appropriately
- The ability to identify appropriate stakeholders and communicate, network and collaborate with these stakeholders at an appropriate level
General Competence:
- Identify and appropriately act on complex ethical issues arising within academic and professional practice within the specialist field of Interactive Media (Animation)
- Plan, execute and manage a variety of assignments and projects over time, alone or as part of a group, to successful conclusion and in accordance with ethical requirements and principles
- Communicate effectively using appropriate forms of communication electronically, orally and written, being able to present problems, solutions, theories and academic arguments in a professional manner
- Communicate and exchange opinions, ideas and other subject matters such as theories, problems and solutions, with others with background and/or experience in Interactive Media (Animation), through the selection and application of appropriate methods of communication, thereby contributing to the development of good practice within the community of practice
- Demonstrate the ability for self-reflection as part of a lifelong learning strategy
- Familiarity with current and new thinking and trends within the field of Interactive Media (Animation), and innovations in the field
As an online student you are required to purchase the required equipment and software. As a Campus student the required equipment and software is available for use.
Required Equipment:
- A reliable internet connection.
- Headphones or headset – with a microphone.
- PC/Laptop with the following specifications:
- Microsoft® Windows® 10 or 11.
- CPU: 64-bit Intel® or AMD® multi-core processor with SSE4.2 instruction set.
- GPU: Geforce RTX / GTX, or Radeon Pro W (Minimum Nvidia Geforce GTX 970 or Radeon FirePro).
- RAM: 32 GB RAM (Minimum 16 GB).
- Storage: 500 GB (SSD/NVMe is highly recommended)
Recommended Equipment:
- A Wacom Drawing Tablet
- 2 monitors, or 1 ultrawide screen
- 1 additional storage drive (Minimum 1 TB is recommended)
- Webcam
Required Software:
As a student you will be provided student licences, until then you should explore the software.
Some software and tutorials may require access to a Windows operating system (either as a host or as a virtual machine) to function optimally.
Career Opportunities
The competence you will achieve as a graduate provides multiple opportunities for a career within a wide range of industries. Animation is not only for the entertainment and commercial industry, but also widely used in the health sector, for e-learning, in engineering, visualisation and simulation in oil, gas and maritime industries, countless mobile applications, combined with military technologies and many, many more.
As a graduate you can apply for work as:
- Concept Artist
- Character / Environment Artist
- Animator
- Interactive Media Designer
- Forensic Animator
- Animation Director
Further Studies
Graduates can apply to relevant higher education within art and design studies containing animation courses at the master's level. A Master’s can be applied to at a university in Norway or at other universities around the world. Here are some relevant examples:
Watch recording of livestream
We recommend watching the latest livestream on Interactice Media - Games and Animation, hosted by Joshua Griffin 10 March 2023.
