What are the top UK animation degree programs?
| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal College of Art | London, England |
| 2 | Bournemouth University | Bournemouth, Poole, England |
| 3 | Teesside University | Middlesbrough, England |
| 4 | University of the Arts London | London, England |
| 5 | Escape Studios London | London, England |
| 6 | University of Hertfordshire | Hatfield, England |
| 7 | Edinburgh College of Art | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| 8 | University for the Creative Arts | Canterbury, England |
| 9 | University of Portsmouth | Portsmouth, England |
| 10 | Staffordshire University | Staffordshire, England |
Our 2026 rankings of the top animation degree programs in the United Kingdom.
For this ranking we only consider formal degree programs (bachelor's degree or equivalent). For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here.
1. Royal College of Art, London, England, UK
Royal College of Art (RCA) is home to the School of Communication. Within the school are two paths to study animation. Options include MA degrees in Animation and Digital Direction. These multidisciplinary programs explore animation, storytelling, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), film, games, digital art, media, performance, artificial intelligence (AI), STEM disciplines, and more. Other program highlights include hands-on projects; access to state-of-the-art facilities; and internships (professional practice).
Programs culminate with an Independent Research Project (IRP). Graduates have secured roles at places such as DreamWorks, Sony, Electronic Arts (EA), Warner Bros., LAIKA, Aardman, Google, Apple, Passion Pictures, and BBC.
2. Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, Poole, England, UK
Bournemouth University (BU) is a Houdini Certified School that houses the National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA). Part of the Faculty of Media and Communication, the center provides several paths top study animation. Options include the Computer Animation and Visual Effects BA; a 3D Computer Animation MA; the Computer Animation and Visual Effects MSc; and a Digital Effects MA. Across programs, students benefit from TIGA accreditation; access to state-of-the-art motion capture facilities, animation labs, and green screen studios; internships; the degree show in London attended by recruiters from Epic Games, Pixar, and DreamWorks; and the opportunity to participate in the annual BFX Festival.
Programs culminate with final project (animated film or other work) and professional portfolio. Graduates can be found at places such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), DreamWorks, Sony, Pixar, Electronic Arts (EA), Microsoft, Rockstar Games, Unity, Criterion Games, Jagex, and TT Games.
3. Teesside University, Middlesbrough, England, UK
Teesside University the first Adobe Creative Campus in Europe. The school also houses a number of SideFX Certified, ScreenSkills-recognized animation programs. Options include a Visual Effects and Motion Graphics BA; Animation, 2D Animation and Stop Motion, and Concept Art BA and MA degrees; and a Visual Effects MA. All students have the opportunity to participate in Animex—Teesside’s annual international animation and games festival. Guests include Pixar, Rockstar Games, Sony, and Disney, among others. Other program highlights include the chance to work on team projects in a studio-like environment, and internship opportunities.
Programs culminate with a short film or film sequence. Graduates have been hired at places such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Netflix Animation Studios, Rockstar Games, Microsoft, Blue Zoo Animation Studio, Imaginarium Productions, Team17, Sumo Digital, Tucan Studio, and ZeroLight.
4. University of the Arts London, London, England, UK
University of the Arts London (UAL) houses London College of Communication (LCC). Within the college are multiple paths to study animation. Options include BA degrees in Animation, Computer Animation and Visual Effects, and Art Direction and Visual Effects; and MA degrees in Animation, 3D Computer Animation, Character Animation, and Visual Effects. Across programs, students benefit from LCC’s status as a Certified Nuke Training Center and Accredited Toon Boom Center of Excellence; access to state-of-the-art digital labs and production studios; and internship opportunities. Programs culminate with a final project. Graduates have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Pixar, Cartoon Network, Disney, Warner Bros., Apple, Netflix, DNEG, Pinewood Studios, MPC, and Aardman.
5. Escape Studios London, London, England, UK
Escape Studios London (Escape Studios) is a Houdini Certified School and the UK’s first Unreal Authorized Training Center. The school also provides an endless number of degree programs and professional training for studios (PTS) certificates for animators. Options include BA and MArt degrees in 2D Computer Animation, Comics and Visual Storytelling, and 3D Computer Animation; a BSc and MSc degrees in Character Creation for Animation, Games and VFX; MA degrees in 3D Animation and Character and Creature Creation; and PTS in 2D Animation, 3D Animation, 2D Character Design, Storyboarding, and Mastering Manga Storytelling: Character, Pages and Narrative Flow. A 14-21 week 3D Animation short course is also available.
Across programs, students benefit from participation in projects based on industry briefs; access to state-of-the-art production tools and software such as Houdini, Unreal Engine, and ZBrush; industry-trained instructors; and professional internships. Programs culminate with a professional showreel.
Graduates have been hired at places such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Rockstar Games, DNEG, Blue Zoo Animation Studio, MPC, Framestore, Passion Pictures, The Third Floor, and Creative Assembly.
6. University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield – Hertfordshire, UK
University of Hertfordshire (UH) is a SideFX accredited school that provides numerous paths to study animation. Undergraduate options include BA degrees in 2D Digital Animation; 3D Animation and Visual Effects (VFX); Digital Arts for Animation, Games and Immersion; 3D Game Art and Design; Comics and Concept Art; and Digital Technologies for Animation, Games and Immersion. At the graduate level, the school has MA degrees in Animation; Character and Creature Animation; Concept Art; and 3D Modeling and VFX. Programs culminate with a final project (animated film, game, or other works).
Graduates have been hired at places such as Nintendo, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Sony Pictures Animation, Ubisoft, MPC, Blue Zoo Animation Studio, Framestore, Animortal Studio, Blinkink, and Frontier Developments.
7. Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) at the University of Edinburgh is an Aardman Academy Partner and home to the School of Design. Within the school is Scotland’s oldest Animation BA program. Through ECA’s partnership with Scotland Loves Anime, BA students have the unique opportunity to participate in the annual Education in Animation Day, where they can meet with directors, animators and producers from the largest studios in Asia. Other program highlights include the opportunity to produce several industry-ready animated films and games; access to state-of-the-art facilities; and internships.
Animation BA graduates have gone on to work for directors such as Tim Burton and Wes Anderson, while others have launched studios such as White Robot and Wild Child Animation. Some program alumni can also be found at places such as Rockstar North, LAIKA, Cartoon Saloon, Framestore, Aardman, Red Kite Animation, Nexus Studios, Media Molecule, 4J Studios, and Wild Child Animation.
8. University for the Creative Arts, Canterbury, England, UK
The Animation BA program at University for the Creative Arts (UCA) was developed by Oscar-winning animator Bob Godfrey. Launched in 1972, the BA is Europe’s first animation degree. Other program options for animators include BA and MA degrees in Game Art, and the Animation MA. Across programs, students benefit from courses taught by filmmakers; teaching spaces made up of studios, workshops, and labs; guest lecturers from places such as Aardman; collaborative projects; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; focused instruction on how to craft successful festival submissions; networking opportunities; and accreditation by the British Film Institute (BFI).
Programs culminate with a final project and presentation. Graduates have been hired at places such as Rockstar Games, HBO Max, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Aardman, The Mill, Passion Pictures, Animade, Cinesite, Fudge Animation, Studio AKA, Creative Assembly, Warner Music Group, and STV Studios.
9. University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, England, UK
University of Portsmouth (UoP) is a Houdini Certified School that provides several paths to study animation, Options include an Animation BA; the Computer Animation and Visual Effects (VFX) BSc; and an Animation MA. Across programs, students benefit from courses and projects led by professionals from places such as Disney, Sony, DNEG, and Cartoon Network; the option to earn the Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) credential; participation in the UoP Game Jam; internships; and the opportunity to present final projects at the university’s Annual Graduate Show.
Program alumni have secured positions at places such as Sony Pictures Animation, Sega, Disney, DNEG, Cartoon Network, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Warner Bros., NBCUniversal, Framestore, and MPC.
10. Staffordshire University, Staffordshire, England, UK
Staffordshire University (Stafford) is an Unreal Authorized Training Center that provides a variety of transdisciplinary programs in the creative arts and digital technologies. This includes BA and MA degrees in Animation; BSc in Computer Games Design with a focus in Animation; MA degrees in Game Art and Concept Art; and a customizable MA/MSc in Arts and Creative Technologies. Across programs, students have access to state-of-the-art game labs, Vicon Motion Capture Studio, a specialist Game Centre, and the VR/AR and Mixed Reality Lab.
Other program highlights include industry workshops and seminars; industry partnerships; campus-based networking events; professional internships; and participation in the Global Game Jam. Programs culminate with a final project and portfolio. Graduates have secured positions at places such as Disney, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Bungie, Rockstar Games, Brown Bag Films, Sony, Aardman, Blue Zoo Animation Studio, DNEG, Valve Corporation, MPC, Warner Bros., BBC, Cinesite, and Boulder Media.