Top 40 Animation Schools and Colleges in Europe - 2025 College Rankings

VIA University College (VIA) houses The Animation Workshop (TAW)—home to the largest animation festival in Denmark. Launched in 1988, TAW provides short programs in everything from Unreal Engine (one week) to 3D Character Animation (10 weeks). Formal training options include BA degrees in Character Animation; Computer Graphic Arts (CGA); and Graphic Storytelling. All TAW students will gain valuable experience working at a production studio such as Aardman or Illumination.

The School of Communication at Royal College of Art (RCA) houses MA programs in Animation and Digital Direction. Both options explore animation, games, film, artificial intelligence (AI), media, STEM disciplines, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), theater, and literature. Graduates of the programs have landed positions at independent and major studios such as DreamWorks, Aardman, and Passion Pictures.

University of the Arts London (UAL) is a Certified Nuke Training Center and an Accredited Toon Boom Center of Excellence. Undergraduate program options include BA degrees in Animation, and Animation and Visual Effects. At the graduate level, UAL students can earn an MA in Animation; Character Animation; or 3D Computer Animation. Graduates are prepared to pursue roles at places such as DreamWorks, Pixar, and Aardman. 

Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art is one of the seven schools at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU). The oldest College of Art and Design in Central Switzerland, the school provides two paths to study animation: the Film BA with a specialization in Animation and an Animation MA. Students in the BA program may focus in 2D or 3D Animation. Across programs, graduates often land positions at major film and animation studios, game design studios, advertising agencies, museums, television networks, and universities.

Teesside University Europe’s first Adobe Creative Campus. The school provides ScreenSkills-recognized programs including a BA in Visual Effects and Motion Graphics; BA and MA degrees in Animation, 2D Animation and Stop Motion, and Concept Art; and a SideFX Certified Visual Effects MA. All animation programs culminate with a film sequence or short film. Graduates have been hired at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Blue Zoo Animation Studio, Rockstar North, Animal Logic, and Imaginarium Productions.

Escape Studios London (Escape Studios) was the first Unreal Authorized Training Center in the UK. Also a Houdini Certified School, Escape Studios provides a BA/MArt in The Art of Computer Animation (2D or 3D); the BSc MSci in Character Creation for Animation, Games and VFX; a 3D Animation MA; and an MA in Character and Creature Creation. Graduates have worked on productions such as Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Avengers.

University of Hertfordshire (UH) provides an extensive list of SideFX accredited programs. Examples include BA degrees in 2D Digital Animation, 3D Animation and Visual Effects (VFX), and Digital Arts for Animation, Games, and Immersion; the BSc in Digital Technologies for Animation, Games, and Immersion; and MA degrees in Animation, 3D Modeling and VFX, and Character and Creature Animation. With a 96.5% employment rate, program alumni have been hired at places such as Sony Pictures Animation, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and Blue Zoo Animation Studio. 

Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) has several paths to study animation. Undergraduate options include BA degrees in with tracks in Animation and Illustration. At the graduate level, students can earn a master’s in Animation Design. Across programs, students benefit from partnerships with Adobe, Toon Boom, and Wacom. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles in animation, illustration, live-action films, game art and design, visual effects (VFX), television production, advertising, research, and art education.

Academy of Media Arts Cologne (KHM) has two paths to study animation including the Media Art MFA and PhD. Students in both programs may focus Animation/3D Animation; Experimental Film; or Storytelling; among other areas. All KHM students will have the opportunity to complete four individual projects to be included in their professional portfolios. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles in the entertainment industry, game design, and education.

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, and BSc in Computer Games Design with a focus in Animation. Graduates have been hired at places such as Disney, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Sony, MPC, Brown Bag Films, DNEG, Blue Zoo Animation Studio, Cinesite, and Aardman. 

University of Portsmouth (UoP) is accredited by SideFX as a Houdini Certified School. Program options include an Animation BA; the BSc in Computer Animation and Visual Effects (VFX); and a Computer Animation MSc. Program alumni go on to work at independent and major studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Cartoon Network, Sony Pictures Animation, Framestore, MPC, DNEG, The Mill, Kuju Games, Milk VFX, and Centroid Motion Capture.

ISART Digital (ISART) houses a Cinema Animation 3D/VFX program that leads to a master’s degree. Provided at the school’s Paris, France and Montreal, Canada campuses, the program takes place in a professional production studio environment, with opportunities spend one month to a year in Japan at partner universities such as Tokyo University of Technology (TUT) and Niigata Computer College. With a 90% employment rate, graduates have been hired at places such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Sony Pictures Imageworks, and DNEG. 

The School of Innovation and Technology at Glasgow School of Art (GSA) houses a BSc in Immersive Systems Design with a specialization in 3D Modeling. This technology-focused program explores 3D modeling for animation, digital games, visual effects (VFX), and augment and virtual reality (AR/VR). All students have opportunities to work with GSA partners such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Sony. Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles in the entertainment and games industries. 

Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME) provides two paths BA and MA degrees in Animation. The Animation BA is a project-based program that consists of 12 modules completed over three years.  Taught entirely in English, the MA is a two-year program housed in MOME Media Institute. The MOME Animation MA program takes two years to complete, full-time. Animation graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles across the animation, games, film, and television industries. 

The Cinema and Media Arts Department at Universidade Lusófona provides two paths to study animation: the Digital Animation bachelor which explores 2D, 3D, and traditional animation techniques, and Animation Arts masters, which focuses on producing and directing animated films. Across programs, graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles in animated filmmaking, VR/AR, animation research, video mapping, animation research, and art education. 

The School of Media at HKU University of the Arts (HKU) houses an Animation BA program that provides opportunities to create animations for the Dutch television program Twee voor Twaalf, and present student films at the Netherlands Film Festival or animation festivals such as Kaboom and Playgrounds graduates are prepared to pursue careers in animation for films, game art, animation for television, AR/VR, 3D legal and medical animation, aerospace and military 3D animation, and visual effects (VFX). 

University of South Wales (USW) houses Film and TV School Wales. A collaborative initiative with Screen Alliance Wales, the school provides an Animation MA, and BA degrees in Animation (2D and Stop Motion) and Computer Animation. Students in all programs benefit from partnerships with interactive entertainment companies such as Epic Games, and internships with Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Lucasfilm, and MPC. Graduates have been hired at places such as Sony Pictures Imageworks, DreamWorks Animation, ILM, Ubisoft, Microsoft, Rockstar Games, EA Games, and DNEG.

Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Arts Decoratifs (ENSAD) provides both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Animation. The undergraduate program can be completed in three years. Upon completion, students may advance to the two-year graduate program. The bachelor’s program culminates with a final work known as the Big Project. Graduate students will produce a final film known as the Grand Project. ENSAD animation alumni are prepared to pursue leadership roles in the entertainment industry. 

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD) is school within University of Dundee. Located in the UK’s first and only UNESCO City of Design, DJCAD has two paths to study animation including the Animation BDes, and the MSc in Animation and VFX. All students will graduate with individual showreels and several group short films showcasing their best work. Graduates are prepared to pursue positions in all areas of animation for film, television, and games. Graduates have worked on major productions such as Game of Thrones, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Jurassic World Dominion, and The Mandalorian.

Norwich University of the Arts (Norwich) has several paths to study animation. Undergraduates can earn a BA in Animation or Animation and Visual Effects. Students seeking a graduate degree can earn an Animation MA. These full-time programs provide opportunities to attend masterclasses and interact with guest lecturers from studios such as Lucasfilm, Universal, Walt Disney Animation, and Warner Bros. Norwich Animation graduates enjoy a 92% employment rate within six month of graduating. Program alumni have gone on to work on films such as John Wick: Chapter 4, and at studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) Epic Games, DNEG, Framestore, The Mill, Untold Studios, and Light VFX.