2024

What are the top Irish schools with animation degree programs?

Top Animation Schools in Ireland - 2024 College Rankings
RankingSchoolCity
1Institute of Art, Design + Technology Dublin
2Ballyfermot College of Further EducationDublin
3Technological University of the ShannonLimerick

Our 2024 rankings of the top animation degree programs in Ireland. 
 

For this ranking we only consider formal degree programs (bachelor's degree or equivalent). For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here

1. Institute of Art, Design + Technology (IADT) Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland
Institute of Art, Design + Technology

Institute of Art, Design + Technology (IADT) Dún Laoghaire is the only school of its kind in Ireland with a specific focus on the technological and creative cultural sectors. Within IADT is the Faculty of Film, Art + Creative Technologies, which houses The National Film School (NFS) and the Departments of Design + Visual Arts; Film + Media; and Technology + Psychology. Across departments, students have access to design, film, technology, and visual arts programs. 

Other faculty features include curriculums that emphasize learning by doing; field trips; established partnerships within the creative, academic, commercial, and cultural sectors; immersive workshops; courses that focus on technology, production, research, and creativity; visiting artists; and access to state-of-the-art facilities, labs, studios, and digital tools. The IADT Faculty of Film, Art + Creative Technologies also provides several paths to study animation: the Animation BA, 3D Animation BA, and the 3D Animation MA. 

The Animation BA is a full-time, four-year program that emphasizes individual and group projects, professional studios, and work placements. Serving up to 30 students, the program consists of four modules that cover areas such as animation principles, technical skills, storyboarding, idea development, scripting, production, character development, visual culture, layout, and background design. Students will work with traditional and digital media to create works. The program culminates with a final studio project, dissertation, and presentation. 

Graduates of the Animation BA program at Institute of Art, Design and Technology Dún Laoghaire have been nominated for Oscars; presented their films at Sundance Film Festival; and animated and produced award-winning TV series. Program alumni have been hired at studios and companies such as Brown Bag Films, Cartoon Saloon, JAM Media, Boulder Media, Weta Workshops, and JibJab. 

The 3D Animation BA program at IADT was developed in partnership with Sheridan College, Toronto. The program explores storytelling, digital design, and the 3D animation pipelines including animation principles, rendering, lighting, character design, and world building. In addition to everything the Animation BA program has to offer, the 3D Animation BA provides the opportunity to study abroad under the Erasmus+ program or complete an internship in Ireland or abroad. 

Course examples for the program include Animating in a Virtual Space; Bringing a Character to Life; New Ways of Seeing; World Building; Advanced Tech Skills and Cinematography for Digital Film; Telling a Story in 3D; and Digital Studies and Research Methodologies. The final year of the 3D Animation BA at Institute of Art, Design + Technology (IADT) Dún Laoghaire culminates with a minor project, major project, and thesis. 

The IADT 3D Animation MA was also developed in partnership with Sheridan College and it is the first master’s degree of its kind in Ireland. Ideal for graduates of Computer Animation, VFX, and Creature Development programs, the 3D Animation MA requires a seven-week course in Research Methods for Creative Practices (in Canada or Ireland) and a 15-week final term at IADT’s Dublin campus. Students can complete any research components for the program abroad. 

Course examples for the IADT Animation MA include Animating in a Virtual Space; Digital Creatures; Bringing a Character to Life; Telling a Story in 3D Preproduction; History of Film and Animation; Issues in Screen Studies; New Media Production; Advanced Tech Skills and Cinematography for Digital Film; and Acting with a Digital Character. 

All IADT Animation MA students benefit from technical and project-based modules; team productions and individual exercises; immersive 3D animation production studios; and portfolio development. This full-time, 18-month program culminates with a final self-directed project that will be presented during IADT’s Exhibition and Showcase in May. 

With a 92% employment rate within a year of graduating, IADT Animation MA alumni are prepared to pursue advanced roles across the animation, film, game, television, and advertising industries. 

Institute of Art, Design + Technology Dún Laoghaire was established on April 1, 1997 as one of the 13 publicly funded Institutes of Technology in Ireland. Serving more than 2,500 students from 50+ countries, the school provides more than 25 program options leading to a certificate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree. Disciplines include Design, Art, Film + Media, Business, Psychology, and Research. IADT is officially recognized by the Department of Education and Skills of Ireland.

2. Ballyfermot College of Further Education, Dublin, Ireland
Ballyfermot College of Further Education

The Animation Department at Ballyfermot College of Further Education (BCFE) has several paths to study animation. Options include Animation Drawing Studies (Level 5 Certificate in Art; the Classical and Computer Animation (CCH) program leading to a certificate (one year) or Higher National Diploma/HND (two years); and the Animation (Visual Media) BA. All BCFE Animation programs feature individual projects; portfolio development; and group projects. 

The Animation Drawing Studies certificate is a year-long foundation program that explores animation layout design, painting, animation drawing, figure studies, multimedia authoring, communications, and sculpture. Upon completion of the program, students are prepared for entry-level positions in the animation industry or for entry into the Classical and Computer Animation program. 

The Classical and Computer Animation HND is a two-year program that explores both computer and traditional hand-drawn animation such as animating for film, television, and games; 3D modeling; and character animation. Course examples for the program include Principles of 2D Animation; Fundamentals of 3D Modeling and Character Animation; Scriptwriting for Animation; 2D Character Animation; Concept Design for Animation; Advanced 3D Modeling and Character Animation; Layout and Storyboarding; Historical and Theoretical Analysis of Animation; and Production Practice. 

Graduates of the CCH HND program at Ballyfermot College of Further Education are prepared to pursue positions in the animation, film, and television industries. Program alumni may also apply to the BCFE Animation (Visual Media) BA. This honors degree is validated by the University of Dundee, Scotland. 

Students in this advanced level program will study Design and Technology; Visual Media Production; Life Drawing; Applied Theory; Professional Practice; and Visual Media Theory. Program features include guest lecturers and workshops by professionals from local and international studios; access to purpose-built studios equipped with Toon Boom Harmony, TVPaint Animation, and Adobe (all students receive a license); and class trips to animation studios and animation festivals such as Cartoon Forum, Fete de l’Anime Lille, and Animation Dingle. 

BCFE BA students will also produce collaborative animated films to be screened at the Animation and Games Graduate Showcase. Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles across the animation industry. Some alumni have launched their own studios, while others have been hired by local and international animation studios. 

BCFE BA alumni have also won a total of nine Academy Award nominations, including Ritchie Baneham and his special effects team for their work on Avatar

Established in 1979 as the Senior College, Ballyfermot, Ballyfermot College of Further Education is a vocational school that provides degree programs across the arts, humanities & social sciences; business; computing digital & data; creative arts & media; and health & science fields. Programs are part of nine departments housed across several structures including the Main Building, Media Building, Arts Building, and the College Sports Hall. Ballyfermot College of Further Education is a constituent College of the City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB).

3. Technological University of the Shannon, Limerick, Ireland
Technological University of the Shannon

Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) is home to Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD). The largest center for art and design outside of Dublin, LSAD provides several paths to study animation. Options include BSc degrees in Digital Animation, and Visual Effects for Film, TV and Animation; an Animation and Illustration BA; and a BA in Animation and Motion Design. 

The LSAD Digital Animation BSc is also part of the TUS Clonmel Digital Campus—a Toon Boom Center of Excellence (COE). Other program features include access to state-of-the art facilities equipped with industry standard software; a mandatory industry-based internship; and collaborative projects. 

The program explores animation for TV, film, and games. Students will take courses such as Visual Design for Animation; Digital Technology Fundamentals; 2D Rigged Animation Techniques; Narrative; Emerging Technologies and Trends; 2D Effects; Flim Studies; and Project Management for Animation. 

The culminating experience for the Digital Animation BSc is the short film, completed across several courses. Graduates are prepared to pursue roles across the animation and games industries. Program alumni hold titles such as 2D and 3D Animator, Storyboard Artist, 3D Modeler, Animation Director, Texture & Lighting Artist, 2D and 3D Rigger, Technical Artist, Compositor, and Art Director. 

The BSc in Visual Effects for Film, TV and Animation at TUS is an industry-focused program developed by professionals from studios such as DNEG, Screen Scene, and Brown Bag Films. Other program features include access to state-of-the-art production facilities; lectures and workshops led by industry professionals from leading animation and visual effects studios; and the opportunity to gain valuable work experience through the programs mandatory 200-hour internship. 

Course examples for the program include Concept Art; 3D Modeling; Creative Coding; Materials and Lighting for Animation; Previsualization and Layout; 3D Animation; Film Studies; Compositing II: Mattes and Motion Graphics; Virtual Reality; Effects Technical Direction; Emerging Technologies and Trends in Digital Media; Short Film/CG Project; and The Entertainment and Media Industry. 

The Visual Effects for Film, TV and Animation BSc program culminates with the Major VFX Project module and Portfolio. Graduates of the program go on toe land positions such as Animation Compositor,

Character Animator, Texture Artist, Character Designer, Technical Director, Creature Animator, VFX Artist, Concept Artist, Production Manager, Creature Modeler, and Digital Matte Painter. 

The Animation and Illustration BA at Technological University of the Shannon is the only program of its kind in Ireland. Program benefits include a module-based curriculum; collaborative projects; and a mandatory industry-based internship. Course examples include Animation 1-3; Storyboarding; Environment Design; Sequential Illustration; Life Drawing 1-4; Scriptwriting; Critical and Contextual Studies; Studio Preparation; and Project Management. The program culminates with a final project and dissertation. 

Graduates of the Animation and Illustration BA program at Technological University of the Shannon are prepared to pursue roles in animation, advertising, television production, and publishing, among others. Program alumni have been hired at major studios in roles such as character designer, animator, comic artist,  VFX compositing artist, storyboard artist, illustrator (publishing), and production management. Some BA alumni have also launched their own studios or freelance businesses. 

The TUS LSAD Animation and Motion Design BA prepares students to produce content for film, television, streaming media services, and the digital and commercial space. The program is delivered in a module format, with the opportunity to complete an internship, study abroad experience, collaborative project or research. Students must pick one. 

Course examples for the program include Drawing for Animation; 2D and 3D Design; Illustration for Motion; Digital Design; Moton Design: Concept; Animation Techniques and Processes; and Stop Motion. 

The Animation and Motion Design BA program at Technological University of the Shannon culminates with the final year project and graduate exhibition at LSAD. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in the animation, film, television, and games industries. Potential titles include 2D Traditional Animator, Storyboard Artist, 3D Animator, Stop-Motion Animator, 2D Background Artist, Concept Designer, Scene Prep Artist, Motion Designer, Character Animator, Compositing Designer, and Digital Media Designer. 

Technological University of the Shannon serves more than 15,000 students across seven campuses throughout Ireland’s Midwest and Midlands region. The school’s main campuses are in Limerick and Athlone. Students at TUS have access to hundreds of programs at all degree levels. Technological University of the Shannon is officially recognized by the Department of Education and Skills of Ireland and accredited by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC).

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