Animation embraces a creative, practical approach to all aspects of Animation, including drawn and imaged 2D Animation, 3D Modelling and Animation , Stop-Motion 16mm Animation, Digital Video Editing and Composition, Storytelling and Motion Graphics.

Animation is offered as a Joint or Minor Programme, intended to be studied in combination with a related Major or Minor Programme such as Photography, Graphic Design, or Illustration.

• The programme offers a broad interpretation of Animation as an expressive arts form
• We seek to encourage students to value the relationship between traditional and digital technologies, situating their work appropriately within the context of contemporary practice as Animators, Film-makers and Artists.
• Students wishing to study for a Single Honours in Animation should choose the BA Moving Image Single Honours programme, as this includes Animation as a core subject, and the curriculum is designed to support Moving Image Animators.

The programme can be studied full-time for 3 years or for 5 years in part-time mode. It has a modular structure that enables students to study it as a Joint or Minor honours programme. This allows combinations to be built with its sister programmes in Digital Arts and Visual Communication and also other programmes in the School of Architecture and The Visual Arts or within UEL as part of our Combined Honours menu.

The learning environment is centred on the individual, with Learning outcomes directly aligned with the assessment criteria, and following headings outline the components within the teaching and learning strategy.

Group Projects

Programme work where you work as part of a team with a group of your peers

Studio Project work

Studio based work undertaken by an individual or group of students in collaboration with project tutors. It includes an intro briefing, discussion on progress and development of ideas

Professional Practice

Students are encouraged to develop a strong ethos and understanding of professional practice; this can take the form of work placements, study visits, exhibitions, international exchanges, visiting professionals talks, etc.

Self-Initiated work

These are structured projects based on your own written proposal, agreed and discussed with your programme or module tutor with agreed aims and outcomes.

Seminars

These are small mixed sessions (from one or more area, or year group), discussing a project or contextual issue and sharing views and experiences.

Lectures

Group teaching of your year or with other year groups at the same time, usually around a particular topic delivered by one or more tutors

Workshops

Practical demonstrations and hands on learning takes place, as well as facilitation of your own self-initiated projects. Introductory workshops are normally undertaken in relation to project work as part of the module. Later in the programme, project proposal forms identify your needs and these are agreed with your programmme staff and the technical demonstrators. These are available in keeping with access and entitlement as well as satisfying Health and Safety requirements.

Study visits

These are trips to external venues such as museums or relevant places often as part of a module or project but can be whole year groups with tutors identified as responsible for the visit.

E-Learning

E-learning is an important component of learning and teaching on this programme. Information and communication for the programme and modules is updated on UELPlus, the University Virtual Learning Environment, which is based on Blackboard Vista. You will also engage in Projects and assignments through a variety of e-learning resources including the development of Wiki's, blogs, online journals and website portfolios.

The programme has a mixed menu of 20 and 40 credit modules which vary in their assessment.  Students will be required to present work for assessment in the form of exhibition, portfolio presentation, oral presentation or in the form of an evaluative learning journal or essay.
20 credit modules are assessed at the end of each semester and 40 credit modules are assessed at the end of each year, with the marks from year 2 and 3 used to formulate the final degree award.

The programme contains a professional practice element which offers students a variety of opportunities to undertake or engage in aspects of the professional arena.  This includes visits from renowned professionals, work placements or exhibition opportunities and the chance to undertake a foreign study trip.

In First Year all modules are project based, however as your practice develops you are encouraged to undertake more independent work, and in third year you will initiate and undertake your own independent projects.

You will be taught by first class practicing artists and designers. The programme is sited in the purpose built Architecture and Visual Arts building on our landmark Docklands Campus. This is in turn situated in the creative heartland of London, an area of exciting new media activity, and the home of many of the newer galleries. The area is undergoing dynamic regeneration and change as preparation for the 2012 Olympics. The campus is adjacent to the Excel Exhibition Centre, Canary Wharf, and London City airport.

• develop practical, historical and theoretical understanding of Animation.
• access your imagination and develop your creative identity.
• establish key transferable and employability skills.
• develop a trans-media approach to professional practices.

Knowledge

• Historical, theoretical and ethical positions. (joint and minor)
• Develop an understanding of the power of Animation (joint and minor)
• Understanding the creative potential of Animation (joint and minor)
• Understanding the relation to developing technologies. (joint and minor)

Thinking skills

• Self reflection/analysis and critical awareness (joint and minor)
• Creative thinking and invention. (joint and minor)
• Visual research skills. (joint and minor)

Subject-Based Practical skills

• Production and studio practice (joint and minor)
• Technical aptitude (joint and minor)
• Health and safety awareness (joint and minor)
• Format and presentation (joint and minor)

Skills for life and work (general skills)

• Time management (participation, working to deadlines etc.) (joint and minor)
• Working within groups (collaborative, work experience) (joint and minor)
• Interpersonal skills (Client awareness, etc.) (joint and minor)

The expected duration of this programme is 3 years when attended in full-time mode or 5 years in part-time mode. It is possible to move from a full-time mode of study to a part-time mode of study and vice-versa, to accommodate any external factors such as financial constraints or domestic commitments. Many of our students make use of this flexibility and this may impact on the overall duration of their study period.

The teaching year begins in September and ends in June but some programmes also allow students to join at the start of Semester B, in February. A student, normally registering for 6 modules in one year (3 modules in each Semester) would do so in a full-time attendance mode of study and a student registering for up to 4 modules in one year (2 modules in each Semester) would do so in part-time attendance mode of study.

This programme is part of a modular degree scheme. A student registered in a full-time attendance mode will take six 20 credit modules per year. An honours degree student will complete six modules at level one, six at level 2 and six at level 3.

It is possible to bring together modules from one field with modules from another to produce a combined programme. Subjects are offered in a variety of combinations:

• Single 120 credits at levels one, two and three
• Major 80 credits at levels one, two and three
• Joint 60 credits at levels one, two and three
• Minor 40 credits at levels one, two and three.

Modules are defined as:

• Core Must be taken
• Option Select from a range of identified module within the field
• University Wide Option Select from a wide range of university wide options

The following are the core and optional requirements for the single, major, joint and minor routes for this programme

In order to gain an honours degree you will need to obtain 360 credits including:

• A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain an ordinary degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 300 credits including:

• A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
• A minimum of 60 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain a Diploma of Higher Education you will need to obtain at least 240 credits including a minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher and 120 credits at level two or higher

In order to gain a Certificate of Higher Education you will need to obtain 120 credits at level one or higher

In order to gain an Associate Certificate you will need to obtain a minimum if 20 credits at level one or higher

In order to gain a Foundation Degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 240 credits including:

A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
(A Foundation degree is linked to a named Honours degree onto which a student may progress after successful completion of the Foundation degree)

Knowledge is developed through

• Workshops and demonstrations
• Tutorials and seminars
• Professional practice talks
• Exhibitions and Gallery visits

Thinking skills are developed through

• Tutorials and seminars
• Independent, creative practice
• Project work

Practical skills are developed through

• Workshop introductions
• Projects based on genres
• Professional practice talks
• Study visits

Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through

• Professional practice talks
• Work placements
• Group projects
• Study visits

Knowledge is assessed by

• Oral presentation of ideas during seminars, tutorials and at the end of each module.
• Portfolio and research folder presentation at the end of each module.
• Breadth and Depth of research work

Thinking skills are assessed by

• Oral presentation of ideas during seminars, tutorials and at the end of each module.
• Portfolio and research folder presentation at the end of each module.
• Innovation and lateral thinking displayed in realisation of work in relation to research material

Practical skills are assessed by

• Continuous monitoring of workshop progress
• Presentation of portfolio at the end of each module

  Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by

• Participation in workshops, seminars , tutorials and meetings
• Time management in relation to meeting project deadlines etc.
• Engagement in professional practice components of the programme, placements, group activities etc.

Before this programme started, the following was checked:

• there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
• adequate resources would be in place;
• the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
• the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
• the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
• the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.

This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.