BA Animation With Foundation Year
About this course
BA (Hons) Animation With Foundation Year is a four-year undergraduate degree centred on animation production, digital design, and creative practice. Core topics include Programming, Research Methods, Ethics & Professional Practice, and Design & Creative Practice. The course includes a compulsory foundation year designed to build baseline creative skills, establish a portfolio, and provide a transition period before progressing onto the main degree pathway. Year 0 establishes foundational capabilities through Digital Media Applications, Creative Methods, Introduction to the Creative Industries, and Creative Risk Taking. Year 1 introduces core principles via Animation 101, Introduction to Creative Play, Animation Context, and Animation 102. Year 2 develops specialised competencies through Performance and Character, Games and Virtual Worlds, Specialist Animation Studies, and Engagement Challenge. Year 3 concludes with advanced studio production and portfolio creation through Negotiated Project - Phase One, Research Project, Negotiated Project - Phase Two, and Showreel and Professional Engagement.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
GCSE: English Language and Maths at grade C/level 4 or above (or equivalent). You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the requirements listed below. UCAS tariff: 64 UCAS points. A level: 64 UCAS points. T level: Pass: D or E in core subject. BTEC: MPP Access to HE: Pass Level 3 Access to HE Diploma with 64 UCAS points. Scottish Highers: 64 UCAS points. Irish Leaving Certificate: 64 UCAS points. IB: 24 points. European Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 60% overall.
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What students say
Based on about 254 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 86%
- Learning opportunities: 83%
- Assessment and feedback: 84%
- Academic support: 87%
- Organisation and management: 69%
- Learning resources: 88%
- Student voice: 73%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 400 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 9%
What graduates do next
Based on about 88 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 77%
- Working and studying: 9%
- Further study: 2%
- Unemployed: 7%
Most common jobs
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 32%
- Sales occupations: 14%
- Elementary occupations: 14%
- Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations: 5%
- Skilled trades occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 69%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 51%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 29%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 55 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 5%
- North West: 78%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 3%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 2%
- London: 3%
- South East: 1%
- Wales: 2%
- Northern Ireland: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 85%
- Access course: 10%
- No formal qualifications: 10%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Digital Media Applications
- Creative Methods
- Introduction to the Creative Industries
- Creative Practice Major Project
- Introduction to Creative Coding
- Creative Risk Taking
- Animation 101
- Introduction to Creative Play
- Animation Context
- Animation 102
- Storytelling: Script to Screen
- Art of Animation
- Performance and Character
- Games and Virtual Worlds
- Specialist Animation Studies
- Engagement Challenge
- Motion Design for Visual Communication
- Negotiated Project - Phase One
- Research Project
- Negotiated Project - Phase Two
- ‘Making Of’ - Negotiated Project
- Showreel and Professional Engagement
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Animation With Foundation Year at University of Salford earn?
The median salary is £25,000 after 15 months, £18,000 after 3 years, £22,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £16,500 and £28,000. The £22,000 median after five years is £1,500 less than the UK median for Cinematics and photography.
What do graduates of BA Animation With Foundation Year at University of Salford do next?
88% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Animation With Foundation Year at University of Salford?
86% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Animation With Foundation Year at University of Salford?
The typical offer is 24 points in the IB. The average entrant had 135 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Animation With Foundation Year at University of Salford?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 9% left higher education.