Master of Arts in Animation

at University of the West of England - Bristol - City Campus United Kingdom

Art and industry combine on this innovative, practice-based postgraduate course, designed to develop your creative promise, deepen your experience of photography and moving image, and optimise both your artistic and professional potential.

Taught by award-winning artists, photographers and leading academics in the field, our distinctive, practice-based MA in Photography will allow you to explore the diverse applications of the medium, and to deepen your understanding of photography as a discipline.

Through a course of intensive study, creative practice, and professional engagement, you will develop the passion that brought you to photography in the first place, and will be supported in the development and production of innovative work, whilst also building skills to maximise and contextualise your creative outputs.

This course is affiliated with the leading professional body for photographers in the UK and beyond, the Association of Photographers.

Why study photography?

• Images are everywhere. Studying photography enables you to understand the language of images and develop your 'visual voice' to communicate effectively and with confidence.
• It helps you understand the contexts in which images exist and circulate, and locate opportunities to get your images published, exhibited and commissioned.
• Becoming a photography professional opens doors to a wide range of careers within a global landscape of creative industries.

Why UWE Bristol?

• BA(Hons) Photography is based in the city of Bristol, a vibrant arts and media community that will challenge and inspire you.
• The course offers a vibrant, collaborative environment, modern facilities, supportive workshop instruction and expert input, all underpinned by theory and critique.
• Study at Bower Ashton Studios, part of our City Campus, where exceptional facilities and resources include industry standard digital media studios.
• Explore traditional tools and the latest technology in our production and fabrication workshops. Develop your creativity and the high-level practical skills needed to become a successful photographer. Work across all areas of the discipline, from editorial and documentary to fashion, advertising and fine art.
• We'll encourage you to transform your broad-based photographic practice into an individual visual style. On graduation, you'll have a unique and compelling body of work for the marketplace.
• Work to briefs set and assessed by external individuals and organisations, including photographers, filmmakers, publishers, clothing labels, product designers, theatre groups, musicians and festivals. Build your CV with work experience, and access to job opportunities, throughout the course.  
• Our partnerships with Bristol Photography Festival and IC Visual Lab, two highly reputable Bristol-based photography organisations with national and international influence, will provide you with a wide range of work experience placements and live briefs to work on. You'll also have access to industry talks, events and opportunities to display your work at prestigious exhibitions and venues.

Where can it take me?

• Our graduates work in fields from editorial and fashion to movie stills and medical photography. Employers include the BBC, Sunday Times Magazine and the Tate.  
• Past students have assisted photographers such as Steve McCurry, Zed Nelson and Tim Walker, and have been published and exhibited in FT Weekend, Vogue Italia, Oh Comely, The Photographers Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and the Tate.
• Graduates have also established important collectives and exhibiting networks such as The Lost Light Recordings, Loupe Magazine and Splash and Grab.
• Some graduates go on to further study at Master's level, including our own postgraduate MA Photography programme

Study in a renowned contemporary arts venue and take one of two available pathways - Fine Art or Art and Writing - to choose your creative direction.

Why study fine art?

• Fine Art sits at the centre of the UK's dynamic art scene. Showcased through collectives, galleries and public spaces, contemporary art generates powerful new ideas and platforms for debate.
• Artists develop ideas by making them visible, playing active roles in society as cultural commentators, teachers and activists. In addition to established artists' networks, contemporary art is circulated by curators, commissioners, and the private sector.
• Working as an artist is social, practical, and theoretical, and can involve you in an exciting range of cultural and educational activities in the UK and abroad.

Why UWE Bristol?

BA(Hons) Fine Art is a studio-centered course based at Spike Island, an internationally renowned contemporary art venue in the heart of Bristol. It's a vibrant creative environment where you'll get to connect with professional artists.

Benefit from free studio space and a range of work and volunteering opportunities, as well as excellent facilities at Bower Ashton Studios.

Choose from two pathways - Fine Art or Art and Writing.

• Fine Art develops your practice in areas such as painting, sculpture, installation, performance, video and digital media.
• Art and Writing critically engages you with your practice as you produce art works and written text, underpinned by theoretical perspectives.If chosen you will graduate with BA(Hons) Art and Writing.

All our staff are active practitioners, with the conceptual, technical and professional skills to support a wide variety of approaches.

Our City Campus is a creative powerhouse. It spans across Bristol, and is made up of Bower Ashton plus renowned contemporary arts centres Spike Island, Arnolfini and Watershed.

We have strong links with many of the city's arts organisations, providing opportunities to exhibit, network, take part in projects and build your profile.

Tailoring the course towards your particular interests, you'll have the chance to work in any medium at any point in your studies, explore different avenues and shape your own professional journey.

Showcase your work to talent scouts and potential employers at our popular Creative Industries Degree Show and graduate with an impressive portfolio of work.

Where can it take me?

• Our students are regularly selected for fellowships and national competitions, including New Contemporaries, a platform for emerging artists.
• Benefit from opportunities to apply for British Council Venice Fellowships, Spike Island Graduate Fellowships, and Spike Associates Bursaries.
• Students recently took part in Tate Exchange, a public-facing performance event at Tate Modern, and staged events at Arnolfini and Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.
• UWE Bristol's fine art graduates possess skills and strengths that are important to a wide range of employers. Many are naturally entrepreneurial.
• Many go on to careers as artists, designers, curators, arts administrators and educators, or to postgraduate study such as master's degrees or teacher training.

This industry-led master's course offers you the opportunity to explore the politics, business and culture of immersive technologies. You will learn practical skills and develop your craft as a pioneering storyteller in virtual, augmented and extended realities.

MA Virtual and Extended Realities is an industry-led course designed to address increased demand for expertise in immersive storytelling. The course is open to passionate graduates who want to enter the radical world of virtual, augmented and extended reality production.

We welcome students from all disciplines and backgrounds, and are looking for people with ideas about how their unique perspective and diverse experiences can contribute to this young and fast-evolving industry.

Your background may be in journalism, filmmaking, experience design, education, marketing or theatre. Perhaps your specialism is in storytelling, software, sound design or circus.

Whatever you bring to the mix, this is a place for independent thinkers who thrive in experimental, collaborative and hands-on learning environments.

Why study this course?
Virtual and Extended Realities is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. There is a recognised shortage of graduates with the skills and experience needed to support transformation in every sector.

Why UWE Bristol?

• In this one-year, full time course, you'll combine theory and critical thinking with practical experimentation. Throughout the year, you'll learn from pioneering thought-leaders and work with internationally significant industry partners. This collaboration will allow you to create innovative work in virtual and extended realities.
• Previous partners include BBC R&D, Royal Opera House, English Institute of Sport and Ultraleap. You'll also benefit from the support of a personal mentor, hand-picked from our research and professional networks to support your development.

Build an impressive portfolio, real-world experience, project management skills and the technical expertise needed for a successful career in interior design.

Why study interior design?

• Interior design is an exciting field that bridges the boundaries between architecture, art and design.
• Interior designers take a holistic approach to space, designing every element from structural interventions to specifying materials. Working to a level similar to that of an architect, they design for the retail industry, commercial offices, art galleries, private homes and the hotel and leisure sector.
• Working in this industry is exciting and varied. To succeed, you'll need creative flair, professional acumen and real practical skills.

Why UWE Bristol?

• BA(Hons) Interior Design degree teaches you the professional skills you need to work in the interior design industry.
• You'll be based at Bower Ashton Studios, as part of our City Campus, which includes renowned contemporary arts centres Spike Island, Arnolfini and Watershed. Exceptional facilities and resources include industry standard digital studios and fabrication workshops.
• This is a technical learning course, with a focus on lighting, heating, ventilation and acoustics. You'll learn to work with traditional tools and the latest technology, and develop the skills to design lighting, furniture, materials and entire interior projects.
• Learn to view spaces differently and seek new design opportunities within them. Push the boundaries of what interior design means and what it can achieve.
• Regular guest lectures and events will help you explore work opportunities. Develop your own independent projects and follow live briefs set and assessed by professionals in the field. This Interior Design course gives you the opportunity to spend a year in industry gaining real-world experience. You can also take on work experience and placements throughout the degree, including international exchange.
• Focusing on the areas that most interest you, you'll graduate with an impressive portfolio, and the skills to succeed as an interior designer.

Where can it take me?

• This Interior Design degree course offers excellent preparation for a professional career in commercial and domestic interiors, retail, leisure and exhibition design.
• You could also choose to specialize in furniture, product or lighting design, materials or architecture-scale projects.
• You could go onto postgraduate study, including our MA Design.
• Read how Emily's three-month placement is boosting her confidence and employability.

Build an impressive portfolio, real-world experience, project management skills and the technical expertise needed for a successful career in interior design.

Why study interior design?

• Interior design is an exciting field that bridges the boundaries between architecture, art and design.
• Interior designers take a holistic approach to space, designing every element from structural interventions to specifying materials. Working to a level similar to that of an architect, they design for the retail industry, commercial offices, art galleries, private homes and the hotel and leisure sector.
• Working in this industry is exciting and varied. To succeed, you'll need creative flair, professional acumen and real practical skills.

Why UWE Bristol?

• BA(Hons) Interior Design degree teaches you the professional skills you need to work in the interior design industry.
• You'll be based at Bower Ashton Studios, as part of our City Campus, which includes renowned contemporary arts centres Spike Island, Arnolfini and Watershed. Exceptional facilities and resources include industry-standard digital studios and fabrication workshops.
• This is a technical learning course, with a focus on lighting, heating, ventilation and acoustics. You'll learn to work with traditional tools and the latest technology, and develop the skills to design lighting, furniture, materials and entire interior projects.
• Learn to view spaces differently and seek new design opportunities within them. Push the boundaries of what interior design means and what it can achieve.
• Regular guest lectures and events will help you explore work opportunities. Develop your own independent projects and follow live briefs set and assessed by professionals in the field. This Interior Design course gives you the opportunity to spend a year in industry gaining real-world experience. You can also take on work experience and placements throughout the degree, including international exchange.
• Focusing on the areas that most interest you, you'll graduate with an impressive portfolio, and the skills to succeed as an interior designer.

Where can it take me?

• This Interior Design degree course offers excellent preparation for a professional career in commercial and domestic interiors, retail, leisure and exhibition design.
• You could also choose to specialize in furniture, product or lighting design, materials or architecture-scale projects.
• You could go onto postgraduate study, including our MA Design.
• Read how Emily's three-month placement is boosting her confidence and employability.

Explore the screen industry, tap into Bristol's vibrant creative sector, and build an excellent foundation for working on documentaries, feature films, TV and new platforms.

Why study screen business?

• The UK screen industry is booming, with companies like Netflix and Amazon investing huge amounts in creating original UK dramas and content.
• New platforms are also opening up new opportunities, and producers are needed to meet the ongoing demand for high-quality screen-based content in the digital space, animations and video games, as well as in TV and films.

Why UWE Bristol?

• MA Screen Business is firmly embedded in Bristol's vibrant creative sector and is delivered in partnership with Watershed, the leading film culture and digital media centre in the South West.
• Exploring the structure and operations that make up the contemporary global screen industries, you'll learn about areas such as production, distribution and exhibition, as well as the marketing and reception of film and TV.
• Studying this in Bristol, a UNESCO City of Film, means you'll be part of the city's rapidly expanding screen business sector, the third largest in the UK.
• Bristol is home to the BBC's world-famous Natural History Unit, Aardman Animations, the Bottle Yard Studios, and many leading independent production companies, as well as being one of two Channel 4 regional hubs, and the new production base for Netflix.
• The course draws on UWE Bristol's strong reputation in film studies and filmmaking, and the renowned research of our film and cultural studies staff.
• You'll learn about creative entrepreneurship and the practicalities of establishing yourself as a successful producer.
• There'll be opportunities to network with other future creative leaders, working alongside students on our other postgraduate screen courses.
• We hope to arrange a field trip to an international film festival, subject to Covid restrictions.
• Where possible, the course will include company visits and guest lectures by leading industry experts.

Where can it take me?

• You'll develop the skills to work on documentaries, feature films, TV and new platforms, as a production manager, line producer or production assistant.
• You could go into areas such as finance, distribution or exhibition in an established screen business, or set up your own start-up. Or progress onto further research or teaching.

This course was developed alongside industry experts and has produced Graduate Fashion Week award-winners across several categories.

Why study fashion communication?

• The fashion industry employs over 400,000 people in the UK alone, and engages and inspires global audiences through diverse media.
• Fashion brands use a range of platforms and techniques to speak to existing and new customers. To do this, they need professionals with a solid understanding of contemporary culture and fashion.
• Studying fashion communication will introduce you to a variety of roles and specialisms. The knowledge and network you develop will open the door to many careers, including art direction, fashion film, social media, advertising, marketing, copywriting, photography, event management, styling, social media, branding and more.

Why UWE Bristol?

• BA(Hons) Fashion Communication is a creative interdisciplinary course based at Arnolfini, one of Europe's leading centres for the contemporary arts.
• Our staff are industry experts and have strong relationships with the fashion industry so you'll benefit from regular input from fashion professionals.
• Exceptional facilities and resources include industry-standard digital media studios. Production and fabrication workshops offer a combination of traditional tools and the latest technology.
• Discover approaches towards communicating and promoting fashion. Work with photography, digital media and film to explore ideas around fashion and its global dissemination.
• Study and apply branding, market analysis and PR to your creative work and investigate the use of digital marketing strategies, future trends and technology's role in fashion.
• Apply new ideas through project development, which can include online marketing campaigns, promotional films or publications. Demonstrate your creativity and fashion knowledge through an extended independent design project.
• We work closely with industry specialists to keep the curriculum current and relevant to industry. Develop professional and entrepreneurial skills, and participate in live briefs and collaborative projects with industry professionals.
• Go on visits to workplaces and sector events where you'll see the fashion industry in action. Gain valuable experience through professional practice and internships.
• City Campus is a creative powerhouse that spans the city of Bristol and is made up of Bower Ashton, Spike Island, Arnolfini and Watershed.
• Showcase your work to talent scouts and potential employers at the final year Creative Industries Degree Show, and exhibitions in London.
• Focusing on the avenues that most interest you, through your modules and assessments, you'll graduate with an impressive portfolio of work, ready to take your place in the fashion industry.

Where can it take me?

• Fashion communication can take you in many directions.
• Potential careers include photographer, stylist, trend forecaster, fashion editor, brand manager, online marketeer, online visual merchandiser and events manager.

Make your own films, tap into Bristol's vibrant indie film sector, and develop the skills and network to succeed as a documentary filmmaker.

Why study screen production (documentary)?

• Documentary filmmaking is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the screen economy.
• From feature length films to short online content, documentaries offer a powerful tool for storytelling, and engaging audiences in diverse subjects and causes.
• New platforms and channels are opening up new opportunities for filmmakers to create documentaries for broadcast, web and film distribution.

Why UWE Bristol?

• Aimed at students with some experience of film and video-making already, our MA Screen Production (Documentary) offers you access to expert support and industry-level facilities to take your work to the next level.
• Covering the huge breadth of forms of documentary, you'll study wide-ranging filmmaking practices and apply these to producing your own films.
• The course is practice-focused, expanding your experience of documentary filmmaking, and training you to be a 'thinking documentary filmmaker', as you learn from the work of great documentarists.
• This course is integrated into the buoyant documentary sector of Bristol's audiovisual economy, where Channel 4 recently opened its regional hub, and commissioners are investing in documentary projects.
• Some of the fastest growing indies in the UK, such as Plimsoll, Drummer, Silverback and Icon Films are based here and we work closely with local companies, as well as the BBC, to offer you varied production opportunities.
• Working with Bristol Business School, you'll also build the skills you need to operate as a freelance, self-employed documentary filmmaker.
• There'll be opportunities to network with other future creative leaders, working alongside students on our other postgraduate screen MAs.
• The course includes company visits and guest lectures by leading industry experts.

Where can it take me?

• You'll be equipped to follow a wide range of careers in the increasingly diverse field of documentary filmmaking, working for broadcasters or setting up your own independent film company.
• You're most likely to first secure work as a researcher or production team associate in a larger production company, before seeking commissions to make your own documentaries.

Gain valuable practical experience through live briefs, group work, placements and networking events and graduate ready to make your mark in the industry.

Why study animation?

• Animation is a broad creative subject that offers opportunities to all kinds of creatives, including storytellers, designers, artists, technologists and performers.
• It reaches audiences young and old right across the globe. It educates, entertains and informs. It shows us things we could never see with our own eyes; buildings not yet built, the workings of a heart, a dying star.
• It can help us visualise the dynamics of an unfolding news event, place long-extinct creatures into your very hands, and breathe life into those that have never existed.

Why UWE Bristol?

• BA(Hons) Animation is based in the Bristol School of Animation at Bower Ashton Studios, part of our City Campus. Our new animation studio spaces and facilities include digital media studios, production studios and fabrication workshops, offering both traditional tools and the latest technology.
• Studying this in Bristol means you'll be based in a centre of animation production excellence in Europe, with our animation courses forming an integral part of the city's success.
• This practice-based production degree not only develops your creative flair but also provides you with highly sought-after technical skills.
• Learn through making using industry-standard equipment. Practical work is balanced by theoretical study, work experience and research activities, all designed to prepare you for work in a commercial environment. Live briefs, work-based placements and networking events support your transition into professional practice.
• Join a long-established, highly creative animation community in which students are known and valued for their individual creative flair. You'll be taught by a team with extensive commercial animation experience, with regular contributions from commercial practitioners. This, coupled with our strong links with the UK's major animation companies, will ensure you benefit from professional expertise throughout the course.
• Our City Campus is a creative powerhouse. It spans Bristol and is made up of Bower Ashton and renowned contemporary arts centres Spike Island, Arnolfini and Watershed.
• Be a part of Bristol's vibrant arts and cultural scene and make friendships that continue long after graduation, developing into partnerships, startups and larger businesses.
• Showcase your work through our online presence, regular networking events and final year Creative Industries Degree Show to impress talent scouts and potential employers.
• Focus on the avenues that most interest you, and graduate with an impressive portfolio of work.
• See some of the work our students produced over the past few years, including a recent project with Avon and Somerset Police.

Where can it take me?

• Animation is a growing sector that extends way beyond traditional TV based media, one that will continue to need a wide range of creatives of all kinds.
• Our graduates have gone on to form careers in the animation industry, graphic design, computer games, illustration and so on, both throughout the UK and across the world.
• Some choose further study at master's level, including our own MA in Animation.
• Read about our graduate Elise's career in stop-motion animation and Sam's career in digital animation.