Animation and Illustration Level 3
Do you want to create exciting worlds full of amazing stories and characters? Animation and illustration are two constantly developing and exciting areas of the creative industries; animators and illustrators are employed to create characters, animations and visuals for films and television, social media, advertising, games concepts and many other areas.
The Animation and Illustration UAL Diploma / Extended Diploma Level 3 course is designed for students with an art and design or graphics background who have a real enthusiasm for drawing and making. Applicants should enjoy learning about illustration and animation and have an interest in visual culture.
What Will I Learn?
This exciting programme has been developed to introduce a range of animation and illustration techniques. Through inventive projects, you will develop digital and traditional skills that are highly desirable and recognised in the industry. You’ll also learn about research and analysis and get the chance to find out what’s going on in the world of animation through visiting festivals and exhibitions.
During the diploma programme, you will complete eight core units helping you to develop research and evaluative skills alongside practical and technical competencies.
You will explore sequence and simple narrative through alternative approaches to drawing and mixed media experimentation. The programme will introduce art and design contexts and research methods, enabling you to start to make connections with the work of other artists, illustrators and animators.
Projects are varied and wide-ranging enabling you to identify and develop personal interests whether they be in Illustration, 2D Character Design, 3D Modelling & Design, Stop motion, frame animation, Cut Out Animation, Critical Thinking Skills, Concept Art, Comic book art, Sequential and Narrative Art. You will produce a variety of work suitable for developing the right portfolio to progress onto a variety of Higher Education Courses in moving images and the sequential arts. Depending on your grades on entry you will also engage in activities to develop your English and maths as well as GAP activities to develop your employability skills.
The course supports learners to develop presentation and communication skills through group discussion tasks and exhibition opportunities. Learners are also given the opportunity to develop employability skills and industry knowledge through ‘live’ projects with community groups and organisations.
Course Content
Animation and Illustration UAL Diploma / Extended Diploma Level 3 modules include;
- The Creative Process
- Developing Creative Practice
- Responding to a set Brief
- Researching a Specialist Industry Practice
- Specialist Technical Skills Development
- Specialist Creative Outcome
Sessions will involve practical demonstrations, workshop activities, group work, seminars and individual tutorials. You’ll work in a variety of art and design workshops and digital studios.
Entry Requirements
- 5 GCSEs (9-4), including English and Maths plus an Art and Design subject, or satisfactory results (Merit/Distinction) in a relevant Level 2 qualification
- An interview with a portfolio of artwork
Career Opportunities
This is a growth area and there are varied opportunities and career possibilities including working within the 2D or 3D animation industries, film, illustration and visual effects. Animation skills are widely utilised in advertising, music, TV and film promotions.
Course Progression
After completion of the Level 3 Diploma qualification learners can progress to a second year and work towards an Extended Diploma qualification.
On successful completion of the Diploma 1st-year programme you can continue your study of Animation and Illustration on a one-year Extended Diploma Level 3. It’s also possible for learners to progress onto other Extended Diploma qualifications in art and design including photography and graphic arts. The Extended Diploma qualification prepares students for degree-level study in a related area.
Alternatively, students can choose to study on the Art and Design Foundation Diploma, or Creative and Digital Media Apprenticeship. Students can also progress to Higher Apprenticeship qualifications. Depending on your age and prior attainment, some learners may also progress directly to Higher Education, for example to a BA (Hons) Graphic Design programme.
After completing their Extended Diploma qualification, a high proportion of our learners progress onto higher education programmes in areas such as Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation, Advertising and Games Design.
All students aged 16-18 on the first day of their course will have their course fully-funded by the government.
Costs of studying
If you are/will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on the 31st August in the calendar year when you begin a programme of study, you DO NOT pay tuition fees, College registration fees or examination/board registration fees. However, there are some courses which have additional costs which could include:
- equipment costs – such as uniforms, kits, boots, etc.
- trips and enrichment activities
- DBS checks (formerly CRB checks)
For students with an identified low household income, there may be financial support available. Bursary awards can help with your course related costs such as travel, books and equipment and much more.
19+ - Do I have to pay a fee?
The information in this section applies solely to this course and the criteria for a fee waiver is not transferable to any other course offered by the College.
| You will not pay tuition fees if you are: |
| under 19 at the 31st August 2022 |
| aged 19-24 at the 31st August 2022 and have an Education, Health and Care Plan |
Learners aged 19 and over at the start of this course can either self-fund and pay for the course themselves or apply for an advanced learner loan to cover all or part of the tuition fees for this course. The minimum loan you can get is £300, but the maximum will depend on how much the fees are and the type of course you take.
What if I am on a low income or unemployed?
Discounted fees or fee waivers for those on low income or who are unemployed are not available for this course.
For students with an identified low household income, there may be financial support available through the College’s discretionary bursary fund. Although the funds cannot be used to pay for course fees they can be used to contribute towards other course related costs such as travel, childcare, books and equipment.
Advanced Learner Loans
Am I eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan?
To qualify for an advanced learner loan to cover the fees for this course you must be:
- 19 years old or over on the first day of your course (there’s no upper age limit)
- A UK national or have ‘settled status’ (this means there are no restrictions on how long you can stay)
- Living in the UK on the first day of your course, and have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for three years immediately before this
Most learners that fall into this bracket will be eligible, it doesn’t depend on your household income and there’s no credit check!
If your nationality or residency status is different to the above, then please contact the national Advanced Learner Loan helpline on 0300 100 0619 or check the Advanced Learner Loan website where you will be able to find further information on eligibility.
How do I apply for an Advanced Learner Loan?
Once you have applied and been offered a place on the course, the college will provide you with a ‘learning and funding information letter’. These are normally sent out in early July.
You need this to complete the loan application and you cannot apply for a loan until you have received this.
Once you have applied for a loan and it has been approved you will receive an official letter from Student Finance England.
Am I eligible for a bursary?
Applicants thinking of enrolling on this course can apply for funding to help with the costs associated with attending college. Bursary funds are targeted at students where there is an identified low household income.
The bursary fund cannot provide help with costs unrelated to your course, such as general living expenses, nor can it be used as an attendance incentive.
Applications to the fund are not normally considered if the household income exceeds £25,000 but may be considered in some instances if the household is experiencing severe financial hardship.
| The 16-19 Bursary Fund is aimed at helping: |
| Students who are aged 16, 17 or 18 on the 31st August 2022 |
| Students aged 19 who started a two-year programme before their 19th birthday |
| Students aged 19 or over on 31st August 2022 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) |
If you turned 19 on or before 31st August 2022, and do not fall into the above categories, you can apply for financial assistance via the Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund.
Awards from the Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund can only be made to students who have received an Advanced Learner Loan. If you do not intend to apply for an advanced learner loan or if your application has been unsuccessful you will not be eligible for an award from this particular fund.
Regardless of income or employment status, students self-funding (including where an employer is covering course fees), are not eligible for financial assistance through any discretionary bursary funds.
When can I apply?
16-19 and Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund applications for courses starting in the 2022/23 academic year will be open from June 1st 2022.
For courses starting in September 2022, applications should be made by 1st November 2022. If you find yourself in financial hardship after this date it is important that you still contact Student Services. Applications received after 1st November will be considered on a pro-rata basis subject to need and the availability of funds.
Payment Options
Can I pay in instalments?
Where total course fees exceed £200 you (or your employer, if they are paying your course fees) can choose to pay your fees in instalments through a monthly payment plan.
40% of the fee or £500 (whichever is lower) will be payable at enrolment.
The balance must be paid within 6 months or by the end date if the course is less than 6 months in duration.
Payment in full in advance
Payment should be made in full at the time of enrolment. Acceptable payment methods include Debit Card and Credit Card (excluding American Express). Please note that we are no longer able to accept cash or cheque payments.
How to make an Application – Watch our video guide!
Applications for September 2023 open now!
The application window for full-time courses and joint apprenticeship applications opened on Monday 3rd October at 12pm.
Before submitting your online application, make sure you have got an email address which you will check frequently and which is professional and appropriate for this purpose, and use this when you create your account. Submit the application as early as possible and remember to make a note of your USERNAME and PASSWORD details! You will need these later.
We have prepared a step-by-step video guide below – please view this video which will guide you through the application process.
Application Do's and Don'ts
Application Tips
If you have chosen the study programme you would like to apply for then you are almost there. We recommend that you read our handy application tips, watch our video and then make your application.
You can only apply for one full-time programme and one apprenticeship. You can do this together within the same application form, in what is known as a joint application.
Remember, you cannot study more than one core subject. For example, you would not be able to study two full-time programmes in different subjects simultaneously. You would take Plumbing or Music, not Plumbing and Music.
Your subject will be your primary qualification and forms the bulk of your programme of study.
Application Dos
- Apply as early as possible. We want to make sure you have the best chance of securing a place with us. All full-time applications received by the 31st of January 2023 will be guaranteed a place at Colchester Institute, subject to you satisfying the published entry requirements. We still accept applications after this date but may not be able to guarantee you a place on your chosen programme.
- Think carefully about your course choice before you apply. Talk to your head of year or careers adviser at school to make sure you have explored all your options and have found a course that suits you best. You may wish to attend one of our open days to find out more before applying.
- Make sure you attend any interviews or assessments we invite you to. These are a mandatory part of our process. They give you the opportunity to find out more about our courses, as well as allowing us to make sure you are on the most appropriate course for you. Some courses may invite you to attend a second interview or audition to demonstrate your skills and to ensure you are on the most appropriate level for you.
- Please let us know if your contact details or address change. We will use a variety of letters, emails and texts to communicate with you throughout the process, and the information we provide is both confidential and vital to your application. If you move home or change your phone number and don’t inform us of any changes, you could miss some vital information.
Application Don’ts
- Do not make multiple applications. If you are unsure, for example, of which construction/trade subject you would like to study, please only make an application for one of them. Likewise, if you later wish you had applied for a different course, please don’t worry – we can change your application. Whatever the reason for wanting to change, there is no need to make another application.
- Do not use a school email address when you create your account. Remember, you will need to access this account later in the summer after you have left school.
- Do not create another account if you have previously applied. If you have applied in previous years, please do not create a new account. If you are unsure, contact us to check which username and password to use.
Just call us on 01206 712777
Animation and Illustration Level 3
Qualification: One Year: UAL Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design | Two Years: UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design
| Level | Level 3 |
|---|---|
| Location | Colchester |
| Duration | One or Two Years: Year 1: Diploma | Year 2: Extended Diploma |
| Study Mode | Full-Time |
| Campus / Adult Skills Centre | Colchester Campus |
| Start Date | September 2023 |
| Applications | Applications opened on Monday 3rd October 2022 |
| Fee(s) | 16-18 year olds: Free 19+: £8,583 (This fee covers the full two-year course) |
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Disclaimer
All fees, prices and funding information shown on this page are for courses starting in the 2022-23 academic year unless stated otherwise, and are correct at the time of entering/printing information, however these may be subject to change due to factors outside of our control. The College cannot accept legal or financial liability as a result of any such changes.
Courses fees are generally not confirmed for September until June / July due to the above factors.
The course information describes programmes offered by Colchester Institute. The College takes all reasonable steps to provide courses as described, but cannot guarantee provision. The information is for guidance and does not form any part of a contract.
The College reserves the right to update and amend information as and when necessary. Colchester Institute will do its best to provide the courses shown, but may have to modify or withdraw a course depending on customer demand and other factors.
