General Information

Overview

Get hands-on experience in 2D, 3D and stop-motion animation for film and television, visual effects and games. Access state-of-the-art workstations, a purpose-built animation studio, interactive pen displays, high-end cameras and render farms for processing 3D computer animation to bring stories and characters to life.

Double degree options

You can also study Animation in a double degree with Applied InnovationGames and Interactivity.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Animation requires students to complete units of study to the value of 300 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

Units of study Unit code
Core units
Introduction to Animation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ANI10001
2D Production Techniques for Animation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ANI10002
History of Animation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ANI10003
Introduction to Character and Environment Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ANI10004
3D Production Techniques for Animation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ANI10005
Action Analysis and Locomotion
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ANI10006
Advanced Character Design for Animation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ANI20001
Acting for Animation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ANI20003
Major units
Sound Design and Acquisition
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
FTV10005
Genre and the Moving Image
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
FTV10006
Writing and Directing for Animation
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
ANI20002
Producing and Production Management for Animation
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
ANI20004
Major Project: Development and Pre-Production
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
ANI30001
Major Project: Screen Writing
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
FTV30014
Major Project: Production and Post Production
Major unit, 25.0 credit points
ANI30002

Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 100 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).

A co-major is a major in a field of study outside this course. You can choose one in addition to a first major. Co-majors will not be named on your testamur certificate however, they will be shown on your transcript of results.

  • Cinema and Screen Studies

  • Computer Science
  • Digital Advertising Technology
  • Games and Interactivity
  • Indigenous Studies
  • Media Industries
  • Motion Design
  • Philosophy
  • Professional Writing and Editing
  • Screen Production
View co-major units

Advanced minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points in a field of study which builds upon your first major. Advanced minors can only be taken in conjunction with specific majors - more information will be available soon.

3D Modelling and Animation
Visual Effects

Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study.

  • 3D Modelling and Animation
  • Advertising
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Writing
  • Design Principles and Processes
  • Digital Advertising Technology
  • Engineering
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Film and Television Theory
  • Games and Interactivity
  • Indigenous Studies
  • Innovation
  • Motion Design
  • Physics
  • Space Technology
  • Visual Effects
View minor units

You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for either 6 or 12 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.

Units of study Unit code
Professional placement - Major (12 months)
Work Experience In Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20001
Integrated Professional Placement A - Film and Television
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
FTV20018
Work Experience in Industry B
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20002
Integrated Professional Placement B - Film and Television
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
FTV20019
or
Professional placement - Minor (6 months)
Work Experience In Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20001
Integrated Professional Placement A - Film and Television
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
FTV20018

These recommended elective units can deepen your understanding of your chosen major or an area of interest. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.

  • ART10004 Introduction to Game Studies
  • AST10001 Discovering the Universe
  • BIO10004 Anatomy and Physiology
  • DCO10001 Concepts and Narratives
  • DDD10006 Introductory Design Studio
  • DDD30021 Digital Video Compositing
  • DDM10005 Imaging for Narrative and Storyboards
  • DDM10006 Typography for Screen and Motion
  • DDM20003 Digital Video Camera Techniques
  • DID10001 Product Visualisation 1: Hand Sketching
  • DIG10004 Digital Video and Audio
  • DIG20001 Digital Narratives
  • FTV10009 Experimental Screen Production
  • GAM10002 Principles of Game Design
  • HEA10001 Introduction to Health Sciences
  • JOU10007 Media Content Creation
  • LIT10002 Writing Fiction
  • LIT20004 Exploring Iconic Texts
  • LIT30002 Graphic Narratives: Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga
  • MDA20007 Screen Franchising and Innovation
  • MDA30019 Sound and the Screen
  • PHI10007 What is Power?
  • PHI10008 Introduction to Ethics
  • PHY10001 Energy and Motion
Find more detail about elective units

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to: 

  • exercise critical thinking and judgement to articulate concepts and solve problems across a range of animation media and contexts
  • analyse, critically review, consolidate and synthesise knowledge of animation to inform creative and technical decision-making
  • apply cognitive and technical skills to pre-visualise and produce animation within linear or interactive narrative structures
  • demonstrate a breadth of creative and production techniques to craft high quality characters, objects, environments and their animation 
  • present a clear, coherent and independent articulation of animation topics, genres and trends within the field of animation 
  • show initiative and judgement during the development, production and management of animated concepts
  • compare, select and apply best-practice production techniques and workflows to different animation mediums and contexts
  • extend communication and organisational skills to manage animation projects and tasks with personal responsibility and accountability
  • perceive organisational, social, legal and ethical issues, and address these within the development, production and distribution of animated productions.

Career opportunities

The program provides a range of opportunities within the film, television and animation industries as well as allied creative industries such as the games, web broadcasting, education and digital media areas.

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Animation, students must complete 300 credit points comprising of: 

  • 8 core units of study (100 credit points) 
  • 7 major units of study (100 credit points) 
  • 8 units of study (100 credit points) comprising a co-major, advanced minor, minor and/or electives.
     

Students may not complete more than 150 credit points (normally 12 units) at Introductory Level.

A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate. 

Students also have an opportunity to undertake a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Professional Placement.

Professional placements

Professional Placements are subject to a competitive selection process. International students may be eligible for a Professional Placement where a relevant professional degree exists. International students who successfully gain a placement through the selection process will be required to change courses to the relevant professional degree, in order to complete a placement and should consider any visa and extended study duration implications prior to applying. 

Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 375 credit points comprising: 

  • 8 core units of study (100 credit points) 
  • 7 major study units (100 credit points) 
  • 4 units of study from the Professional Placement Co-Major (100 credit points); and 
  • 6 units of study (75 credit points) comprising an advanced minor, minor and/or electives.
     

Students who elect to undertake a 6-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 337.5 credit points comprising:

  • 8 core units of study (100 credit points) 
  • 7 major study units (100 credit points) 
  • 2 units of study from the Professional Placement Minor (50 credit points); and 7 units of study (87.5 credit points) comprising an advanced minor, minor and/or electives.

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Animation is 150 credit points.

Admission criteria

Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.

Entry requirements

A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)

ATAR

This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.

Guaranteed ATAR: if you receive an ATAR of 65 or higher and meet all the essential requirements for this course, you will be guaranteed an offer. 

Educational history  

An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course.  

Selection rank adjustments  

Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne.  

Subject adjustments  

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent. 

Meeting course prerequisites  

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent. VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in any Mathematics or equivalent.

ATAR profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in Semester 1 2023

ATAR-Based offers only, across all offer rounds ATAR
Excluding adjustment factors
Selection Rank
ATAR + any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer 94.6 93.55
Median rank to receive an offer 65.97 71.5
Lowest rank to receive an offer 55.05 59.55

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record 

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

Student profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced in this course in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  Semester 1, 2023
Applicant background Number of students Percentage of all students
(A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) 9 12%
(B) Vocational education and training (VET) study 11 13%
(C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) 7 9%
(D) Recent secondary education:    
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) 32 40%
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were N/A considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) N/A N/A
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was N/A not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) 7 9%
International students 14 17%
All students 80 100%

Notes: 
N/A – Students not accepted in this category.

Interested in the Bachelor of Animation?

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

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