Student using Wacom Animation and Illustration Tablets

Animation BA (Hons)

This degree course will equip you with technical skills, artistic insight, and platform diversity for a successful career in 2D or 3D animation across various industries.

University of Portsmouth Connected Degree - 3 year course with 4th year placement

Key information

UCAS code:

W615

Accreditation:

This course is Accredited

Typical offer:

112-120 UCAS points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent

See full entry requirements
Study mode and duration
Start date

Showing content for section Overview

Overview

Animation combines drawing, crafting, experimentation, filmmaking, and storytelling. It gives artists many skills to tell powerful, personal stories.

On our Animation degree, you’ll learn the artistic insight, technical skills, and creative vision needed for animation. You’ll step into a growing creative industry, which includes film and TV animation, motion graphics, and illustration. Our degree covers both 2D and 3D filmmaking.

Work on various projects to learn about character animation and visual storytelling. Then, you can explore production, compositing, and editing.

You’ll also learn from professionals from all walks of the animation industry. Some have worked for Disney, Sony, and Cartoon Network. Others have led visual effects for popular films like The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Chronicles of Narnia.

Animation is more than art and technology. At Portsmouth, you’ll also think about how media affects society and the ethical side of animation.

Why study Animation at Portsmouth?

  • Develop your voice as an artist and filmmaker in both 2D and 3D, using traditional and digital techniques.
  • Learn key skills and methods used in the animation, film, and design industry.
  • Master professional production methods at our next-gen facilities—featuring motion capture and virtual production.
  • Use industry-standard software like Autodesk Maya, Adobe Creative Cloud, TV Paint, and Wacom Cintiq Drawing Studio.
  • Show your final work at our annual Graduate Shows to impress the public and potential employers.
  • Consider taking a placement year for valuable experience. You can work with a company or be self-employed.
  • Earn Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) accreditation to show your skills to the industry.
  • Compete in our University GameJam to test your skills and artistry.
Joint Audio Media Education Support (JAMES) Accrediting Body

93%

of graduates in work or further study

(HESA graduate outcomes survey 2020/21)

3rd

for film production and photography in the UK

(Guardian University Guide, 2024)

10th

for animation and game design in the UK

(Guardian University Guide, 2024)

Accreditation

This Animation degree course is accredited by JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Services), a group of industry professionals and employers.

The JAMES accreditation lets potential employers know that this course gives you the relevant skills and abilities you need to work in the animation industry when you graduate. This gives you an edge over students who didn’t do an accredited course when you’re applying for jobs.

JAMES reviews our accreditation every three years to make sure the Animation course content remains up-to-date with industry trends and developments. So you’ll always be learning skills relevant to your career.

Contact information

Admissions

+44 (0) 23 9284 5566

Contact Admissions

Entry requirements

BA (Hons) Animation

Typical offers

  • A levels - BBB-BBC
  • UCAS points - 112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent (calculate your UCAS points)
  • T-levels - Merit
  • BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DDM-DMM
  • International Baccalaureate - 25

You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.

Selection process

All shortlisted applicants will need to provide a portfolio of work.

For more information on how to put together a portfolio, read our Animation creative portfolio guide.

English language requirements

  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

See alternative English language qualifications.

We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.

If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

We look at more than just your grades

While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.

Explore more about how we make your offer

Facilities and specialist equipment

Helen Yates - B roll Day 3

Wacom Studio

Design eye-catching illustrations, animations, and layouts in our 20-seat PC studio with industry-leading Wacom Cintiq widescreen graphics tablets.

Images capturing CCIXR facility

Motion Capture Studio

Learn how to use the same professional motion capture equipment used in the VR, game design, and film industries.

Careers and opportunities

The UK’s animation industry creates pioneering content and visual effects worldwide for commercials, websites, games, and interactive technologies. Animations for events, concerts, theatre performances, and theme parks are also on the rise (Animation UK). With the rapid development of future technologies such as virtual, mixed, and augmented reality, animation continues to be a growing sector of the global media and entertainment market.

Upon completing our Animation degree course, you can be part of this vital industry that transcends all sectors.

Graduate roles

Our graduates have worked in a wide range of artistic roles, including:

  • animators
  • concept artists
  • directors
  • compositors
  • creative directors
  • art directors
  • modellers
  • user interface (UI) designers
  • post-production technical directors

Graduate destinations

Our graduates have worked at renowned companies such as:

  • Climax
  • Framestore
  • The Mill
  • Sony Pictures Animation
  • Kuju Games
  • Centroid 3d in Pinewood Studios
  • Cartoon Network

Graduate productions

Some of our alumni have worked on high-profile feature films and cartoons, including:

  • Avatar
  • Life of Pi
  • Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland
  • The Amazing World of Gumball

Ongoing careers support

Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.

Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.

Placement year (optional)

After your second or third year, you can complete an optional work placement to gain professional experience and enhance your skills. It's also a great incentive for employers once you graduate.

You can work for a company, organisation or agency, or you can go self-employed and start your own business with fellow students or by yourself.

Whatever you decide – or even if you just want some employability advice – our exclusive Creative Careers team can support you every step of the way.

Creative Careers

Our in-faculty Creative Careers team has extensive recruitment experience and knows the creative sector well, making it easier for students to find placements within the creative industries.

They can guide you through every step of the application process, including:

  • Searching for the ideal job through their database of vacancies
  • Giving tips on how to write an interesting CV that will catch employers' attention, no matter the role
  • Organising mock interviews, so you can hone your technique and familiarise yourself with the recruitment environment
  • Writing your startup business proposal – if you're going down the self-employment route

The team will continue to give you support throughout your placement year.

Placement destinations

Students have completed work placements at Oscar and BAFTA winning companies such as:

  • Mosaic Films
  • Framestore
Currently restricted to At Request whilst CCI use for a current campaign. Will be reviewed shortly (05/2021).

What you can do on a placement year

If you're thinking of doing a placement but not sure what role to take or where to go, we can steer you in a direction that fits your aspirations.

Check out our Creative Careers team's blog to discover where fellow creative technologies students have interned during their studies.

Read our blog post

Modules

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.

In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, 4 modules worth 20 credits and 1 module worth 40 credits.

What you'll study

Core modules

Master techniques like squash and stretch, arcs, and overlap action through practical exercises. You’ll study iconic animations to understand timing, weight, and charm. Get to know the professional methods for planning and testing your animations. You’ll also get real experience using the software that industry pros use, bringing your own drawings to life, one frame at a time. Create engaging animations like ball bounces, walking cycles, and various gestures.

With experience and a solid foundation in principles, you can create polished 2D animations.

Work through the pipeline — from research to modelling, texturing, rigging, animation, lighting, and rendering. You’ll become adept at using top industry software. As you build your technical skills, you’ll breathe life into unique characters and settings. Create an engaging 3D animation short at the end, using professional techniques and workflows.

This module gives you a solid base across the key stages of 3D animation. You’ll be set up for success by creating rich virtual worlds, characters, and stories.

Bring your creativity into an extra dimension.

In hands-on workshops, you’ll learn to observe and depict the human form, structure, proportion and movement. Maintaining a sketchbook will help you critically reflect on interests and projects in progress. You’ll practice recording colours, textures, and compositions from life to inform your creative visions.

This module will guide you in traditional and digital painting techniques, using colour and mark-making expressively. Through this, you’ll gain skills in image manipulation and movement with 2D software.

At the end, you will have gained experience in using drawing, colour, and texture to explore ideas for characters, environments, and narratives.

Practise using industry-standard techniques and learn to create models for different production types.

By studying outstanding examples in the field, you’ll understand what’s expected in professional workflows, helping you to confidently meet creative briefs.

You’ll finish this module with enhanced technical skills and knowledge of the latest tools. Get ready to take your models from the initial concept right through to their integration into the final scene.

You’ll dissect film structure and techniques and turn your ideas into dynamic storyboards and animatics. We’ll teach you about composing scenes, editing, sound design, and timing, so you can apply these to make your narrative flow. Practise explaining your ideas clearly and working with others as you would in a professional environment.

When you finish, you’ll have experience in scriptwriting and animating your creative vision. Take advantage of this module to find your own style of storytelling and share stories that people everywhere will enjoy.

You’ll dive into the study of signs and symbols to understand how they create meaning. By looking at different animations and films, you’ll examine stereotypes and how stories are told. Discuss topics like cultural differences, identity, and how viewers see things. Improve your ability to analyse by using key theories to understand creative works. Expand your knowledge of animation across various styles and settings. Get better at explaining your thoughts on how animation affects culture. You’ll see how all these ideas apply to your own animation work.

By the end of this module, you’ll understand how to make animations that not only communicate clearly but also challenge people’s thinking and connect with audiences on a deeper level.

Core modules

Working in a team, you'll research, develop, and present your own animations based on provided briefs.

This hands-on experience gives you a taste of how real animation studios operate, enhancing your understanding of the commercial production workflow.

Not only will you gain valuable animation research and practical 2D or 3D animation skills, but you'll also develop key collaborative and communication abilities.

By the end, you'll have produced an animation project and supporting materials that demonstrate your technical proficiency and ability to meet industry standards, making you career ready.

You'll explore innovative techniques to generate ideas and plan workflows, producing captivating sketchbooks and storyboards.

Through dynamic drawing exercises, you'll examine animal forms, movement, and narrative interpretation.

By experimenting with different animation methods, you'll expand your artistic vision and pre-production abilities.

This is your chance to research, visualize, and develop the foundations of incredible animations.

Building on your introductory experience, you'll work in teams on provided briefs, pushing your abilities in researching, developing, and presenting eye-catching animations.

You'll enhance your understanding of real-world animation workflows while gaining advanced technical proficiency in 2D or 3D animation.

This professional simulation will engage your creativity and curiosity as you employ a range of techniques to achieve industry-standard results.

Your final animation project and documentation will showcase your skills in managing collaborative production and meeting demanding deadlines.

By the end, you'll be ready to animate with confidence in a professional studio environment.

You’ll join lectures and seminars to talk about big ideas in animation’s development. Learn to understand and analyse the way tech, art, industries, and cultures have influenced animation styles and stories over time.

You’ll do your own research to follow animation’s journey from its early days to today’s global digital scene. Discuss important topics like diversity and representation by looking at key animations. Get to know the worldwide growth of animation fans. By getting a grip on animation’s history and now, you’ll be ready to explore new creative paths.

Enhance your ability to think critically and appreciate the pioneers who shaped animation as we know it today.

Optional modules

Get to grips with advanced techniques that big studios use, like how to show weight, build suspense, and add exaggerated motion.

Develop your ‘animator’s eye’ by analysing examples for timing, arcs, and appeal.

Practice workflows optimizing creativity and quality.

You’ll also create an amazing showreel showcasing your talents in animating unique characters full of life.

With professional skills for technique and performance, you’ll stand out in the competitive field of 2D animation.

As you progress, each frame you animate will let your creativity and imagination sparkle.

You’ll explore research methods to guide your creative decisions. Learn industry workflows for rigging, blocking, and polishing animations. Sharpen your eye by analysing examples for appeal and story clarity.

You’ll practice techniques from walks and runs to emotional expressions and lip sync. You’ll also put together an impressive showreel showcasing your animation talents. Plus, you’ll learn to critically assess your work, a key to continually improving your skills.

This module will teach you all the technical skills to create amazing 3D worlds and characters like a professional.

Let your vision and artistry shine frame by frame.

You’ll master the latest animation software to craft exciting visuals and evocative soundscapes. Discover how stories can make people feel different emotions, and use that knowledge to make atmospheric, mixed-media animations. Our idea-visualising workshops will give you lots of new ways to think and create. You’ll also work with sound designers, helping you get better at working in teams and talking about your work.

When you finish, you’ll have a collection of your own animations that showcases what makes your style special. Find your unique way of making animations and to help lead the way in animation’s future.

You’ll get to spend a semester at one of our global partner universities, giving you a unique international spin on your learning. This experience is perfect for building professional skills and a global outlook, preparing you for work anywhere in the world. You’ll also get the chance to study and work on your own in a new setting, which will boost your personal growth and relate to your degree.

When you come back, you’ll be full of fresh ideas to energise your work.

This module gives you the chance to explore different approaches and build international networks in creative technologies.

You’ll experiment with simulations and procedural methods to tackle typical production issues. The aim of this will be to improve shot flow and deepen audience engagement.

You can study exemplary professional work by developing inventive approaches based on industry research. This analysis will inform your technical choices as you skillfully blend various elements to create cohesive scenes.

Join a team of creative students and do a project together. Try new things and see how they can help you.

You’ll also grasp how to use your skills with others. Sometimes you’ll be a leader, sometimes a helper. Talk about your ideas and learn from them. You’ll make something to show what you learned and share it with others.

This module helps you gain new skills and understand other fields. You’ll be a smart and creative person, ready to solve real-world problems.

You’ll choose learning tasks that add up to 60 hours, like internships, volunteering, research, or remote study that match your career plans. Workshops will help you make meaningful goals and think about what you’ve accomplished. Through this, you’ll grow the knowledge, skills, and qualities you need to thrive in the workplace.

By looking at your growth through active participation and reading, you’ll become a perceptive, eager job-seeker who stands out.

You’ll use virtual production tools to quickly create assets that meet professional benchmarks, ranging from creatures to environments. This joint effort will involve elements of staging, cinematography, and VFX compositing, pushing you to intuitively combine these aspects within strict deadlines.

This module also introduces you to technologies that improve efficiency. From this, you’ll gain a deeper industry understanding and enhance the quality of your project work.

As a team, you will embark on a journey of entrepreneurship, starting with ideation and ending with the launch of your product or service. You will analyse complex factors influencing a successful launch, conduct thorough research to assess feasibility and gain valuable insights into marketing, manufacturing, and sales strategies.

Working together on pitch presentations, you will discover your strengths as an entrepreneur or team member. This module provides transferable skills essential to thrive in creative industries, whether you plan to launch your own company or seek employment with top organisations. You will develop the mindset and abilities to spot opportunities and act on them, which will benefit your career.

Core modules

It's an opportunity to design and produce your own animation-related artefact, honing professional skills in the field. This module isn't just about creating animation; it's about immersing yourself in the entire process, from conception to final presentation.

You'll gain insight into various research sources, which is crucial for developing a well-rounded understanding of short animation production. This includes the operational and technical aspects and the art of gathering and formulating ideas. The emphasis is on organising and presenting these ideas professionally, utilising appropriate technology to bring your vision to life.

"Major Project: Part 1" is designed to set the stage for a deeper dive into animation, providing you with the skills and knowledge to create engaging and professional animated content.

Join seminars and talks to explore film form, narrative, the body, representation politics, and animated documentaries. Pick a topic you’re excited about and write a detailed essay on one or two animations.

We’ll help you make solid academic points, using critical concepts from class and suggested materials. You’ll learn how to use theories like psychoanalysis, Marxism, and feminism to deepen your analysis. Use this chance to enhance your research, critical thinking, and writing skills while expressing your love for animation.

By the time you finish, you’ll have completed a substantial project that shows off your grasp of how animation works and what it means. Come explore the vast and varied world of animation with us and leave with the analytical tools to talk about this vibrant art form.

We’ll guide you in creating a standout CV, portfolio, and showreel to catch the eye of industry professionals. You’ll sharpen your online image and learn to network effectively to find jobs that excite you. Our coaching will also prepare you to excel in interviews and presentations, giving you the confidence to stand out. By the end of the module, you’ll have the belief in yourself, a clear plan, and the right tools to smoothly move into your ideal job in animation or to continue your studies.

This module is your stepping stone to join the new wave of creative talents in the industry.

Charting each step of the production process, you'll contextualise the decisions shaping your unique vision. Through critical reflection informed by research, you'll gain deeper insight into your creative practice.

By culminating the skills nurtured throughout your degree, you'll breathe life into an animated film that showcases your abilities. Let your imagination run wild and develop a personal project you can be proud of.

Optional modules

Through practical tasks and projects, you’ll master technical aspects — like timing, rhythm, weight, and motion — to make your drawings come alive. Expert instructors will guide you in crafting a diverse collection of animations that showcase your talent in character animation, movement, and composition.

When you finish, your portfolio will display your abilities with professional 2D animation tools and processes. You’ll have more faith in your skills as an animator ready for a creative career.

Through practical projects and exercises, you’ll learn advanced 3D animation techniques — like modelling, texturing, moving, and compositing — with industry software. Skilled 3D animators will help you as you imagine and make high-quality 3D images and animations. Use your creativity to solve design problems in a way that fits your unique animation style and strengths.

By the end, you’ll have a portfolio that displays your technical flair and artistic talent in 3D animation, ready for professional use.

This module gives you the skills you need to start your career as a 3D animation professional.

You’ll delve into the thrilling world of pre-production, from concept to final art. Under expert guidance, experiment with techniques and mediums to create captivating characters, worlds, and stories that illustrate your own vision and strengths. Analyse your methods and deeply assess your design choices to gain a deeper understanding of your creative identity.

By the end of this module, you’ll have a polished portfolio that showcases your artistic versatility and equips you with the knowledge to confidently plan future film projects.

Embrace your imagination and discover how to make your ideas come alive on the silver screen.

You’ll experiment with physics simulations and procedural methods to significantly improve shot flow and audience engagement.

As you tackle the usual production challenges, you’ll have the chance to study examples from the industry. This research will help guide your artistic and technical choices.

Armed with a deeper industry understanding and digital expertise, you’ll be capable of seamlessly blending unique elements into coherent stories.

You’ll experiment with various digital design and compositing techniques, learning to blend elements seamlessly into scenes. This will enhance how viewers perceive each scene, thanks to improved visual continuity.

You’ll also look at industry terminology to effectively discuss the aesthetic and procedural aspects of complicated projects.

This module offers thorough training for working in professional environments where creative problem-solving is key to producing visually convincing effects.

In this fascinating module, you’ll delve into this enthralling next-gen realm. Explore the latest techniques for digitally capturing human motion and seamlessly applying it to 3D character animation.

Join us in our futuristic mocap studio and master the entire process — from capturing data to animating it using industry software. Experts will guide you as you critically assess different technologies and develop skills to preserve the authenticity and nuance of performances.

By the end, you’ll have firsthand experience with this powerful storytelling tool, widely used to create captivating virtual characters in films, games, and beyond. Your creativity will soar as you explore the boundless possibilities of bringing digital worlds to life.

During this module, you'll spend 6 months working on your own business venture, then 3 months gaining industry experience. This opportunity allows you to apply what you've learned in a practical setting while exploring different career options. You'll also have the chance to develop professional relationships and expand your network.

Assess your personal strengths and weaknesses to set goals for the future. Throughout the module, you'll demonstrate increasing independence while still valuing the support of others. Gain a broader understanding of the world through real-world experiences and insights. Additionally, you'll earn valuable credits for your CV and enhance your skill set.

By the end of this module, you'll graduate with the practical experience that employers are seeking.

This experience lets you learn firsthand how to set up and run a small business. You’ll absorb professional practices and business situations that matter to your entrepreneurial goals. Make important connections while working independently within set rules. Think deeply about your strengths, weaknesses, criteria for success, and future plans.

This opportunity is useful for your career. It lets you use what you’ve learnt in your degree in the real world and helps you understand your capabilities.

After finishing this placement and the related assessments, you’ll get more credits for your sandwich degree. This practical experience is a valuable step in developing an entrepreneurial way of thinking.

You’ll spend 24–48 weeks at a chosen company, learning from professionals and helping out with actual projects. Gain confidence, knowledge, and skills by taking on more responsibility with gradually less help. As you progress, you’ll make professional connections and think about how you’re doing. Take in what you learn about how industries and businesses work.

This placement is an ideal chance to grow in your career. By using what you’ve learnt in a workplace, you’ll understand more about your own strengths, what you need to work on, and your plans after you graduate.

After this placement and the related assessments, you’ll get extra credits for your sandwich degree. This practical experience is a valuable part of your education.

Showcase specialised abilities by completing relevant assignments abroad. Then examine your global experience critically: how has immersion in foreign creative culture expanded your perspective? Identify new cross-cultural transferable skills to empower your continued educational and professional journey.

Evaluating international contexts, you'll critically connect on-site activities to your disciplinary knowledge, gaining global insights. Working independently overseas, you'll complete relevant assignments, honing skills transferable to future studies and careers.

Upon you'll reflect on new worldviews and cross-cultural competencies. This invaluable module provides an opportunity to broaden your creative and technical knowledge while developing adaptability as a global citizen.

Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

How you're assessed

You’ll be assessed through:

  • animation design projects
  • a showreel and portfolio
  • written coursework (one module per year)
  • a dissertation

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

Teaching

Teaching methods on this course includes:

  • lectures
  • workshops
  • seminars
  • one-on-one tutorials

There’s an emphasis on production processes such as computer animation, modelling, rigging and rendering.

Teaching staff include experienced experts who have worked for companies such as the BBC, Channel 4, Framestore, Sony Computer Entertainment, Disney, Warner Brothers, Weta and Double Negative.

You can access all teaching resources on Moodle, our virtual learning environment, from anywhere with a Web connection.

For more about the teaching activities for specific modules, see the module list above.

Teaching staff profiles

These are some of the expert staff that will teach you on this degree course.

User profile default icon

Mr Mat Garey

Senior Lecturer

Mat.Garey@port.ac.uk

School of Creative Technologies

Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries

Read more
Paul Robert Charisse Portrait

Mr Paul Charisse

Senior Lecturer

Paul.Charisse@port.ac.uk

School of Creative Technologies

Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries

PhD Supervisor

Read more
User profile default icon

Mr Colin West

Senior Lecturer

Colin.West@port.ac.uk

Read more
User profile default icon

Miss Eva Palacios

Senior Lecturer

Eva.Palacios@port.ac.uk

Read more
User profile default icon

Mr Vincent Woodcock

Teaching Fellow

vincent.woodcock@port.ac.uk

Read more

How you'll spend your time

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies.  As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

A typical week

We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for your Animation degree. In your first year, you’ll be in timetabled teaching activities such as lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical classes and workshops for about 12 hours a week. The rest of the time you’ll do independent study such as research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group with others from your course. You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose.

Most timetabled teaching takes place during the day, Monday to Friday. You may occasionally need to go to University and course events in the evenings and at weekends. There’s usually no teaching on Wednesday afternoons.

Supporting you

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of support

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.

You'll have regular contact with your personal tutor in learning activities or scheduled meetings. You can also make an appointment with them if you need extra support.

In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you’ll also have access to a Faculty student support advisor. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing and refer you to specialist support services.

You'll have help from a team of faculty academic skills tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.

They can help with:

  • improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
  • delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
  • understanding and using assignment feedback
  • managing your time and workload
  • revision and exam techniques

If you need support with software and equipment or you want to learn additional skills (including skills not covered on your course), our creative skills tutors provide free workshops, activities and one-on-one tutorials. Skills you can learn include life drawing, film camera operation and video production.

Computing support staff are always available to give technical support in the Faculty's computer suites during normal working hours. There's also some support available from 5.00pm to midnight at busy times of the year.

As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK).

ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:

  • academic writing
  • note taking
  • time management
  • critical thinking
  • presentation skills
  • referencing
  • working in groups
  • revision, memory and exam techniques

If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.

Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.

You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.

If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.

They'll help you to

  • discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
  • liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
  • access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
  • liaise with external services

Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.

The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.

If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.

Course costs and funding

Tuition fees

  • UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • EU students – £9,250 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
  • International students – £17,200 a year (subject to annual increase)

Funding your studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Additional course costs

These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.

Additional costs

Our accommodation section show your accommodation options and highlight how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.

You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.

You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.

We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.

 

If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.

You’ll need to cover additional costs, such as travel costs, if you take an optional placement or placement abroad.

These costs will vary depending on the location and duration of the placement, and can range from £50–£1000.

During your placement year or study abroad year, you’ll be eligible for a discounted rate on your tuition fees. Currently, tuition fees for that year are:

  • UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • EU students – £1,385 a year, including Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
  • International students – £2,875  a year (subject to annual increase)

The costs associated with your specific destination will be discussed during your second year, as well as possible sources of additional funding.

Apply

How to apply

To start this course in 2024, apply through UCAS. You'll need:

  • the UCAS course code – W615
  • our institution code – P80

 Apply now through UCAS

 

If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form.

You can also sign up to an Open Day to:

  • Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
  • Speak with lecturers and chat with our students 
  • Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join

If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.

Applying from outside the UK

As an international student you'll apply using the same process as UK students, but you’ll need to consider a few extra things. 

You can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.

Find out what additional information you need in our international students section

If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.