TWO-YEAR ACCELERATED DEGREE:
£11,440 per year
THREE-YEAR DEGREE:
£9,535 per year
The annual tuition fee is fully funded via Student Finance England for eligible home-fee students.
TWO-YEAR ACCELERATED DEGREE:
£9,000 per year
You may also be eligible for a bursary or discount, please enquire with our friendly Admissions Team.
THREE-YEAR DEGREE:
£7,500 per year
You may also be eligible for a bursary or discount, please enquire with our friendly Admissions Team.
TWO-YEAR ACCELERATED DEGREE:
£11,440 per year
THREE-YEAR DEGREE:
£9,535 per year
The annual tuition fee is fully funded via Student Finance England for eligible home-fee students.
TWO-YEAR ACCELERATED DEGREE:
£11,440 per year
THREE-YEAR DEGREE:
£9,535 per year
TWO-YEAR ACCELERATED DEGREE:
JANUARY 2026
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £16,500 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £11,440 per year
FROM SEPTEMBER 2026
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £17,000 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £11,440 per year
THREE-YEAR DEGREE:
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £16,250 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £9,535 per year
*Student visa required
TWO-YEAR ACCELERATED DEGREE:
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £17,000 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £11,440 per year
THREE-YEAR DEGREE:
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £16,250 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £9,535 per year
*Student visa required
TWO-YEAR ACCELERATED DEGREE:
JANUARY 2026
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £16,500 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £11,440 per year
FROM SEPTEMBER 2026
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £17,000 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £11,440 per year
THREE-YEAR DEGREE:
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £16,250 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £9,535 per year
*Student visa required
TWO-YEAR ACCELERATED DEGREE:
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £17,000 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £11,440 per year
THREE-YEAR DEGREE:
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £16,250 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £9,535 per year
*Student visa required
January and September
January and September
January and September
Offers will be made to applicants who are expected to meet, or exceed the entry requirements below, in addition to supplying a personal statement:
SAE Institute will accept non-standard entry applications, which do not meet the 72 UCAS points or equivalent, and/or maths/English at level 2 or equivalent as required:
Students whose first language is not English will need a qualification that demonstrates competence in English, equivalent to UK GCSE (Level 2) grade 4 (c) or above.
Equivalent qualifications can be accepted, where these qualifications have been verified by ENIC and are adopted widely within the UK Higher Education sector, including:
- International ESOL C1 Expert – pass in all four components
- International ESOL SELT B2 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) – minimum 33 in all components
- ESOL Integrated Skills in English II – pass in all components
*Accepted on exceptional basis for the applicants whose local test centres are affected by closures due to Covid-19
WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
- Learn the full professional VFX and animation pipeline
- Work across film, television, games and immersive media
- Turn imagination into believable digital worlds
- Train with industry standard software and workflows
- Build a professional showreel for studios and clients
- Learn storytelling, realism and technical precision
- Collaborate with Film, Games, Web and Audio students
- Graduate in two years with our accelerated route
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN?
- Model, texture and animate 3D assets using Autodesk Maya
- Create realistic materials and surfaces using Substance Painter
- Simulate fire, smoke, water and destruction using Houdini
- Apply physics to cloth, fabric and particle movement
- Design concept art, photo bashing and perspective studies
- Create motion and parallax effects using After Effects
- Shoot live action footage and integrate CGI elements
- Work with green screen, lighting and colour grading
- Analyse professional VFX shots to understand realism
- Build a professional VFX and animation portfolio
YOUR VISUAL EFFECTS AND ANIMATION JOURNEY BEGINS TODAY
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM OUR VFX AND ANIMATION DEGREE
Make your mark on the world of visual effects and animation with SAE’s innovative degree in animation. Immerse yourself in our unique blend of vocational and academic education as you learn motion design, 2D and 3D animation and advanced compositing. Master shot development, rendering pipelines and sophisticated simulation workflows, blending theoretical knowledge and real-world application from day one.
Immerse yourself in our unique blend of vocational and academic education as you learn motion design, 2D and 3D animation and advanced compositing. Master shot development, rendering pipelines and sophisticated simulation workflows, blending theoretical knowledge and real-world application from day one.
Have your fingers firmly on the pulse of industry trends while studying this forward-thinking motion graphics degree and bring your creative visions to life. You’ll develop advanced skills using a diverse toolkit of industry-standard software packages like Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter, Unreal Engine , SideFX Houdini, Foundry NukeX, Pixologic ZBrush, DaVinci Resolve, RayFire and Adobe Creative Cloud.
Available in an accelerated 2-year format across all our campuses, so you can embark on your exciting new career sooner, or as a more traditional 3-year programme, you can choose the course schedule that suits you best.
START MY VFX AND ANIMATION JOURNEY TODAY
COURSE FAQS
What is the Visual Effects & Animation degree at SAE?
A practical degree that teaches you the full VFX production pipeline, 3D modelling, animation, simulation and compositing for film, TV, games and real-time media.
Is this different from Game Art & Animation?
Yes, although related. Visual Effects & Animation focuses more on animation, simulation, VFX workflows and real-world production techniques.
Is the course creative or technical?
Both, you develop artistic creativity and technical mastery of industry tools and workflows.
How is the course taught?
Through practical project work, industry-standard software training, crits and portfolio building.
Which study routes are available?
- Two year accelerated degree, UCAS code 615W
- Three year standard degree, UCAS code VE30
What projects will I work on?
Character animation, environment simulation, particle and dynamics effects, compositing sequences, lighting projects and professional-ready final work.
- Year 1
Foundations in 3D modelling, animation, compositing, VFX principles, dynamics and real-time workflows. - Year 2
Advanced simulations, lighting, rendering, procedural effects, environment creation and a Final Major Project.
This route is intense and fast-paced, ideal if you want to graduate and start your career sooner.
- Year 1
Creative foundations in animation, 3D, motion principles and basic effects. - Year 2
Intermediate techniques in simulation, compositing, lighting and rendering workflows. - Year 3
Advanced VFX, pipeline integration, large-scale projects and a Final Major Project for professional portfolios.
This route allows more time to deepen your skills and experiment with specialisms.
What software do students use?
Maya, Houdini, Substance tools, Nuke, After Effects, Unreal Engine, motion and simulation suites.
Do students get exclusive deals?
Yes, SAE students receive exclusive software licences and industry deals, giving access to professional tools at reduced or free student rates.
Graduates progress into roles such as: 3D Modeller, Animator, Compositor, Texture Artist, Lighting Artist, FX Simulation Artist, Roto Artist, Matchmove Artist and Junior VFX Supervisor.
Students receive academic mentoring, wellbeing services, mental health support and career guidance throughout their time on the course.
Domestic Students
- Level 3 qualification or equivalent
- GCSE English at A* to C, or 9 to 4, or equivalent
- Personal statement
- No portfolio required
Non-standard entry may include:
- A creative portfolio
- An academic essay
- Relevant experience
International Students
Entry requirements vary by country and include English language proficiency where applicable.
To view our full entry requirements, please click here.
Is Student Finance available?
Yes, for both the two year and three year degrees.
How are fees paid?
Through Student Finance, direct payment or approved funding routes.
Are scholarships available?
Yes. Scholarships and bursaries may be available, and the best way to access these is to apply for the course first. Even after you apply, you can still apply for scholarships.
Are there extra costs?
Optional costs may include personal equipment, storage and travel for industry events.
Graduates work in roles such as: 3D Modeller, Animator, Compositor, FX Artist, Lighting Artist, Matchmove Artist, Texture Artist, Simulation Specialist and Pipeline TD.
Skills also transfer into film, television, advertising, VR/AR, simulation, architectural visualisation and motion graphics.
- Go to the UCAS website
- Search for Visual Effects & Animation at SAE
- Use 615W for the two year accelerated degree
- Use VE30 for the three year standard degree
- Upload your qualifications and personal statement
- Submit your application
- Receive your offer
- Accept your place through UCAS
- Go to the SAE application form:
https://www.sae.edu/gbr/form/application-form/ - Complete the online application form and submit your details.
- Once your application is received, a member of the SAE admissions team will contact you to discuss your application and next steps.
- If your application is successful, you will be offered a place on the course.
- Accept your offer and complete enrolment, with the SAE team supporting you throughout the process and staying in contact with you right up until your start date.
- Start your course and begin learning, collaborating and taking the next step in your Visual Effects and Animation career.
Top tip: For peace of mind, applying directly to SAE is often faster than applying through UCAS and is ideal for international or late applicants.
Any questions?
For any questions regarding our courses or if you’d like more information on how to apply for our Visual Effects and Animation degree at SAE, please contact our Enquiries Team on 03330 112 315 or email ukadmissions@sae.edu.
