Handbook

Overview

The Master of Animation and Visual Effects is a two-year (full-time equivalent) program designed for graduates and professionals who aim to thrive in the fast-moving and growing field of animation and visual effects. The program combines technical, conceptual, and creative skills to enable you to work independently and collaboratively as you build your portfolio and realise your artistic vision. With access to world-class facilities and guided by educators with diverse industry experience, the program focuses on creative experimentation and skills development in the content creation pipeline. Working from concept art and pre-visualisation to production and output, you will develop animation and VFX projects to build your experience and profile in the field. As your technical skills grow, you will also develop key attributes in digital aesthetics, communication, teamwork, collaboration, and agility, preparing you for a range of roles in digital production for this quickly evolving and dynamic field of practice.

Program Structure

You must complete 96 UOC.

Core Courses66 Units of Credit:

You must take 66 UOC of the following courses.

ADAD9110

6 UOC

3D Visualisation Studio

ADAD9113

6 UOC

Communication Skills for Creative Disciplines

ADAD9114

6 UOC

Research Foundations in Art and Design

ADAD9312

6 UOC

Leadership in the Cultural and Creative Industries

Prescribed Electives30 Units of Credit:

You must take 30 UOC of the following courses.

Creative Experimentation

DART9101

6 UOC

Motion Capture Studio

Digital Cinematography Studio

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

Minimum Entry Requirements

Admission pathways into the Master of Animation and Visual Effects degree can include:

A Bachelor's degree (AQF level 7) in any field with a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 65 or equivalent. This provides admission into the full two-year program, requiring completion of 96 UOC (2 years full-time equivalent).
A Bachelor's degree (AQF level 7) in a related field with a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 65 or equivalent. This allows students to receive credit for 24 UOC (4 courses) upon commencement, meaning students can complete the program in 72 UOC (1.7 years full-time equivalent). Or,
An Honours Degree (AQF level 8) in a related field. This allows students to receive credit for the first year of the program (48 UOC or 8 courses) upon commencement, meaning students can complete the program in 48 UOC (1 year full-time equivalent).

Related disciplines include: the Creative Arts (FOE 10, such as Visual Arts and Crafts, Performing Arts, Graphic and Design Studies, Communication and Media Studies).

Applicants who apply without a Bachelors degree can be admitted to the Graduate Certificate on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director, on the basis of professional experience. Students may then articulate up to the Graduate Diploma if they hold a credit average in their courses taken under the Graduate Certificate, and then articulate up to the Masters if they hold a credit average in their courses taken under the Graduate Diploma.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Students entering with a related Bachelor's degree with a WAM of 65+ are eligible to receive 24 UOC credit, applied as RPL for ADAD9113, DART9300, DART9001, and DART9002. Students who receive 24 UOC credit and wish to enrol in DART9001 and/or DART9002 can request the relevant credit to be applied to a substitute course from the following list: DART9101, DART9102, DART9103, DART9104, DART9105, DART9106. Such requests should be made via the Nucleus Student Hub.

Students entering with an Honours degree in a related field are eligible to receive 48 UOC credit, applied as RPL for the first year of the program (ADAD9113, ADAD9114, DART9300, ADAD9110, DART9001, DART9002, and 12 UOC in prescribed electives).

Limitations on Recognition of Prior Learning

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):

Domestic Students

International Student

Program Requirements

Internship, Placement and Exchange Opportunities

The program includes the optional Internship course ADAD9115.

Progression Requirements

Students who wish to exit the Masters program early may nominate to transfer to and graduate from the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma provided the requirements for the program have been met.

Students in the Graduate Certificate program can request to transfer into the Graduate Diploma program provided the student has achieved a Pass in all courses and a credit average overall. The 24 UOC completed in the Graduate Certificate should be carried forward as credit in the Graduate Diploma.

Students in the Graduate Diploma program can request to transfer into the Masters program provided the student has achieved a Pass in all courses and a credit average overall. The 48 UOC completed in the Graduate Diploma should be carried forward as credit in the Masters.

For more information on university policy on progression requirements please visit Academic Progression

Associated Programs

Postgraduate Pathway

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD1292 - PhD Art, Design and Media

Nested Postgraduate Program

Graduate Diploma in Animation and Visual Effects - GDipAVFX5319 - Animation and Visual Effects

Graduate Certificate in Animation and Visual Effects - GCertAVFX7319 - Animation and Visual Effects

Professional Outcomes

Career Opportunities

Animator, 3D artist, 3D generalist, CG effects artist, creature effects artist, concept artist, storyboard artist, texture artist, visual effects artist, visual effects compositor, VFX supervisor, matte painter, media arts practitioner, motion designer, art director, post-production artist, virtual production artist, game developer, layout artist

Recognition of Achievement

Award with Excellence

Current Students Award with Excellence

For more information, please visit:

The Award with Excellence is awarded in coursework masters programs, including Masters (Extension) but with the exception of Masters (Extended) such as JD and MD, when a Weighted Average Mean (WAM) of at least 80% has been achieved and at least 50% of the requirements of the award are completed at UNSW. All eligible programs will award 'with Excellence' except in special circumstances where approval of Academic Board has been given for a program to opt out.

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Domestic Students

Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)

International Students