Best Universities for Computer Graphics/Animation?

I'm having trouble finding a 4th or 5th choice for animation.
So far Bournemouth is my first choice, and I am considering Herts and Teeside.
I have a strong maths and arts background.

I have three questions
1. Should I broaden my search from strictly animation courses? If so, what to?
2. Could you recommend me a good, but fairly easy uni for a "safe" choice?
3. Is anyone applying/currently in Bournemouth uni? If so, which course are you going for and why? I can't decide between the two :<

Good luck!

Why did you decide not to apply for Newport? I'm going to their open day next month but I'm a bit put off because their entry requirements are so low..

I'm also applying for Bournemouth, Hertfordshire and Glamorgan =) I decided Teeside is too far away for me

Same reasons really, the newport showreel was mainly 2D Animation which isnt what I presonally dont want to be doing in regards to Animation. I went to the Cardiff Atrium open day on saturday and was really impressed with what they were producing, we were also given a detailed outline of the course through year 1-3, definitely one of my top 3 choices

Off to Teeside for their open day this saturday, long journey though but one I hope will be worth it hope to see any of you, if your going that is :P

Hi,

Last year I posted a lot on this thread and got some great advice from people who had gone through the process of applying. I now go to Teesside university, which I have seen a few of you this year seem to be interested in. So, if you have any questions ask me.

Unfortunately now I'm going to sound like an advert for Teesside, but this is how I really feel. I applied last year for Teesside, Hertfordshire, Newport, Portsmouth and Lincoln. I got offers from all, but chose Teesside as my firm and Newport as insurance. Since I have been at Tees have realised I made the correct choice. So far people from Dreamworks and a person who worked on the scripts for lots of Sony films and Men in Black have talked to us, which has been so inspirational. I have only been a first year here for 5 weeks so far and already I have seen my drawing skills drastically improve and I'm starting to feel quite competent at using Maya.
The thing that made me chose Teesside though was the amazing facilities. I've been in the green screen studio at least once a week since being here and we have made some amazing short films and learnt how to do motion capture and four corner tracking techniques as well as green screen. Also I saw someone say Teesside was too far for them. Well, I live 5 hours away from Teesside by driving and I've been finding it ok because I have just been marvelling on how much fun I have been having.
The lecturers are also fantastic, they have all worked in the industry and are so passionate and easy to talk to.
Another thing which made me pick Teesside was the fact that there is an international games and animation festival here every year called Animex, which I have just bought my ticket for.

But yeah, I just wanted to let you all know my experience and how much fun it is here and how much I have learnt already. If anyone has any questions about interview processes for any of the Uni's I applied for or Teesside or UCAS or anything, feel free to ask.

Thank you I may have a few questions after the open day that I'll be asking, I've heard about the Animex festival, sounds awesome! can I ask why you didnt apply to Bournemouth or Cardiff?
and katie yes I did go to the VFX talk were you there aswell?? there were only about 10 people in the room haha I enjoyed the talk though, gave me perhaps another option hmm..

and katie yes I did go to the VFX talk were you there aswell?? there were only about 10 people in the room haha I enjoyed the talk though, gave me perhaps another option hmm..

Hi,

Are you going to the open day on the 29th? Make sure you check out the Athena building, it's awesome in there.

Anyway, why I didn't apply for Bournemouth or Cardiff? Ok, pretty simple answers, when I went to Bournemouth's open day I just didn't click, I wanted to go a lot because of the prestigiousness of Animation there, but I just didn't get the feel for the way they worked things. But I mainly didn't apply because they wanted me to have a maths based course at A level, which I didn't have. Plus I didn't have much experience of 3D work, and I didn't get grades high enough for Bournemouth. Well, I got A*, B, B, D, so I am unsure whether I would have got in.
When you say Cardiff Atrium, are you meaning Glamorgan Uni? I did think long and hard about applying there. However for me Cardiff was a bit to close to home, I can drive there in less than an hour. Also they wanted experience of 3D work in there portfolio and I just didn't have that. However, I had nothing wrong with Glamorgan, I would have applied if I didn't live so close and if I thought I had a chance of getting in. So if you are considering applying there I would go for it, I thought that course looked fab.

I hope I have been a little bit of help, but I know my answers are more personal to my situation rather than about the uni being bad so not applying or something.

On the Tees open day check out the accommodation, I live in Woodlands and it's awesome. If you have any more questions feel free to ask.

i didn't go to the talk, but i wondered what you thought about the talk ?....if that makes sense :P

I love making films and the VFX talk opened up another option for me . The facilities were amazing. they have their own green screen, editing room and the equipment is top of the range. But the lecturer didnt really talk about what you do on the course, he showed us some students work and then demonstrated what could be done with green screen and a camera, which was cool
I may consider it but it depends on whether I want to go for 5 animation courses or leave my 5th option open to something different hope that helps
Are you going to the Teeside open day on saturday too? and have you submitted your UCAS form, I'm worried about when we have to submit them haha

i read somewhere that they like your personal statement to be all animation not a general one, so if you did do that you'd probably have to do another, i'm going all out for animation but i dont think my portfolio will be good enough for this year
and no i'm not applying to Teeside for really stupid personal reasons but if i dont get into a course i want this year i will probably apply next year,
i havent submitted the ucas form but my college has a deadline for November so i need to get that sorted but i'm really worried about getting interviews too early, because i need time to create my portfolio, although they say the earlier you submit the more dedication it shows :L
have you started on your portfolio for interview yet?
plus are you coming straight from A levels or have you done a foundation diploma?

sorry so many questions and thanks

Its the same here I dont think my portfolio isnt as strong as say someone whos done a foundation, so as a plan B I am applying to do a foundation hopefully at Glamorgan
I have started my portfolio, at the moment it consists of a few life drawings (will include more), my film work, my art work pieces. Planning on including some photography and character ideas etc, I dont know whether or not to do any 3D work
It really depends on if I can get in or not, because of the tuition fees I think it would be best to get in this year, wales have a grant to everyone living in wales, they'll pay the additional fees but I dont know how long that'll pan out for aha :L. If I dont get in then I'll go to do the foundation and try again
Hope that helps, I dont mind being asked questions

Hi, I'm new here I'm planning to do animation next year, I won't be doing a foundation diploma unless it's integrated into the degree as I'll be 19 and student finance won't cover it. I'm going to apply to Hertfordshire (3D digital animation), Teesside (Computer Animation), UCA Rochester (CG arts and animation), Ravensbourne(animation) and Falmouth (digital animation).

Herts has put out some of the best work I have ever seen so I would definitely make it my firm if I got an offer. I've heard Tees is good for animation also but I'm not keen on living in Middlesbourough. I don't know anything about the UCA course I just needed a 5th choice but If anyone is doing this course or knows anything about it I'd be grateful for the information. I know Ravensbourne is respected in the media industry but I don't know if it's a good place to learn animation specifically though the graduate films are fairly impressive. I picked Falmouth because It looks like a lovely place to live

I'm not too worried about building a portfolio, drawing and painting is like breathing to me I'm just not sure what to include. I know unis expect alot of life drawing but I can't afford to join a class, besides it is too late to join the only class close enough. To make up for this I've been doing sketches of family members (although they are clothed it is still drawing from life.) Is digital painting neccessary? I have and can use photoshop but I prefer traditional methods of painting. Should I include work from my fine art alevel? I've heard people say that your portfolio should "tell a story" or be in a logical order but I'm not sure how to communicate that with my art. Generally I just see something I like then I draw it, most of my personal work is pretty random.

Regarding 3D, I've been learning Maya for the past few weeks. I struggled to learn from free tutorials as most weren't designed for an absolute beginner. I bought "Learning Autodesk Maya 2009 Foundation" cheap from amazon marketplace, there's a 2011 version but it's basically the exact same book. It's helped me gain a basic understanding of the whole program rather than how to model a specific thing like most tutorials on the internet are designed to do. The book is split into project based tutorials which take you through the basics of building a scene, adding textures, modeling a character and animating it. Does anyone know if it's okay to include 3D work from tutorials in my portfolio? Also, what it the preferred file format for animations (at any of the unis I've mentioned, If anyone knows) ? Should I print out screen caps of models?

Thanks in advance for any information

Hi, I'm new here I'm planning to do animation next year, I won't be doing a foundation diploma unless it's integrated into the degree as I'll be 19 and student finance won't cover it. I'm going to apply to Hertfordshire (3D digital animation), Teesside (Computer Animation), UCA Rochester (CG arts and animation), Ravensbourne(animation) and Falmouth (digital animation).

Herts has put out some of the best work I have ever seen so I would definitely make it my firm if I got an offer. I've heard Tees is good for animation also but I'm not keen on living in Middlesbourough. I don't know anything about the UCA course I just needed a 5th choice but If anyone is doing this course or knows anything about it I'd be grateful for the information. I know Ravensbourne is respected in the media industry but I don't know if it's a good place to learn animation specifically though the graduate films are fairly impressive. I picked Falmouth because It looks like a lovely place to live

I'm not too worried about building a portfolio, drawing and painting is like breathing to me I'm just not sure what to include. I know unis expect alot of life drawing but I can't afford to join a class, besides it is too late to join the only class close enough. To make up for this I've been doing sketches of family members (although they are clothed it is still drawing from life.) Is digital painting neccessary? I have and can use photoshop but I prefer traditional methods of painting. Should I include work from my fine art alevel? I've heard people say that your portfolio should "tell a story" or be in a logical order but I'm not sure how to communicate that with my art. Generally I just see something I like then I draw it, most of my personal work is pretty random.

Regarding 3D, I've been learning Maya for the past few weeks. I struggled to learn from free tutorials as most weren't designed for an absolute beginner. I bought "Learning Autodesk Maya 2009 Foundation" cheap from amazon marketplace, there's a 2011 version but it's basically the exact same book. It's helped me gain a basic understanding of the whole program rather than how to model a specific thing like most tutorials on the internet are designed to do. The book is split into project based tutorials which take you through the basics of building a scene, adding textures, modeling a character and animating it. Does anyone know if it's okay to include 3D work from tutorials in my portfolio? Also, what it the preferred file format for animations (at any of the unis I've mentioned, If anyone knows) ? Should I print out screen caps of models?

Thanks in advance for any information