Master's in Animation and VFX: Courses, Fees, Eligibility, Syllabus

Master's in Animation and VFX: Courses, Fees, Eligibility, Syllabus

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Damini
Damini Aggarwal
Assistant Manager - Content
Updated on Nov 17, 2025 15:43 IST

Here you will get to know the names of colleges offering Master's in Animation and VFX with their admission process, eligibility criteria, and syllabus.

Master’s in Animation and VFX

Master’s in Animation and VFX

Are you looking for Master's in animation and VFX courses alongwith their eligibility criteria, admisison process and more? Then you are in the right place. In this article, you will find the list of colleges offering Master's in animation and VFX. Also, you will get information on the admission process, eligibility and more.

Table of content
  • Master's Animation and VFX: Introduction
  • Master's in Animation and VFX: Eligibility and Admission Process
  • Master's in Animation and Visual Effects: Syllabus
  • Top Colleges for Master's in Animation and Visual Effects
  • Best Master's in Animation and VFX Courses
  • Master's in Animation and VFX Course Scope

Master's Animation and VFX: Introduction

Anyone who wishes to get admission to the higher studies in animation and VFX can pursue a master's. To get admission, you must have completed your bachelor from a recognized university or college. While studying master's, you will upgrade your skills in 2D and 3D animation, visual effects, motion graphics, and digital post-production. The programme generally covers areas such as character animation, environmental design, VFX simulations, compositing, and motion capture, preparing graduates for high-level careers in film, television, gaming, advertising, and digital media.

Master's in Animation and VFX: Eligibility and Admission Process

To get admission to a Master's in Animation and VFX programme, candidates must meet the course's eligibility criteria. If they are eligible, they can fill out the admission form and pay the admission fee to secure a seat. This type of admission is called merit-based admission.

For admission to some prestigious colleges offering PG Animation and VFX courses, candidates need to take postgraduate-level animation entrance exams. These colleges accept the scores of these exams.

Check out the detailed admission process for a Master's in Animation and VFX course below:

Merit-Based Admission: Eligibility Criteria

To get admission to Master's in Animation and VFX programme, you have to fulfil the admisison criteria. Graduated in animation, VFX or fine arts from a recognized university or college with a minimum 65% can apply for admission. 

Note: The eligibility criteria may differ for each college. MSc in Animation and VFX  eligibility criteria mentioned are common for all. You must look for the admission criteria of the college before applying.

Also Read: 

Animation Courses Animation Syllabus Animation Career Animation Admission Process

Entrance Exam-Based Admission

Top entrance exams whose scores are accepted for admission to a PG Animation and VFX course include:

Master's in Animation and VFX Admission Process for Studying Abroad

To get admission to a postgraduate Animation and VFX course abroad, Indian candidates need to meet the following criteria:

  • Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in any stream.
  • The qualifying marks in the bachelor's degree exam should range from 60% to 79%.
  • Candidates must submit a video or showreel of 2 to 5 minutes demonstrating their animation or VFX skills.
  • Additionally, they need to provide a professional portfolio consisting of 15–20 pages to showcase their work in the field of animation or VFX.
  • Applicants are also required to take one of the following English language proficiency test:
  1. IELTS
  2. TOEFL
  3. Duolingo Test

The best part about studying animation abroad is that you do not need a bachelor's degree specifically in Animation or VFX. If you are a self-taught animator or VFX artist with a strong foundational knowledge of the field, you can still apply for a master's course in this area.

Also Read: 

Master's in Animation and Visual Effects: Syllabus

Check out the main topics and subtopics in the syllabus of a Master's in Animation and Visual Effects course here: 

Topics Sub-topics
Advanced 3D Modelling and Animation
  • Techniques for creating complex 3D models and animating characters, objects, and environments using software like Maya, Blender, or 3DS Max.
  • Topics include rigging, texturing, shading, and lighting.
Visual Effects (VFX)
  • Techniques for integrating computer-generated imagery (CGI) with live-action footage.
  • Key areas include motion tracking, green screen (chroma keying), particle effects, and compositing using tools like Adobe After Effects, Nuke, and Houdini.
Storyboarding and Pre-Visualisation
  • Storyboarding for animated sequences and visual effects, focusing on narrative structure, scene composition, and shot planning.
  • Pre-visualisation techniques for mapping out animated and VFX-heavy scenes.
Character Design and Development
  • Designing characters from concept art to 3D modeling and animation.
  • Emphasis on anatomy, movement, and personality through animation.
Lighting and Rendering
  • Advanced techniques in lighting and rendering for both animated and VFX sequences.
  • Tools like V-Ray, Arnold, or Redshift are used for photorealistic rendering.
Compositing
  • Combining multiple visual elements into a single frame.
  • Topics include layer-based compositing, masking, color correction, and adding visual effects to enhance scenes.
Motion Capture
  • Using motion capture technology to record human movements and apply them to animated characters.
  • Focus on creating realistic character animations based on live-action performances.
Special Effects and Simulation
  • Creating simulations for natural phenomena such as fire, smoke, water, destruction, and explosions using tools like Houdini and RealFlow.
Cinematography and Visual Storytelling
  • Understanding the role of cinematography in animation and VFX.
  • Topics include camera angles, shot composition, and storytelling techniques through visual media.
Editing and Post-Production
  • Learning the fundamentals of video editing and post-production workflows for animated and VFX projects.
  • Tools like Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve are commonly used.

Also Read: 

Top Colleges for Master's in Animation and Visual Effects

The list of the best colleges to study Master's in VFX and Animation in India and abroad has been provided below: 

Best Master's in Animatoon and VFX Colleges in India Best Master's in Animatoon and VFX Colleges Abroad
  • A.J.K. Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 
  • Amity University, Noida
  • Indian Institute of Fashion and Animation, Banglore
  • Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University, Navi Mumbai
  • Asian Academy of Film And Television, Noida

 

  • Gobelins, Paris, France
  • Sheridan College, Toronto, Canada
  • Bournemouth University, England, UK
  • Royal College of Art, London, UK
  • Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan

Best Master's in Animation and VFX Courses

To enlist the best colleges to study Master's in Animation and VFX course in India, we have considered Shiksha Ratings based on the following factors: 

  • Fees 
  • Experienced and expertise of faculty
  • Overall value offered by the course
  • Infrastrucrure of the college/institute
  • Campus life experience
  • Placement scope
  • Average salary package offered by companies after completing the course

The best colleges for the course are listed below: 

Top Colleges for Master's in Animation in India
College/Institute Course Fee and Duration
A.J.K. Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi  MA in Visual Effects and Animation

Fee: INR 1.61 Lakh

Duration: 2 years

Amity University, Noida MA in Visual Effects, Animation & Comics

Fee: INR 2.88 Lakh

Duration: 2 years

Indian Institute of Fashion and Animation, Banglore MSc in Animation and VFX 

Fee: INR 5.6 Lakh

Duration: 2 years

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University, Navi Mumbai MVA in Animation and VFX

Fee: INR 1.9 Lakh

Duration: 2 years

Asian Academy of Film And Television, Noida MSc in Animation and VFX

Fee: INR 3.32 Lakh

Duration: 2 years

Arena Creative Campus, Bengaluru MSc in Animation and VFX

Fee: NA

Duration: 2 years

Gujarat University, Ahmedabad MSc in IT Animation and VFX

Fee: NA

Duration: 2 years

Arena Animation, Jaipur MVoc in VFX Film Making and Animation

Fee: NA

Duration: 2 years

Sam Higgingbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad MA in Animation and Visual Effects

Fee: INR 96,000

Duration: 2 years

MIT School of Film and Theatre, MIT-ADT University, Pune MSc in Film Making (VFX and Motion Graphics)

Fee: INR 12.01 Lakh

Duration: 2 years

Sigma University, Vadodara MSc in Animation, VFX and Gaming

Fee: INR 12 Lakh

Duration: 2 years

Jain Deemed-to-be University, School of Design Media and Creative Arts, Bangalore MA in Communication Design (Animation and VFX)

Fee: INR 6.5 Lakh

Duration: 2 years

Also Read: 

Master's in Animation and VFX Course Scope 

After completing a Master's in Animation and VFX course, you will learn skills required to handle important roles in the film-making, television, digital media and game development industries. Also, you can handle more challenging roles and get an opportunity to perform the job roles listed here.

Jobs After Master's in Animation and VFX Course

After completing a Master's Animation and VFX programme, you can get the job opportunities listed as follows: 

  • 3D Animator
  • VFX Artist
  • Compositor
  • Character Designer
  • Storyboard Artist
  • Motion Graphics Designer
  • Game Animator
  • Lighting Artist
  • Matte Painter
  • VFX Supervisor
  • Art Director
  • Multimedia Artist
  • Pre-visualization Artist (Previs Artist)

Read More: 

About the Author
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Damini Aggarwal
Assistant Manager - Content
Damini Aggarwal expertise in management, research and analysis. She specializes in law and work proactively to cater to reader's needs. Apart from this, she has a passion to travel, read and write fictional novels, Read Full Bio
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