Top 5 Animation Institutes in UK

Students interested in learning about the basics and principles of animation including drawing and sketching, storyboarding, character design, timing, visual effects, 2D and 3D animation techniques, using animation software like Adobe Animate, Autodesk Maya, etc. must aim to get into the top 5 animation schools in the UK. 

While the whole world is going gaga over the startling effects of Animation, toddlers have their own favourites and many are hooked to the beautifully animated world of CBeebies. The UK is the producer of the channel. Blessed with leading Animation institutes, UK is the study destination to head to if pursuing animation is on your agenda. This article presents a list of the top 5 animation institutes in the UK.

Best Animation Schools in UK 2025

Listed below are the top 5 Animation institutes in UK as per "The Guardian" rankings for the best animation and game design institutes in the UK.

University of Arts London

Rightly the best university for animation in the UK, the University of Arts London prepares students in animation for industries. The animation course at the University of Arts London gives students access to creative industries industry partners, and a professional network. The course also helps students to work on real-world projects. It is worth noting that the university provides both bachelor's and master's level courses in animation. Here are the details on the BA (Hons) Animation course offered at the University of Arts London:

Glasgow Caledonian University

GCU prepares students for industries as the animation courses are taught by industry experts who enrich students with a mix of both creative and technical skills. The university deems its "BSc (Hons) 3D Animation and Visualisation with Pathways for Games and VFX" course as suitable for those who wish to create content for the next generation of apps, movies and games. The course is aimed at developing the art skills of the students along with introducing them to creative technologies like 3D animation, VFX, visualisation and more. Check out the highlights of the bachelor's in animation course at the Glasgow Caledonian University below.

Canterbury Christ Church University

The focus of the animation degree at Canterbury Christ Church University is to develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, research and communication skills along with technical skills like VFX, art, visual effects, animation, etc. The university provides many courses in arts and creative fields like media and design that provide students the opportunity to not just focus on the areas and subjects that interest them the most but also explore newer areas.  the university provides several different bachelor's courses in creative fields like film production, game design, graphic design, and photography. Here are the details on the BA (Hons) Graphic Design with an option for the foundation year:

Birmingham City University

Birmingham City University provides a supportive community and industry-standard technologies for its learners to get the best of education. Students learn the core art fundamentals, 2D and 3D animation techniques, and industry-standard project management. The courses are taught by professionals with extensive experience in the UK and international animation scene. While studying at Birmingham City University, students also get access to cutting-edge resources, including motion capture studios, high-spec computer labs, and the latest software. Check out the details on the Digital Animation - BA (Hons) course at Birmingham City University below. 

Northumbria University

The animation courses taught at Northumbria University are a class apart in terms of course curriculum and how the course is delivered to the students. The course curriculum is developed in consultation with industry experts and delivered by research-active academics. Students enrolled on an animation course at Northumbria University get access to high-performance workstations, 3D printers, virtual reality labs, and state-of-the-art studios equipped with the latest industry-standard software and hardware. Check out the details on the BA (Hons) Motion Graphics and Animation Design (AOD, Sri Lanka) course from Northumbria University below. 

It is to be noted that the exams required to get into the top 5 animation institutes in UK include English proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL and PTE.

Read more about Animation Courses:

• Top 5 Animation Institutes in the USA
• Top 5 Animation Institutes in Canada

This was all about the top 5 animation schools in the UK. If you wish to study abroad, reach out to Shiksha's Counselling Services for free.