Animation schools
Art schools that list animation on their own sites, compared on the requirements each publishes, with the source page and date checked.
9 schoolsUnited States · Australia · France · Italy · United KingdomNot a ranking
What to compare between animation schools
Animation applicants are often asked for a short reel. Where a school states a time limit, it is on the school page.
Life drawing and character studies are commonly requested even for digital animation programmes.
Department names (film and animation, illustration and animation, animation and interactive media) show where each programme sits.
The schools
9 entries, ordered by search demand
| School | Degrees | Portfolio (key points) | International tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah, GA / Atlanta, GA, United States | BFA / BA / B.Des (among others); MA / MFA / MDes (among others) | A portfolio is not required for undergraduate admission; however, submission is strongly recommended to compete for achievement scholarships. Portfolios are submitted via SlideRoom and must… | 2026–27 undergraduate full-time tuition: annual tuition $42,975 ($14,325 per quarter, 3 courses per quarter… |
| School of Art & Design, UNSW SydneySydney, Australia | Bachelor of Fine Arts (Program 4830) / Bachelor of Design (Program 4825); Master of… | UNSW Portfolio Entry Early Conditional Offer Scheme: for domestic Australian students only. Category A degrees (including Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Design) require a cover letter… | Bachelor of Design 2026 indicative: full first-year fee AU$49,500, complete-degree fee AU$158,000; Bachelor… |
| École nationale supérieure des Arts DécoratifsParis, France | Licence (first year of the Licence, first cycle); Master (Diplôme de l'ENSAD, 4th year /… | First year: anonymous digital application comprising (1) a 'création réalisée à domicile' PDF of up to 5 pages (20 MB) plus optional 1-minute audio / video (50 MB); (2) a personal-works… | €458 per year (2025-2026) plus CVEC €105; the same for all nationalities. CROUS scholarship holders are… |
| NABA Nuova Accademia di Belle ArtiMilan / Rome / London, Italy | Bachelor of Arts (BA); Master of Arts (MA) / Academic Master | Portfolio not mandatory; may be shown at interview. Applicants must submit a 'Portfolio of projects or/and project assignment' (per application form guidance). A portfolio of 5-10 projects… | Non-EU students: Bachelor of Arts EUR22,250/year (including regional tax, A.Y. 2026/27); Diploma Programme… |
| London College of CommunicationLondon, United Kingdom | BA (Hons); MA / MFA / MRes | Digital portfolio via PebblePad after UCAS initial application. Examples: BA Photography / Graphic and Media Design / Illustration and Visual Media – maximum 20 pages of original work… | £31,510 per year (International) for 2027 entry (e.g. BA Photography, BA Graphic and Media Design). 'may… |
| School of Visual ArtsNew York, New York, United States | BFA; MFA / MA | Submission via SlideRoom is encouraged. Most BFA programmes require 15–20 images, of which at least 3 must be direct-observation work; BFA Film requires a 3–5 minute film reel or a two-part… | $55,270 per year (2026–27 academic year; full-time $27,635 per semester). |
| Kingston School of Art, Kingston University LondonKingston upon Thames, United Kingdom | BA (Hons); MFA / MA | Digital portfolio, 15-20 pages; PDF preferred, may include website/Instagram/Flickr/Vimeo links; demonstrate four values: questioning, curiosity, technical ability, enthusiasm. Fine Art BA… | Fine Art BA International: Year 1 (2027/28) £22,900; Year 2 (2028/29) £23,800; Year 3 (2029/30) £24,800… |
| RMIT University - School of Art / School of DesignMelbourne, Australia | Bachelor of Fine Arts (BP201, School of Art) / Bachelor of Design (e.g. BP203 Animation… | Bachelor of Fine Arts selection task: two applicant statements (each up to 100 words) plus choosing 1–3 majors and stating the first-preference reason (up to 100 words) plus creative works… | Bachelor of Fine Arts 2027 tuition AU$43,200/year; Bachelor of Design (Animation and Interactive Media) 2027… |
| Victorian College of the ArtsMelbourne, Australia | Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art); Master of Contemporary Art | A portfolio (folio) must be submitted via SlideRoom: up to 20 individual files/works (drawings, paintings, photographs, sketchbooks, 3D objects, new media, etc.); a visual diary sample (up… | 2024 indicative tuition: AU$34,880/year; three-year indicative total tuition AU$110,016 (university… |
Requirements are summarised from each school’s admissions pages, usually for the undergraduate route where one exists; the school page has both levels in full with sources. Master’s routes are compared on Masters programmes.
Which are the best animation schools?
There is no single best school for animation; this page does not rank. It lists the 9 catalogued schools whose own websites name animation among their programmes, with what each officially asks for, so you can judge fit by portfolio, language, cost and deadline.
Do animation schools require a portfolio?
Most of the schools listed here ask for one, but the format, size and upload platform differ. Some, such as programmes that select by entrance exam, do not. The portfolio column below is taken from each school’s admissions page.
Which animation school fits your work?
Tell Yixiaoliu what you make, your English scores and budget; it will weigh the schools above against them and point you to each official page.
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