Bachelor of 3D Animation

The Bachelor of 3D Animation at the Academy of Interactive Technology is a three-year degree built for people who want to make things move. You start with the basics of modelling, rigging, texturing, lighting and animation, then move into character performance, visual effects and rendering. Most of your time goes into studio-style subjects where you build a reel rather than sit exams. The degree sits on the Australian Qualifications Framework at level 7, the standard bachelor level, and is delivered across trimesters. You will complete units of study worth set credit points each, with a total that adds up to the full award. There is a capstone project in your final year where you take a piece of work from concept through to finished shot. Work-integrated learning is part of the deal: you work on team productions and industry briefs, and the course expects you to finish with a portfolio you can show to studios.

Skills you pick up include 3D modelling, character rigging, keyframe and motion animation, compositing, and the software pipelines used in Australian game and film studios. You also learn to take critique, hit deadlines and work in a production team, which is what most studio jobs actually demand. Assessment is mostly project-based, so your marks come from the work you make, not from memorising theory.

This degree suits school leavers who already draw, sculpt or edit in their own time, and career changers who want a structured path into animation. You do not need to be a brilliant artist to start, but you do need to be willing to put in the hours. The course is taught in Australia, and international students on a Student visa can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream lets eligible graduates stay and work in Australia. English requirements for international applicants are usually IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 overall for undergraduate courses, though the Department of Home Affairs sets its own threshold for the visa. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register. Check the official page for current unit lists, intake dates and fees.

• 3D animator
• Character rigger
• Modeller
• Visual effects artist
• Motion graphics designer
• Game artist
• Compositor
• Lighting and rendering artist

Graduates work in Australian game studios, film and television post-production houses, advertising agencies and animation studios. Some go into architectural visualisation or medical and scientific animation. The portfolio you build during the degree is what gets you interviews.