Applying for your course

The MAV and GCAV courses are both aimed at practitioners with existing skills and experience in the animation and/or visualisation space.

Previous students have come from a broad range of backgrounds including:

• Visual, digital and fine arts
• Animation and VFX
• Media and video production
• Games design and development
• Software development, coding and technical programming
• 3D modelling and product design

To be considered for either program, applicants need to be able to demonstrate proficiency or prior industry experience in digital image creation/computer graphics or coding for design, animation and/or visualisation.

In addition to the standard admission requirements, applicants will be required to submit material to support their relevant skills (e.g. portfolio, coding examples, animation etc.) and will also be required to participate in a panel interview.

To find out more about each course (including course dates, course costs and more.), make sure to visit the MAV and GCAV course pages.

We recommend submitting your application as soon as possible. That way, there is the potential for us to advise you if we have feedback on improvements that can be made or request additional work to help assess your application.

• International students - online applications are lodged through UTS International
• Domestic students - online applications are lodged through UTS Student Portal

Please be aware, any applications received after 31 October 2024 will be assessed based on availability of places. So, we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible to help increase your chances of being accepted into one of the limited spaces available for each specialisation.

Domestic students

• 1st round offers: 31 October 2024
• 2nd round offers: 30 November 2024
• Late offers: January 2025

International students

• 1st round offers close: 1 November 2024
• 2nd round offers close: 6 December 2024
• Late offers close: 10 January 2025

Please note that applications received after 31 October 2024 will be assessed based on availability of places.

Your application will be referred to the Animal Logic Academy so that we can assess your digital portfolio of work (or documented project or work experience for technical directing and project management applicants), CV, personal statement, professional and/or academic achievement.

The Academy may also request additional information or decide to issue the applicant with an additional skill and/or aptitude test. 

If your application is considered to be of suitable standard for advanced study, we will organise an interview (via Zoom). The interview will provide us with an opportunity to find out more about your previous experience, and we can provide you with more detail about what to expect in a year at the Academy. 

If you are successful with the interview and presentation of your portfolio, your complete application is processed by the UTS admissions department and, pending the assessment of the provided documentation and attainment of all application requirements, they will inform you of the full outcome of the admissions process.

If you are not offered a place at the Academy, you can request feedback from the Academy on how you can develop your knowledge and skills and try again in the future.

Yes! You can apply now by including a copy of your current transcript and/or proof of enrolment for your undergraduate degree, along with the other required admission documentation.

Then, if you are successful in completing the portfolio and interview components of the admissions process, you can be issued a Conditional Offer (pending providing documentation which confirms you have successfully completed your degree and meeting any other conditions within your Conditional Offer letter).

Once you had met all the conditions, you will need to provide the Admissions team with the Proof of Completion from your studies. Following this, you will be issued with a full ‘Offer’, which will allow you to accept your offer and enrol into the subjects in the course.

For detailed information about course costs, please visit 'Costs Explained' on our courses pages: 

• Master of Animation and Visualisation
• Graduate Certificate in Animation and Visualisation

Select from one of our 11 specialisations: 

• Art Department (concept art, environment art, storyboarding, character development)
• Pre-visualisation/Layout
• Modelling
• Surfacing/Texturing
• Rigging
• Animation
• Effects (FX)
• Lighting*
• Compositing*
• Production Management
• Technical Direction

Our courses are about raising the strongest skill our students have to industry level. As a part of your application, you will need to nominate which specialisation you would like to focus your studies on in your personal statement (see Step 3). 

The more information you can provide us with the better, as it will help us understand what you would like to achieve through the course and help us get a better sense of what you are capable of in your chosen area of interest.

Please keep in mind, while students can potentially try a couple different specialisations throughout the duration of the course, you will only be able to specialise in one. As part of your application, please make sure to specify your primary specialisation as part of your personal statement. Use your portfolio to include examples of your work in this area.

_{*Please note that Lighting and Compositing are only available for the Master of Animation and Visualisation}
 

Explore your specialisation options

Your portfolio of work should demonstrate your skills, knowledge and enthusiasm for the specialisation in which you would like to launch your career. 

Please include examples of work in your chosen specialisation. 

For applicants from digital artist specialisations (not including technical direction or production coordination), please provide a digital portfolio of work demonstrating aptitude in your nominated specialisation of 3D animation and/or visualisation production as a PDF file (maximum 10 pages) AND/OR a link to your showreel (maximum video duration 2 mins) on Vimeo, YouTube or a QuickTime file with clear captions of what your role was in each sequence presented.

For technical direction applicants (without a showreel), please provide documented experience in coding/programming for digital production or visualisation, and include links to coding projects on sites such as GitHub (PDF file, maximum 10 pages).

For production coordination applicants (without a showreel), please provide documented project coordination and/or event management experience (PDF file, maximum 10 pages)

Learn more about what work to include in your portfolio

We request that you please write a 300 word personal statement addressing your reasons for seeking placement in the Master of Animation and Visualisation or Graduate Certificate in Animation and Visualisation at UTS.

As part of your personal statement, please make sure to specify which specialisation in the animation and/or visualisation industries you are interested in focusing your studies on, should you be successful in being admitted into the course (e.g., ‘I would like to join the Masters of Animation and Visualisation in the Rigging department’). 

Please try to be as specific as possible – the more information you can provide us, the better it will help us understand what you would like to achieve through the course and help us get a better sense of what you are capable of in your chosen area of interest. 

Make sure to also explain what you’ve done in this field and why you want to pursue it. Use your portfolio to include examples of your work in this area.

Your CV (1-3 pages) should clearly articulate your education, training and experience in your specialised digital production or visualisation area.

Please make sure to include (where relevant): 

• Any previous qualifications you have attained (e.g. Bachelor’s degree, Advanced Diploma, Diploma, evidence of short courses and/or online learning, etc.)
• A list of any self-directed learning outcomes you have completed (e.g. completed software training, online courses, etc.)
• Any relevant industry experience you have in the animation and visualisation industries (dates employed and names of employers, with reference letters if possible)
• Any work and/or project experience that you have (with reference letters if possible)
• A concise account of the individual role played in the creation of any work submitted (including portfolio and/or showreel)
• Contact details for two referees who can validate your level of skills (these referees can be previous employers/managers or lecturers/teachers). 

If you are submitting a reference letter/s, we recommend including the following information:

• Relevant work and/or project experience, including project descriptions and dates of engagement
• Appropriate attitude, aptitude and enthusiasm for animation and visualisation projects
• Collaborative project experience and ability to work with and/or lead a team
• Personal and professional qualities, skills and attributes

Applicants must have completed UTS recognised bachelor’s degree or equivalent or higher. 

However, if you do not have these formal academic qualifications, we will assess you to see if you have reached an equivalent level of proficiency through combinations of other types of undergraduate and/or industry qualifications, industry experience and evidence of outcomes based on self-directed learning.

Applicants will be considered if they meet one of the following criteria: 

MAV criteria

• Diploma and/or Advanced Diploma in relevant areas of study, combined with at least 1 year of industry experience AND/OR evidenced advanced levels of knowledge and skill through self-directed learning (evidenced through a portfolio of work); OR 

• minimum of 2 years of relevant industry experience AND evidenced advanced levels of knowledge and skill through self-directed learning, evidenced through a portfolio of work; OR 

• completion of 3 or more industry short courses in relevant areas of study combined with at least 1 year of industry experience AND/OR evidenced advanced levels of knowledge and skill through self-directed learning (evidenced through a portfolio of work); OR 

• non-recent school leaver (over 21 years of age) with demonstrated maturity to undertake postgraduate studies (evidenced through employment and/or project experience) AND evidenced advanced levels of knowledge and skill through self-directed learning, evidenced through a portfolio of work. 

GCAV criteria

• Diploma and/or Advanced Diploma in relevant areas of study AND evidenced advanced levels of knowledge and skill through self-directed learning (evidenced through a portfolio of work); OR 

• minimum of 1 year of relevant industry experience AND evidenced advanced levels of knowledge and skill through self-directed learning, evidenced through a portfolio of work; OR 

• completion of 1 or more industry short course in relevant areas of study AND evidenced advanced levels of knowledge and skill through self-directed learning (evidenced through a portfolio of work); OR 

• non-recent school leaver (over 21 years of age) with demonstrated maturity to undertake postgraduate studies (evidenced through employment and/or project experience) AND evidenced advanced levels of knowledge and skill through self directed learning, evidenced through a portfolio of work.

Project work in the animation and visualisation industries relies heavily on verbal briefings and dailies, as well as being able to insightfully understand directions, and provide immediate spoken feedback. 

The MAV and GCAV are both immersive studio experiences, designed to reflect this real-world production environment. As such, there is an emphasis in the learning and collaboration on a high level of verbal communication in the English language.

For application to the MAV and GCAV it is recommended that you have a high level of English comprehension and verbal expression ­before­ applying for the course.

Please note, UTS has English language proficiency requirements for every course. English language requirements apply to both international and domestic students. Please make sure to check the requirements that apply to you. 

If you need to complete an English language test or program recognised by UTS, the required language results for both courses are:

• IELTS (Academic) / IELTS online: 6.5 overall, speaking 6.5, listening 6.5, reading 6.5, writing 6.0
• TOEFL (Internet-based/Home Edition): 79–93 overall, speaking 20–22, listening 20–23, reading 19–23, writing 21–23
• PTE (Academic): 58-64 overall with a score of 58 in listening, speaking and reading, and a score of 50 in writing
• C1A/C2P: 176-184 overall with a score of 176 in listening, speaking and reading, and a score of 169 in writing
• UTS College Academic English Level 5 (AE5): Pass grade

Altogether, your application should meet the following requirements:

• Nominated specialisation 
• Showreel/portfolio according to the specified guidelines
• Personal statement
• CV
• Academic record and/or documentation of your industry experience
• English language proficiency standards

Please review your application and ensure that all the necessary documentation is included. If you have any questions, you can visit our FAQ page, contact us at animallogicacademy@uts.edu.au with your queries or set up a one-to-one consultation with staff from the Academy.

Once you have completed the required documentation, submit your application to animallogicacademy@uts.edu.au or through the application portal. 

You can find the application and closing dates in the ‘When should you apply?’ and ‘When do applications close?’ sections on this page or our FAQ.

We look forward to reviewing your application!