Master of Animation | AVANS UNIVERSITY

Your self-directed research and studio practice are at the centre of the curriculum. In a critical and intimate environment, you will widen your conceptual scope, experiment with narrative strategies and build your technical skills.

The program helps you navigate animation’s expanding field, which includes the essential role the medium has long played in cinema, but also exciting new applications in design, games and interactive media.

The program is distinguished by its informal, non-hierarchical atmosphere. Our didactic approach is that of the flipped classroom: lesson time is used not for the  transfer of information from tutor to student, but rather as a forum for student-led discussion of ideas and problem solving. Information and skills are largely acquired during self-study, or tutorials. Collaboration with other disciplines, both inside and outside the academy, is encouraged and facilitated.

The program is structured into three phases: the Orientation Phase (3 months), the Research Phase (3 months) and the Graduation Phase (6 months).

- World-building & storytelling (phase one)

In this phase, you will explore storytelling in animation and compare this with your own artistic vision, personal signature and qualities in the animation field. You will carry out field research to find out what developments in the field are relevant to you

- Animation (phase one)

This phase focuses on animation itself. You will widen your technical knowledge and skills and learn how to test stories in animation.

- SOHO project (phase two)

This phase focuses on collaboration and working on commission. You will acquire experience in studio work and the dynamics and planning associated with it. You will focus on planning, feasibility and production processes, with an emphasis on testing your own artistic freedom in relation to working on commission. You assume various roles in the studio, so that you can test your qualities and ambitions.

- Preproduction/production (phase 3)

In this phase, students start their graduation work. The first part of the phase focuses on preproduction. This ends in May with a ‘proof of concept’ and style frames. If the quality is satisfactory, you may start with production. At the end of June, you will use an animation to show that you have tested your proof of concept in animation.

- Production (phase 3)

In the production phase, students work on their graduation project individually or as a team. Education and supervision on specific components will be provided in the summer period.

The Master of Animation is a full-time, one-year program. Two days a week are dedicated to practice and integrated artistic and theoretical research, which include individual studio talks with tutors and presentations of work in progress. One day a week is dedicated to theory and General Academic Studies. An equal amount of time (2-3 days per week) is required for self-study.

All courses and examinations will be in English, so you need a good command of spoken and written English.

The level required for admission should be an equivalent of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.0 or higher, or TOEFL iBT score of 80 or higher, or diploma’s such as:

Cambridge Lower (FCE) Grade B (180-184)

Cambridge Advanced (CAE) Grade C (180 - 184)

Cambridge Proficiency (CPE)

The Master of Animation is open to Bachelor of Animation and Bachelor of Illustration graduates, or similar practicing professionals in the field, with experience in animation.

In order to assess your animation skills we would like you to submit a film of minimum 15’’ of animation, in which a narrative development can be recognized and an Artistic Statement; a short essay on your motivations to join our master program, urgencies in your artistic practice and needs for contextualizing your practice in contemporary society (written only, min. 1A4).

Your documents will be evaluated by our admissions committee. The committee will determine if your artistic work, theoretical knowledge and academic goals match the Master’s program you have applied for.

The admission procedure starts the first of November. Selection for enrollment takes place in 3 rounds. You can upload the requested enrollment documents before the formal admission deadlines: 7 December 2018 - 15 March 2019 - 31 May 2019

The admissions committee will make a pre-selection after these deadlines. The selected candidates from the pre-selection rounds will be invited for an interview  (Skype or at Avans University). Interview dates are planned on: 19 December 2018, 22 March 2019, 7 June 2019.

Finding accommodation in the Netherlands can take a significant amount of time (on average, at least a month), so we strongly recommend that you start your search as soon as you have been accepted into the program.

Avans University of Applied Sciences does not offer student accommodation, our  International Office functions merely as a mediator in your search for housing. There's no guarantee for finding you an accommodation. It is your own responsibility to arrange you accommodation during your stay.

We do however collaborate with housing associations and letting agencies to make sure our students find suitable housing. Our housing partners have furnished rooms available throughout the city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch and surroundings. These rooms vary in size, rent and location. But in all cases you will share a flat or live in a residency with other students, usually international students. Rental prices vary but you will pay no more than €510 per month maximum. This includes water, electricity, gas and in most rooms internet access.

As a student of Avans University of Applied Sciences in ’s-Hertogenbosch, you can also register with the housing corporation BrabantWonen. This website is unfortunately not available in English.

For more information and assistance in finding your right housing, please contact us on info@studyinholland.gr

The Master of Animation is an opportunity to lay the foundation for a long-term, sustainable career in the creative sector. Our students graduate with the skills necessary to respond to opportunities in a rapidly evolving field, as well as the ability to adapt to future changes.

Your studies will take place within a diverse community of Master’s students from many different backgrounds and countries. Engaging with people from all over the world in a 24/7, multidisciplinary environment, will enrich your practice and allow you to build a unique network of peers. Furthermore, through active collaboration with makers and studios outside of the academy, you will gain experience in wide range of practices and build a valuable professional network. Our hands-on, interdisciplinary approach enables you to take bold steps in your career after graduation.

The program works with designers, publishers and institutions in the Netherlands and abroad. You can find information about what our alumni have gone on to do with their degrees on our community page.