Everything you need to know about your application for the Bachelor Programs 2021

Your portfolio should be submitted in one single PDF file, max 99,9 MB, together with the application on www.optagelse.dk. It must contain:

• a filled out and signed cover letter;
• a letter of intention and examples of your work fulfilling the requirements as listed below:
  - Character Animation
  - Computer Graphic Artist
  - Graphic Storytelling

Incomplete or incorrectly formatted portfolios will not be accepted.

Portfolio templates

Please use the templates below to make sure your portfolio is in the right format – each zip-file contains a template for Photoshop, InDesign, and OpenOffice as well as a How-to guide for saving your portfolio as a single PDF file.

In the template, you will find the necessary information about requirements for the portfolio, the cover letter form and the letter of intent.

• Character Animation portfolio template (zip-folder)
• Computer Graphic Arts portfolio template (zip-folder)
• Graphic Storytelling portfolio template (zip-folder)

For info on assessment of individual qualifications, the Master's degree rule, credit transfer and applying for a transfer, see specific entry requirements

Exam requirements

Applicants with Danish exam certificates

The following Danish upper secondary school certificates grant access to Bachelor in Animation (Character Animation, CG Arts) and/or Bachelor in Graphic Storytelling:

Danish diplomas and exam results will be uploaded automatically when you submit the application through www.optagelse.dk using NemID.

Applicants with foreign exam certificates

You can apply based on a foreign upper secondary school certificate (high school, baccalaureate, IB or similar). You must submit a scan of both your diploma and the transcript of records.

Your diploma does not need to be translated from the original language unless specifically requested.

Deadline for submitting diplomas

If you have already passed your exam, the deadline is March 15 at noon.

If you graduate the same year as you are applying, you may submit the diploma later. The final deadline for submitting your diploma is then July 5th, 12:00 am.

English language requirements

All applicants (including native English speakers) must document English proficiency equivalent to a Danish B-level with a minimum weighted grade point average score of 3.0 on the Danish grading scale.

Danish applicants

Danish applicants must document that they have received English instruction corresponding to B-level (B-niveau) or higher in the Danish framework and meet the following marks:

• Applicants with English B-level (Danish Framework) must have a weighted grade point average on 3,0 or higher.
• Applicants with English A-level (Danish Framework) must have achieved a weighted grade point average score on 2,0 or higher.

International applicants

All applicants with a foreign entry qualification will have to document English proficiency equivalent to a Danish B-level with a minimum weighted grade point average score of 3.0 on the Danish grading scale (min. 210 hours, 1 hour = 60 minutes during the final three years in Upper Secondary School). You may document your proficiency through your upper secondary school certificate if it meets the required skill level.

The grades from your upper Secondary School Certificate will be converted into Danish grades. Note that the rules for conversion differ for each country, so it is not possible to standardize the methods for this conversion.

Please fill this Verification form (for your English lessons only!) and upload it with your application if you would like us to assess your English level.

Documentation of English proficiency level through a test

If your upper secondary qualification does not meet the required level and scores, you must deliver an English proficiency test.

You can find an overview over the accepted language tests and required scores here. Note that the test result must be no more than two years old at the time of possible study start.

Deadline

The final deadline for submitting valid proof of English proficiency through www.optagelse.dk – either as an upper secondary school certificate or as a proficiency test – is July 5th at noon.

The admissions test and interview take place at The Animation Workshop in Viborg in the middle of May.

The test takes three hours and the interview lasts approximately 30 minutes. You can book your interview either the same day or the day after the test.

(Please note that restrictions and precautions due to COVID19 may cause us to plan for long distance/online tests and interviews.)

If you are not selected for the admission test, you will be invited to participate in a portfolio workshop. The date will be announced together with the results of the entrance test. More information about the workshop will be provided in the invitation letter.

What happens at the test and interview?

The admissions test for Bachelor in Animation (Character Animation and CG Arts) consists of a short individual drawing test, followed by a two-hour creative group assignment focusing on collaboration and communication skills.

For Graphic Storytelling applicants, the test consists of a three-hour individual drawing and storytelling test.

The purpose of the interview is for the admissions panel to get to know you as an applicant: Your motivations and goals, where your think your strengths lie, and what you can bring to the class.

What are we looking for at the test and interview?

In addition to a strong portfolio, we are looking for diligent, curious and reflective students who are eager to learn and open to collaborating with others while honing their craft. You must demonstrate an ability to accept feedback and try new work methods. The program is demanding, and you must be ready to be a part of an intensive learning environment.

When will you hear back?

We will inform you about the results of the admissions test in June. If you pass the test, you qualify for admissions. The official enrollment into the program is completed at the end of July.

The Animation Workshop is happy to welcome exchange students to our Bachelor programs. Please note, however, that due to limited capacity, we do not always have available seats, and we are only able to confirm a place after the completed application procedure (see below).

Below is an overview of the available semesters with corresponding application deadlines.

Fall 2021: Application deadline March 15, 2021

• Bachelor in Animation: Character Animation 3rd semester (fall terms only)
  Courses and assignments on the basics of 3D animation in Maya as well as touching on cinematography. Idea development and preproduction for a 3D film for an NGO done in a group.
  
  
• Bachelor in Animation: CG Arts 3rd semester (fall terms only)
  Involves compositing course in Nuke and the quadruped project; designing a quadruped and taking it through the pipeline – modeling, sculpting, texturing, shading, lighting, rendering, and integrating the character into a live action plate. There are also classes touching on cinematography and Idea development & preproduction for a 3D film for an NGO done in a group.

Spring 2022: Application deadline November 1, 2021

• Bachelor in Graphic Storytelling: 2nd semester (spring term, even years)
  The 2^nd semester of the GS program is all about telling satisfying and compelling short stories in crystal clear comics form and culminates with a collaborative anthology magazine project.
  
  
• Bachelor in Animation: CG Arts 2nd semester (spring terms only)
  On the CG Arts program focuses on design and modeling characters, rigging and short filmmaking in teams with a focus on backgrounds and compositing for 2D films.
  
  
• Bachelor in Animation: CG Arts 4th semester (spring terms only)
  The program deepens into more advanced modeling, rigging, and look development as well as shot production for the NGO film and classes on story structure and pitch development.
  
  
• Bachelor in Animation: CG Arts 6th semester (spring terms only)
  Focuses on working within a CG team on a short film or game in the medium of choice, depending upon the productions for the year, 3D set dressing, texturing, background painting, FX and/or compositing.
  
  
• Bachelor in Animation: Character Animation 2nd semester (spring terms only)
  Courses and assignments focused on 2D animation and short film production in a team with a focus on character design and animation.
  
  
• Bachelor in Animation: Character Animation 4th semester (spring terms only)
  The program deepens into more advanced 3D animation in Maya as well as animation shot production for the NGO film and classes on story structure and pitch development.
  
  
• Bachelor in Animation: Character Animation 6th semester (spring terms only)
  Focuses on working within an animation team on a short film or game in the medium of choice, depending upon the productions of the given year, 2d, 3d, stop motion or mixed media animation.

Fall 2022:  Application deadline March 15, 2022

• Bachelor in Graphic Storytelling: 3rd semester (fall term, even years)
  This semester focuses on illustration for books, magazines and newspapers, world building and IP generation, plus color theory and comics coloring.
  
  
• Bachelor in Animation: Character Animation 3rd semester (fall terms only)
  Courses and assignments on the basics of 3D animation in Maya as well as touching on cinematography. Idea development and preproduction for a 3D film for an NGO done in a group.
  
  
• Bachelor in Animation: CG Arts 3rd semester (fall terms only)
  Involves compositing course in Nuke and the quadruped project; designing a quadruped and taking it through the pipeline – modeling, sculpting, texturing, shading, lighting, rendering, and integrating the character into a live action plate. There are also classes touching on cinematography and Idea development & preproduction for a 3D film for an NGO done in a group.

How to apply for an exchange stay?

In order to apply for an exchange to the Bachelor programs, you must fill an application through our Mobility Platform, called “MoveOn”. You must request a link/logon from taw.bachelor@via.dk

Along with the application, you must submit the following documents:

1. Transcript of records from your current educational institution
2. Examples of work as specified below under each program

Requirements for an exchange to BA in Animation (Character Animation or CG Arts)

In order to apply for an exchange semester in the Animation program, you must hand in a PDF portfolio which shows a representation of the key subjects in the portfolio requirements for the program you apply to:

• Character Animation
• Computer Graphic Arts

In addition to the portfolio, exchange applicants to the Animation program should include animation or computer graphics work, depending on which program they wish to join, showing a skill set which is comparable to a first-year reel for application to the second year, and a second-year reel for application to the third year.

After the application deadline, we will review the applications and invite the qualified applicants to participate in Skype interview, in order to clarify expectations and determine whether the course you applied to is a good match for you.

You will be notified of our decision before December 1st for the spring term, and before June 1st for the fall term.

Requirements for an exchange to BA in Graphic Storytelling 2020/2021

In order to apply for an exchange semester in the Graphic Storytelling program, you must send us examples of your work/a link to a portfolio website. Please note that we may ask for more samples if we find it hard to judge your level based on the work handed in.

After the application deadline, we will review the applications and invite qualified applicants to participate in an online interview (e.g. Skype or Zoom). The interview is meant to clarify expectations and determine whether the course you applied to is a good match for you. 

You will be notified of our decision before August 1st for the fall term and before December 1st for the spring term.

Fees and finances for exchange students 

Exchange students are normally free of tuition fees.

As an exchange student, you have the option of participating in a common study materials scheme for a fee. More information will follow.

Registration for Nordic and EU/EEA students

Coming to Denmark from a Nordic or EU/EEA country, including Switzerland, you are free to live, study and work in Denmark. However, you must register, if you intend to stay more than three months.

Visa and registration for non-EU/EEA students

If you are coming to Denmark from outside the EU, you need a tourist visa (valid up to three months) or a residence permit (for stays exceeding 90 days). Normally, you must apply for visa or residence permit prior to your arrival in Denmark.

Applying for a visa is a part of the enrollment process for the bachelor educations and is initiated by the school after you have been admitted to the program.

In order to have enough time to settle matters regarding visa/residence permits, there is a special (early) flow for enrollment of non-EU/non-EEA citizens who pass the admissions test and are offered a place in one of the Bachelor programs.

Immediately after receiving a positive answer from the admissions committee, you will be asked to sign a contract for the education and to pay the tuition fee for the first semester.

After signing the contract and paying the tuition fee, you receive a letter confirming your payment and your unconditional enrollment to the program. The receipt for the tuition fee and the enrollment letter are preconditions for being granted a residence permit.

The application for a residence permit is made online and is initiated by VIA, after your payment has been registered.

You can find the fees and payment schedules in the Fees & Finances section below.

For detailed information about the application process and requirements, please visit the website of the Danish Immigration service.

Registering for Danish Social Security number (CPR) and Danish Health Insurance scheme

You must register with the local municipality in order to receive a Danish CPR-number. It is a social identity code which is key to all public registration and services, including tax, opening a bank account etc. Furthermore, the CPR-number gives you access to free public health care for the entirety of your stay.

More information

You can find more general information about coming to Denmark as a student here.