Animation

The Animation Workshop is happy to welcome exchange students to our Bachelor's degree programmes. At the Animation Programme you will choose between following a semester on the Character Animation Line or the CG Arts Line.

Type

Exchange

Duration

1 semester (30 ESTS)

Campus city

Viborg

Study start

August/September and January/February

About the Animation exchange programme

  • As an exchange student, you will enroll in our full degree programmes taught in English. You will be joining a class consisting of both international and Danish students.

    Teaching at the PBA Programme in Animation is planned in modules which use an experimental and practice-based approach. The course programme applies a variety of teaching methods. These are described in the curriculum (section 20 “Instruction and working methods in the PBA Programme in Animation”). In general, the programme is built up, so students learn the fundamentals of animation during the first two years (1st-4th semester). From the 5th semester the students specialise. This means far less teaching hours and more work and research on your own or with your group at 5th semester.

    Language

    The programme is taught in English

    Duration of the semesters

    Autumn semester 2024: 26 August – 31 January 2025

    Spring semester 2025: 1 February – 27 June 2025

    Character Animation, 3rd semester (autumn semester 2025)

    Content

    During the course of their 3rd semester, the students will build upon their animation skills by delving into the world of 3D. Through an array of animation assignments in the software Autodesk Maya, students will take their knowledge of basic animation and implement it in 3D. As the semester advances, the assignments focus more and more on the interaction between characters. 

    Examples of assignments on 3rd semester:

    • Bouncing ball 
    • Generic walk cycle 
    • Character walk cycle 
    • Box lift 
    • Parkour action 
    • Interaction between two characters 
    • 4-legged creature animation

    Programme elements

    • Animation Software and Production 2 – 5 ECTS
    • Advanced Animation – 10 ECTS
    • Animation Basics 3 – 15 ECTS

    Please find a description of the relevant programme elements in the curriculum, where you can read more about the learning objectives and the exam for this semester. The programme elements should be stated in your learning agreement if you are accepted on an exchange semester.

    CG Arts 3rd semester (autumn semester 2025)

    Content

    During the course students will make a creature in 3D and have a course in bi-ped rigging. The semester involves compositing course in Nuke and the creature project; designing a creature and taking it from concept through the 3D pipeline – modelling, sculpting, texturing, shading, lighting rendering, and integrating the character into a live action plate. The semester also includes a 3-week rigging course build around rigging a biped-character and a two-week introduction course to a real-time engine - currently Unreal. 

    Programme elements

    • CG Art Software 2 – 10 ECTS
    • Character 2 – 15 ECTS
    • Character 3: Rigging for Animation – 5 ECTS

    Please find a description of the relevant programme elements in the curriculum, where you can read more about the learning objectives and the exam for this semester. The programme elements should be stated in your learning agreement if you are accepted on an exchange semester.

    Character Animation 4th semester (spring semester 2025)

    Content

    During the course of the 4th semester, students will advance in their animation studies by using their skills in 3D animation on a longer project in groups. The 2nd year project takes place in the 4th semester and provides the students with the opportunity to go through a full 3D production – from idea development, storyboard, pre-visualisation, keys and style frames and production. Through working on a larger project, students will gain knowledge in communication, group work and animating delegated shots as well as working with different kinds of rigs. Students will furthermore be learning about cinematography, film analysis, idea development and adaptation for animation. Students will also gain insight into the animation industry, and the different career paths open to them. 

    Programme elements

    • Animation and Film Studies – 5 ECTS
    • Visual Storytelling and Cinematography – 10 ECTS
    • Animation Industry and Business – 5 ECTS
    • Internship 1 – 10 ECTS

    Please find a description of the relevant programme elements in the curriculum, where you can read more about the learning objectives and the exam for this semester. The programme elements should be stated in your learning agreement if you are accepted on an exchange semester.

    CG Arts 4th semester (spring semester 2025)

    Content

    During the course of the 4th semester, students will advance in their animation studies by using their skills in 3D animation on a longer project in groups. The 2nd year project takes place in the 4th semester and provides the students with the opportunity to go through a full 3D production – from idea development, storyboard, pre-visualisation, keys and style frames and production. Through working on a larger project, students will gain knowledge in communication, group work and modelling, texturing, shading, rigging, lighting, render and compositing. Students will furthermore be learning about cinematography, film analysis, idea development and adaptation for animation. Students will also gain insight into the animation industry, and the different career paths open to them. 

    Programme elements

    • Animation and Film Studies – 5 ECTS
    • Visual Storytelling and Cinematography – 10 ECTS
    • Animation Industry and Business – 5 ECTS
    • Internship 1 – 10 ECTS

    Please find a description of the relevant programme elements in the curriculum, where you can read more about the learning objectives and the exam for this semester. The programme elements should be stated in your learning agreement if you are accepted on an exchange semester.

    Character Animation and CG Arts 5th semester (autumn semester 2025)

    Content: Individual specialisation and external collaboration

    The 5th semester serves to prepare students for their individual ambitions and career. The semester requires students to be self-driven and take initiative for their own learning, as the teaching method consists mostly of supervision. The lectures and workshops provided will give the students valuable insights and tools to make informed decisions for their future career and to create portfolios targeted towards their goals. The students will also practice collaboration with external directors to prepare for future careers in the industry. 

    The semester concludes with an individual written exam.

    Career design and portfolio

    Through lectures and supervision, the students will be presented with relevant information enabling them to make informed decisions about their individual careers and create portfolios targeted towards these goals.

    Collaboration with external director

    Working with Animation Director students from The National Danish Film School on their IPs, the students will learn to interpret and translate vision and creative direction from creators that are not trained artists and may present a different approach to storytelling and production. This is to prepare them for their internships and future careers in the industry.

    Electives

    Students will be able to choose electives within their areas of specialisation. Electives varies from year to year, but could cover areas such as:

    • Story
    • Design
    • Game Production
    • Advanced CG
    • Advanced Animation

    Programme elements

    • External collaboration – 10 ECTS
    • Career Design – 5 ECTS
    • Elective: Specialisation – 15 ECTS

    Please find a description of the relevant programme elements in the curriculum, where you can read more about the learning objectives and the exam for this semester. The programme elements should be stated in your learning agreement if you are accepted on an exchange semester.

  • We warmly welcome international students. Studying at the school for a semester is a unique opportunity to specialize and dive into the field of animation – as well as an opportunity to get to know Denmark. 

    To be an exchange student at The Animation Workshop, your home institution must have an exchange agreement with us. If you do not know, if your institution is a partner of The Animation Workshop, please contact the international office at your home institution. 

    If your university does not have a partner agreement with The Animation Workshop or if you are a graduate wishing to study at The Animation Workshop to strengthen your profile, it is also possible to do so for a fee at our professional training courses: Programmes and courses - The Animation Workshop (via.dk) 

    We are currently looking into the opportunities of welcoming students from the EU and EEA countries from other institutions as guest students for a semester at the bachelor programmes. For now we do not have further information on this, but we will update our website if this will be possible.

  • On this page you will find a step-by-step guide on how to apply for an exchange at VIA University College: How to apply for VIA Education Exchange | VIA

    Please note that per definition, taking an exchange semester requires that your home institution has an exchange (inter-institutional) agreement with The Animation Workshop, VIA University College.

    When applying in the application portal MoveOn you must attach the following:

    • Copy of an identity document
    • Identity photo
    • Academic transcript of records
      • Copy of most recent official and certified official transcript from home university. If the official academic documents are in a language other than English, we will require an official English translation of the documents (including grades).
      • Motivational letter
      • Proof of language proficiency
      • Learning agreement (if ready at time of application)
      • Portfolio

    Portfolio requirements

    In order to apply for an exchange semester at the Animation programme, you must send us a portfolio with examples of your current work done at the latest semesters at your home institution, e.g. assignments and exam projects. Please include examples of the following:

    CG Arts, 3rd, 4th, and 5th semester:

    • Character drawings
    • Environment drawings
    • Life studies
    • 3D Modelling and Sculpt
    • Texturing and shading
    • Lightning, rendering and comp.
    • Eventually rigging
    • A list of software you have been trained in.

    Character Animation, 3rd, 4th, and 5th semester:

    • A 1-minute reel:
      • 3rd semester: 2D character animation, and optionally, a short reel of 3D character animation
      • 4th semester: 3D character animation
      • 5th semester: 2D and/or 3D character animation
    • Character drawings
    • Life drawing/croquis
    • A list of software you have been trained in.

    Language requirements

    If English is not your first language, you will need to provide documentation of your English language level. VIA University College requires that you have an English level of B2 or higher (certificate is required), as you must be able to understand spoken English when following courses and be able to write assignments and reports in English.

    As documentation, we accept confirmation of a B2 level from your home institution or one of the following internationally recognized language tests: TOEFL, IELTS or the Cambridge ESOL test.

    For more information see English proficiency requirements

    Other requirements 

    In order to apply, you should have completed at least one years of studies in related areas and be 18 years old or more.

  • Exchange students do not pay tuition fees.

    Per definition, exchange stays are an exchange of one or more students between partner universities and therefore, exchange students do not pay tuition fees.

  • Need help before applying?

    If you are not sure which study programme is right for you, it might be helpful for you to talk to our international coordinator. 

    International Coordinator
    Anne-Mette Nystrøm
    E: amsj@via.dk
    T: +45 87 45 34 06

    You are always welcome to contact us.

    VIA University College
    The Animation Workshop
    Kasernevej 5
    DK-8800 Viborg 

    T: 87 55 49 00
    E: taw.bachelor@via.dk