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Course overview
Why study business in the Tees Valley?
Explore the world of business in our unique, dynamic region. With landmark developments, ongoing regeneration, and opportunities for students and graduates, the Tees Valley is your gateway to a thriving career.
Whether you aspire to manage animation studios, produce feature films, launch your own creative business, or lead production teams in global media organisations, this degree gives you the knowledge and experience to lead your creative ambition.
You study core business principles, such as marketing, finance, project management, innovation and leadership, through the lens of the creative economy. Explore the unique challenges and opportunities of the animation industry, from securing funding and managing IP, to working with multidisciplinary teams and navigating rapid technological change.
Throughout your degree, you work on live projects and collaborative briefs with students from animation, games and visual effects – mirroring the dynamic, cross-functional environment of industry. You also engage with real clients, developing practical know-how while building a portfolio of creative business experience.
Top reasons to study this course
- Global recognition: benefit from Teesside’s international reputation in animation education, ranked 19th globally (Animation Career Review 2024) and ScreenSkills Select accreditation.
- Industry connections: engage with global brands and creative leaders at events like Animex – one of the world's biggest festivals of animation and computer games – and through client briefs, mentoring, and live collaborations.
- Entrepreneurial opportunities: access support from Launchpad, our on-campus start-up incubator, where over 500 student-led businesses have launched.
- Career-ready skills: explore emerging technologies, digital business models, and the impact of AI on animation production and distribution.
Course details
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
The principles of animation are the foundation stone for any animator. Originally created by Disney, they have been used by generations of animators to create convincing animation across movies, TV series, games and commercials.
Fundamentals of 2D animation
Learn the principles of 2D animation, using hand-drawn techniques to create animation exercises.
Fundamentals of 3D animation
Explore the principles of 3D animation using industry standard techniques and software using a range of methods including the layered method and pose to pose.
Animation in context
Delve into the history of animation and motion design, from its earliest beginnings to today’s diverse styles and applications.
This is a 30-credit module.
Study the circular economy and the business opportunities it presents. Develop your own business idea and create a venture with social impact that's part of the circular economy. Consider the fundamentals of user experience and user interface design, and learn about current, appropriate digital tools to design an app for your business idea.
This is a 30-credit module.
How to be a Responsible Leader
Reflecting on your own skills and attributes, you explore the importance that organisations and society place on individual values and behaviours. Through psychometric tests and peer reviews, you understand your own behaviours and the impact this has on your own and others professional practices. You explore links between personal development and success in the workplace, considering the skills required in chosen careers.
This is a 30-credit module.
Technology in the workplace is changing at a fast pace, with organisations striving to utilise technology to develop efficient business models. You are introduced to emerging technologies and shifting attitudes in the workplace, examining how these new technologies are impacting business and identifying opportunities for the future.
This is a 30-credit module.
Year 2 core modules
You work in a team to produce an animation or visual effects sequence based on an industry style brief. Experience working in a production environment with industry input and feedback, and target specific production skills in your chosen field of study.
This is a 30-credit module.
You develop your cultural awareness through a business lens, focusing on common humanity and equal worth. Explore a culture of your choice and consider the development of a new business or the expansion of an existing business into that culture.
This is a 30-credit module.
Professional Practice and Ethical AI Assisted Creativity
You get the opportunity to experiment in a specialist area of your choice in animation, games and visual effects. Develop your independent learning skills and take ownership of your chosen direction through the assessment. You also research professional roles related to your specialism, identifying the graduate skills you need and developing an online presence.
AI literacy improves employability, making you more competitive in the job market. You also investigate the responsible use of AI in animation and visual effects, focusing on the benefits, risks and ethical concerns such as IP, copyright and consent.
This is a 30-credit module.
Create content and manage social media accounts, experimenting with different types of content and analysing the results in real-time. You develop your understanding of how to create high-performing content in a world where social media is used for client engagement and product promotion.
This is a 30-credit module.
Final-year core modules
Utilising the skills acquired throughout the course, you work on an individual project, investigating a practical business issue, a relevant issue of academic interest, or a live problem-solving project related to the subject. You conduct research to validate hypotheses, test solutions, create outputs, make recommendations and present conclusions. The project is relevant to a business client or industry partner and is an individual piece of work, developed with supervisor support.
This is a 60-credit module.
Narrative Design and Integration
Explore the theory and integration of games narrative concepts. Investigate elements of storytelling including narration, character creation, story arcs, point of view, voice, tense, cutscene, narrative wash and texture, backstory, storytelling using affordances and signifiers, world building, emergent storytelling, and found text and audio.
This is a 30-credit module.
Reimagining the Future of Business and Society
Unpack the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and explore the utopian and dystopian possibilities of the goals being met or unmet. You develop your understanding of the global impact of these goals while considering global challenges and possible solutions.
This is a 30-credit module.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn through lectures, seminars, practical workshops, work-based activities and group work. Teaching staff adopt a range of web-based technologies to deliver module content, assess, provide feedback and communicate with you.
How you are assessed
You are assessed through a variety of methods including assignments, group work, presentations and live practical projects.
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs
Entry requirements
2026-27 entry requirements
For Clearing 2025 entry requirements, please refer to the information in the box above.
We welcome applicants with a background or interest in business or the creative industries.
A typical offer is 80-104 points from at least two A levels, T level or equivalent, but you may also be a mature student without conventional entry requirements. We take into account any alternative qualifications or other experience you may have.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements.
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country.
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Employability
Career opportunities
You build skills to become a creative business leader equipped to shape the future of animation and screen-based media. Combining a passion for the creative digital sector with strategic business skills, you become prepared to work in studios, produce creative projects, and lead production teams in global media companies.
From managing intellectual property to working in multidisciplinary teams and adapting to digital disruption, you graduate with real-world skills grounded in the realities of today’s industry.
Recognised for excellence in animation education, this course gives you the professional edge to succeed in the global creative economy – whether you're launching your own venture or stepping into leadership within established media organisations.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
Select your country:
Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.