National Film and Television School

Master in Directing Animation

Beaconsfield, United Kingdom Taught in English Open to international students

Introduction

The National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, United Kingdom, established in 1971, is a compact and highly specialized institution focused on film, television and games. With around 700 students and roughly 294 international students, NFTS combines a studio-style learning environment with close mentorship from working professionals. The school emphasizes craft, storytelling and technical excellence, helping students build portfolios and reels that reflect industry standards.

Students choose from 42 specialist programs and benefit from access to film stages, postproduction suites, sound facilities, camera and lighting equipment, motion capture and VFX labs. Learning is project-based: teams produce short films, series pilots and interactive projects under realistic production schedules. Regular guest lectures, masterclasses and production partnerships connect students with producers, broadcasters and post houses, while alumni placements and festival successes demonstrate clear pathways into professional roles.

International applicants find dedicated support for admissions and visas, alongside information about scholarships and funding opportunities. Beaconsfield is close to London, giving students practical exposure to the UK media industry while preserving a focused campus atmosphere. Prospective students should prepare a strong creative portfolio, show collaborative experience and clarify career goals to take full advantage of NFTS resources and industry networks.

About the Program

The Master in Directing Animation is a 2-year program at the National Film and Television School in the United Kingdom. It's for students who want to become animation directors and have a Bachelor's degree. This program helps you develop your skills in visual storytelling and animation techniques.

The curriculum covers various forms of visual storytelling, including traditional and digital media, such as drawn 2D, CGI, stop-motion, and life-size pixelation. You'll learn how to push your creative boundaries and discover your unique voice while exploring new animation techniques and storytelling approaches. The program also includes hands-on components, where you'll work on projects to develop your skills.

After completing this program, you can pursue careers such as Animation Director, Visual Effects Supervisor, Storyboard Artist, or Film Producer. You can work in the film, television, or advertising industries, and potential employers include animation studios, production companies, or post-production houses.

Tuition in Context

This program's tuition is 20% above the typical master's in the United Kingdom.

Median tuition for that cohort is 27,309 USD, across 6,232 programs in our catalog.

Compare United Kingdom master's programs

Scholarships You Could Apply For at National Film and Television School

Funding relevant to this program — the university's own awards and popular scholarships for studying in United Kingdom.

Create a free account to see scholarships you could apply for

Create Free Account
Already have an account? Sign in
United Kingdom · University

NFTS Humanitarian Scholarship

National Film and Television School

Full Ride

Master's
Open · Next: Annual, aligned with NFTS course intakes (e.g. Sept 2026 / Jan 2027)
Browse all scholarships →

English Test Requirement

This program asks for IELTS 5.5-6.0. Here's what that's worth on the other tests universities accept, based on the official concordance tables:

TOEFL iBT
46–59
PTE Academic
42–49
Duolingo
85–95
CEFR level
B1/B2
Convert your own score

Equivalences are approximate — confirm the exact test and score the program accepts.

Similar Programs You Can Apply To

Direct application via Global Admissions is not available for this program. Browse similar partner programs below or visit the university's site to apply directly.

Edit Program

Related Blog Posts

Show More Blog Posts →

Takes about 15 minutes

Complete your profile to unlock

Direct application links unlock once your profile is at least 80% complete. You're currently at 0%. It only takes a minute.