A Level Illustration & Animation
NSCG Newcastle College
Knutton Lane, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 2GB
GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent
Level 3
Available start dates
Available start dates
Thursday, 01 October 2026
NSCG Newcastle College
1 Year(s)
Full time
Daytime/working hours
Please contact the provider directly to apply for this course.
Course Summary
Are you working in the fitness industry and would like to stand out from the competition? Studying this course will give you the skills and knowledge to�progress in your career as a professional Personal Trainer on an employed or self-employed basis.
Course Details
You will be introduced to key creative principles, exploring both traditional and digital methods of creating visual imagery, further applying these skills equally within moving image approaches. You will learn about the work of leading industry figures from Disney to Miyazaki and will explore a range of techniques including model-based animation, illustration, time-lapse and digital.
The course will teach you how to manage the animation processes, such as planning and setting-up a production pipeline and you will also develop learning skills such as teamwork, communication, presentation, planning and managing resources.We will also encourage you to engage with artwork and the world around you, drawing inspiration and ideas as your work improves in complexity and ambition, allowing for a broad and creative approach to illustration and design.
How will it be delivered and assessed?
You will receive feedback every day on your work, including peer feedback. There well be regular written feedback to help you improve. The course is formally graded in year 2 via two extended coursework units. The first is negotiated with your tutor based on an area of interest to you and includes an extended essay (60%). The second is again coursework based, following starting points set by the exam board EDUQAS (40%).
Progression to year 2 will be dependent on successful completion of the first year taking into account Internal Progression Examination results and the Key Assessment Profile throughout the first year.
The final A level certification you will receive is entitled Art and Design: Graphic Communication. This means that you cannot study A Level�Graphic Design as a separate subject.
Entry requirements
In addition to examples of your creative work, you will need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 5 or above, in subjects relevant to your A Level or A+ Programme subject choices. This should ideally include English Language and maths as well as a creative subject, however we actively encourage interested learners to apply and attend an informal interview to allow us to find out more about you, your career aspirations, predicted grades and creative ability.
Your next steps...
An A level in Illustration & Animation (Graphic Communication), can give you points to take forward for an HE application in Creative subjects and give you transferable skills to use in any number of workplace scenarios. The UK�s film and computer games industries are a major employer for animators. Illustration itself is broadly sought after for many industries. Some directions for illustrators include health and medical illustration, children�s products and picture books, commercial packaging design, infographics such as instructions, magazine, book cover and further editorial illustrations, exhibition artwork, fashion industry illustrations - including surface pattern and T shirt design, concept illustration and illustration for print and online.
Additional information
For more courses like this, check our courses page.