Bachelor of

Creative Arts (Animation)

Prerequisite: AGA210 (Animation Art)

TBC

Prerequisite: AGA201a (Studio Workshop A)

TBC

Prerequisite: DVC201 (Design Fundamentals)

TBC

Prerequisite: AGA201a (Studio Workshop A)

(by application only)

COL401 Internship aims to provide students with an internship opportunity that has sound educational value and provides students the chance to initiate and/or develop relationships with professionals in their discipline. COL401 allows students to prepare or consolidate their know-how to work as a professional and increase their technical and creative skills base. It also allows students to explore potential areas of employment. 

In this unit the National Society for Experiential Education’s definition of “internship” is used. This is internship is a carefully monitored volunteering or working experience where an individual has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what they are learning throughout the experience. For this reason, beside the time students spend during their internship, they will also spend self-study time. They will reflect upon their awareness of applying theory to practice during their internship, practicing their ability to evaluate situations, critical thinking, and effective communication of their decision-making. 

Students will also elaborate a professional plan where they explain their aspiring professional development goals and the activities that would assist them to achieve these under the guidance of their Internship Coordinator/Supervisor.  

Context 

At JMC Academy, students undertake a rigorous academic program of practice-based learning, into which is embedded a range of work-integrated learning activities. To complement their on-campus learning, students are also encouraged to generate their own creative work. This unit of study has been designed to formally recognise that work. Students will have access to an e-portfolio as a presentation mode for the assessable items. The unit is placed during the final study periods of the bachelor’s degree, enabling students to collect and display their best and most recent examples of their engagement with their discipline outside of their formal study.

How it works 

Students are introduced to this unit during Trimester 1 and then again in successive study periods. Students must be invited by their Head of Department to enrol in this unit; a student will only be enrolled in this unit if the Head of Department is confident that the student can meet all learning outcomes. The e-portfolio JMC students will be given access to an e-portfolio platform at no cost as part of the Microsoft365 subscription. The platform provides students with a place to curate and display their extra-curricular activities for assessment in this unit. It is not the professional portfolio students could use COL401 Internship aims to provide students with an internship opportunity that has sound educational value and provides students the chance to initiate and/or develop relationships with professionals in their discipline. COL401 allows students to prepare or consolidate their know-how to work as a professional and increase their technical and creative skills base. It also allows students to explore potential areas of employment.

Yes, a core feature of our Bachelor's degree is the ability to specialise and build a unique creative skillset. You'll choose a primary stream like 2D or 3D Animation, and then add a secondary stream such as CG Art or Production Art. This allows you to graduate as an expert in your chosen area, whether that's character animation, concept art, or technical artistry.

This degree prepares you for a broad range of creative and technical roles across the global animation, games, and visual effects industries. Our graduates are equipped to work as 2D/3D Animators, Character Designers, 3D Modellers, Storyboard Artists, or Visual Effects Compositors. The comprehensive training means you can fit into large production houses or thrive in smaller creative studios.

You will move far beyond the fundamentals to master the entire professional animation pipeline. This includes advanced character rigging and performance animation, CG lighting and rendering, post-production compositing, and visual effects (VFX) basics. You will also learn to work within a team, taking on specialist roles like director or lead animator to mimic real-world studio workflows.

Our Bachelor's degree is delivered in an accelerated format over six trimesters, which allows you to complete a full three-year degree in just two years. This intensive structure means you get the same high-level qualification but can start your career in the animation industry a full year sooner. Note that part time study is also an option, if you'd like to take a little longer to perfect your craft.

Absolutely. The entire degree is structured around building a professional portfolio and a final, high-quality showreel. You will complete multiple projects, including short animated films and character animation cycles, taking them from initial concept right through to a polished, final product. You'll graduate with tangible, impressive work to show employers.

We immerse you in the industry through our curriculum, which is guided by major studios, and through direct networking opportunities. You'll be mentored by industry-active lecturers, attend masterclasses, and have the chance to showcase your work at events like PAX Australia. These connections and our faculty referrals are invaluable for getting your foot in the door.

You will train on the same world-class technology and software used in leading animation and VFX studios. This includes dedicated animation labs with high-end Wacom Cintiq displays, software like Maya, Houdini, and ZBrush.

No, a specific ATAR is not a requirement for entry. We focus on your creative passion and potential, which you can demonstrate in a creative interview and portfolio submission. Your portfolio can include sketches, character designs, story ideas, or any creative work that shows your dedication to visual storytelling.

Yes, eligible Australian students can access the FEE-HELP government loan scheme to cover their tuition fees for the full degree. This allows you to begin your studies without worrying about upfront costs, and you only start repaying the loan once your income reaches the compulsory government threshold.

At JMC, you’ll choose to specialise in either 2D or 3D animation (or even both). If you’re passionate about drawing, sketching, and visual storytelling, the 2D stream will let you bring characters and worlds to life through expressive movement and design, using industry software like Toon Boom Harmony and Adobe Creative Cloud.

If you’re more excited by building digital environments and thinking spatially, the 3D stream will immerse you in the full production pipeline, from modelling and texturing through to rigging, lighting, rendering, and animating, using tools such as Autodesk Maya, ZBrush, and Substance Painter. Both streams share the same core animation principles and industry mentoring, but your choice will shape whether you graduate with a folio focused on illustration-driven 2D storytelling or immersive 3D worlds.

Yes, the entire course is built around practical projects where you bring your own characters and worlds to life. From your first day, you'll be working on creating a professional showreel. You'll take multiple projects from an initial storyboard right through to a fully rendered animation, graduating with a strong portfolio to show employers.

Yes. We offer multiple pathways into the course regardless of your current drawing abilities and art is one of these pathways. If you don’t feel all too comfortable drawing, we offer pathways in technical and conceptual skills.

A portfolio essentially relates to samples of your work. If you have nice finished artwork, that’s fantastic, but not essential. What we’re looking for is that you have a drive to create things and are passionate about the field, so show us that in your portfolio. Things like sketches or drawings, notes, ideas and characters you’ve invented are all great.

Building your network with like-minded people and meeting people in the industry is really important. We encourage you to attend industry talks and events (many of which are held on campus) and introduce yourself to people. Amazing opportunities often arise through those connections so be open to new experiences. Create your own opportunities as well. If there’s nothing else happening, keep working. Work on your own projects and set yourself tasks to enhance and refine your skills so you not only have great content to add to your showreel, but when an opportunity does come up, you’re ready to seize it.

In the course of completing the Bachelor degree you will complete multiple key creative projects, both solo and in teams, as well as a host of smaller exercises. You will build your portfolio with polished work from your second trimester onwards and your last two trimesters will be devoted to a major project that will showcase your talent and abilities.

Yes. The JMC Academy is registered and regulated by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) which is Australia’s independent national regulator of the higher education sector, both public and private.

JMC Academy is broadly recognised and accredited:

• Registered Higher Education Provider.
• Accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)
• Registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
• Regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
• Member of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA).
• Nationally recognised within the Australian Qualifications Framework.

Our strong industry links also ensure that JMC Academy qualifications are recognised within the creative industries. 

No, our courses are hands on and practical. Students are required to attend classes to receive ongoing mentorship, learn new skills and work with the equipment provided. We do encourage our students to use online study resources, however our courses would not be as immersive as they are without the practical component.