Overview
The world of animation and visual effects is changing: real-time engines, virtual production, artificial intelligence and increasingly collaborative pipelines are reshaping the way moving images are created for film, series, advertising and video games.
That is why productions are looking for professionals who combine solid technical skills with visual sensitivity, who can move confidently across the entire 3D pipeline and quickly learn new tools.
The Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Design & Visual Arts at H-FARM College, powered by Big Rock, trains 3D generalist artists with animation and visual effects at its core. An animation degree that starts from hand drawing, photography and physical materials, moves through professional digital production and arrives at the conscious use of artificial intelligence.
Want to find out how this 3D animation program can turn your passion into a profession?
Contact H-FARM College and talk to our admissions team.
Non-EU students: €18,700
Study contributions for non-EU students
Why a degree in Animation, Design & Visual Arts
This animation degree follows a clear path: imagination, writing, hand drawing, three-dimensional production, artificial intelligence and, finally, a return to the physical dimension. Artificial intelligence comes last, when you already have the creativity and craft to guide it, rather than be guided by it.
The first year takes place without software during class hours: drawing, analog photography, clay sculpture and graphic design teach you to observe, think and build images with your hands. From the second year you enter the professional 3D pipeline, studying the logic behind industry tools rather than a single piece of software, so you are ready to take on any future technology. In the third year you work with AI, documenting every creative choice, and bring the digital back into physical space through 3D scanning and virtual production.
You will study on a unique campus, in contact with an international community of creatives, technologists and entrepreneurs, with experiences such as the materials lab in Murano. With the Startup Track you can also develop your own entrepreneurial project with the campus Entrepreneurship & Startup Center: H-FARM ranked first in Italy in the Financial Times “Europe’s Leading Start-up Hubs” 2024 ranking and is a member of the Global Accelerator Network.
Want to understand how a degree in animation and visual effects can open the doors to the creative industry?
Contact us and discover all the opportunities this program offers!
Academics
The Animation, Design & Visual Arts degree program
During this animation degree you will build skills ranging from visual culture to advanced digital production. The first year, shared with the Game Design & Digital Arts and Product Design & Intelligent Technologies programs, gives you solid foundations in image theory, drawing, photography, sculpture and graphic design, along with the habit of reflective writing through the Diary, a working journal that will accompany you throughout all three years.
The second year is dedicated to 3D production: six courses that work together as a single pipeline, from modeling and digital sculpting to texturing and look development, through to lighting, rigging, animation, FX, compositing and motion graphics.
The third year projects you into the future of production with AI Pipeline for Moving Images and Digital to Physical, dedicated to scanning and virtual production, concluding with an extended production project and the Experiential Term, in close contact with the professional world.
Want to find out how this 3D animation program can prepare you for the most in-demand professions in the industry?
Write to us now and start building your career in animation and visual effects!
Curriculum – Bachelor of Arts in Animation, Design & Visual Arts
YEAR I
CORE COURSES
Theory of the Image, Aesthetics and Ethics – 10 ECTS
Listening, Reading and Writing: The Diary – 10 ECTS
Freehand Drawing, Perspective and Anatomy – 10 ECTS
Light, Colour and Analog Photography – 10 ECTS
Matter Lab: Clay, Sculpture and Maquette – 10 ECTS
Graphic Design, Print and Layout – 10 ECTS
YEAR II
CORE COURSES
3D Modelling and Digital Sculpting – 10 ECTS
Texturing, Shading and Look Development – 10 ECTS
Lighting and Rendering – 10 ECTS
Rigging and 3D Animation – 10 ECTS
FX and Compositing – 10 ECTS
Motion Graphics, Editing and Filmic Language – 10 ECTS
YEAR III
CORE COURSES
AI Pipeline for Moving Images – 10 ECTS
Digital to Physical: Scanning and Virtual Production – 10 ECTS
Project: Expanded Production – 10 ECTS
Experiential Term (internship project, pre-accelerator, dissertation) – 30 ECTS
How the Experiential Term works
During the second semester of the third year, students have the opportunity to put the skills acquired during their studies into practice by choosing one of the following three options:
An internship at a company or organization in Italy or abroad, accompanied by an intensive week of classes on research methods and on preparing the business project report and final pitch.
Guided by experts from the H-FARM Entrepreneurship & Startup Center, students can develop their own startup project, which will be the subject of a business project report and final pitch.
An academic thesis and individual research project, accompanied by an intensive week of classes on research methods and writing techniques.
H-FARM College Faculty
The program is coordinated by Luciano Comacchio and builds on the experience of Big Rock, one of Italy’s leading institutions in computer graphics education. The faculty is made up of artists, supervisors and professionals who work every day in animation, visual effects and virtual production, alongside instructors with international academic experience.
To give animation students an experience close to the real dynamics of the industry, classes alternate with authentic briefs, collaborative production projects, reviews, workshops and meetings with guest speakers from international studios and productions. By the end of the program you will have a strong portfolio, a documented creative process and the teamwork experience typical of major productions.
Want to learn from people who work in the animation industry and be part of an international creative community?
Discover our faculty and let yourself be guided through a degree that can turn your talent into a career.
Admission
You can find all information on requirements, the selection process and deadlines in the Call for Applications.
To apply for this Bachelor’s Degree, you will need:
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION
Applicants who are citizens of EU countries, Schengen Area countries or non-EU countries and wish to enrol in a bachelor’s degree programme for the 2027/2028 academic year must have completed, or be currently enrolled in, the final year of upper secondary school in a country within one of the three areas mentioned.
Applicants must hold, or obtain within the deadlines set out in the Call for Applications, an academic qualification that grants access to bachelor’s degree programmes, in line with the entry requirements published on the University of Chichester website. The academic entry requirement depends strictly on the country in which the qualification was obtained.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must hold a language certificate at the appropriate level (see the Call for Applications for the list of recognised certificates).
In some cases, it is possible to be admitted to the programme without a certified level of English. Accepted exemptions are listed in the Call for Applications.
Each certificate serves a specific purpose: if you are unsure which one is right for you, see our certification guide.
Admissions process
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EU or Schengen Area countries:
You can apply for the program using the form available on this page. Within the form, you will need to provide several pieces of information, including:
– your personal details;
– your transcript from the second-to-last year of secondary school completed;
– a motivational video in English – watch the tutorial on how to create a motivational video;
– your English language certificate (if already obtained).
Non-EU countries:
You can apply for the program using the form available on this page. Students from non-EU countries must pay an application fee of €50. If admitted to the program, this amount will be deducted from the pre-enrollment fee or the enrollment fee.
Within the same form, you will need to provide several pieces of information, including:
– your personal details;
– your transcript from the second-to-last year of secondary school completed;
– a personal statement;
– a reference letter.
EU or Schengen Area countries:
After submitting the online application, you will be contacted by the Admissions Team to schedule your motivational interview, which will be conducted in English. Interviews will take place on the dates indicated in the Call for Applications. During the interview, in addition to motivation, academic and extracurricular experiences, your level of English will also be assessed.
Non-EU countries:
Candidates from non-EU countries who have completed the application correctly will be invited to an asynchronous admission interview.
After the admissions interview, you will receive the outcome of your application via email.
EU or Schengen Area countries:
Admitted candidates will have the opportunity to accept their place and proceed with pre-enrollment or enrollment, as applicable, as follows:
– by completing the pre-enrollment/enrollment form received via email;
– by paying the pre-enrollment/enrollment fee for the 2027/2028 academic year.
Non-EU countries:
Admitted candidates will have the opportunity to accept their place and proceed with pre-enrollment as follows:
– by completing the pre-enrollment form received via email;
– by paying the pre-enrollment fee for the 2027/2028 academic year.
Only after obtaining a visa will students be able to proceed with enrollment by completing the enrollment form received via email and paying the first installment for the 2027/2028 academic year.
Application timeline
Several application rounds are planned for the 2027/28 academic year.
EU or Schengen Area countries:
- Round
- Online application
- Interview
- Results
- Pre-enrolment
- Enrolment
- Early Decision Round
- 6 October – 30 November
- 9 and 10 December
- 14 December
- 23 December
- 1–31 July
- Round 1
- 1 December – 31 January
- 4 February
- 8 February
- 17 February
- 1–31 July
- Round 2
- 1 February – 31 March
- 5 April
- 7 April
- 21 April
- 1–31 July
- Round 3
- 1 April – 15 May
- 20 May
- 24 May
- 9 June
- 1–31 July
- Round 4
- 16 May – 30 June
- 5 July
- 7 July
- –
- 1–31 July
- Round 5
- 1 July – 31 July
- 4 August
- 6 August
- –
- 3–5 September
- Rolling
- 01 August – 5 October
- Rolling
- The day after the interview
- –
- Within 3 days of receiving the result and no later than 10 October
Non-EU countries:
- Round
- Online application
- Asynchronous video
- Results
- Pre-enrolment
- Enrolment*
- Early Decision Round
- 6 October – 30 November
- Within 7 days of receipt of the application
- Within 7 days of receipt of the asynchronous video
- Within 7 days of receiving the application outcome
- 1–31 July
- Round 1
- 1 December – 31 January
- Within 7 days of receipt of the application
- Within 7 days of receipt of the asynchronous video
- Within 7 days of receiving the application outcome
- 1–31 July
- Round 2
- 1 February – 31 March
- Within 7 days of receipt of the application
- Within 7 days of receipt of the asynchronous video
- Within 7 days of receiving the application outcome
- 1–31 July
- Round 3
- 1 April – 15 May
- Within 7 days of receipt of the application
- Within 7 days of receipt of the asynchronous video
- Within 7 days of receiving the application outcome
- 1–31 July
- Round 4
- 16 May – 30 June
- Within 7 days of receipt of the application
- Within 7 days of receipt of the asynchronous video
- Within 7 days of receiving the application outcome
- 1–31 July
The application deadline for students from non-EU countries is 30 June 2027.
Deadline for submitting missing documents
Students may start the online application process even if they do not yet have their upper secondary school diploma (or equivalent) or their English language certificate. However, any missing documents must be submitted by the deadlines set out in the Call for Applications.
Academic qualification: 16 October 2027
English language certificate: 16 October 2027
Early admission for fourth-year students
Students currently in their fourth year of upper secondary school, and students enrolled in the penultimate year of a programme leading to a recognised international qualification that grants access to university, may apply early to this degree programme for the 2028/29 academic year. For more information, see the Call for Applications.
Credit recognition and admission to years after the first
Applicants who wish to enrol in the programme and have previously earned credits recognised must:
- successfully complete the admissions process for the programme, as set out in the relevant Call for Applications;
- apply for credit recognition following the procedure set out in this document.
For more information, visit this page or write to admission.college@h-farm.com.
Dual career: student-athlete
Skiing, tennis, golf, horse riding, sailing, motorsport: Champion’s Academic Journey is the programme for student-athletes who want to excel in both sport and academics, making the most of their athletic career without giving up the university experience.
The programme is open to national and international-level student-athletes, depending on the sport practised.
Global Talent Grant
Applicants from non-EU countries will have the opportunity to join the “Global Talent Grant” programme and apply for a tuition fee reduction through the application form.
Tuition & Financing
Fees and Payment Methods
Tuition for this Bachelor’s Degree for the 2027/28 academic year is as follows:
–EU or Schengen Area students: €13,400.00
If you apply during the Early Decision Round: €12,800.00
–Non-EU students: €18,700.00
Payment is made in 3 installments.
Late payment of tuition fees after the due date stated in the contract will incur progressive penalties: €100 from the 1st to the 10th day after the due date; €200 from the 11th to the 20th day after the due date; and €200 plus suspension of the student’s university career from the 21st day after the due date onward.
1st INSTALLMENT
EU or Schengen Area students:
Full Fee: €5,400 (€800 at pre-enrollment + €4,600 at enrollment)
Early Decision Round: €4,800 (€800 at pre-enrollment + €4,000 at enrollment)
Non-EU students:
€7,500 (€1,500 at pre-enrollment + €6,000 at enrollment)
2nd INSTALLMENT
EU or Schengen Area students:
€4,000 by January 15, 2028
Non-EU students:
€6,000 by January 15, 2028
3rd INSTALLMENT
EU or Schengen Area students:
€4,000 by May 15, 2028
Non-EU students:
€5,200 by May 15, 2028
Invest in your future
H-FARM College offers a range of financing solutions and financial support to help you throughout your studies.
Your talent,
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to grow
“Per Merito” Loan
“Futuriamo” Loan
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