Loading...
Loading...

Animation & visual design courses

Bring the impossible to life in the world of animation and design

Help me choose a course

Introduction to Animation & visual design

Animation is a dynamic and evolving industry—and one that’s certainly never boring. From stunning visual effects in blockbuster movies, to the graphics in your favourite games and apps, visual designers are needed for all kinds of spectacular creative work.  

Studying an animation or visual design course can open a realm of career possibilities. Maybe you want to work on beautiful animated features, craft seamless UX experiences, or pursue new frontiers in game design.  

We’ll help you find the course that can get you there. Start browsing your options below.  

Explore animation & visual design courses
animation-character-design-drawing

Discover animation & visual design courses

Online animation & visual design subjects and short courses

Academy Xi

UX/UI Design: Transform

Professional trainingAXI-UX-T

Duration:
From 12 weeks
Price:
From $8,999
Start dates:
Any time
Academy Xi

Graphic Design: Transform

Professional trainingAXI-GD-T

Duration:
From 12 weeks
Price:
From $8,999
Start dates:
Any time
University of Tasmania

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

UndergraduateTAS-ZAT122

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 24 Feb 2025
Curtin University

Digital Design 1

UndergraduateCUR-DIG12

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 03 Mar 2025, 01 Sep 2025
Curtin University

Animation and Motion Graphics Design

UndergraduateCUR-DIG28

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 02 Jun 2025, 01 Dec 2025
University of South Australia

Animation Design

UndergraduateUSA-GRAP2035

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 30 Jun 2025
View all subjects

Online animation & visual design degrees

Charles Sturt University

Bachelor of Arts

UndergraduateCSU-ART-DEG

Prepare for life and work with the ultimate skill set

Study method
Online & on-campus
Duration
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Curtin University

Create a new world with game design or animation

Study method
100% online
Duration
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Torrens University Australia

Diploma of Graphic Design

UndergraduateTUA-DGD-DIP

Learn graphic design to craft compelling visuals

Study method
100% online
Duration
Approx. 1.5 years full time or part time equivalent
University of the Sunshine Coast

Business skills to enhance your creative career

Study method
100% online
Duration
4 years full time or part time equivalent
View all bachelor degrees

Discover 84 ways to study animation & visual design with leading Australian universities.

Explore animation & visual design courses

Need help choosing the right course?

Our student advisors are here to guide you with expert advice on:

  • Enrolling and planning your studies
  • Finding a study option that suits your needs
  • Understanding your funding options

When would you like to chat?

Let me pick a time

Find a time that suits you for a free 1:1 consultation with a student advisor.

Call me anytime

A student advisor will call you, usually within 30 minutes during business hours.

Tell us a little about yourself

A student advisor will call you to answer your questions.

Looking for other ways to start the conversation? Contact us

Student reviews

We support thousands of students on their study journey every year

Our advisors are here to help with your study goals from enrolment to completion 7 days a week.

Animation & visual design study FAQs

What will I learn in an animation and visual design course?

Depending on your course, you might study topics such as:  

  • The history and principles of design and/or animation  
  • 2D and 3D animation techniques  
  • Visual effects (VFX) production  
  • Motion graphics 
  • User experience (UX) design 
  • Game design  
  • Storytelling principles 

Some courses also combine design and business skills, allowing you to merge the creative with the practical. 

Why should I study animation and visual design?

If you’ve always had a love of drawing and visual media, then you’ll find extending your skills in a visual design or animation course incredibly rewarding.  

Skilled visual artists are in demand in a range of roles and industries. Aside from landing a gig as a traditional animator, you could find yourself working as a game designer, 3D modeller or motion graphics artist, graphic designer, UX/UI designer, or maybe even as a producer or director.  

Your visual design, animation or VFX course will give you both technical and creative skills, which are transferable across these different roles.  

Why should I study an online animation and visual design course?

For a highly digital field like visual design and animation, you’ll find studying online makes perfect sense. As a student in an online animation course, you’ll have the flexibility to log in from wherever suits you and connect with peers based in many different locations.   

How can I choose the right course for my career goals?

Knowing which course will suit you best can be tricky. If you’d like some expert advice about finding animation courses online, you can always book a consultation with a student advisor, who will run you through the ins and outs of the courses you’re interested in.  

Not quite sure what kind of creative field suits you? You might like to browse courses in related areas, such as: 

What careers are available in animation and visual design?

After graduating from a course in visual design or animation, you’ll be able to pursue a range of creative roles. You may find work as an:  

  • Animator  
  • Concept artist 
  • Modeller  
  • Producer 
  • Director 
  • Graphic designer  
  • UX/UI designer  
  • Game designer 
How do I know if I’m eligible to apply for a course?

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.

Chat with us to find out more.

How do I enrol?

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

Student stories and study advice

11 fun and engaging short courses for seniors

Retired and ready to challenge yourself? Or just eager to learn a new skill? Here are our favourite short online courses for seniors in 2025. They cover everything from computer skills to genealogy, and only run for 8 to 14 weeks.

7 of the best graphic design short courses to study online

Want to wow people with your logo art, magazine layouts or website designs? These short online courses cover everything a graphic designer needs to know, from Adobe Creative Cloud to user-centred design.

Why you should study art online

Studying art online might sound hard to imagine. But there can be many benefits to exploring your creativity through a virtual university short course or degree.

An Aussie composer on how to get into the music industry

Is it hard to make it in the local music industry? Jessica Wells, a successful composer, orchestrator and arranger reveals the challenges and opportunities that you might face on your journey to stardom. 

We’re here to guide you to the right uni course

A student leaping from one side of a platform to another, with a blue sky in the background.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation helping every Australian to access thousands of university courses.

Over 523,000 students have enrolled in university through us since 1993.

How we can help you

Studying through Open Universities Australia means we take care of the guesswork and administration of university study, so you can focus on learning.

You don't need a strong academic history to go to uni

We make it possible for everyone to start university through single subjects, regardless of ATAR or study experience. These subjects are covered by government loans, and can be used to upskill or gain entry into a qualification.

You have the flexibility to start at multiple points during the year

We’re not restricted by a traditional academic calendar, so you can enrol when it suits your life. You also have total control over how you study. You can scale up (or down) your study load and even pause your course if you need to.

You can rely on us as an unbiased destination for online tertiary education

As a not for profit, we have your best interests at heart. Our advisors are here 7 days a week to guide and support you. It’s our priority to get you qualified with the university of your choice.

Enrol in courses from 25 of Australia's leading universities

James Cook University Australia logoUniversity of Southern Queensland logo
Flinders University logoAustralian National University logo
University of the Sunshine Coast logoUniversity of South Australia logo
La Trobe University logoCurtin University logo
University of Tasmania logoBond University logo
Torrens University Australia logoMacquarie University logo
Charles Sturt University logoUniversity of New England logo
The University of Notre Dame Australia logoRMIT University logo
Swinburne University logoGriffith University logo
The University of Queensland logoUniversity of Adelaide logo
Australian Catholic University logoMurdoch University logo
The University of Newcastle logoEdith Cowan University logo
Southern Cross University logo

Keep track of your favourites

Create a free account or sign in to:

Create an account