Animation and Game Design is arguably Teesside University's single most distinctive subject area, run through its School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies and consistently cited among the UK's strongest games and animation programmes, alongside the university's broader THE University of the Year 2025 recognition. It's a genuinely different track from Teesside's Business, Computer Science, and Nursing programmes already covered elsewhere.
This article covers entry requirements, fees, admission documents, English-test rules, and career outcomes for Animation and Game Design at Teesside.
Entry Requirements
Teesside does not publish a university-wide or course-level acceptance rate, consistent with standard UK practice. As a representative example of Teesside's published entry tariffs, courses in this general creative/computing area typically ask for 80-104 UCAS tariff points from at least two A-levels, T levels, or equivalent qualifications, though the exact figure for Animation and Game Design specifically should be confirmed on the course's own page, since Teesside sets tariff requirements per course.
Given the threshold-based structure, treat any specific "X% acceptance rate" figure you might see quoted for this course elsewhere as an unverified third-party estimate.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Animation and Game Design students pay Teesside's standard undergraduate international fee.
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate (standard, full-time) | £17,000 per year |
| Undergraduate placement year | £1,350 |
Teesside's living-cost guidance states international students need at least £1,171 per month, up to a maximum of 9 months (£10,539 total), for living expenses outside London. Teesside's scholarships, including the Global Excellence Scholarship (£2,000) and Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship (£7,000), apply to eligible applicants across courses; check current eligibility for this specific course. For the full picture, see the Teesside University guide.
Admission Requirements
- Academic transcripts and qualifications matching the course's tariff-point requirement
- English language proficiency evidence meeting the course's specific IELTS/TOEFL/PTE threshold (see below)
- A portfolio or showreel is commonly expected for creative, design-led courses like Animation and Game Design, though confirm the exact current requirement directly with Teesside's admissions team, since this was not independently confirmed from the general entry-requirements pages reviewed for this article
- Supporting documents to satisfy Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and visa requirements once an offer is made
- A £4,000 deposit for self-funded international students ahead of CAS issuance
How to Get Into Teesside's Animation and Game Design Programme
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Build a portfolio or showreel even if it isn't explicitly listed as a formal requirement on the general entry page, since creative, design-led courses in this field commonly reward demonstrated work, and confirm directly with Teesside whether one is expected for your specific application.
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Match your English test score to the Art & Design, Media, Engineering, Science, and Computing subject band specifically, which sits at the lower end of Teesside's published range (as low as 5.5 in places, with 6.0 stated elsewhere) rather than the higher bands used for Teacher Training or Health programmes.
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Use the pre-sessional English pathway if you're short of your target score. Teesside runs UKVI-approved 6-week and 12-week pre-sessional courses tiered to your intended degree's IELTS requirement.
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Apply for Teesside's scholarships alongside your application, since most are awarded automatically based on your application and grades.
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Budget for the £4,000 CAS deposit early if you're self-funding, since this is required before Teesside can issue your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
Animation and Game Design falls within Teesside's Art & Design, Media, Engineering, Science, and Computing subject grouping, which carries the lower end of Teesside's published English requirement range.
| Test | Minimum |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 (as low as 5.5 in places on Teesside's entry-requirements page; confirm the exact current figure for this course) |
| PTE Academic | 59-66 |
| TOEFL iBT | L17 / R18 / W17 / S20 minimums |
Teesside also accepts Trinity Integrated Skills in English and Cambridge English Scale scores. For the full picture, including Teesside's pre-sessional pathway, see the Teesside University guide.
Career Outcomes and Graduate Route Relevance
Teesside's Animation and Game Design programmes are a genuine institutional strength, reflected in the university's broader recent teaching-quality recognition (THE University of the Year 2025, Daily Mail Modern University of the Year 2026, TEF Gold, QS 5-star). A single, confirmed course-specific graduate employment rate was not found from a primary Teesside source during this research; for a verified figure, check the UK government's Discover Uni service (discoveruni.gov.uk).
Graduate Route visa: bachelor's graduates currently qualify for 2 years of post-study work permission if they apply on or before 31 December 2026, dropping to 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027. This gives Animation and Game Design graduates a genuinely open window to break into the UK's games and creative digital industries without needing a sponsoring employer from day one.
FAQ
Does Teesside publish an acceptance rate for Animation and Game Design? No. Admission runs against published tariff-point requirements per course rather than a comparative admit rate, consistent with UK practice generally.
Do I need a portfolio to apply? Likely yes for this kind of creative, design-led course, though confirm the exact current requirement directly with Teesside, since this wasn't confirmed from the general entry-requirements pages reviewed.
What IELTS score do I need? Animation and Game Design falls in Teesside's lower-tier English band (around 6.0, with the entry-requirements page citing figures as low as 5.5 in places); confirm the exact current figure for this specific course.
How much does the programme cost for international students? £17,000/year for the standard undergraduate rate, plus £1,350 for a placement year if taken.
Can I stay in the UK after graduating? Yes, via the Graduate Route visa, generally 2 years for a bachelor's degree if you apply by 31 December 2026, dropping to 18 months for later applications.