Published 21st June 2026

Royal College of Art announces plans for new Animation MFA programme in partnership with Aardman

The Royal College of Art (RCA), the world’s number one art and design university, is expanding its partnership with Aardman, by launching a groundbreaking new MFA postgraduate programme, which builds on the expertise of Aardman Academy, their world-class training facility.

The planned new two-year master’s degree will combine 40 years of the RCA’s experience in teaching, researching and making animation with the expertise of Aardman. For the first time, students will split their time between two centres of excellence, spending three terms immersed in the RCA’s practice-based, academically grounded London studios, and two terms in a professional residency at Aardman’s world-renowned facilities in Bristol.

The proposed programme will allow students to develop their directorial and artistic voice through an animation project in any medium, with mentorship from professional animators at the RCA and Aardman.

Alongside a dedicated studio space, students will have access to state-of-the-art tech at both organisations, including stop-motion shooting, multiplane and rostrum cameras, sound/music mixing suites, computer labs and edit suites.

This professional studio culture will nurture a spirit of curiosity, experimentation, and ethical enquiry, encouraging students to disrupt and re-invent the form. Students will develop their directorial voices and unique styles to become creative leaders, confident in the wider animation community both academically and professionally.

Professor Kerry Curtis, Dean of Communication / Interim Dean of Design, commented: "The development of this MFA Animation programme marks an exciting new chapter for the Royal College of Art. As part of the RCA’s Strategic Plan for the next five years, we are evolving our academic portfolio to reflect the changing nature of the creative industries and the ways in which creative talent is developed. By combining the RCA's distinctive approach with Aardman's internationally renowned studio practice, we are creating an unparalleled opportunity for the next generation of animators to develop their craft, their voice and their leadership within animation."

Dr Samantha Moore, Head of Animation at the Royal College of Art, said: "We are thrilled to be working with friends and alumni at Aardman and using the expertise of Aardman Academy, with whom we have a relationship which stretches over many years. This will give RCA Animation students the opportunity to make even more ambitious, experimental, and critically engaged work in a professionally aligned environment at Aardman in Bristol. Our students are exceptional and this will give them the space to develop their artistic voices, in a studio and with a community that shares our values and ethos.”

Mark Hewis, Head of the Aardman Academy, said: “This is a brilliant thing for animation. Aardman and the RCA come to it with a shared belief in proper training and a heritage to match: the RCA as a world-leading art school, Aardman with fifty years of storytelling behind it. I can’t wait to see what the filmmakers and artists who train through this partnership will go on to create.”

The first intake for this programme is planned to be September 2027. Prospective students should register their interest for programme and admissions updates on the RCA website. This programme is subject to validation by the RCA. The proposed programme is an RCA degree that integrates industry engagement through the College's partnership with Aardman, including professional studio experience and mentoring from industry practitioners. Academic delivery, assessment and award remain the responsibility of the Royal College of Art. Information on entry requirements and the application process will be available at www.rca.ac.uk.