Bachelor of Arts in Animation

Fundamentals of Animation

Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

Introduction to animation principles, techniques, and history — covering the foundations of animation including timing, spacing, squash and stretch, anticipation, and follow-through.

Character Design

Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

Principles and practice of character design for animation — covering character development, visual design, personality expression, and creating characters suitable for 2D and 3D animation.

The Art of the Storyboard and Animatic Design

Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

Storyboarding techniques and animatic creation — covering visual storytelling, shot composition, sequencing, timing, and creating animatics that plan animation productions.

Introduction to 2D and 3D Animation

Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

Hands-on introduction to both 2D and 3D animation techniques — covering software tools, animation workflows, keyframe animation, and the differences between 2D and 3D production pipelines.

Acting for Animators

Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

Study of acting principles applied to animation — covering body language, facial expressions, emotional performance, and how to create believable character performances in animation.

Camera Language and Cinematography

Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

Cinematography for animation — covering camera angles, shot types, composition, lighting, and visual storytelling techniques used in animated film and television production.

3D Modelling and Design Methods

Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

3D modelling techniques and design methods — covering polygon modelling, texturing, UV mapping, lighting, and rendering using industry-standard 3D software.

Character Rigging

Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

Character rigging for 3D animation — covering skeletal systems, skin weighting, controls, facial rigging, and preparing 3D characters for animation.

Game Programming and Environment Design

Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

Game design and programming fundamentals — covering game mechanics, environment design, interactive storytelling, and game development using industry game engines.

The Business of Animation Content

Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

Business and legal aspects of animation — covering intellectual property, contracts, project management, budgeting, marketing, and entrepreneurship in the animation industry.

Advanced 3D Animation

Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

Advanced 3D animation techniques — covering complex character animation, particle effects, dynamics, motion capture, and advanced rendering for professional-quality 3D animation.

Advanced 2D Computer Animation

Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore

Advanced 2D animation using digital tools — covering frame-by-frame animation, cut-out animation, motion graphics, compositing, and professional 2D production workflows.

Film and Television Animation

Focus on creating animated content for film and television — covering 2D and 3D animation techniques, character animation, visual effects, and production pipelines for broadcast and cinematic release.

Game Design and Animation

Focus on game design, game programming, and interactive animation — covering game environment design, character animation for games, game mechanics, and mobile game development.

Character Design and Rigging

Focus on character creation — covering character design, modelling, rigging, and animation, bringing characters to life with personality, movement, and expression.

Storyboard and Screenwriting

Focus on storytelling for animation — covering storyboarding, animatic design, screenwriting, narrative structure, and the art of visual storytelling across genres and platforms.

3D Modelling and Visual Effects

Focus on 3D modelling, texturing, lighting, and visual effects — covering 3D environment creation, particle effects, compositing, and post-production techniques.

Mobile and Digital Platform Animation

Focus on creating animated content for mobile devices and digital platforms — covering mobile game animation, social media content, web animation, and interactive media.

HELB Undergraduate Loan

USIU-Africa Financial Aid and Scholarships

County Government Bursaries

USIU-Africa Financial Aid

ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan

Students demonstrating financial need and academic merit at USIU-Africa, applied through the financial aid office.

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan

LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited university programmes.

Higher Education Fund (HEF)

BursaryKenyan

Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities

Kenya Film Commission Creative Grant

GrantKsh 500,000Kenyan

Kenyan filmmakers and creatives pursuing film, TV or animation projects

Netflix Creative Equity Scholarship Fund

Scholarship

East African students admitted to film and TV disciplines at partner Kenyan institutions

Studio Projects and Practical Assignments

Coursework40% of the mark

Hands-on animation projects including character design, 2D and 3D animation, storyboarding, and game design — assessed through portfolio review and critique.

Continuous Assessment Tests and Examinations

Coursework25% of the mark

Written tests covering animation theory, history, cinematography, and business concepts — assessed through mid-semester and end-of-semester examinations.

Presentations and Critiques

Coursework15% of the mark

Oral presentations of animation work, peer critiques, and industry-style pitch presentations — developing professional communication and critical analysis skills.

Final-Year Animation Project

Examination20% of the mark

Capstone animation project demonstrating mastery of animation techniques — producing a complete animated short film or game from concept to final render.

Commission for University Education (CUE)

Academic accreditationRequired

Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities offering degree programmes. The Bachelor of Arts in Animation is CUE-accredited at USIU-Africa.

WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

International accreditation

United States regional accrediting body — USIU-Africa is dual-accredited by both CUE and WSCUC, ensuring global recognition of degrees.

Junior Animator

High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 75,000

Entry-level animator creating 2D or 3D animated content for animation studios, media houses, or production companies — working on character animation, motion graphics, and visual effects.

Game Designer

High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 90,000

Designs and develops games for mobile, web, or console platforms — creating game mechanics, environments, characters, and interactive experiences using game engines.

Storyboard Artist

Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 70,000

Creates storyboards and animatics for animation productions, films, and advertisements — planning visual sequences, shot compositions, and narrative flow.

Content Creator (Digital Media)

High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 80,000

Creates animated content for social media, YouTube, advertising campaigns, and digital platforms — working freelance or for digital media agencies and brands.

Visual Effects Artist

Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 95,000

Creates visual effects for film, television, and advertising — covering compositing, particle effects, 3D integration, and post-production using industry-standard VFX software.

Autodesk Maya

SoftwarePrimary

Industry-standard 3D animation software used for modelling, rigging, animation, simulation, and rendering — the primary tool for 3D animation production.

Adobe After Effects

SoftwarePrimary

Motion graphics and compositing software used for 2D animation, visual effects, title sequences, and post-production — essential for motion graphics and compositing work.

Toon Boom Harmony

Software

Industry-standard 2D animation software used for frame-by-frame animation, cut-out animation, and compositing — widely used in television and web animation.

Unity Game Engine

Software

Game development engine used for creating 2D and 3D games, interactive content, and real-time animations — essential for the game design specialisation.

Adobe Photoshop

Software

Digital image editing software used for concept art, texture creation, matte painting, and 2D asset preparation — fundamental tool for all animation workflows.

Animation is just about drawing cartoons.

Animation encompasses 2D and 3D animation, game design, visual effects, motion graphics, character rigging, storytelling, and business management — it is a multidisciplinary field combining art, technology, and storytelling.

You need to be an expert artist to study animation.

While artistic aptitude helps, the programme teaches fundamental drawing, character design, and digital art skills from the ground up — passion and creativity are more important than prior artistic expertise.

There are no jobs in animation in Kenya.

Kenya's creative economy is growing rapidly with increasing demand for animators in advertising, media, gaming, education, and film — graduates also work freelance for international clients.

A short course is sufficient for a career in animation.

While short courses teach specific software skills, a degree programme provides comprehensive theoretical foundations, creative development, industry context, and professional portfolio building that short courses cannot match.

Animation is only for entertainment.

Animation skills are used in education, healthcare, architecture, advertising, corporate communications, scientific visualisation, and government — the applications extend far beyond entertainment.