AIM Awards Level 3 Extended Diploma in Games, Animation & VFX Skills HCUC

Designed by industry specialists including Sony, Ubisoft and Pinewood studios, the NextGen Level 3 Diploma in Games, Animation and VFX Skills ensures young people gain the right skills and knowledge and are "industry ready’". It will equip you with a solid foundation in art, design, maths and programming skills, which are highly desirable to industry.

Course Content

Course units include:

VFX fundamentals for the games, animation and VFX industries
3D tools: principles and practice
Core principles of game design
Art fundamentals for the games, animation and VFX industries
The games, animation and VFX industries
Maths fundamentals for the games, animation and VFX
Fundamental product programming skills
Fundamental animation skills for the games, animation and VFX industries
Production management.

This Qualification has been designed with a clear progression route to a Degree, HND or Higher Level Apprenticeships. The Qualification covers the fundamental skills in games, animation and visual effects as well as essential work skills that have been identified by employers as invaluable for new people coming into these industries.

Study Methods

This course is classroom taught and you will have opportunities to develop your creative skills through instructor led workshops. Over the two years, you will work in teams on project briefs and game jams designed to develop team working, communication and critical thinking skills.

How is the course assessed

You will work on industry based briefs, replicating the studio work environment via project based learning. This will be assessed via an online portfolio. Subjects such as maths and programming are taught in the context of the art, design and the creation of Games, Animation and VFX and will be part assessed as exams.

Where next - Further Studies

Successful completion of the NextGen skills academy qualification, along with an appropriate grade and portfolio, will provide access to a wide range of specialist University courses, our Games and VFX HNDs as well as Higher level Apprenticeships with Ubisoft Reflections.

You can find out more at

Where next - Job Opportunities

This course is nationally recognised within industry and commerce. Successful candidates can expect to find employment opportunities in software development, computer animation and visual effects industries.

This is vocational education supported by industry and delivered by elite colleges, selected by an industry panel with an excellent track record of academic achievement and working collaboratively in partnership with industry.