Royal College of Art announces plans for new Animation MFA programme in partnership with Aardman
21 June 2026: The Royal College of Art (RCA), the world’s number one art and design university, is expanding its partnership with the multi-award-winning animation studio, 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 award-winning animation studio 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.
ENDS
Please find images in the press pack here.
For further information please contact Faye Hoogendoorn at Faye.Hoogendoorn@rca.ac.uk
Notes to Editors
About the Royal College of Art
Founded in 1837, the Royal College of Art is the world’s leading art and design university. A postgraduate-only institution, it has been ranked number one in the world for a remarkable 12 consecutive years (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2015-2026). The RCA’s pioneering approach champions exploration, collaboration and interdisciplinary learning beyond traditional boundaries to tackle today's global challenges.
Research and innovation are at the heart of the RCA’s impact. Leading the field in practice-based research, knowledge exchange and executive education, the College works together with partners in vital areas such as climate and sustainability, technology and society. The RCA ranks as one of the most research-intensive specialist art and design universities in the UK (Research Excellence Framework 2014 and 2021).
The College continues to build the world’s most influential art and design community, with more than 30,000 alumni - a diverse, inclusive and international network of artists, designers, creators and innovators who are recognised as leaders shaping our culture and world. Alumni include such major figures as Henry Moore OM, Dame Barbara Hepworth, Bridget Riley, David Hockney OM, Sir Ridley Scott, Dame Zandra Rhodes, Sir Frank Bowling, Sir James Dyson OM, Hoor Al-Qasimi, Dame Tracey Emin, Kamala Ibrahim Ishaq, Erdem Moralıoğlu, Christopher Bailey, and Thomas Heatherwick.
InnovationRCA, the university's centre for entrepreneurship and commercialisation, transforms compelling ideas into successful high impact businesses with over 80 design-led start-ups and spinouts in a range of sectors from med tech to climate tech.
About Aardman
Aardman is an employee-owned company, based in Bristol (UK) and co-founded in 1976 by Peter Lord and David Sproxton. An independent, multi-Academy Award® and BAFTA® award winning studio, it produces feature films, series, advertising and interactive entertainment.
Its global productions are renowned for their uniquely entertaining and brilliantly crafted characters. The studio’s work – which includes the creation of much-loved characters including Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Timmy Time and Morph – is often imitated, and yet the company continues to lead the animation field producing a rare brand of visually stunning, comedic content for cinema, broadcasters, digital platforms and live experiences around the world.
2026 sees the studio celebrate its 50th anniversary with a roster of events and celebrations highlighting the craft and legacy of Aardman and the launch of a new movie, Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom in the autumn.
Aardman Academy
The Aardman Academy is a world-class training facility delivering excellence in film and animation training and mentoring for students around the world. The Aardman Academy offers a variety of courses from intensive one-day workshops to its flagship seven-month In-Studio Stop Motion course. All courses are delivered by industry-leading tutors and mentors with decades of experience. The Aardman Academy is an integral part of the business, representing the studio’s inclusive ethos and commitment to nurturing the animation talent of the future.