M.Sc Animation: Admission 2025, Syllabus, Eligibility, Colleges, Fees, & Careers

• Updated on  Jul 19, 2025, by Dharti Bhadla

M.Sc Animation is a 2-year postgraduate program, which often varies for specialization among different institutes, such as MSc Animation & Multimedia, MSc IT in Animation & VFX, MSc Animation & Design, etc. This program is a skill-based, professional degree designed to train individuals on specific animation techniques required in Graphics, Visual communication, and Film-making. Such technicians or Animators are required in various industries like E-learning platforms, film production houses, photography/cinematography, gaming studios, etc.

 

To enrol in MSc Animation programs, a primary eligibility is BSc in relevant discipline (Animation, BSc IT, BCA, etc.) and CUET PG Qualification. Those looking to register in private universities like LPU can qualify LPU NEST for admission.

 

Some of the well known institutes to pursue MSc Animation are LPU, BIT Mersa, Gujarat University, J.C.Bose University of Science & Technology, BIT Mersa, Chandigarh University, and Jain Deemed to be University. The average course fee lies between INR 1,50,000-3,00,000.

 

M.Sc Animation graduates can find jobs as multimedia artists, 2D/3D animators, VFX artists, and character designers in film, gaming, advertising, and digital media. Entry-level salaries typically range from INR 3–6 LPA, while experienced professionals and specialists can earn up to INR 10–15 LPA or more, depending on their expertise and organization.

 

Table of Contents

  1. M.Sc Animation Key Highlights
  2. What is an M.Sc Animation?
  3. Why Study M.Sc Animation?
  4. Who Should Study M.Sc Animation?
  5. M.Sc Animation Eligibility Criteria
  6. M.Sc Animation Entrance Exams
  7. M.Sc Animation Colleges in India
  8. M.Sc Animation Admission Process
  9. M.Sc Animation Syllabus
  10. M.Sc Animation Job Opportunities in India
  11. M.Sc Animation FAQs

 

M.Sc Animation Key Highlights

The key highlights of MSc Animation are tabulated below.

Particulars

Details

Course Name

Master of Science in Animation

Course Level

Postgraduate

Duration

2 years

Course Type

Full-time (primarily); some institutions may offer part-time or distance learning options (less common for practical animation degrees).

Admission Process

CUET PG, CEED, NID DAT, LPU NEST, CUCET or BSc merit based

Eligibility Criteria

50% - 60% aggregate marks in the Bachelor's degree

Average Course Fees

INR 1,50,000-3,00,000

Top Colleges

Lovely Professional University, J.C.Bose University of Science & Technology, Gujarat University, BIT Mersa, Chandigarh University, Jain Deemed to be University, NID Ahmedabad (M.Des in Animation Film Design), Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID) etc.

Job Profiles

Animator,VFX Artist, Character Designer, Texture Artist, Motion Graphics Designer, Game Designer, etc.

Top Recruiters

Prime Focus, Red Chillies VFX, Technicolor, DNEG, Framestore, MPC, Rockstar Games, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, BYJU'S, UpGrad, WhiteHat Jr, Film & Television Production Houses.

Average Salary in India

Entry-Level (0-2 years): INR 3-6 LPA

 

Senior-Level (5+ years): INR 10-15 LPA

 

What is an M.Sc Animation?

M.Sc Animation is a master’s degree program that emphasizes the technical backbone, software, and computational theories behind animation. The course is a perfect blend of art, design, computer science, mathematics, and storytelling.

  • The curriculum goes beyond basic tools to explore advanced concepts like rigging, rendering, motion capture, and programming for animation.
  • It also includes research methodologies, thesis work, and exploration of new animation techniques.
  • It offers deeper dives into areas like 3D animation, VFX, game animation, character animation, or technical art.

 

Why Study M.Sc Animation?

Studying M.Sc Animation can be an ideal choice of career for those looking to advance beyond foundational skills.

  • One gets a chance to master advanced software, rendering techniques, scripting, and technical pipelines crucial for high-end productions.
  • It opens doors to specialized roles like Technical Director, Rigger, Lighting Artist, VFX Compositor and leadership positions in the industry.
  • Graduates often command better salaries due to their specialized skills and deeper understanding of production workflows.
  • It equips you with a blend of artistic and technical skills applicable across film, gaming, advertising, e-learning, and virtual reality sectors.

 

Who Should Study M.Sc Animation?

An M.Sc Animation is ideal for individuals seeking advanced skills in animation, VFX, and multimedia art, and looking to build a creative career in digital content creation. The program blends technical expertise with artistic vision, catering to diverse professional backgrounds. Some of the best-fit candidates for this course are mentioned below:

  • Graduates passionate about storytelling, visual arts, and creative design.
  • Individuals with a background in fine arts, graphic design, multimedia, or animation.
  • Professionals from fields like IT, media, advertising, or gaming seeking to upskill in animation and VFX.
  • Aspiring animators, VFX artists, multimedia specialists, or educators aiming for specialized roles.
  • Entrepreneurs or freelancers eager to launch careers or ventures in animation and digital content production.
  • Anyone interested in contributing to film, television, gaming, e-learning, advertising, or digital marketing industries.

 

M.Sc Animation Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for M.Sc Animation in India, candidates must generally fulfill the following criteria:

  • Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university, preferably in Animation, Multimedia, Fine Arts, Design, Visual/Performing Arts, Computer Science, or a related field.
  • Minimum 50% aggregate marks in the qualifying degree (relaxation for SC/ST candidates in some institutes)
  • Preference for candidates with backgrounds in animation, fine arts, multimedia, VFX, or creative arts
  • Admission may be merit-based or through entrance exams, with some institutes requiring an aptitude test, interview, or portfolio
  • Typically, there is no upper age limit for admission

 

M.Sc Animation Entrance Exams

Admission to MSc Animation and other relevant programs like MSc Multimedia, MSc Animation & Design, MSc Visual Communication etc are done on the basis of CUET PG primarily. However, some colleges grant direct admission, considering BSc Merit while some private universities may conduct their own entrance exam such as LPU NEST and BIT Mersa exam. Candidates may also consider Design exams like CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design).

Exam Name

Application Date

 

(Tentative)

Exam Date

 

(Tentative)

Application Fee

CUET PG 2026

January - February 2026

March - April 2026

General UR: INR 1400 OBC-NCL: INR 1200 SC/ST/EwS: INR 1100 PwD Candidates: INR 1000

 

M.Sc Animation Colleges in India

MSc Animation is offered by several institutes in India. Some of the best institutes have been mentioned below, along with approximate course fee and NIRF Rank:

College Name

Location

Course Fee (Approx.)

NIRF Ranking

Intake Exam

IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay

Mumbai

INR 1,50,000

3 (Overall)

CEED

Jain University

Bangalore

INR 1,75,000

65 (University)

University-specific exam

Chandigarh University

Chandigarh

INR 3,00,000

20 (University)

CUCET, CUET-PG

Lovely Professional University (LPU)

Phagwara

INR 3,00,000

27 (University)

LPU NEST, CUET-PG, CEED, NID Entrance Exam, NIFT Entrance Exam

Gujarat University

Ahmedabad

INR 3,00,000

76 (University)

University-specific exam

BIT Mersa

Ranchi

INR 4,00,000

82 (University)

University-specific exam and Interview

J.C.Bose University of Science & Technology

Faridabad

INR 3,20,000

-

University-specific exam and Interview

Students with arts background can also check MA Animation

 

M.Sc Animation Admission Process

The MSc Animation admission process is mostly online through the official admission portal of a particular institute. The basic process involves registration, application submission, exam or interview rounds, merit preparation, selection, and seat allotment. Here, a step-wise MSc Animation Admission Process at Lovely Professional University (LPU) is given below for reference.

 

Step 1: Register on LPUADMIT: Applicants have to visit the official LPU admissions portal (admission.lpu.in) and register with contact details (Email ID, Name, Country, Mobile Number, Gender, etc.). One has to generate log in credentials to open the application form.

 

Step 2: Fill Application Form: Complete the detailed online application form by providing educational, personal, and contact information along with all required documents.

 

Step 3: Pay Application Fee: To submit an application, pay the fee using the given payment option.

 

Step 4: Appear in LPU NEST: Those who do not possess any common entrance exam qualification have to appear in LPU NEST for further screening.

 

Step 5: Program Selection: After the LPUNEST result, candidates select the program (M.Sc. Animation & VFX Design) for admission.

 

Step 6: Counselling Session: University will conduct a counseling session. Seat allotment is based on merit in LPUNEST and the preferences filled by the student.

 

Step 7: Provisional Admission Offer: If you meet the criteria, the university will issue a "Provisional Offer Letter (OL)" for admission.

 

Step 8: Confirmation: Selected candidates have to confirm their admission by paying initial course fees.

 

Documents Required:

  • Original Marksheet of 10th and 12th grade, Graduation certificate
  • Entrance exam Score card
  • School Leaving Certificate
  • Caste Certificate (if applicable)
  • Birth Certificate
  • ID Proof (Aadhar/ PAN/ Passport)
  • Passport-size Photograph

 

M.Sc Animation Syllabus

The MSc Animation syllabus is divided into 4 semesters, including lab sessions, theoretical learning of animation and multimedia as well as VFX design concepts and project work during the final semester. The table below details semester-wise M.Sc Animation syllabus taught at J.C.Bose University of Science & Technology.

Semester I

Semester II

Animation Art

Innovation And Entrepreneurship

Script Writing & Storyboarding

2d Animation Lab

Basics Of Communication

3d Rigging And Skinning Lab

Animation Drawing Lab

VFX Compositing Lab

VFX And Stereo Roto Paint Lab

3d Lighting Textureing And Rendering Lab

Digital Art Lab

Motion Graphics Design Lab

3d Design & Modeling Lab

Audit Course

Semester III

Semester IV

DSE

Graduation Project

DSE Lab

Seminar

Minor Project

-

General Elective

-

 

M.Sc Animation Job Opportunities in India

M.Sc Animation graduates find work in various animation studios, art studios, e-learning industries, gaming industries, advertising agencies, or film-production houses. Here are the best MSc Animation jobs with their recruiters, required experience, and salary range for your reference.

Job Title

Recruiters/ Recruiting Areas

Experience Level

Average Salary (INR)

3D Animator

Animation studios (e.g., Prime Focus, DNEG, Technicolor, DQ Entertainment), Gaming companies (Rockstar, Ubisoft), Film & TV production.

Entry-Level (0-2 yrs):

3.0 - 8.0 LPA

VFX Artist

VFX studios (e.g., DNEG, Framestore, MPC, Red Chillies VFX), Film production houses, Advertising agencies.

Entry-Level (0-2 yrs):

4.0 - 9.0 LPA

Character Designer

Animation studios, Gaming companies, E-learning platforms, Publishing houses.

Entry-Level

3.0 - 7.0 LPA

Rigging Artist

3D Animation studios, Game development studios (specialized roles).

Entry-Level

4.0 - 8.0 LPA

Motion Graphics Designer

Advertising agencies, Digital marketing firms, Broadcasting corporations, News channels, E-learning.

Entry-Level

3.5 - 8.0 LPA

Art Director (Animation)

Animation studios, Film & TV production houses, Advertising agencies (senior role).

Mid-Senior (5+ yrs)

6.0 - 12.0+ LPA

Animation Director

Major animation studios, Film production houses (senior leadership role).

Senior (7-10+ yrs)

9.0 - 18.0+ LPA

 

M.Sc Animation FAQs

Is Msc Animation and M.Des Animation same?

No, M.Sc Animation and M.Des Animations are not the same, though they both specialise in animation and related fields. M.Sc Animation is a postgraduate academic degree focusing on the technical and theoretical aspects of animation, while the latter is a Design degree that emphasizes the design and creative aspects of animation and related fields like VFX. M.Sc Animation involves more scientific study of animation techniques and M.Des Animation focuses on core design techniques involved in animation and visual communication.

Is MSc Animation online available?

Yes, one can pursue MSc Animation online from various distance learning platforms. One can visit IMTS Institute and Sophia Online Degree College. Other universities that may offer MSc Animation online are Jain university, Online Manipal, and LPU.

Is an M.Sc. Animation degree recognized globally?

Yes, an M.Sc Animation degree is broadly recognized globally, especially if pursued from well-regarded institutions. The animation industry relies on universal software and principles, making skills acquired highly transferable. With a strong portfolio and expertise in emerging trends, one can seek roles in the international agencies or production houses

Exam Accepting

Online|
UG|
National Testing Agency (NTA|
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ExamApr 2, 2025 - Apr 9, 2025
ResultApr 18, 2025 - Apr 19, 2025
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IITs and IISc|
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Birla Institute of Technology and Science|
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West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board|
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ExamApr 27, 2025
ResultJun 30, 2025
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Consortium of National Law Universities|
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National Testing Agency (NTA)|
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ResultJul 15, 2025
Offline|
UG|
Central Board of Secondary Education
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