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Entry Scores
2025 Guaranteed Entry
Year 12 (ATAR-based): 65.00
Year 12 (Grades-based): B,B,C
TAFE/RTO: DIP
View Guaranteed Entry Info
2024 Cut-Offs
Year 12 (ATAR-based):
- Internal: 65.00
TAFE/RTO: Cert IV
View full entry requirements
Entry requirements
Admission criteria
The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.
Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:
Recent secondary education
Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
AND
Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points
Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.
The only degree of its kind in Australia. UniSA is the only university to offer a degree specifically in illustration, animation and game art.
Gain the skills needed to begin your rewarding career in the creative and innovative world of illustration, animation and gaming.
Learn in our custom-built on-campus workshops.
Learn techniques needed to produce industry-standard visual effects, become skilled in free-hand drawing.
Benefit from our networks and relationships with the design and animation industries – locally, nationally and internationally.
Learn from teachers who are practicing professionals with strong links to industry.
Graduate with two qualifications and your very own portfolio of work.
Be taught by world-class leaders in research – UniSA's research in illustration and animation is ranked world class1.
Study at a university that developed the first Bachelor of Design degree in the world.
UniSA is an unstoppable university for unstoppable people. As one of the World’s Top Young Universities2, we’ll ensure you get the experience your future profession demands so it’ll feel like you’re studying one minute and in a career the next.
1Results in Design Practice and Management - 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) 2UNSTOPPABLE® is a Kellogg Company trade mark used under licence. Ranked #43, 2024 THE Young University Rankings.
Snapshot
This unique packaged degree will equip you with the skills needed to kick-start your rewarding career in the creative and innovative world of illustration, animation and the rapidly growing field of games development and virtual world simulation.
Throughout your studies, you will gain an understanding of picture making, visual storytelling and narratives across a range of contexts using the techniques of illustration, animation and game art. You will learn a broad range of techniques needed to produce industry-standard visuals for industries such as book and comic publishing, gaming, movies, advertising, animation and design, become skilled in free-hand drawing, develop knowledge of digital software for moving and static pictures, work in on-campus workshops that are fitted out with state-of-the-art equipment.
What you'll learn
Commencing at UniSA in their first year of study, you will undertake Semester 1 and 2 courses from Bachelor of Design (Illustration and Animation), where you will explore and gain the technical skills and theoretical knowledge required for pictorial development, visual storytelling and game art within international professional gaming, illustration and animation fields.
You will gain skills in:
drawing
painting
sculpture to make static and moving pictures
animation techniques
design processes for problem solving and solution generation
visual storytelling
conceptual thinking
critical analysis and visual literacy
2D and 3D digital software
visual effects
In your second year, you will undertake the Game Art Diploma courses at TAFE SA. You will then return to UniSA, where you will complete the remainder of your degree, culminating in a personal portfolio or show reel specific to the area(s) of professional practice you choose.
You will hone your skills through experiential studio workshops, professional production, industry networking and mentorship within the program. You will also develop research and project management skills enabling you to pursue further learning through postgraduate studies.
You will also develop an understanding of current trends, technologies and professional practices, ensuring you graduate industry-ready.
You can gain an extra qualification and broaden your career prospects by completing a Diploma in Languages.
1. This course is part of the Game Art Major undertaken through the Diploma Program in Game and VFX at TAFE SA.
2. Students will receive credit for this course on successful completion of the Diploma Program in Game and VFX at TAFE SA.
Notes
1. Domestic students take a leave of absence from UniSA for Semester 1 and 2 of second year to study at TAFE SA for the award of Diploma program in Game and VFX (incorporating the Diploma of Screen and Media).
Study hours
For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects, as well as to contribute to online discussion forums (independent study). So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12–26 hours of study when at university and 14–28 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:
Studio based projects
Written discussions
Professional presentations
Portfolios
Showreels
Global opportunities
Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. You may have the option to undertake an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas while you study. We have links with universities worldwide, as well as a range of travel grants available to make going overseas much more accessible.
You can choose short-term or semester-long study from a range of universities and countries depending on your area of study and cultural interests.
Why Bachelor of Design (Illustration and Animation) (TAFESA Diploma program in Game Art)
If you have a passion for all forms of game art and animation, visual storytelling, picture making and digital technologies and are interested in exploring the process of creating visual stories using static or moving images, this unique degree is a great choice.
In conjunction with TAFE SA, you will study in our fully-equipped workshops and studios located on-campus. These world-class facilities boast digital fabrication equipment such as:
industry-standard digital software for making and producing illustrations and animation
industry-standard 3D modelling and visual effects software
industry-standard motion-capture and virtual reality systems
CNC routers
3D printers
large format digital printers
green screen studio
industry-standard software in dedicated computer labs
You will complete your first year of study with UniSA, where you will learn the skills required for pictorial development and visual storytelling. In your second year, you will commence study at the TAFE SA Adelaide campus to begin the Diploma in Screen Studies specialising in Game Art. You will then return to UniSA for your third year, where you will complete the remainder of your studies.
Real-world connections
There is the opportunity for you to undertake a mentorship or project engagement with a range of industry partners such as world-renowned visual effects studios Rising Sun Pictures. Rising Sun Pictures’ Adelaide-based studio has created thousands of visual effects for over 100 motion pictures, including Gravity, X-Men, Days of Future Past, The Great Gatsby, and the Harry Potter series.
You may choose to complete a Gaming or Animation industry placement or collaborate with other creative organisations in the completion of an industry project during your third year of study.
games developer: develop, design, create and produce computer or video games
animator: use sequential images to produce moving pictures
graphic designer: create visual concepts and graphics; you may work in advertising, publishing, public relations or manufacturing
illustrator: development and production of pictures for a broad range of creative industry sectors, for example, publishing, design, advertising, visual art, motion film, advertising, gaming and software development
technical illustrator: design and create visual representations for use in technical publications and manuals
Additionally, this degree opens career pathways into other fields such as broadcasting and motion film, visual effects and animation, educational and science-based media, streaming web content provision, design agencies, product production (fashion, toys, giftware), evolving communication technologies such as mobile technology and virtual reality, and as independent artists developing original content, advertising and publishing.
Thinking of studying soon?
2025
Ready to start your studies in 2025? You can apply to the University of Adelaide or UniSA now before continuing on to the new Adelaide University in 2026.
When the time comes to transfer, we’ll be here at every step, ensuring you’re well supported with personalised advice and a detailed study plan.
2026
Planning to start your studies in 2026? You can apply to Adelaide University directly.
Applications are currently open for international students and will open for Australian students in August 2025.
This degree is available for deferment. This option is made available by responding to your offer during the application process via the SATAC website. Applicants who receive an offer into a midyear degree are eligible to defer for six months.
Scholarships
Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.
Explore a range of 100% online degrees designed specifically for online learning. With the flexibility to study when and where it suits you, there’s no need to hit pause on work or family commitments.
Our campuses are home to fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments. But you’ll also discover that your journey at UniSA is about social experiences, healthy living and getting involved. You’ll find student sports and fitness facilities, community clinics, tech zones and chill-out spaces. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and loads more.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation and private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages, or explore our student accommodation by Scape on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.
Student services
Our student services provide you with all the support you need at university. We want you to succeed, and if you need help, we're here to assist. You can access a full range of support services, including:
academic counselling
personal counselling
social support services, including family support and nearby childcare
common rooms
prayer rooms
security officers
career services and mentoring
Wirringka Student Services, offering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students a supportive place to study
When you become a UniSA student, you can also contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and more.
24/7 digital environment
Our learnonline facilities include a personal learning environment with virtual classrooms, lecture recordings, emails, learning support, administration, library access and results. The environment is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can tailor your learning to your life. We are continually investing in innovative digital technologies for a high-quality student learning experience.
Your campus
We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with modern facilities including lecture theatres, libraries and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments.
The way you apply for UniSA will depend on the undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree you're interested in studying.
The majority of applications are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Check out more information on the SATAC website and follow the appropriate process for your degree of interest.
There are a small number of degrees that you need to apply for through direct application processes. The process you need to follow will be listed on the 'How to Apply' section of the degree homepage, but you'll also be taken to where you need to go if you hit the 'apply' button.
If you are interested in studying one of our 100% online degrees you'll need to apply directly to UniSA Online.
You can find more information about the application processes for UniSA on our How to Apply webpage.
If you're more interested in applying for a postgraduate degree by research, check out and follow the information in our step by step guide to applying.
Applications for all degrees will close ahead of study commencing, but the timelines may vary for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Undergraduate
The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be guaranteed equal consideration is generally in very late November or early December. While you may be able to apply after this date, you are not guaranteed to be considered equally with other applicants and your application may not be assessed in time for the main round of offers. More competitive degrees may not make any offers after the main offer round. Find more information on the Key Dates section of the SATAC website, but you can also call the Future Student Enquiries team for more information on 08 8302 376.
Postgraduate
Many postgraduate by coursework degrees do not have set closing dates. The exceptions are highly competitive degrees, so it is best to check – either on the degree homepage on the SATAC website or by checking with our Future Student Enquiries team.
As most postgraduate applications are assessed as they are submitted and offers are continuous, there are no set closing dates for applications. Degrees can be filled and closed with little notice so it is best to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on a place. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquires team on (08) 8302 2376 or submit an enquiry.
You may be eligible for credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area and completed within a certain timeframe. Receiving credit or RPL will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree. You can read more about our pre-existing credit agreements through our online Credit Assessor. If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning (RPL) for this experience. Credit and RPL is assessed by the Program Director once you've received an offer, and you apply through UniSA's current student experts, Campus Central.
Future Student Enquiries welcomes the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your study options at UniSA. We can discuss degree information, entry requirements and pathways, applications, general career outcomes and student life, so you have the information to make the best study decision for your future. Head to our Book an Appointment webpage to find a date and time to speak with us, and take your next steps on journey to university study.
Entry Scores The rules and values that specify the level of attainment required to qualify for consideration for admission to UniSA. Below ATAR-based represents your Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors.)
