Diploma of 2D Animation

The Diploma of 2D Animation at Collarts is a one-year qualification for people who want to draw, design and animate characters and stories for screens. You work on the fundamentals of animation — drawing for animation, character design, storyboarding, timing and movement — and build a portfolio as you go. Assessment is practical. You make things, screen them, and get feedback from working animators and designers.

Australian diplomas sit at level 5 on the Australian Qualifications Framework, below a bachelor degree but above a certificate IV. They are usually delivered over two or three study periods across a year, made up of units of study that each carry credit points. Collarts runs its programmes in trimesters, so you can expect an intensive pace. The diploma is a pathway qualification: on completion you may be able to apply for credit towards a bachelor degree, with the amount decided by the receiving institution. Confirm the current unit list, credit points and pathway arrangements on the official course page.

You finish with a showreel and a portfolio of finished work — the two things employers actually look at in this field. Studios hiring in Australia include animation and VFX houses, game developers, advertising and design agencies, and production companies making television, film and online content. Some graduates go into freelance illustration or motion work. The industry is project-based, so the ability to work to a brief, hit a deadline and take direction matters as much as drawing skill.

This diploma suits school leavers who want a practical start without committing to a three-year degree, career changers with a visual arts or design background, and people already working in media who want to add animation skills. You do not need to be a finished artist to get in — a portfolio and a genuine interest in drawing and storytelling are what count. International students should note the Student visa work rights: 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and unrestricted hours during scheduled course breaks. The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream is available to eligible graduates, though a diploma may attract a shorter period than a degree — check the Department of Home Affairs rules for your situation.

• 2D animator or character animator in animation and VFX studios
• Storyboard artist or concept artist for film, television and online content
• Motion graphics designer in advertising, branding and design agencies
• Game artist or asset designer for Australian game developers
• Freelance illustrator or animator working to client briefs
• Production assistant or junior artist on television and streaming productions
• Pathway into a bachelor degree in animation, design or screen production