Diploma in Animation, Games & Visual Effects

Immerse yourself in creative collaboration. Master storytelling with expert-led guidance, hands-on industry projects, and world-class facilities. Bring ideas to life with captivating animation, immersive games, and stunning visual effects.

View curriculum

Animate your dreams, plan your future

Net Aggregate Range

ELR2B2-D (2026 JAE) 4 to 12 points

ELMAB3 (2026 PFP) 4 to 10 points

diploma

Craft Worlds. Shape Stories. Captivate Audiences.

You will become professionals who are:

Creative. Expressive. Inspired.

Craft worlds. Shape stories. Captivate audiences

Master the art of digital storytelling

Excel in animation, game art, and visual effects. Learn 2D & 3D animation, character & environment design, and cinematic world-building like the pros in AAA game studios.

Work with creative giants

Turn your passion into a profession. Gain experience through industry projects, mentorships, and overseas opportunities with top studios like Ubisoft, Koei Tecmo, and more.

Discover pathways to fine arts and art degrees

Gain expertise in Game Art, Animation, and Visual Effects. Progress to NUS, NTU, University of the Arts Singapore (UAS), DigiPen or top overseas universities.

Starting in AY26, Year 2 students will select an elective to build their technical foundation and deepen their expertise. Advance along your chosen pathway with a multidisciplinary edge.

Media Narrative
Interactive Media
Immersive Technology

At the end of this diploma course, you’ll gain the following course competencies:

2D Art
3D Art
Storytelling
Real-Time Technology
Project Management

and one of the following three elective course competencies:

Media Narrative
Interactive Media
Immersive Tech

22 Competency Units (CmU)
Each CmU integrates skills and knowledge from different disciplines. This enables students to fulfil specific work tasks upon completion.
4 Work-Integration Units (WIU)
A WIU is a workplace contextualised project. It allows students to tackle real-world work problems under the guidance of our educators, so that our students graduate ready for the workplace. Each WIU belongs to a Competency Canvas that helps you develop and demonstrate your abilities to perform work tasks at a higher proficiency.
5 Course Competencies
Each Competency Canvas consists of a collection of CMUs and a WIU. Competency Canvases help you develop and demonstrate your abilities to perform work tasks at a higher proficiency.
1 Internship Programme
In Year 3, all students will have the opportunity to participate in a 12-week internship with our industry partners, gaining hands-on experience that will help them become confident in the workplace.
1 Final Year Project
In Year 3, all students will undertake a final year project. This is a final project to showcase the skills that they have gained in the diploma.
6 - 11 LifePRO Units ^NEW
These learning units will support your holistic development beyond your domain-specific studies.

Interested in applying for this course at EAE? Check out our customised Tips page.

Course Curriculum

This course adopts the new Professional Competency Model.
Earn additional certifications from Unreal Engine and PlayStation throughout your course of study.

Learning Units

2D Animation 3D Workflow Design Exploration Design for Communication Digital Painting Drawing Rendering Figure Drawing Storyboard & Animatics Storytelling Through Media User-Centred Studio PracticeWIU Pre-Visualisation ProductionWIU

WIU
Learning Units

3D Animation 3D Asset Creation Compositing Creative Project Management Lighting, Texturing & Rendering Principles of Game Design Real-Time Asset Development Visual Development Cinematic ProductionWIU Creative Media ProductionWIU

WIU

Elective Course Competencies

Choose one out of three electives. You will take one learning unit based on your chosen elective.

Media Narrative
Character Animation

Interactive Media
Digital Sculpting

Immersive Technology
VFX Cinematography

WIU
Learning Units

Final Year ProjectWIU Independent Work ProjectWIU Internship ProgrammeWIU Portfolio DevelopmentWIU

WIU

Elective Course Competencies

You will take two learning units based on your chosen elective, and one learning unit as your common elective.

Media Narrative
Sequential Art Acting For Animation

Interactive Media
Game Story Creation Creative Production

Immersive Technology
Virtual Production Procedural Asset Creation

Common Elective (Choose one out of four)
Brand Identity Design Motion Graphics Service Design UI/UX Design

WIU
As part of your three‑year diploma journey at NYP, you will take LifePRO Units (LPUs)^NEWalongside your course learning units for a well‑rounded experience. Through a mix of prescribed and elective LPUs, you will build life skills beyond your discipline and prepare for work and life after graduation.

See LPU descriptions Go to

Year 1

Year 2

Choose one out of three electives. You will take one learning unit based on your chosen elective.

Year 3

You will take two learning units based on your chosen elective, and one learning unit as your common elective.

LifePRO Units

As part of your three‑year diploma journey at NYP, you will take LifePRO Units (LPUs)^NEWalongside your course learning units for a well‑rounded experience. Through a mix of prescribed and elective LPUs, you will build life skills beyond your discipline and prepare for work and life after graduation.

See LPU descriptions

Opportunities

Nurturing you to be future-ready

Internships

Secure internships with leading animation studios, visual effects (VFX) houses, and game builders to learn from industry's best.

Refine your artistry and hone the technical skills you’ll need to thrive in any creative team, from animation and VFX compositing, to 3D environment design and storytelling.

Gain resume-worthy experiences, build your confidence and soft skills, and make the right connections to bring your career dreams to life.

Immerse in guest lecturers & field trips, and take on the opportunities to make a social impact with your creations.

Overseas Programmes

Expand your global horizons. Explore diverse business landscapes, international trends, and networking opportunities through our study exchanges, educational trips, international conferences, design festivals, and competitions.

Diploma-Plus Programmes

Broaden your horizons through our Diploma-Plus Programme, where you can acquire specialised skills and advanced knowledge for immediate workplace application or further university studies. This certified programme culminates in a Dip-Plus transcript awarded at graduation.

Industry Collaborations

Refine your craft through learning opportunities we co-create with our extensive network of industry partners. Work on real-world projects alongside animation icons, VFX pioneers, and world-crafting wizards. Delve into the latest innovations, and get exclusive access to PlayStation® development sets. Join guest lectures, field trips, and the chance to make a social impact with your creations round out this level.

University Foundation Programme

From critical thinking and professional writing to pre-university subjects, build the knowledge and skills you will need to help prepare for your university matriculation.

Post-graduation options

Pursue a degree

Get advanced standing for courses at local and overseas universities. Many of our graduates go on to pursue degrees at:

Nanyang Technological University
National University of Singapore
DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore
Singapore University of Technology and Design
University of the Arts of Singapore (UAS)
Academy of Art University (US)

Kickstart your career

Our graduates are highly sought after in dynamic industries, with rewarding careers in:

2D/3D Character Animator
3D Generalist
3D Lighting Artist
3D Modeller
3D Rigging Artist
2D/3D Game Artist
and more

Advance your diploma

Pursue post-diploma opportunities, including specialist diplomas, industry-recognised certifications, and work-study programmes.

PARTNERS

Who’s on board with us

We believe the proposed programme will provide students who are keen on joining the games industry as artist, animators or VFX specialists with useful and relevant skills.

Richard Chua

Director, IGG Singapore

The various tracks offered in Animation, Games & Visual Effects will help learners to find their own niche and career paths. The canvases offered to learners will broaden and deepen their technical skills and competencies. NYP learners, I believe, will also have a competitive edge over their contemporaries by being more adaptable, agile and resilient. I am supportive of this new direction for NYP School of Design & Media as they move to the Professional Competency Model and keep ahead of the emerging technologies and trends for the design and media industry. Read more

Seng Choon Meng

CEO, Scrawl Animation

Tan Ying Ying

Class of 2019 Class of 2019

During my time in NYP SDM, I had the honour of representing Singapore at the WorldSkills Kazan 2019 competition. Not only have I learnt a lot from my fellow competitors, I’ve also gained a lot more confidence in myself and my abilities.
Ronald Fong

Class of 2009 Class of 2009

NYP SDM’s strong industry ties opened up many opportunities for me. This course has helped me to be ready for the demanding needs of the industry. I believe the school remains the best institution for technical execution in digital animation.
Remus Low

Class of 2014 Class of 2014

NYP SDM laid down the important foundation for me to even begin this journey. The technical skills I've learnt during my three years allowed me to be competent.

Testimonials

Real experiences, real results

Get the inside scoop – students’ insights, experiences, and stories! Learn about the heartbeat of student life at NYP in their own words.

Animation, Games & Visual Effects Showcase

showcase

Meet Mindy, our virtual star

A virtual performer created with So Drama! Entertainment, Mindy wowed crowds at the 57th National Day Observance Ceremony.

Animation, Games & Visual Effects Showreel 2024

A compilation of animation works by NYP's School of Design & Media year 1 - year 3 students.

Asleep in the Deep

An immersive 3D adventure game where players guide a lost cuttlefish through sea critters and obstacles as it finds its way home.

Animators blast off with Reconnection

Reconnection, an animated film by our students about an astronaut’s adventure, was selected at four film festivals in the US, Russia, and the UK.

Facilities

Explore. Learn. Grow.

BeyondReality Studio

Reimagine reality with emerging tech and motion capture tools. Master immersive technologies in this creative playground. Find out more >

360° SDM Facility Tour

Let our lecturers take you on a tour around the campus in our 360° SDM Facility Tour video!

Immersive Studio

Push the boundaries of visual storytelling. Apply technologies like motion capture cameras and green screen cycloramas.

M3 Gallery

A gallery displaying exceptional final year projects from students at the School of Design and Media, recognising their outstanding creativity and innovation.