Animation & Illustration - Athlone

September 2026

MATURE APPLICATIONS
All EU nationals aged 23 or over on 1st January in the year of application are classified as ‘mature applicants’. The closing date for receipt of applications for consideration in this category is 1st February in the year of entry. Late applications will be considered for courses which do not require additional assessment. On an exceptional basis e.g. the quota remains unfilled, late applications may be considered for other courses.

Trade Qualifications
A trade applicant, seeking admission to the first year of a course, should do so through the CAO. Such application may be on the basis of National Craft Certificate, Senior Trades or Advanced Tourism Certification Board (NTCB)/QQI qualifications, instead of, or in addition to, Leaving Certificate results. TUS welcomes applications from such candidates. Possession of these awards at advanced level normally qualifies an applicant for entry to TUS.

Other Qualifications
Applicants with qualifications other than those listed above (including EU and overseas qualifications) should apply in the usual way, giving full details of their qualifications/application category on their application.

HEAR

DARE

RPL

Student Finance

US802 and US778 Animation and Illustration Portfolio Requirement:
Our Animation and Illustration courses require applicants to successfully submit a portfolio for assessment prior to entry. The portfolio is worth 600 points in total. The portfolio must receive 240 points to pass this stage. These points are added to Leaving Certificate points. For further information on QQI eligible courses, visit our webpage.

1: A MINIMUM OF ONE FULL SKETCHBOOK Applicants must submit one completed sketchbook. Applicants who have additional sketchbooks may submit up to 5 sketchbooks in total if they wish. If you are submitting your portfolio digitally you will need to record a video, turning each page of the sketchbook. You will be able to submit this online to us as a link from YouTube or Vimeo, or as a mp4 file or similar. Your sketchbook should include a large amount of observational studies of both humans and animals. These can be quick sketches capturing movement and gestures. These types of explorative artworks are best submitted within a sketchbook.

Observational drawing is drawing what you see around you. It is not always about making a perfect picture. It is about studying what you see and representing it on paper. You are studying how objects are constructed; you are looking and figuring out your artistic ability; you are learning. You can also include photographs of clay, collage, mixed media, stop motion models/sets and photographs of large pieces of artwork that you cannot fit into the portfolio itself. Storyboards, comic panels and poster design can be included. Please number the pages or fix them together in sequence and clearly label them. Your storyboards can show an idea for a short film or advertisement using any style or medium you like to work in. Your sketchbooks can include visual development, concepts, characters and ideas that you have been working on. Show us what interests you and what inspires you to make the work you make from the world around you. Doodling is what your sketchbooks are made for! Don’t be afraid to express yourself!!

2: 8-10 PIECES OF COMPLETED ARTWORK
These pieces are your main portfolio of completed work outside of your sketchbook. Try to have a variety of work in this section of your portfolio. Include artwork of humans, animals, objects or landscapes that you have worked on longer than quick sketches. Take your time to observe and work into these pieces. They can be further developed and completed with colour, tone and texture.

You will be invited to submit your portfolio in Spring 2026 if you have applied through the CAO.

Entry 2026

Early online application (discounted): Fee €35 Closing Date: 20 January 2026 at 5pm

Normal online application: Fee €50 Closing Date: 1 February 2026 at 5pm

Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: €65 Closing Date: 1 May 2026 at 5pm

Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2026 at 5pm

Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.

LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2026. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2026, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2026 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €65 applies.

Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:

General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices

Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course

Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants

Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR

What is this course about?
This course is unique to the Athlone campus as no other educational provider offers a course combining both animation and illustration at undergraduate level in Ireland. Graduates of the BA (Hons) in Animation and Illustration will have the capacity to apply their knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of illustration and principles of animation to a broad range of areas within the animation and illustration sector in Ireland and internationally. Our students develop the capacity for independent learning as well as producing work collaboratively. Solid analytical and IT-related skills, as well as high levels of critical reasoning through the twin emphasis of both animation and illustration, are vital to creating strong, visually appealing and imaginative artwork.

There has been significant growth in the animation and illustration industries globally. The sectors have become a central component of Ireland’s digital and creative economy with increasing career opportunities every year. With a host of successful home-grown studios the opportunities within animated series, feature films and co-productions has risen steadily over the past number of years. Ireland has talented and technically sophisticated studios creating and producing content for print, television, cinema, video games, mobile platforms, immersive exhibitions, and virtual and augmented reality.

Why study this course?
The animation and illustration sectors have become a central component of Ireland’s digital and creative economy with increasing career opportunities every year.

Modules at a Glance:
Animation, Storyboarding, Environment Design, Illustration, Critical and Contextual Studies, Life Drawing, Comics, Concept Art, Book Art.

Dr. Yvonne Hennessy
Email: Yvonne.Hennessy@tus.ie

TUS Global Students