MA vs. MFA vs. MSc in Animation: Reading Master's Titles

Master's-level animation programs carry three common titles: MFA (Master of Fine Arts), MA (Master of Arts) and MSc or MS (Master of Science). The letters hint at an emphasis, but they do not define one. This guide uses official program pages to show what each title tends to mean, where the pattern breaks, and what to compare instead.

Titles are set by each institution

The UK qualifications frameworks describe a master's degree at Level 7 as typically taught, research-based or a mix of both, usually based on at least one full-time calendar year of study for graduates with an honours bachelor's degree. They also state that degree-awarding bodies determine their own qualification titles. MA, MSc and similar labels are therefore naming conventions, not separate levels.

The same applies in the United States: curriculum, length and thesis rules belong to each university's USA programs and catalogs. Confirm the degree level on each official page, and see our master's overview for how this site groups programs.

MFA: a creative-practice degree with a thesis

The MFA is the title most often attached to studio-intensive programs that end in a thesis film or project.

• UCLA calls its MFA in Film and Television, Animation a full-time program that admits once a year, in the fall quarter, and its application worksheet describes a three-year program built on the philosophy of one person making one film. Applicants need the equivalent of a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA by entrance.
• USC awards a Master of Fine Arts in Animation + Digital Arts and asks for a portfolio of 10 to 15 stills or moving-image files, with no more than 15 minutes of moving image in total.
• DePaul describes its Animation MFA as the terminal degree in the animation field, with a thesis project developed with MFA co-chairs in the second year.
• UT Dallas describes its MFA in Animation as a terminal degree in emerging artistic practices. It requires at least 54 semester credit hours, of which 15 are a final project that ends with a public presentation.
• Fairleigh Dickinson University lists 60 credits, three concentrations (3D Character Animation, Visual Effects, Video Games) and a three-part thesis sequence.

Credit totals above are in different units and from different catalogs, so they are not directly comparable. A "terminal degree" is a statement about the qualification path, not a guarantee of any job.

MA: where the label covers a wide range

MA programs in animation are less uniform. Two examples show how far the label stretches.

DePaul's MA in Animation requires at least 52 quarter hours and offers concentrations in 3D animation, motion graphics, storyboarding and character design, technical artist and traditional animation. The catalog does not mention a thesis. It sits next to DePaul's separate MFA, which means the same university distinguishes the two by emphasis and length.

The University of the Arts London's MA 3D Computer Animation describes itself as practice-led, exploring both the theory and practice of digital 3D animation. Entry asks for an honours degree or equivalent in animation, illustration, visual communication, graphic design or a closely related subject, plus a portfolio of moving-image work. In UK usage an MA can therefore be heavily studio-based. Other programs use MA for more research or critical study. The title alone does not settle that.

MSc or MS: usually a technical emphasis

Where programs use the Science title, the emphasis often leans toward computing and production technique. The University of Portsmouth's MSc Computer Animation is entered through its MSc Creative Technologies route, with computer animation chosen as a pathway. Its page mentions industry software such as Maya, Houdini and Nuke, and a self-directed CGI, animation or VFX project. The University of Dundee's MSc in Animation and VFX asks for a showreel of up to 2 minutes or, alternatively, a portfolio of up to 15 pages.

That pattern is not universal. Some MSc entry rules ask for a portfolio and some do not, and some MA programs are just as technical. For the technical end of the field, our computer animation specialization page explains how it differs from broader animation study.

Admission patterns across the three

Requirements sit at the program level, but a few patterns recur in the pages above:

• A portfolio or showreel is common, even for science-titled programs, and the stated length limits differ (USC 15 minutes of moving image, Dundee up to 2 minutes, UAL a showreel of at least 60 seconds).
• Prior degree expectations vary: some ask for an honours or bachelor's degree "in a relevant subject," others accept prior learning or professional experience.
• English-language minimums are program-specific. Dundee lists IELTS Academic 6.0 overall; Portsmouth and UAL list 6.5 overall.
• Funding, deadlines and intakes are tied to a year and an intake. UCLA's page, for instance, lists a February 1, 2027 deadline for fall 2027 entry.

See admissions and portfolios for how to prepare for the portfolio side.

How to compare master's programs

Instead of ranking titles, compare these elements:

1. Is there a thesis film or project, and how many credits does it carry?
2. How long is the program, in the credit system that country uses?
3. Is the emphasis authorship (your own film), pipeline skill (a showreel for a department) or critical study?
4. What is the program's relationship to a PhD? A research doctorate is a different degree and is not the same as a longer master's.
5. What must you submit, and by when, for the intake you want?

If a program page leaves a question unanswered, ask the department rather than assuming from the title. Details change with each admissions cycle, so verify everything on the official page for your intake year.