Your questions about The Animation School

Yes. All students who successfully complete the Diploma in Digital Animation, whether online or in person, receive the same nationally recognised qualification. They follow the exact same curriculum as on-campus students and have access to the same expert lecturers, practical projects, and industry experience. 

Their final certificate doesn’t indicate whether they studied online or in person.

For the diploma and any of the short courses, you will need:

• A laptop or desktop computer

• Webcam and headphones (recommended)

These requirements apply to all programmes. Some short courses may require additional equipment, which you can find listed on the individual short course pages.

You’ll also need specific software depending on your programme. Visit our short courses page for details on the software for each short course, or download the Prospectus for information about the software used for the Diploma in Digital Animation.

Tuition fees include free access to Autodesk Maya, Adobe Suite, and Toonboom Harmony. You’ll receive a full list and installation instructions once you've registered.

To participate fully in the online programmes, you need a stable and reliable broadband internet connection. This is especially important for attending live classes, uploading assignments, and accessing video content.

We recommend the following minimum internet speeds:
• Download Speed: 10–25 Mbps
• Upload Speed: 3–5 Mbps

A wired connection (LAN cable) is often more stable than Wi-Fi, especially during live sessions. We also recommend having an uncapped data plan if possible, as animation software and media files can be large.

Before your programme starts, you will receive a tech checklist and support to ensure your setup is ready for online learning.

The online programmes are delivered using two main platforms:

• Moodle: This is our virtual learning environment (also called an LMS) where students access course content, submit assignments, complete quizzes, and track their progress.

• Microsoft Teams (Office 365): This will be used for live online classes, meetings, group discussions, and day-to-day communication with lecturers, facilitators, and classmates.

Both platforms are widely used in education and designed to support an engaging and collaborative online learning experience. Students receive guidance and support on how to use both platforms during orientation.

The online Diploma in Digital Animation is a full-time programme that combines equal parts live online sessions (synchronous) and independent learning (asynchronous), offering a flexible yet structured learning experience.

Each week includes:

• Live lectures on Microsoft Teams

• Pre-recorded lectures and tutorials to watch and complete in your own time

• Edu scrums to check your understanding through discussions, quizzes, and exercises

• Supervision sessions for one-on-one support from your lecturer

• Milestone reviews and interim deadlines for feedback and formal assessment, individually or within a group

• Peer learning spaces via Moodle discussion forums and Microsoft Teams channels

• Course notes to guide self-paced learning

You’ll receive a detailed timetable before the programme starts, so you know exactly what’s expected each week.

Yes. Live sessions include lectures, demonstrations, tutorials, feedback sessions (critiques), and scrums, and they are all designed to help students learn, grow, and stay on track with their progress, so they must be attended.

Live sessions typically take place between 08:30 and 16:30 (SAST), and consistent attendance is key if students want to succeed in this programme. Students are expected to attend all scheduled sessions unless prior arrangements have been made with their lecturer. We take attendance at every class and are here to offer support if challenges arise.

Short course learners are awarded a certificate of completion for attending the complete course and completing all class exercises.

Because animation software is demanding, students need a powerful desktop computer to complete the Diploma in Digital Animation online. Below are the minimum and recommended specifications:

Minimum (Mid-Range) Requirements:
• Intel i7 processor
• 32GB RAM
• 512GB SSD (for fast performance)
• 1TB hard drive (for storage)
• 4GB graphics card
• 27-inch monitor
• Microsoft Windows
• Gaming keyboard and mouse (for durability and responsiveness)

Recommended (High-End) Specifications:
• Intel i9 processor
• 64GB RAM
• 512GB SSD + 1TB hard drive
• 6GB graphics card
• 27-inch monitor
• Microsoft Windows
• Gaming keyboard and mouse

We strongly recommend using a Windows desktop setup rather than a laptop, as it offers better performance and reliability for the intensive software used throughout the course. Investing in the right equipment will ensure students can fully engage with the course content and avoid unnecessary technical issues.

Online students can contact their facilitators outside of scheduled class times. While facilitators may be busy with other classes or meetings during the day, they are committed to supporting students and will respond as soon as possible.

Students can contact lecturers and facilitators via:

• Discussion forums on Moodle for general questions and peer support
• Chat groups on Microsoft Teams for quick updates and informal discussions
• Email for direct communication
• One-on-one appointments, which can be scheduled when more in-depth support is needed

Students also have access to technical support during working hours. If any issues arise, they can reach out to one of their lecturers or facilitators or our IT department, who will do their best to assist promptly.

Yes! There are class-based Microsoft Teams chat groups and Moodle discussion forums where students can share ideas, ask questions, and stay in touch with their classmates outside of the live sessions. In addition to class-based chat groups and discussion forums, we’re committed to creating a vibrant online community where students can connect, collaborate, and support one another.

We’re also working on launching a range of online community initiatives, including:

• Social meetups and game nights to help students relax and get to know each other
• Interest-based channels (e.g., sketching, gaming, movies, tech tips)
• Creative challenges and virtual exhibitions to celebrate student work and talent

We believe that building friendships, sharing experiences, and feeling part of a supportive community are just as important as academic success—and we’ll provide the space for students to do just that, even in a virtual environment.

Yes, the tuition fees for the online diploma are the same as the on-campus programme, as both offer the same high-quality qualification, academic support, and access to expert lecturers.

Our 2026 tuition fees for South African and other African students range between R123,900 and R135,000 (subject to your payment schedule).

Tuition for international students costs R157,300, with the full amount due on registration. 

The Animation School is committed to maintaining the same high standards online as we do on campus. This means students have access to the same high-quality education, career guidance, and personal support, regardless of where they are learning from. Our online and on-campus lecturers work together to develop learning materials and classes that meet national and industry standards.

We have a robust quality assurance process in place that includes:

• Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of programme delivery, content, and student experience

• Regular student feedback surveys to identify areas for improvement

• Internal reviews by academic staff to ensure teaching, assessments, and learning resources meet national and industry standards

• Lecturer support and training to maintain best practices in online teaching

• Academic oversight by our Academic Committee and Quality Assurance teams

These processes help us deliver an engaging, relevant, and high-quality learning experience—wherever our students are learning from.

All assessments in the diploma are designed to evaluate a student's understanding of animation principles, creative thinking, and technical skills—and all of them can be completed fully online, without the need to attend campus.

We use a variety of assessment methods to help students demonstrate their learning and prepare for the demands of the animation industry. These include:

• Essays and reports to develop written communication, research, and reflection skills

• Creative writing assignments such as short stories and scripts to strengthen storytelling and narrative design

• Practical projects such as hands-on animation tasks where students apply what they’ve learned to create original work

• Portfolios or collections of work that show growth and development over time

• Presentations where students pitch ideas or showcase work, either live or pre-recorded

• Quizzes and tests to check students’ understanding of key concepts and theory

• Peer and self-assessment to encourage students to evaluate their own work and provide constructive feedback to others

These assessments are submitted through our online platforms and are marked by lecturers, sometimes with input from peers or external reviewers. Feedback is provided regularly to support ongoing learning and improvement.

Yes. Students may apply to transfer from online to on-campus study, but only after completing a full academic year. Please note that short courses are only available online.

To request a transfer, students must submit a formal motivation and request form, which will be reviewed by the academic team.

On-campus places are limited. We’ll do our best to accommodate requests, but approval depends on availability.