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How to become a Digital Arts / Games & Animation

Animation, games and interactive media - where art meets code.

What does a Digital Arts / Games & Animation actually do?

More about this career

Covers animation, game design, visual effects and interactive media – where art meets code, so degrees vary a lot in how much programming versus pure art/design they require. Portfolio work, even personal projects made before you apply, matters a lot in this industry – often more than the specific degree name.

Where this degree can take you

  • Game Designer
  • 3D Animator
  • VFX Artist
  • UI/UX Designer

This is our general description of the role and related jobs, not from an official source – it’s here to give you a fuller picture, not as a careers-counselling guarantee.

Not from an official source

Subjects that usually help

  • Mathematics
  • Visual Arts or Information Technology (helpful)

This is our general guidance about which school subjects suit this career. It is not an admission requirement and not from an official source – the real requirements are on the degrees below.

Not from an official source

Where to check this yourself

What the programmes we’ve captured actually ask for

  • Mathematics – asked for by 4 of 11 programmes
  • Mathematical Literacy – asked for by 3 of 11 programmes
  • Physical Sciences – asked for by 1 of 11 programmes
  • Technical Mathematics – asked for by 1 of 11 programmes

Counted from the requirements below (an “or” alternative counts for each subject named). Each programme links to the page it came from.

Programmes that lead here

11 programmes at 6 universities. More are added as we verify them.

Durban University of Technology

No cut-off publishedSelection programme

Bachelor of Applied Arts in Screen Arts and Technology

Arts & Design

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: level 4 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Four more subjects – Four recognised NSC 20-credit subjects at level 4 (DUT rule G7).
  • Interview – An interview is held per the department’s instructions.

New row, read directly from DUT’s 2027 Study Opportunities prospectus (dut-pass-3). Bachelor’s-degree admission minimum applies. Closes 30 September 2026. From DUT’s 2027 Study Opportunities prospectus. Applications go through the CAO (cao.ac.za), not directly to DUT; general closing date 30 September 2026 (fee R250 SA / R300 international).

Source: View the official page (dut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

No cut-off publishedSelection programme

Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Design (Graphic Design)

Arts & Design

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: level 3 (40% or more)
  • Four more subjects – Four 20-credit subjects at level 4 (not more than one language).
  • Aptitude test and interview – Applicants attend an aptitude test and an interview and bring a portfolio.

New row, read directly from DUT’s 2027 Study Opportunities prospectus (dut-pass-3). Closes 30 September 2026. From DUT’s 2027 Study Opportunities prospectus. Applications go through the CAO (cao.ac.za), not directly to DUT; general closing date 30 September 2026 (fee R250 SA / R300 international).

Source: View the official page (dut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Tshwane University of Technology

Diploma in Integrated Communication Design

Arts & Design · 3 years

TUT APS 24 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)

Raw-confirmed 2026-10-04 against TUT’s 2026 faculty prospectus: APS and subject levels match. The only compulsory subject TUT states is English - a portfolio or similar creative requirement is likely but not confirmed on the page we read. Closes 31 July 2026. From TUT’s 2027 First-Year Course Information and General Information PDFs. Applications opened 1 April 2026 (fee R240).

Source: View the official page (tut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Selection programme

Diploma in Motion Picture Production

Arts & Design · 3 years

TUT APS 22 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)

New row, read directly from TUT’s 2026 faculty prospectus (tut-pass-3). Creative programmes at TUT may add a portfolio or interview - check the department. Closes 31 July 2026 (TUT First-Year Course Information).

Source: View the official page (tut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Johannesburg

BA (Communication Design)

Art, Design and Architecture · 3 years

UJ APS 25 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 4 (50% or more)

Read from the 2027 UJ Undergraduate Prospectus, page 32, programme code B8CD2Q. APS 25 with Mathematics, 26 with Mathematical Literacy; Technical Mathematics not accepted. A portfolio/selection process applies.

Source: View the official page (uj.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

BA (Digital Media Design)

Art, Design and Architecture · 3 years

UJ APS 25 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 4 (50% or more)

Read from the 2027 UJ Undergraduate Prospectus, page 32, programme code B8DM3Q. APS 25 with Mathematics, 26 with Mathematical Literacy; Technical Mathematics not accepted.

Source: View the official page (uj.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of South Africa

No cut-off published

Bachelor of Arts in Visual Multimedia Arts

Human Sciences

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: 50%
  • Portfolio and permission letter – A portfolio of artworks and a permission letter from the Department of Art and Music are required.

Read 2026-10-04 from Unisa’s own qualification page (code 90091). NSC with Bachelor’s Degree endorsement (or equivalent). Unisa states percentages, not an APS, on this page. Confirmed current for the 2027 intake: Unisa’s own pages state its 2027 application window as 17 August - 9 October 2026.

Source: View the official page (unisa.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of the Witwatersrand

BEngSc Digital Arts

Engineering & the Built Environment · 3 years

Wits APS 42 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 5 (60% or more)

Wits notes that level 5 across the board means you are likely to be wait-listed; level 6 is advised. Confirmed unchanged by a direct fetch of the 2027 course-finder page (2026-10-02 spot-check).

Source: View the official page (wits.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

BA Digital Arts

Humanities · 4 years

Wits APS 36 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Workshop / questionnaire – Applicants attend a digital arts workshop and/or complete a questionnaire.

Read from the live 2027 course-finder page on 2026-10-04. Applications close 30 September 2026. Programme code AFA11.

Source: View the official page (wits.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

BA Film and Television (BAFT)

Humanities · 4 years

Wits APS 34 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Portfolio – A portfolio is submitted and an interview may follow.

Read from the live 2027 course-finder page on 2026-10-04. Applications close 30 June (earlier than other Humanities degrees). APS 30-33 may be wait-listed.

Source: View the official page (wits.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Vaal University of Technology

Selection programme

Diploma in Graphic Design

Human Sciences · 3 years

VUT APS 21 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: 30% OR Technical Mathematics: 30% OR Mathematical Literacy: 40%
  • Interview and portfolio – A practical interview and portfolio submission are an additional compulsory selection criterion.

Read 2026-10-04 from the VUT 2027 Undergraduate Minimum Admission Requirements poster (page images). APS 21 with Mathematics or Technical Mathematics, 22 with Mathematical Literacy. Shared admission table with Fashion, Photography and Fine Art. From VUT’s 2027 Undergraduate Minimum Admission Requirements PDF. Academic applications close 30 September 2026 (residences 31 October 2026); fee R110.

Source: View the official page (vut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Are your marks enough?

Put your subjects in once and we’ll check them against every programme above – scored each university’s own way.

What do I qualify for?