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Studies & Degrees in 3 - D Design

3D design is the creation of three-dimensional objects, characters and spaces on a computer. The same core skills serve two broad fields. In animation, visual effects and video games, 3D artists build and animate the models that appear on screen. In product design, engineering and architecture, designers and drafters use 3D software to plan objects and buildings before they are made.

Students learn to model objects and organic forms, to give them surfaces through texturing and shading, to light and render a scene, and to prepare characters for movement and animate them. Most programmes also teach drawing, sculpture, storyboarding and design principles, because the software is only a tool. On the technical side, students of product and building design learn computer-aided design (CAD) and, for buildings, building information modelling (BIM), which uses three-dimensional rendering to show how the parts of a project work together.

Qualifications and levels

3D design is taught at very different levels, from a course of a few months to a four-year degree.

  • Bachelor's degrees. Official Spanish bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240 ECTS credits. 3D design is usually a strand within a degree in animation, digital design or audiovisual communication. The Grado en Animación of U-tad, at its Las Rozas campus near Madrid, has 240 ECTS credits, is taught in Spanish and English, and offers 180 on-campus places and 60 distance places. Its courses include principles of 3D graphics, organic modelling, texturing and shading, and students can choose a specialisation in advanced 3D techniques for animation. ERAM, in Salt (Girona), teaches the Grado en Comunicación Audiovisual y Multimedia, an official university degree of four years and 240 credits taught in Catalan, Spanish and English, which covers graphic design, 3D, film, interaction design and photography.
  • Minors within a degree. At the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia, Game Art and Animation is a minor of four courses about creating art and animation for 2D and 3D games and interactive experiences.
  • Vocational training in Spain (FP). The higher-level qualification Técnico Superior en Animaciones 3D, Juegos y Entornos Interactivos lasts 2,000 hours.
  • Schools' own programmes and short courses. ECIB, a film and animation school in Barcelona, lists a Máster en Animación 3D of 18 months, a one-year introductory course in 3D animation and a 90-day intensive course in 3D animation with Autodesk Maya, all taught on site. Ask the school what recognition each programme carries.
  • Technical drafting. In the United States, drafters typically need an associate degree from a community college or technical school, which generally takes about two years of full-time study, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Where to study it

This directory lists 12 active schools for 3D design. Six are in Spain, two in the United States and one each in Australia, Belarus, Ireland and Hong Kong. The Spanish schools include U-tad in Las Rozas, ERAM in Salt, ECIB and Idep Barcelona in Barcelona, IED Madrid and the Universidad de La Laguna on Tenerife. Outside Spain the list includes the University of the Sunshine Coast and Robeson Community College in North Carolina.

In Spain teaching is mostly in Spanish, with English at U-tad and Catalan and English at ERAM. Before enrolling, it is worth checking whether a programme is an official degree or the school's own qualification, which software it teaches, and whether students finish with a showreel or portfolio. At U-tad, for example, students make a 2D or 3D animated short film from the third year.

Careers

The Spanish vocational qualification names the typical entry roles: 3D animator, 3D modeller and 3D special effects technician, among others. Graduates work in animation and visual effects studios, video game companies, advertising, architecture and engineering offices, and product design.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics gives the clearest official picture, for the United States only:

  • Special effects artists and animators held 51,900 jobs in 2025, and 63% were self-employed. Employment is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035. They typically need a bachelor's degree in computer graphics, art or a related field, and employers usually prefer candidates with a good portfolio and strong technical skills.
  • Employment of drafters is projected to grow 1 percent from 2025 to 2035.
  • Industrial designers, who also work with three-dimensional software and printers, typically need a bachelor's degree. Their employment is projected to grow 2 percent over the same period.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a university degree to work in 3D design?

Not always. The routes range from short courses and Spain's 2,000-hour vocational qualification to a 240-credit bachelor's degree. Employers look closely at the portfolio.

How long does it take to study 3D design?

It depends on the level. The courses described here last from 90 days to 18 months at a private school, 2,000 hours in Spanish vocational training and four years for a bachelor's degree.

In which language is 3D design taught in Spain?

Mostly in Spanish. U-tad teaches its animation degree in Spanish and English, and ERAM gives Catalan, Spanish and English as the languages of its degree.

Is a master's in 3D animation from a private school an official degree?

Usually not. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits and are awarded by a university. A private school's master's programme is its own qualification, so ask the school before enrolling.