How to apply to art and design at the Academy of Interactive Technology (AIT): three-year bachelor's degrees in 2D Animation, 3D Animation and Game Design, two-thirds on campus in Sydney or Melbourne, admission on a senior secondary certificate and IELTS 6.0 with no ATAR or portfolio listed; portfolio requirements and timeline for students from China and Canada and transfers

The Academy of Interactive Technology (AIT) is a private college specialising in animation, games and IT. Its site footer describes it as an Institute of Higher Education with TEQSA provider ID PRV12005, CRICOS provider code 02155J and RTO code 90511, and says it is a subsidiary of ASX-listed NextEd Group. This guide covers its three art and design bachelor's degrees: 2D Animation, 3D Animation and Game Design (it also offers IT degrees, which aren't covered here).

1. The three degrees

• Bachelor of 2D Animation
• Bachelor of 3D Animation: year one covers the 3D character pipeline, screen language and visual storytelling, with an elective in game scripting or concept design; year two includes sound design, 3D asset development, VFX, technical art and culture and creativity; year three covers freelancing, emerging technologies and a virtual production lab. The course page lists Autodesk Maya, ZBrush, Unreal Engine and the Adobe suite, and you graduate with a portfolio, showreel and real-time project.
• Bachelor of Game Design: the course page says it goes deep into multiplayer design.

• Duration: three years full-time for each degree.
• Delivery: two-thirds face to face on campus, one-third online.
• Campuses: Sydney (Ultimo) and Melbourne; all three degrees run at both.
• Intakes: the course pages list 14 September 2026, 1 February 2027 and 24 May 2027.
• CRICOS course codes: the international price table on the apply page lists the 2D Animation, 3D Animation and Game Design bachelor's degrees with codes 109414F, 109418B and 080428J, in that order.
• Diplomas in 2D Animation, 3D Animation and Game Design are also offered as another entry option.

2. Is a portfolio needed?

The course pages say AIT cares about your creativity, not your ATAR. The international entry requirements on the apply page for the animation and game design degrees list only a qualification and English, with no portfolio, interview or set task. The apply page mentions a portfolio as alternative evidence only for the IT degree. Ask AIT whether to send any work with your application.

3. International entry requirements

• Qualification: an Australian senior secondary certificate or equivalent (such as the IB) or higher; or a Certificate IV, VET diploma or higher education diploma in a related field.
• ATAR: not required.
• English: IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or equivalent, taken within the last 24 months.
• Age: after the vocational Diploma of IT section, the apply page says international students must be 18 or older when the course starts and asks those under 18 or without standard entry to get in touch. Check with AIT whether this applies to the three bachelor's degrees.
• Chinese and Canadian qualifications: AIT only says "equivalent", so how a Chinese senior high school certificate, the Gaokao or a Canadian provincial diploma (including BC) is assessed is not published.

4. How to apply and deadlines

• International students: the apply page says AIT's registered agent partners can help with your AIT application and your application to study in Australia; see the international agents list. There's also an online application link on the site.
• Domestic students: apply directly or through UAC or VTAC.
• Deadlines: the FAQ only says deadlines vary by program and intake, so specific dates are not published; apply early for your chosen start date and confirm with AIT.
• Application fee: no course application fee is mentioned; the only fee listed is the $100 non-refundable fee for a credit application.

5. Fees and scholarships

• Tuition: the 2026 international price table on the apply page lists $69,000 for the three bachelor's degrees and $23,000 for the three diplomas. It doesn't say whether this is per year or for the whole course, so confirm before applying.
• International scholarship: the apply page says AIT offers scholarships for international students in its higher education diplomas and bachelor's degrees; details are in a separate file we did not read, so amounts and conditions are not published on the page.
• InitiAIT scholarships: listed in the domestic section; you submit your course application first and then get a scholarship form link. Ask AIT whether international students can apply.
• FEE-HELP: the apply page says this government loan requires Australian citizenship or another eligible status.

6. Transfers and credit

• If you have relevant prior study, training or industry experience, you can apply for RPL or credit during your course application; AIT compares your evidence with the learning outcomes of its subjects.
• Higher education credit is capped at 50% of the program unless academic approval is given for more.
• A credit application costs $100 (non-refundable), and each subject you get credit for is still charged at 30% of its tuition fee.

7. Checklists by background

Students at Chinese high schools:

• Prepare your senior high school certificate and transcripts, plus IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each band) taken within 24 months
• Confirm with AIT or a registered agent how Chinese qualifications are assessed and whether the age rule applies
• Choose a campus (Sydney or Melbourne) and an intake (1 February or 24 May 2027)

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• You apply with an equivalent qualification; BC score requirements aren't published
• AIT doesn't say whether English-medium schooling in Canada waives IELTS, so ask
• No portfolio is listed; ask AIT whether to send any work

Transfer students:

• Submit a credit application and transcripts with your course application
• Remember that credited subjects are still charged at 30%

Sources: Academy of Interactive Technology (AIT), Courses; Bachelor of 2D Animation; Bachelor of 3D Animation; Bachelor of Game Design; How to apply and international prices; International agents list. Intake dates are for 2026–2027 and prices are the 2026 figures AIT lists; international scholarship details are in a separate file we did not read. Check AIT for the latest details.