Updated on Sep 28, 2022 07:07 IST

Maya is a 3D computer graphics application that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. It is owned and developed by Autodesk, hence it is also known as Autodesk Maya. Maya is used to creating effects for interactive 3D applications, video games, animated films, TV series, and VFX. Maya course is considered important for candidates looking to make a career in Animation, VFX, Films, Graphic Design etc, as Maya application makes it easier to portray emotions by enhancing the realism of facial expressions of animated characters and their body language. Maya controls the behaviour of virtual objects in computer animation according to the natural laws of physics. This application has been used in many movies like Twister and Stuart Little etc. There are many certifications, and undergraduate and postgraduate courses available in Maya. Candidates can know more about the course details mentioned in this article.

Eligibility Criteria for Maya

The eligibility criteria and the duration of courses in Maya vary from college to college. Most of the undergraduate courses are of three-year duration and postgraduate courses of two-year duration. Candidates can refer to the eligibility criteria of the respective courses mentioned below:

Certifications: These short-term courses are available in both online and offline modes. There are no fixed eligibility criteria for such courses. Candidates can do certificate courses in Maya after completing the 10th or 12th in any stream.

Diploma or UG Degree Courses: Candidates can pursue a Diploma or Graduation level course from any Animation College or University. Candidates must have passed 10+2 in any stream from a recognized board.

PG Diploma or PG Degree Courses: To pursue a postgraduate course in Maya, one must have a Bachelor's degree in Animation or Maya or its equivalent from a recognized university. 

Entrance Exams for Maya

Some institutes/universities offer admission to this course on the basis of marks obtained in class the 12th examination, while some conduct entrance examinations for admission. These entrance exams also vary according to the college and are conducted in two to three phases. While the first stage is a written test, the second and third stages are usually of group discussions and interviews. Some of the entrance exams conducted for admission to Animation and Maya courses are given below:

Exam Name Conducting College
Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) IIT Bombay
ITM IDM Entrance Test ITM Group of Institutions
NID DAT National Institute of Design
All India Entrance Examination for Design (AIEED) ARCH Academy of Design
XAT Xavier Labour and Research Institute
NIFT Entrance Exam National Institute of Fashion Technology
CEED IIT Bombay

Skills Required for Maya

Since this field is highly creative, candidates must have the ability to think out of the box. Apart from this, it is also very important for the candidates to know the uses and applications of various software to become a good Maya artist. The important software and skills required are given below:

AutoCAD 3D Max Drawing Skills Corel Draw
Creativity & Imagination Communication Skills Originality and Innovativeness Team Player
Attention for Detail Patience Good Communication Skills Observant

Also Read:

Syllabus for Maya

Below is information about the subjects taught under the Autodesk Maya courses. The subjects may vary from college to college.

Diploma in Maya Pro
3D design and modelling Look development and rendering Digital sculpting
Hair, fur, cloth CG lighting Character set up and skinning
Texturing Particles and dynamics Character animation
Autodesk Maya Autodesk Mudbox --
Advanced Program in 3D Animation
Pre-production Storyboarding Cinematography
Stop-motion Video editing Digital design
Sound editing 3D design & modelling Digital sculpting
Look development Lighting & rendering Fluid, hair & cloth FX
Character setup & skinning Character animation Layer based compositing
Node-based compositing Working with motion Capture data
Clean plate generation Chroma screen removal Adobe Photoshop
Adobe After Effects Adobe Premiere Adobe Audition
Autodesk 3ds Max Autodesk Maya Autodesk Mudbox
Blackmagic Fusion Autodesk MotionBuilder Arnold

Job Profile and Top Recruiters for Maya Course

After Maya course candidates have the option to work for various job profiles. Candidates can work for any job profile as per their interests and skill. Here are some of the popular profiles:

3D Animator: A 3D animator creates the special effects for films. He/she designs sculptures and objects in 2D or 3D format for animation movies, video games etc. 

Lightning Artist: Lightning artists use various lighting effects to suit the atmosphere, tone, depth, and mood of the scene.

Character Designer: As the name suggests, character designers envision and create a character. They work closely with the members of the script writing team to further develop the character according to the story.

Stop Motion Animator: These professionals use a different models for animated films or commercials. They use photography, narrative skills, and manipulation of lighting to create the final product and calculate angles to create stop-motion animation without having to tinker digitally.

Video Game Designer: These professionals combine science, technology, engineering, math, art and design as well as animation skills to make video games. They design the user interface and also create gameplay prototypes, role-play mechanics, storylines and characters.

 The best companies one should consider joining if they want to make a mark for themselves in this field are Maya Entertainment Ltd, UTV Toonz, Toonz Animation India, Pentamedia Graphics, Crest Animation Studios Ltd, Silvertoon Studio etc.

Colleges for Maya

Many colleges offer certificates, diplomas and PG Diploma courses in Autodesk Maya. Candidates can pursue such courses from the below-mentioned colleges:

Read More:

FAQs on Maya

Q. I have completed my BA in Animation, can I pursue a course in Maya?

A. Yes, you can pursue a specialisation course in Maya even after completing your graduation in Animation.

Q. What are the eligibility criteria for a UG course in Maya?

A. Candidates must have passed 10+2 in any stream from a recognised board to enroll themselves for a UG course in Maya.

Q. What are the popular courses available in Maya?

A. Candidates can pursue courses like Advance Diploma in Maya course, Post Graduate Diploma in Animation and Multimedia, PG Diploma in animation, Post Graduate Diploma in 3D Animation, etc.

Q. Which technical skills are required to be a good Maya artist?

A. Candidates must have knowledge of software like Adobe After Effects, Autodesk3ds Max, Adobe Premiere etc to become a good Maya artist.

Q. What job profiles are available after completing a Maya course?

A. Candidates can work as a 3D animator, compositor, character animator, lighting artist, animation director, image editor etc after completing the Maya course.

Q. What is the scope of the Maya course?

A. Autodesk Maya is a graphic application used to create assets for movies, animation, video games, etc. Therefore, it is essential to be equipped with the knowledge of this application so that you can climb the ladder of success in this field.

Q. What is the average course fee for Maya course?

A. The course fee varies according to the level of the course. While the fee for a certificate course can range from INR 2,000 to INR 50,000, for a diploma and PG diploma level course the fee can range from INR 10,000 to INR 1 lakh.

Q. Can I pursue an online course in Maya?

A. Yes, there are several online platforms like Lynda, Udemy and Coursera which offer online courses in Autodesk Maya.

Q. What are the popular online Maya courses I can pursue?

A. Candidates can pursue courses like Maya for Beginners: Complete Guide to 3D Animation in Maya, Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialization, Maya: Shader Networks, Learn Maya - A Beginners Guide to Creating Realistic Scenes, Import and Configure an Animated 3D Character in Unity, Maya: Facial Rigging etc.

Q. What is the remuneration offered in this field?

A. You may have to start your career with the remuneration of INR 2.5 LPA but with the growing experience and technical knowledge, the remuneration will also increase. An experienced professional can earn INR 6-8 LPA.

Q. Which are the popular colleges for pursuing a Maya course?

A. Candidates can take admission to colleges like Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Arena Animation, Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics, Zakir Hussain Institute etc.

Popular Maya Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Maya Colleges in India. Learn more about these Maya colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
5.0
3.0
2.1 L

Maya Applications open till Jan 13, 2025. Apply Now

1.04 L
1.68 LPA
1 Course
63.72 K

Popular Private Maya Colleges in India

2.1 L

Maya Applications open till Jan 13, 2025. Apply Now

5.0
3.0
1.04 L
1.68 LPA
1 Course
63.72 K

Popular Maya UG Courses

Following are the most popular Maya UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Maya PG Courses

Following are the most popular Maya PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Maya. Students interested in pursuing a career on Maya, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

Feb '25 - Mar '25

JMI Entrance Exam 2025 Applications Open

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Apr '25

JMI Entrance Exam 2025 Application Correction Win...

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May '25

CUCET 2025 Phase 1 Application Form Last Date

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Jun '25

CUCET 2025 Phase 2 Exam Date

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1 Aug ' 24

SHIATS 2024 Commencement of classes

22 Jul ' 24 - 30 Jul ' 24

SHIATS Entrance Exam 2024 Offline Counselling

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Answered 12 hours ago

Yes, the BDes in Animation Designing curriuclum followed at INSD Pune includes Maya, the professional 3D animation, modelling, simulation and rendering toolset. It is introduced in the fourth semester (second year) of the course. Some Maya-related concepts included in the course curriculum are as fo

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Himanshi Pandey

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