Summary
A Storyboard Artist performs or creates for an audience, building a career on years of practice, stage time and reputation rather than a single degree. In India this work sits inside the Animation, VFX and Graphics stream: students usually take Any stream in Class 11–12 (subject requirements vary by programme) in Class 11–12, qualify through Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject, and specialise later through work experience or a master's. The sections below set out the study route, the entrance exams, the leading institutes in India and abroad, and the day-to-day reality of the job.
Core skills
- Mastery of the art form through sustained practice
- Stage presence and expression
- Collaboration with directors and co-performers
- Self-marketing and resilience
Where you can work
- Theatre, film, TV and OTT productions
- Music, dance and cultural institutions
- Event, wedding and corporate performance circuits
- Teaching, academies and content platforms
Professional Opportunities
Theatre, film, TV and OTT productions
Music, dance and cultural institutions
Event, wedding and corporate performance circuits
Teaching, academies and content platforms
Career Path
| Stage | What you study | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| After Class 10 | Any stream in Class 11–12 (subject requirements vary by programme) | 2 years (Class 11–12) |
| Graduation | Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject | 3–4 years |
| After Graduation | Master's degree / PG diploma in a specialisation | 2 years |
| After Post-Graduation | M.Phil. / Ph.D. for research and teaching roles | 3–5 years (optional) |
Important Facts
- Entry qualification: Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject.
- Most institutes ask for 50–60% in the qualifying examination; reserved categories usually get a 5% relaxation.
- Admission is through the entrance exams listed below — national tests plus the state CET where applicable.
- Government and private institutes both offer this route; fee levels differ sharply between them.
- Scholarships listed on the HBK scholarships page apply to most of these programmes.
Leading Institutes in India
| # | Institute | Entrance / Category | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad | NID DAT | nid.edu |
| 2 | Industrial Design Centre, IIT Bombay | UCEED / CEED | idc.iitb.ac.in |
| 3 | Department of Design, IIT Guwahati | UCEED / CEED | iitg.ac.in |
| 4 | Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata | SRFTI JET | srfti.ac.in |
| 5 | Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune | FTII JET | ftii.ac.in |
| 6 | MIT Institute of Design, Pune | MIT ID DAT | mitid.edu.in |
| 7 | Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune | SET Design | sid.edu.in |
| 8 | Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bengaluru | Srishti Entrance | srishtimanipalinstitute.in |
| 9 | Whistling Woods International, Mumbai | Institute Test | whistlingwoods.net |
| 10 | Arena Animation (national network) | Institute Counselling | arena-multimedia.com |
| 11 | MAAC (Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics) | Institute Counselling | maacindia.com |
| 12 | Toonz Academy, Thiruvananthapuram | Institute Test | toonzacademy.com |
| 13 | Amity School of Fine Arts, Noida | Amity Test | amity.edu |
| 14 | Chandigarh University — Animation and VFX | CUCET | cuchd.in |
| 15 | Loyola College, Chennai — Visual Communication | Merit | loyolacollege.edu |
| 16 | Gujarat University — Animation and Multimedia | Merit | gujaratuniversity.ac.in |
| 17 | Pearl Academy, Delhi and Mumbai | Pearl Entrance | pearlacademy.com |
| 18 | World University of Design, Sonipat | WUD Aptitude Test | wud.ac.in |
Institutions Abroad
| Institute | Country | Website |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | United Kingdom | www.ox.ac.uk/ |
| University of Cambridge | United Kingdom | www.cam.ac.uk/ |
| Harvard University | United States | www.harvard.edu/ |
| University of Toronto | Canada | www.utoronto.ca/ |
| University of Melbourne | Australia | www.unimelb.edu.au/ |
| National University of Singapore | Singapore | www.nus.edu.sg/ |
Entrance Exams
| Exam | Full name | What it admits you to | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| NID DAT | National Institute of Design Design Aptitude Test | B.Des with animation and film design specialisation. | admissions.nid.edu |
| UCEED | Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design | B.Des at IITs and IIITDM. | uceed.iitb.ac.in |
| NIFT Entrance | National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance | B.Des communication design. | nift.ac.in |
| CEED | Common Entrance Examination for Design | M.Des in animation, visual communication and interaction design. | ceed.iitb.ac.in |
| CUET-UG | Common University Entrance Test (UG) | B.A / B.Sc animation and multimedia at central universities. | cuet.nta.nic.in |
| MIT ID DAT | MIT Institute of Design Aptitude Test | UG and PG design programmes. | mitid.edu.in |
| Symbiosis SET Design | Symbiosis Entrance Test (Design) | B.Des at Symbiosis Institute of Design. | set-test.org |
Work Description
- 01Practise and rehearse daily to keep technique and stamina at performance level.
- 02Prepare, interpret or compose material for the production or show.
- 03Rehearse with the ensemble, director or crew before performance.
- 04Perform live or on camera, adjusting to the audience and setting.
- 05Build a portfolio, network and audience across platforms.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Doing what you genuinely love, with a public identity
- Digital platforms allow direct audience earning
- Teaching provides steady income alongside performance
Cons
- Income is irregular, especially in the first years
- Highly competitive with no guaranteed entry path
- Physical wear and constant auditioning
Are you fit for this career?
Take the free HBK psychometric test and see how Storyboard Artist matches your interests and aptitude.