Animation, Games & Computer Graphics

This programme is suitable for students who wish to develop their creative skills in 3D animation, digital sound production and other time-based visual media such as motion graphics, editing, live-action and 2D compositing and effects. It provides the opportunity for you to work with industry-standard equipment including a professionally equipped green screen studio and soundstage.

The course combines creative, professional and practical skills with research and enquiry-based study. The modules combine together to give you a broad mix of technical and creative skills which can all be applied to television, corporate production, commercials, music promos and video installations for exhibition and events.

What you study

This programme develops your knowledge and understanding to the forefront of creative digital media and develops your intellectual ability for abstract analysis and synthesis at the level appropriate for postgraduate research. It is designed to produce graduates who can make reasoned, critical decisions on selecting and implementing appropriate digital media-based solutions. Graduates develop a combination of creative, problem-solving and technical skills which allows them to make an immediate contribution to major digital media projects in a range of areas. We encourage enterprise opportunities and/or progression towards further research including MPhil and/or PhD.

How you learn

The programme is delivered using a mixture of lectures, seminars, guest speakers, individual and group-based practical exercises, self-directed study and formal face-to-face presentations and demonstrations. It makes use of industry-based scenarios and case studies. You engage in authentic and appropriate practical projects utilising a range of digital time-based media tools.

The development of transferable skills and professional development are core themes throughout the programme.

All modules are supported by Blackboard as the main online learning environment. Additionally the Library and the internet are used for theoretical research to support the practice-based research.

You are expected and encouraged to engage with the programme outside class time through assignment work, individual research activity or small group work (filming), utilising the professionally equipped soundstage.

How you are assessed

The learning outcomes of the programme are assessed by individual coursework. This includes practical implementations and reports which demonstrate critical evaluation of the practical process, techniques and end product, plus supporting evidence of research into specified areas.

You are encouraged and expected to present your work to your peers and tutors within the lab-based sessions to receive both formative and summative feedback on your work.

Detailed marking criteria are given with each assessment. Due to the practical nature of the programme the marks allocated to the practical work would be greater than those allocated to the report.

All portfolios should be submitted via a personal website or on disk using standard file formats such as .mov and .jpeg. Give brief descriptions of the software and techniques you have used. Where group work is included you must clearly state what aspects of the work you have personally carried out.

Include as many of your best examples of your creative digital design work as possible. This can include video, animation (2D and/or 3D), motion graphics, photography, poster design and experimental digital artwork. You are expected to demonstrate some knowledge of computing and experience of using software such as Adobe Photoshop and AfterEffects.

Career opportunities

Typically graduates of this course would be well suited for careers in the animation and creative visual media workplace.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have one of the following:

• an honours degree, first or second class, in an appropriate creative subject; or
• equivalent qualifications, for example applicants with appropriate professional experience.

Applicants will be required to submit a portfolio of their creative work as part of the admissions process. In addition, international students will require IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.

All portfolios should be submitted via a personal website or on disk using standard file formats such as .mov and .jpeg. Give brief descriptions of the software and techniques you have used. Where group work is included you must clearly state what aspects of the work you have personally carried out.

Include as many of your best examples of your creative digital design work as possible. This can include video, animation (2D and/or 3D), motion graphics, photography, poster design and experimental digital artwork. You are expected to demonstrate some knowledge of computing and experience of using software such as Adobe Photoshop and AfterEffects.

For additional information please see the undergraduate and postgraduate entry requirements in our admissions section

More information

• Animation, Games & Computer Graphics
  More information and courses in Animation, Games & Computer Graphics