Animation, Games & Computer Graphics

If you are interested in becoming a specialist in your chosen area of visual effects this course is for you. You develop your skills using our expert knowledge and extensive facilities; with a view to gaining employment within the growing visual effects industry.

What you study

We introduce you to the full range of effects related facilities offered by the School.

You develop a deep understanding of both the hardware and software (equipment) available to you, as well as learning about how vector maths and scripting can further develop and extend your use of this equipment.

You develop and complete a body of work using elements of the equipment at a post graduate level demonstrating your skills, interests and abilities.

How you learn

The programme is delivered using a mixture of lectures, tutorials and practical sessions on the sound stage and in labs. There are guest speakers, individual and group-based practical exercises, self-directed study and formal face-to-face presentations and demonstrations. We make use of industry-based scenarios and case studies.

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

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

How you are assessed

You 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 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.

Career opportunities

Graduates will be well placed to find employment in the film and television VFX Industry.

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 are 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 as possible of compositing, rotoscoping and 3D/2D digital effects animation. Include shot breakdowns to demonstrate how the shots have been created. We also welcome any additional work you have produced that demonstrates use of a scripting language.

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