Virtual Production (with Foundation Year)* BSc (Hons)

You are introduced to the creative possibilities of image-making using digital tools. Study the fundamental principles of design and composition, and explore a range of image creation techniques. Use appropriate graphics software to improve your technical skills incorporating layers, composition, colour, linework and lighting.

This is a 30-credit module.

Focusing on computer games, animation and film, you gain an introductory level of understanding in the context of your chosen field of study. As well as looking at the historical and context of these, you observe how we interpret these types of media historically and materially. Choose a text within your area of interest, undertaking an analytical review in the form of a case study.

This is a 30-credit module.

You create a small game, which involves writing a proposal document and completing a demo using a contemporary game engine.

This is a 30-credit module.

You focus on the visual scripting skills you need to develop modern engine-based interactive content. You are introduced to the fundamentals of blocking out assets or levels for intial design in a current game engine complemented with visual scripting. These include variables, functions and operators.

This is a 30-credit module.

You are introduced to the fundamental principles used in the production of real-time 3D models and 2D texture assets.

This is a 30-credit module.

You broaden your artistic and visual horizons, and develop your observational skills. You study contemporary and historical visual arts across games, cinema, fashion, graphic design, architecture, product design and typography.

This is a 30-credit module.

Immerse yourself in the cutting-edge world of virtual production, where filmmaking meets real-time technology. Gain hands-on experience with tools and techniques to reshape the screen industries, including real-time game engines, motion capture, camera and prop tracking, LED walls and digital cinema cameras.

Through practical workshops, explore how these technologies integrate to create seamless virtual environments and innovative storytelling possibilities. Develop a foundational skillset in virtual production workflows, preparing you to collaborate across disciplines and contribute to the rapidly evolving landscape of film, television and interactive media.

This is a 30-credit module.

When planning and visualising sequences for animation and live action, you need to understand the pre-production process and the tools and techniques you can use.

Cinematography and film language

You are introduced to cinematography and learn about film language, shot composition, camera moves and lighting.

Character and storyboard development

Develop your own visual interpretation of a script or narrative and produce a moving storyboard (animatic).

Digital compositing

You are introduced to a range of compositing techniques for live-action and 3D computer-generated imagery, 2D and stop-motion animation, lighting and digital 2D painted backgrounds.

This is a 30-credit module.

Discover how to plan, rehearse, and direct actors on our motion-capture stage for full-body and facial performance capture. You follow the performance capture pipeline, from acquiring motion capture data to producing final animations.

You work in a team to produce an animation or visual effects sequence based on an industry style brief. Experience working in a production environment with industry input and feedback, and target specific production skills in your chosen field of study.

This is a 30-credit module.

Experiment in a specialist area of your choice in animation, games and visual effects. Develop your independent learning skills and take ownership of your chosen direction through the assessment. Research professional roles related to your specialism, identifying the graduate skills you need and developing an online presence.

AI literacy improves your employability, making you more competitive in the job market. You investigate the responsible use of AI in animation and visual effects, focusing on the benefits, risks and ethical concerns such as IP, copyright and consent.

This is a 30-credit module.

Explore procedural modelling techniques and photogrammetry, gaining hands-on experience and applying them to virtual environments using Unreal Engine and LED wall technologies. Additional skills include lighting design for both physical and digital sets, and the use of Blueprint scripting to drive interactivity.

Bridging physical and digital, you cover integration of real-world props with their digital twin, set extension, and principles of production design. You design and implement virtual sets, applying ICVFX (in-camera VFX) workflows to achieve seamless on-set visualisation.

This is a 30-credit module.

You have the option to spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills. We encourage and support you with applying for a placement, job hunting and networking.

You gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment, including communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.

Many employers view a placement as a year-long interview, therefore placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process. Benefits include:

· improved job prospects
· enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
· a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
· a better degree classification
· a richer CV
· a year's salary before completing your degree
· experience of workplace culture
· the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.

If you are unable to secure a work placement with an employer, then you simply continue on a course without the work placement.

Work alongside your project supervisor to develop a large-scale piece of individual work relating to your chosen specialism and career aims.

This is a 60-credit module.

You choose from a selection of briefs which reflect specialist industry roles, such as realistic creature animation, effects simulation or puppet making. Explore your specialism and develop your professional skills such as pitching ideas, costing and scheduling, working to a tight brief and responding to client changes.

This is a 30-credit module.

You are prepared for professional virtual production and motion capture roles by combining structured instruction within a collaborative group project. Gain hands-on experience working to integrate Unreal 3D environments, live action, performance capture and cinematography in a virtual production environment, following professional studio workflows.

The group project mirrors real industry practice, allowing you to refine your skills and operate within a multidisciplinary team.

This is a 30-credit module.