SFX Props & Modelmaking for Film and TV
About this course
Fast-track your way to a career in props and modelmaking. This two-year degree puts a focus on the design and fabrication of physically based film and television special effects using a range of art, engineering and science technologies.
**Why study BA (Hons) SFX Props and Modelmaking at BNU?**
**Inspiring facilities**
Our industry-standard facilities are here to help you produce your most creative ideas. We will build your confidence in using the latest machines, equipment and postproduction software.
Our specialist resources include;
• CNC and laser cutter machines
• engineering & modelmaking workshop equipped with the latest advanced tools
• plastic lab
• prosthetics lab
• CAD software
• high end cameras
• photography studios equipped with industry standard blue/ green screen.
• blue/green screen video studio
• computer and CGI lab
• adobe creative suit
• Auto desk.
**Taught by the industry**
The BA (Hons) SFX Props and Modelmaking course is led by a dedicated and experienced course team. Benefit from their industry knowledge and the industry links they bring to the course. Many of our guest lecturers are industry-experts and alongside your lecturers, they’ll nurture your learning and professional development through lectures, workshops and demonstrations.
**Location**
With London on our doorstep, you’ll be near the world’s best cultural centres, such as theatres, museums and galleries, where you can find a range of inspiration. It also means you may have the opportunity to visit outside bodies, such as prop stores, sets and set stores, material suppliers, manufacturing professionals and working studios.
**What will I study?**
The BA(Hons) SFX Props and Modelmaking course at BNU will allow you to focus on the design and fabrication of physically based film and television special effects using a range of art, engineering and science technologies. This will include props design & fabrication, character creation, prosthetics for prop-making, engineering and functional model making.
This practical course will be delivered in our specialist 3D modelmaking & engineering workshop at our High Wycombe campus. You may also have access to the prosthetics lab at our BNU base in Pinewood studios.
This taught practical-based course is industry-focused and will provide opportunities for students to engage with a broad range of skills and techniques required within special effects props and modelmaking production for film and TV and related creative industries. During your studies you’ll be supported by our specialist technicians and demonstrators. Using their experience and technical production and material knowledge, they’ll help you turn your ideas into fully functioning props and models.
The course embraces new and emerging techniques and technologies, maintaining currency and diversity through well-established links and communications with the creative industry. Upon graduation you’ll have a portfolio and a skill set that aligns with the needs of the industry.
**Career possibilities**
Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. Our Careers and Employability Team also help you find employment after graduation.
Upon graduation, you will be prepared for a range of career possibilities. Using the skills and knowledge learnt on this course, you could find yourself performing the following roles all over the world:
• Props design and fabrication
• Character Designer
• Animation 3D
• Sculptor
• Prosthetics
• Modelmaking
• Pre-visualisation artist
• Technical Director (TD)
• Creative mould-maker
• Rig builder
• Operator
• Engineering system design
• Digital artist
• Film & Television production assistant
Modules
**Term one**
**Core Modules**
Computer Aided Design
Design Theory
2D Visualisation
Chemical Studies and Technological Applications
SFX Character Design
Design Theory
SFX Props and Model Production 1
**Term two**
**Core Modules**
3D Modelling & Simulation
SFX Character Design 2
SFX Rigging & Manufacturing
Advanced Prosthetics Production
SFX Props and Model Production 2
Special Effects Film Study
**Term three**
**Core Modules**
Creative and Professional Development
Professional Practice & Business Management
Dissertation
Pre-production
Final Major Project
Assessment methods
On this special effects course you’ll benefit by learning from lecturers with real sector experience and an insight into working-life. You could also benefit from access to our network of guest speakers, industry experts and successful alumni.
You will be assessed in a variety of ways, from studio projects, workshop and masterclasses to media outcomes, written assignments and group and individual case studies.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
Extra funding
Buckinghamshire New University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.bucks.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/financial-support-bursaries-and-scholarships
The Uni
Buckinghamshire New University
School of Art, Design, and Performance
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Design studies
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Cinematics and photography
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Design studies
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Cinematics and photography
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Design studies
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£17k
£21k
£24k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Cinematics and photography
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£17k
£21k
£24k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
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Graduate field commentary:
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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