Animation and Visual Effects
Entry requirements
A level
Access to HE Diploma
60 credits with 45 at level 3
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Scottish Higher
T Level
UCAS Tariff
About this course
Animation and visual effects (VFX) is a constantly evolving industry at the forefront of media output in the UK in film, television, and games industries.
This degree is built around core principles of inclusivity, storytelling and studio practice to enable engagement with an exciting, dynamic industry. With a vocational focus, our course is centred around developing industry skill set and technique, exploring research-informed creative industry practice, critical thinking, and graduate employability.
**COURSE OVERVIEW**
You will gain practical experience of industrial workflows and methodologies as they relate to animation and visual effects. You will be shown the skills required to undertake self-directed research for the continued development of animation skills and for life-long learning should you choose to pursue postgraduate study after your degree.
Designed to build competency in the first level, specialisation in the second, and independence in the third, this animation and visual effects course will enable you to gain a job in animation or progress to further study.
The programme ensures you are fully prepared for the rapidly changing social and technological contexts in which you will work. A vital part of this is to equip you to make informed choices in your creative use of digital technology, in your professional practice, eventual careers in animation and VFX, and as lifelong, independent and interdependent learners.
**ON THIS COURSE YOU WILL**
- Gain knowledge and understanding of current professional production practices and technologies in the animation and visual effects industry, and a critical perspective that puts you in a position to shape the future of the creative industries.
- Develop nascent interests, technical knowledge and skill set in animation and VFX, to a level that is consistent with a graduate profile of an emerging professional in the creative industries, or that will facilitate postgraduate study.
- Leave with a portfolio of work from your VFX course, demonstrating technical proficiency, specialism, and skill set in computer animation and visual effects.
- Have access to workshop and studio spaces for traditional animation production and physical, on-set and location production that require specific resources such as rostra and lighting.
- Benefit from guest speakers and workshops, which offer added value to your learning experience, where you can share your work with professionals through workshop activities and screenings.
- Gain experience in live brief and external work – engagement with enhanced professional experiences sometimes external to course and module delivery.
**WHAT YOU'LL LEARN**
You'll be encouraged to engage and respond to assessment briefs and other tasks, at every step of your academic journey, both critically and creatively.
At Level 4, the focus is on personal development skills, knowledge, and understanding. Level 5 has a focus on professional development skills, building confidence in practice, in line with industry and employer expectations. At Level 6 there is an increasingly tailored and personalised approach to learning, with a focus on employability and enterprise and graduate goals.
The course develops high-level, visual effects artists who have analytical, interpretative, written, and oral communication skills, and will embed project-management, research skills, team-working, leadership, and independent working, into a professional portfolio that you will be proud of.
**Year 1**
- Animation and VFX Piplines
- Digital Narrative and Concept
- Virtual Stagecraft
- Cultural Contexts
- Collaborative Practice
**Year 2**
- Script, Storyboard & Previs
- Experimental Narrative & Concept
- Animation and VFX Cinematography
- Shot to Screen
- Professional Development
**Year 3**
- Research Brief
- Production Review
- Professional Studio Project
- Festivals & Exhibition
Tuition fees
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The Uni
Carlisle - Brampton Road
Institute of the Arts
What students say
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How do students rate their degree experience?
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Cinematics and photography
Teaching and learning
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Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Computer animation and visual effects
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After graduation
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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
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What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
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.
£13k
£16k
£19k
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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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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