CGI and Visual Effects

Whether creating explosions, infernos or a whole battalion of soldiers on the battlefield, you’ll have an action-packed time with us.

Our BSc (Hons) in CGI and Visual Effects will equip you with the technical and creative skills to produce scenes worthy of any Hollywood blockbuster. You’ll also develop a professional showreel and plenty of practical experience.

By the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to launch a career in the booming multi-billion-pound VFX industry, which offers a wide array of job opportunities. You could be producing effects for film, television, animation, games or advertising.

The course also covers virtual production, which uses technologies like computer-generated imagery (CGI) and AR to create realistic environments on virtual sets. Inside our Virtual Production Suite, for instance, you’ll get to use green screen techniques to learn how to build action sequences.

Our Motion Capture Studio is where students can record different movements and then map the data onto CGI models. They could even work with real dancers to get the models to shadow the humans.

These are just some of the fantastic industry-standard facilities available to students. Other features include a TV studio and post-production labs.

And as one of only a select few UK certified partners with Houdini, you’ll have amazing access to the latest professional software for visual effects. We have lots of other industry links too.

For one recent project, students teamed up with military historian Andy Robertshaw, who has worked as an advisor and consultant on the films War Horse and 1917. The students used 1917 film props and costumes to reimagine First World War scenes with CGI and also created explosions. With motion capture, they produced multiple soldiers in action.

Other projects involve going on shoots to atmospheric locations, including caves and a former colliery. There’s also the chance to collaborate with students across the Media, Performance and Communication department. It could involve filmmaking, animation and sound.

On the course, we teach students about storytelling and the science of movement and interaction, as well as technical skills such as 3D modelling and compositing. There’s also an introduction to technical art, including how to generate terrain and populate environments, alongside dynamics and simulation creating CG fire, water and abstract effects.

In your final year, you’ll write and develop two projects – one focusing on visual effects and the other on virtual production. It will be a chance to explore your own ideas and bring them to life.

We integrate employability right the way through the degree. You’ll be set live briefs by real companies and will also receive guidance on developing your CV, career network, interview skills and portfolio presentation.

And you’ll benefit from the wealth of expertise among our staff, who have all worked in industry in roles ranging from post-production to camera work. Many of our academics are active in research as well, ensuring their teaching is up-to-date and relevant.

Our BSc (Hons) in CGI and Visual Effects will equip you with the technical and creative skills to produce scenes worthy of any Hollywood blockbuster. You’ll also develop a professional showreel and plenty of practical experience.

By the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to launch a career in the booming multi-billion-pound VFX industry, which offers a wide array of job opportunities. You could be producing effects for film, television, animation, games or advertising.

The course also covers virtual production, which uses technologies like computer-generated imagery (CGI) and AR to create realistic environments on virtual sets. Inside our Virtual Production Suite, for instance, you’ll get to use green screen techniques to learn how to build action sequences.

Our Motion Capture Studio is where students can record different movements and then map the data onto CGI models. They could even work with real dancers to get the models to shadow the humans.

These are just some of the fantastic industry-standard facilities available to students. Other features include a TV studio and post-production labs.

And as one of only a select few UK certified partners with Houdini, you’ll have amazing access to the latest professional software for visual effects. We have lots of other industry links too.

For one recent project, students teamed up with military historian Andy Robertshaw, who has worked as an advisor and consultant on the films War Horse and 1917. The students used 1917 film props and costumes to reimagine First World War scenes with CGI and also created explosions. With motion capture, they produced multiple soldiers in action.

Other projects involve going on shoots to atmospheric locations, including caves and a former colliery. There’s also the chance to collaborate with students across the Media, Performance and Communication department. It could involve filmmaking, animation and sound.

On the course, we teach students about storytelling and the science of movement and interaction, as well as technical skills such as 3D modelling and compositing. There’s also an introduction to technical art, including how to generate terrain and populate environments, alongside dynamics and simulation creating CG fire, water and abstract effects.

In your final year, you’ll write and develop two projects – one focusing on visual effects and the other on virtual production. It will be a chance to explore your own ideas and bring them to life.

We integrate employability right the way through the degree. You’ll be set live briefs by real companies and will also receive guidance on developing your CV, career network, interview skills and portfolio presentation.

And you’ll benefit from the wealth of expertise among our staff, who have all worked in industry in roles ranging from post-production to camera work. Many of our academics are active in research as well, ensuring their teaching is up-to-date and relevant.

Our BSc (Hons) in CGI and Visual Effects will equip you with the technical and creative skills to produce scenes worthy of any Hollywood blockbuster. You’ll also develop a professional showreel and plenty of practical experience.

By the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to launch a career in the booming multi-billion-pound VFX industry, which offers a wide array of job opportunities. You could be producing effects for film, television, animation, games or advertising.

The course also covers virtual production, which uses technologies like computer-generated imagery (CGI) and AR to create realistic environments on virtual sets. Inside our Virtual Production Suite, for instance, you’ll get to use green screen techniques to learn how to build action sequences.

Our Motion Capture Studio is where students can record different movements and then map the data onto CGI models. They could even work with real dancers to get the models to shadow the humans.

These are just some of the fantastic industry-standard facilities available to students. Other features include a TV studio and post-production labs.

And as one of only a select few UK certified partners with Houdini, you’ll have amazing access to the latest professional software for visual effects. We have lots of other industry links too.

For one recent project, students teamed up with military historian Andy Robertshaw, who has worked as an advisor and consultant on the films War Horse and 1917. The students used 1917 film props and costumes to reimagine First World War scenes with CGI and also created explosions. With motion capture, they produced multiple soldiers in action.

Other projects involve going on shoots to atmospheric locations, including caves and a former colliery. There’s also the chance to collaborate with students across the Media, Performance and Communication department. It could involve filmmaking, animation and sound.

On the course, we teach students about storytelling and the science of movement and interaction, as well as technical skills such as 3D modelling and compositing. There’s also an introduction to technical art, including how to generate terrain and populate environments, alongside dynamics and simulation creating CG fire, water and abstract effects.

In your final year, you’ll write and develop two projects – one focusing on visual effects and the other on virtual production. It will be a chance to explore your own ideas and bring them to life.

We integrate employability right the way through the degree. You’ll be set live briefs by real companies and will also receive guidance on developing your CV, career network, interview skills and portfolio presentation.

And you’ll benefit from the wealth of expertise among our staff, who have all worked in industry in roles ranging from post-production to camera work. Many of our academics are active in research as well, ensuring their teaching is up-to-date and relevant.

Your first year will see you get to grips with the foundations of CGI and VFX. You’ll be introduced to software such as Maya, Nuke and the Substance suite of tools. You will learn how to build 3D models and apply textures and lighting to your results. You will learn about Compositing including fundamental skills of rotoscoping, plate cleanup, green screen removal, digital makeup and 3D integration with filmed footage. You will learn about the film making process, what to think about on set, how to record data during a shoot for later use. You will learn technical photography, how to capture HDRI panoramic images and how to track footage to allow the integration with CG objects.

In your second year you are introduced to the concept of 'Technical Art', and all the areas of CG and VFX that benefit from a deeper technical understanding. We introduce you to Houdini, which we are one of only a few schools in the UK certified for teaching this software. We will develop your 3D skills by introducing you to terrain generation and populating environments with details such as plants and rocks. You will learn to create tools that generate 3D models automatically. You will learn about dynamics and simulation - how to create CG fire, water and destruction effects and then moving on to abstract effects and motion graphics. We show you how to script in Python, allowing you to automate processes and create small tools for the programs you used in your first year. We also teach you 'rigging' the process of creating control structures for CG creatures and vehicles. After all the other modules have completed you will take your new skills and work together as a group on a project brief.

In your final year, you’ll complete an individual research-based project and portfolio piece that will become the cornerstone of the showreel that you’ll take out to industry. You also take part in another group project, to show employers that you are familiar with the requirements of working in a team. Finally we will teach you about becoming more employable in the games and VFX industries and give you guidance on developing your CV, career network, interview skills and portfolio presentation.

After the second year of study, students on our placement year will complete 12 months of relevant work experience.

Your first year will see you get to grips with the foundations of CGI and VFX. You’ll be introduced to software such as Maya, Nuke and the Substance suite of tools. You will learn how to build 3D models and apply textures and lighting to your results. You will learn about Compositing including fundamental skills of rotoscoping, plate cleanup, green screen removal, digital makeup and 3D integration with filmed footage. You will learn about the film making process, what to think about on set, how to record data during a shoot for later use. You will learn technical photography, how to capture HDRI panoramic images and how to track footage to allow the integration with CG objects.

In your second year you are introduced to the concept of 'Technical Art', and all the areas of CG and VFX that benefit from a deeper technical understanding. We introduce you to Houdini, which we are one of only a few schools in the UK certified for teaching this software. We will develop your 3D skills by introducing you to terrain generation and populating environments with details such as plants and rocks. You will learn to create tools that generate 3D models automatically. You will learn about dynamics and simulation - how to create CG fire, water and destruction effects and then moving on to abstract effects and motion graphics. We show you how to script in Python, allowing you to automate processes and create small tools for the programs you used in your first year. We also teach you 'rigging' the process of creating control structures for CG creatures and vehicles. After all the other modules have completed you will take your new skills and work together as a group on a project brief.

In your final year, you’ll complete an individual research-based project and portfolio piece that will become the cornerstone of the showreel that you’ll take out to industry. You also take part in another group project, to show employers that you are familiar with the requirements of working in a team. Finally we will teach you about becoming more employable in the games and VFX industries and give you guidance on developing your CV, career network, interview skills and portfolio presentation.

After the second year of study, students on our placement year will complete 12 months of relevant work experience.

Your first year will see you get to grips with the foundations of CGI and VFX. You’ll be introduced to software such as Maya, Nuke and the Substance suite of tools. You will learn how to build 3D models and apply textures and lighting to your results. You will learn about Compositing including fundamental skills of rotoscoping, plate cleanup, green screen removal, digital makeup and 3D integration with filmed footage. You will learn about the film making process, what to think about on set, how to record data during a shoot for later use. You will learn technical photography, how to capture HDRI panoramic images and how to track footage to allow the integration with CG objects.

In your second year you are introduced to the concept of 'Technical Art', and all the areas of CG and VFX that benefit from a deeper technical understanding. We introduce you to Houdini, which we are one of only a few schools in the UK certified for teaching this software. We will develop your 3D skills by introducing you to terrain generation and populating environments with details such as plants and rocks. You will learn to create tools that generate 3D models automatically. You will learn about dynamics and simulation - how to create CG fire, water and destruction effects and then moving on to abstract effects and motion graphics. We show you how to script in Python, allowing you to automate processes and create small tools for the programs you used in your first year. We also teach you 'rigging' the process of creating control structures for CG creatures and vehicles. After all the other modules have completed you will take your new skills and work together as a group on a project brief.

In your final year, you’ll complete an individual research-based project and portfolio piece that will become the cornerstone of the showreel that you’ll take out to industry. You also take part in another group project, to show employers that you are familiar with the requirements of working in a team. Finally we will teach you about becoming more employable in the games and VFX industries and give you guidance on developing your CV, career network, interview skills and portfolio presentation.

After the second year of study, students on our placement year will complete 12 months of relevant work experience.

The course operates on a modular basis that provides flexibility and choice. Typically the majority of modules are 30 academic credits with a smaller number of 15 credit modules. Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity. Full-time students take modules worth 60 credits per semester, with part-time students taking proportionately fewer credits per semester. All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole. Your overall grade for the course and your degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6. The full-time course has one start point in September.

The course operates on a modular basis that provides flexibility and choice. Typically the majority of modules are 30 academic credits with a smaller number of 15 credit modules. Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity. Full-time students take modules worth 60 credits per semester, with part-time students taking proportionately fewer credits per semester. All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole. Your overall grade for the course and your degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6. The full-time course has one start point in September.

The course operates on a modular basis that provides flexibility and choice. Typically the majority of modules are 30 academic credits with a smaller number of 15 credit modules. Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity. Full-time students take modules worth 60 credits per semester, with part-time students taking proportionately fewer credits per semester. All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole. Your overall grade for the course and your degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6. The full-time course has one start point in September.