Visual Effects and Virtual Production

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 Visual Effects and Virtual Production 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 and virtual production industries, which offer a wide array of job opportunities. You could be producing effects for film, television, animation, games or advertising.

Virtual production combines skills used in film and games, enabling you to create realistic environments on virtual sets. You’ll be exploring convergence technologies, camera tracking and real-time rendering. And inside our Virtual Production Suite, 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. As one of only a select few UK certified partners with Houdini, you’ll also 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 – from filmmaking and acting to 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. You’ll get to make a short VFX film to put your skills into practice. You could also be using simulation to create weather effects, CG fire and dynamics for animation.

In your final year, you’ll write and develop two projects – one focusing on a visual effects showreel 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 and directing 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 Visual Effects and Virtual Production 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 and virtual production industries, which offer a wide array of job opportunities. You could be producing effects for film, television, animation, games or advertising.

Virtual production combines skills used in film and games, enabling you to create realistic environments on virtual sets. You’ll be exploring convergence technologies, camera tracking and real-time rendering. And inside our Virtual Production Suite, 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. As one of only a select few UK certified partners with Houdini, you’ll also 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 – from filmmaking and acting to 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. You’ll get to make a short VFX film to put your skills into practice. You could also be using simulation to create weather effects, CG fire and dynamics for animation.

In your final year, you’ll write and develop two projects – one focusing on a visual effects showreel 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 and directing 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 Visual Effects and Virtual Production 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 and virtual production industries, which offer a wide array of job opportunities. You could be producing effects for film, television, animation, games or advertising.

Virtual production combines skills used in film and games, enabling you to create realistic environments on virtual sets. You’ll be exploring convergence technologies, camera tracking and real-time rendering. And inside our Virtual Production Suite, 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. As one of only a select few UK certified partners with Houdini, you’ll also 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 – from filmmaking and acting to 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. You’ll get to make a short VFX film to put your skills into practice. You could also be using simulation to create weather effects, CG fire and dynamics for animation.

In your final year, you’ll write and develop two projects – one focusing on a visual effects showreel 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 and directing to camera work. Many of our academics are active in research as well, ensuring their teaching is up-to-date and relevant.

Work placements

The Visual Effects and Virtual Production course covers a broad array of skills and media disciplines pertinent to Visual Effects and Virtual Production industry, centering on an exploration of the rich and varied forms of production and their inter-relation with the wider film and games industry.

All modules at Levels 4 and 5 are core, ensuring a progressive curriculum grounded in core skills, knowledge and understanding providing a wider critical appreciation, such as reflective analysis, audience reception theories and modes of representation. You will begin to learn through practice-based workshops in the Visual Effects, Virtual Production and film studios, individual tutorials, through small group activities and workshops. These interactive sessions begin at Level 4 with an introduction to the main ways that the Visual Effects and Virtual Production software communicates with audiences and how these relate to the making of programmes and films and allow learners to gain a wealth of production skills such as editing, pitching, presentation and directing.

At Levels 5 & 6, students choose the direction of their study with more emphasis placed upon negotiated practical work and employability opportunities. This flexibility allows a specialism through production and critical work. Independent learning and the ability to self-manage project work is developed at all levels of study.

In the final year (Level 6) students engage in a major project on a subject of their choice, in addition to reflective opportunities in the media employability module. Students will also work with peers on BA (Hons) Film Production and BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen, ensuring multi-disciplinary approaches. Media employability focus runs through all of the modules preparing students for their next step.

The Visual Effects and Virtual Production course covers a broad array of skills and media disciplines pertinent to Visual Effects and Virtual Production industry, centering on an exploration of the rich and varied forms of production and their inter-relation with the wider film and games industry.

All modules at Levels 4 and 5 are core, ensuring a progressive curriculum grounded in core skills, knowledge and understanding providing a wider critical appreciation, such as reflective analysis, audience reception theories and modes of representation. You will begin to learn through practice-based workshops in the Visual Effects, Virtual Production and film studios, individual tutorials, through small group activities and workshops. These interactive sessions begin at Level 4 with an introduction to the main ways that the Visual Effects and Virtual Production software communicates with audiences and how these relate to the making of programmes and films and allow learners to gain a wealth of production skills such as editing, pitching, presentation and directing.

At Levels 5 & 6, students choose the direction of their study with more emphasis placed upon negotiated practical work and employability opportunities. This flexibility allows a specialism through production and critical work. Independent learning and the ability to self-manage project work is developed at all levels of study.

In the final year (Level 6) students engage in a major project on a subject of their choice, in addition to reflective opportunities in the media employability module. Students will also work with peers on BA (Hons) Film Production and BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen, ensuring multi-disciplinary approaches. Media employability focus runs through all of the modules preparing students for their next step.

The Visual Effects and Virtual Production course covers a broad array of skills and media disciplines pertinent to Visual Effects and Virtual Production industry, centering on an exploration of the rich and varied forms of production and their inter-relation with the wider film and games industry.

All modules at Levels 4 and 5 are core, ensuring a progressive curriculum grounded in core skills, knowledge and understanding providing a wider critical appreciation, such as reflective analysis, audience reception theories and modes of representation. You will begin to learn through practice-based workshops in the Visual Effects, Virtual Production and film studios, individual tutorials, through small group activities and workshops. These interactive sessions begin at Level 4 with an introduction to the main ways that the Visual Effects and Virtual Production software communicates with audiences and how these relate to the making of programmes and films and allow learners to gain a wealth of production skills such as editing, pitching, presentation and directing.

At Levels 5 & 6, students choose the direction of their study with more emphasis placed upon negotiated practical work and employability opportunities. This flexibility allows a specialism through production and critical work. Independent learning and the ability to self-manage project work is developed at all levels of study.

In the final year (Level 6) students engage in a major project on a subject of their choice, in addition to reflective opportunities in the media employability module. Students will also work with peers on BA (Hons) Film Production and BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen, ensuring multi-disciplinary approaches. Media employability focus runs through all of the modules preparing students for their next step.