Computer Animation and Visual Effects

This is a Connected Degree
Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

Overview
Ready to make your mark on the computer animation and visual effects industry and get stuck into a career packed with creative potential?

On this professionally accredited BSc (Hons) Computer Animation and Visual Effects degree course, you'll use our fantastic animation and VFX facilities to unleash your ideas. You’ll build a portfolio of work to showcase your abilities and learn how to get it in front of potential employers.

The course sets you up for an exciting career in areas such as 3D animation, visual effects (VFX) for film and TV, and the computer games industry.

Accreditations
This course is professionally accredited by JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Support).

JAMES is a group of industry professionals and employers. The JAMES accreditation lets potential employers know that this course gives you the relevant skills and abilities you need to work in the industry when you graduate. JAMES reviews our accreditation every 3 years to make sure the course content remains up-to-date with industry trends and developments. So you’ll always be learning the most relevant skills.

We also work with VFX studios, game developers and professional bodies such as TIGA to make sure the course stays up-to-date with industry trends.

What you'll experience
On this Computer Animation and Visual Effects degree course you’ll:

• Learn from professionals who are currently working in the animation and visual effects (VFX) industry

• Build your skills in key areas such as concept drawing, 3D animation, physics-based simulation and compositing

• Get your hands on professional software that’s used in the industry, including NUKEX, Maya, 3DS Max, ZBrush, Houdini, Katana and Mari

• Put our motion capture facilities to use and learn in our virtual reality lab

• Get the chance to be involved with the University’s computer-generated imagery (CGI) film, Stina and the Wolf

• Develop games and get involved in Gamejams with fellow students

• Make the most of our industry links, including guest speakers, work placements and sponsored prizes for your final year project

• Tailor your studies to match your interests and ambitions

Careers and opportunities
This course mirrors many industrial processes and creative practices, setting you up for some of the most exciting jobs in today’s media industries.

Potential employers include computer animation and visual effects companies for film and TV, computer games and visualisation industries.

Year 1
Core modules in this year include:

• Computer Animation and Vfx Research
• Introduction to Compositing
• Introduction to Real-Time 3D
• Modelling for Animation & Vfx
• Skills and Principles for Animation
• Visual Communication

There are no optional units in this year.

Year 2
Core modules in this year include:

• CGI Lighting and Look Development
• Project Initiation and Career Management
• Real-Time Animation and VFX Project

Optional modules in this year currently include:

• Commercial Asset Production for Real Time
• Creative Technologies Study Exchange
• Design and Visual Research for Cinema and Game
• Designing for Animation
• Engaged Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Practice
• Modern Foreign Language
• Professional Experience
• Sculpting and Rigging for Film
• Student Enterprise
• Visual Effects

Placement year (optional)
On this course, you can do an optional work placement year between your 2nd and 3rd years to get valuable experience working in industry. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.

Year 3
Core modules in this year include:

• Creative Group Project
• Creative Professional Development
• Final Year Project

Optional modules in this year currently include:

• Advanced Creature Fx and Rigging
• Advanced Programming for Animation and Vfx
• Advanced Visual Effects
• Animation and Setup for Computer Animation
• Create Worlds
• Intermediate Visual Effects
• Motion Capture Applications
• Real-Time Interactive Group Project: Stage One
• Real-Time Interactive Group Project: Stage Two

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

You’ll be assessed through practical projects, work portfolios, academic and evaluative essays, multiple choice tests, oral presentations, examinations and case studies.

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• The Joint Audio Media Education Services