Visual Effects

Visual Effects BSc has been developed in consultation with the industry to deliver skills relative to the production of visual effects (VFX) across a range of contemporary media. The use of VFX is commonplace within broadcast productions, film and animation, video games, and in advertising. This is reflected in the scope of this course as it pulls from a number of disciplines including film, special effects, animation and 3D, to complement the interdisciplinarity of the subject.

This course also encourages you to develop your creative flair and understanding of industry-standard software to create your own 3D content for use in film and television projects.

As an integral part of the multibillion-pound film and television industry, studying the creative and technical skills used in VFX can open up extensive career prospects.

Our graduates have gone on to work in roles such as compositors and matte painters, as well as wider media-based roles such as colourists and finishers.

Key features

• On this course, you will study a range of topics including VFX and compositing basics, 3D modelling and animation, match-moving and MOCAP (motion capture), and tracking rigging and compositing.

• Benefit from our specialist facilities, featuring audio recording studios, broadcast-standard radio production studios and management systems, standalone film studios equipped with multi-cameras, as well as green screen facilities.

• Our VFX facilities include high-definition mixed media workstations, using industry-standard software such as 3ds Max, Maya, Nuke, After Effects and DaVinci Resolve.

• Through block teaching, you will focus on one subject at a time instead of several at once. This means that you will be able to focus closely on each subject and absorb your learning material in more depth, whilst working more closely with your tutors and course mates.

• Our DMU Global programme offers students the opportunity to have a valuable international experience as part of their studies. During a trip to Berlin, VFX students were able to explore the historical, social and cultural context of animated content, visual effects and film.

• Gain valuable hands-on experience by joining a range of student societies such as the award-winning Demon Media group, with opportunities to contribute to its magazine, radio station, TV station and website.

• Benefit from Education 2030, where a simplified ‘block learning’ timetable means you will study one subject at a time and have more time to engage with your learning, receive faster feedback and enjoy a better study-life balance.

Year one
Block 1: Film and Photography Capture

Block 2: Introduction to VFX

Block 3: 3D Modelling and Animation

Block 4: Commercial Content Production

Year two
Block 1: Film and Photography Techniques

Block 2: Compositing and Matte Painting

Block 3: Character Animation and MoCap

Block 4: Creative Enterprise

Year three
Block 1: Short Film Production OR Post-production and Editing OR Virtual Production and Immersive Technology

Block 2: Compositing for Film and Broadcast

Block 3: 3D for Film and Animation

Block 4: Portfolio Project

Teaching
This is a full-time course. Each module is worth 30 credits. Outside of your normal timetabled hours you will be expected to conduct independent study each week to complete preparation tasks, assessments and research.

Course delivery is in block mode, which means each 30 credit module consists of a seven week teaching block

Students will learn through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, laboratories, workshops, self-directed study, presentations, screenings, demonstrations, and group and individual projects.

Assessment
Assessments fall into two main types; coursework assessments and formal examinations. The coursework assessments include practical reports, computer-based assessments, short tests, case study reports, critiques and oral presentations. Students are also assessed by formal examinations, which test the knowledge and skills they have developed over the course of the module. There are a variety of formats for the written examinations, including some or all of the following; short-answer questions, problem-based questions, case-study questions and essay questions.