Course summary

The Visual Effects with Foundation Year will develop your creative knowledge and academic skills so that you feel confident and ready to start the first year of the degree programme. You will be welcomed into a friendly, lively and energetic environment at Margaret Street, just a short walk from City Centre Campus. Here you will have access to a range of creative studios, technology and software to expand your knowledge of practical skills, creative exploration and conceptual thinking. The two first semester modules will form the building blocks for future work and will explore core principles of creative practice focussing on the development of technical confidence, study skills and productivity. The two final semester modules will encourage a positive integration between research and practice, challenging decision making and technical competency. This semester is designed to empower you with independent learning skills appropriate for your future BA studies. On successful completion of the foundation year, you will have the flexibility to continue to the BA Visual Effects degree programme, or an alternative appropriate degree, if you discover that another degree is preferred during the foundation year. Our foundation year tutors will have conversations with you about next steps throughout the year. BA (Hons) Visual Effects degree After you successfully complete the foundation year, you will have the option to progress onto the first year of the BA (Hons) Visual Effects degree, based at City Centre Campus, where creativity meets technology (STEAM). It will give you the skills to unleash your true mix of creative and technical abilities. You could go on to work on top level productions for a range of industries, including TV, film, games, advertising, architecture, education and more. Visual Effects is an ever expanding multi-billion-pound industry in the UK and globally, with job opportunities in high demand. As demand grows for visual effects in Film, TV and Games, the demand also grows for skilled professionals who can bring these to life. On this course, you will develop technical, creative and production skills to prepare you for a range of careers. You will learn a variety of disciplines from modelling, rigging, animation, dynamics to lighting, rendering and compositing, there is so much for you to explore. You will learn using state-of-the-art facilities and software including a Vicon Motion Capture studio, high-specification computers, industry standard software such as Maya, Nuke and Houdini and one of the largest fixed green screen studios in the UK. You will be taught by a range of experienced staff, with a breadth of knowledge across both visual effects and the larger area of computer graphics. This includes staff with industry experience, and staff who work and innovate alongside industry in a variety of ways.