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Computer Animation and Visual Effects at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

University of Portsmouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

7Dec
University of Portsmouth Open Day
Undergraduate

Course summary

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.

Modules

Year 1 Core modules in this year include:

  • Computer Animation and VFX Research (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Compositing (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Real-Time 3D (20 credits)
  • Modelling for Animation & VFX (20 credits)
  • Skills and Principles for Animation (20 credits)
  • Visual Communication (20 credits)
There are no optional units in this year. Year 2 Core modules in this year include:
  • CGI Lighting and Look Development (20 credits)
  • Creative Research and Project Initiation (20 credits)
  • Real-Time Animation and VFX Project (20 credits)
Optional modules in this year currently include:
  • Commercial Asset Production for Real Time (40 credits)
  • Creative Technologies Study Exchange (60 credits)
  • Creative Technologies Study Exchange (60 credits)
  • Design and Visual Research for Cinema and Game (20 credits)
  • Designing for Animation (20 credits)
  • Engaged Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Practice (20 credits)
  • Professional Experience (20 credits)
  • Sculpting and Rigging for Film (20 credits)
  • Student Enterprise (20 credits)
  • Visual Effects (20 credits)
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 (20 credits)
  • Creative Professional Development (20 credits)
  • Final Year Project (40 credits)
Optional modules in this year currently include:
  • Advanced Creature FX and Rigging (20 credits)
  • Advanced Programming for Animation and VFX (20 credits)
  • Advanced Visual Effects (20 credits)
  • Animation and Setup for Computer Animation (20 credits)
  • Create Worlds (20 credits)
  • Intermediate Visual Effects (20 credits)
  • Motion Capture Applications (20 credits)
  • Real-Time Interactive Group Project: Stage One (20 credits)
  • Real-Time Interactive Group Project: Stage Two (20 credits)
Placement year After your second or third year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your aspirations. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year. 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.

Assessment method

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.

Professional bodies

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

  • The Joint Audio Media Education Services

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your UCAS application.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
PTE Academic62An overall score of 62 with a minimum of 59 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
75%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
85%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9535 Year 1
England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
International £17900 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad (at the time of publishing for 2024/25): UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 EU – £1,385 (including Transition Scholarship) International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. All fees are subject to annual increase. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Computer Animation and Visual Effects at University of Portsmouth - UCAS