Visual Effects BA Honours

5.0
1 review
  • Studying visual effects at Middlesex has showed me that if you can imagine something you can create it. Anything you want can be taken, ported to life and put into real life. I decided to study here because the technology is really good –they have a lot of investment. There is software available that is used in the industry, our teachers were trained and have worked on films. One of our main teachers worked in Avatar and Happy Feet and that brings a lot of valuable to what they teach us.
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Bachelor's degree

In London

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Bachelor's degree

  • Location

    London

  • Duration

    3 Years

  • Start date

    October

Emagister adds to its catalog the BA Visual Effects degree, with the programme you can gain extensive practical training in all aspects of VFX and produce your own portfolio of work.

Do a placement at a London studio during the course and graduate with the skills and experience needed to make waves in this fast paced industry.

Follow the link you have on emagister.co.uk and you will find all the information you need about this course without any obligation.

Facilities

Location

Start date

London
See map
The Burroughs, NW4 4BT

Start date

OctoberEnrolment now open

About this course

Qualifications
112 UCAS points
Middlesex University has a flexible and personalised approach to admissions and we accept applications from students with a wide range of qualifications and a combination of qualifications.
Please check our general entry requirements page to see how these points can be achieved from our acceptable level 3 qualifications and the combinations which are welcomed by Middlesex University, including GCSE requirements. e.
Academic credit for previous study or experience

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Reviews

5.0
  • Studying visual effects at Middlesex has showed me that if you can imagine something you can create it. Anything you want can be taken, ported to life and put into real life. I decided to study here because the technology is really good –they have a lot of investment. There is software available that is used in the industry, our teachers were trained and have worked on films. One of our main teachers worked in Avatar and Happy Feet and that brings a lot of valuable to what they teach us.
    |
100%
4.7
excellent

Course rating

Recommended

Centre rating

Mitchell Smith

5.0
17/05/2017
What I would highlight: Studying visual effects at Middlesex has showed me that if you can imagine something you can create it. Anything you want can be taken, ported to life and put into real life. I decided to study here because the technology is really good –they have a lot of investment. There is software available that is used in the industry, our teachers were trained and have worked on films. One of our main teachers worked in Avatar and Happy Feet and that brings a lot of valuable to what they teach us.
What could be improved: .
Would you recommend this course?: Yes
*All reviews collected by Emagister & iAgora have been verified

This centre's achievements

2018
2017

All courses are up to date

The average rating is higher than 3.7

More than 50 reviews in the last 12 months

This centre has featured on Emagister for 13 years

Subjects

  • IT
  • Teaching
  • Design
  • Rendering
  • VFX
  • Project
  • Industry
  • Skills and Training
  • Production
  • Compositing
  • Skills
  • Visual
  • Effects
  • Advanced technologies
  • Digital image creation
  • Composition tools
  • Procedural effects

Course programme

Course content

What will you study on the BA Visual Effects?

The course starts by teaching the past, present and future of visual effects to give a thorough grounding in the sector, before moving on to equip you with the main skills, knowledge and processes required to create stunning VFX. You will learn about the VFX pipeline at the heart of effects production, the advanced technologies that make visual effects possible and the processes behind digital image creation.

Year two builds on your skills, opening the door to rendering and composition tools, procedural effects such as fire and tornadoes, and how to build digital creatures and characters. You will also study the context of VFX and the effect it has had on the film industry's production processes. After Year two there is the option of a placement year in industry. During the final year you write a dissertation, undertake a major project of your choosing and build the professional portfolio which will be your calling card for a career in the industry.

Modules

Year 1

The Past, Present and Future of Visual Effects (30 credits) - Compulsory

Visual effects have always been part of the movies. Since the very beginning of the film industry over a hundred years ago, VFX pioneers like Georges Méliès, Norman Dawn and Ray Harryhausen have brought the impossible to the movie screen. Today, visual effects are more important than ever and modern day artists and technicians continue to push the boundaries. Learn from the masters of the past and see where this exciting industry is headed in the future.

Inside the VFX Pipeline (30 credits) - Compulsory

The Pipeline is the heart of VFX production. Hollywood blockbusters generate terabytes of data; from massive crowds of thousands of orcs, to dynamic simulations of hurricanes and avalanches, to bridges collapsing and aircraft carriers crashing into buildings – the scale of films gets bigger each year and the software creating it all gets more complex. While software technologies come and go, the pipeline that ties them all together continues to evolve and adapt to the greater demands of film and TV directors.

Visual Effects Workshop (30 credits) - Compulsory

Learn how the advanced technologies which make VFX possible actually work. Get hands-on experience with every stage of the process. From matchmove to rotoscoping, from modelling to rigging, from rendering to compositing, this module covers the fundamental concepts, skills and processes which go into the end-to-end creation of a complex VFX shot.

Digital Image Making (30 Credits) - Compulsory

The film director's imagination comes to life on the screen through the imagery created by VFX artists. Techniques such as digital cinematography, concept art drawing, matte painting, physically based rendering and 2D or 3D compositing combine to tell compelling visual stories. You will study images created by the masters of the past to learn the principals of form, light and composition. This module takes you from the camera to the screen, teaching you how to create dramatic images with a lens or with a computer.

Year 2

Rendering and Compositing (30 credits) - Compulsory

Learn industry-standard rendering and compositing tools and have the opportunity to obtain certification in either rendering or compositing software. Gain experience with the same technology used on films such as Gravity, The Hobbit and Avengers Assemble. You will also have access to and learn about our Render Farm.

Procedural Effects (30 credits) - Compulsory

Fire, explosions and tornados, crashing ocean waves, worm holes or even an entire alien planet; these are just some of the things which are created procedurally. Using a mixture of maths, art and VFX wizardry, any possible (or even impossible) physical effect can be created in the computer. This module will introduce you to the power of procedural modelling and simulation using the most powerful VFX tool, Houdini.

Creature Effects (30 credits) - Compulsory

Build on your artistic skills from the first year to design, sculpt and detail a unique digital character. Using cutting edge techniques, you will learn how to make a production ready creature that fits in to the rest of the digital pipeline. Focus on rendering photorealistic skin, tracking your creation onto a real actor as digital make-up or use our motion capture studio to create incredibly realistic animation – the possibilities are endless. Not every visual effect is digital, however. Real world "practical" effects still have a major part to play in the movies: there is no substitute for observing and making things in a physical form. As part of this module, you will use our 3D printers and manufacturing workshops to make a physical character design that could be used in live action filming.

VFX in Context (30 credits) - Compulsory

Learn how visual effects have shaped the filmmaking process. Not only do VFX add spectacle to the movies, they also enhance our ability to tell stories cinematically. From epic sci-fi space scenes to historic period dramas, visual effects enable film and TV to transport us to places and times we could never visit in real life. In this module you will study the ways that VFX have opened up new narrative possibilities.

Year 3

Dissertation (30 credits) - Compulsory

Your dissertation gives you the opportunity to research and discuss an advanced topic surrounding the VFX industry in greater depth. You can write about new techniques which have changed the way effects are created, analyse a particular film to show how VFX have influenced the storytelling, or focus on the technological, economic or business trends which have shaped the industry itself.

Final Major Project (60 credits) - Compulsory

These days, to get yourself noticed by major industry studios you need a stand-out showreel. We will show you how to present your work in the best possible way to get your foot in the door and start your career in VFX production. Through our industry contacts, you will also have the opportunity to apply for a work placement at a London studio.

Final Major Project (60 credits) - Compulsory

This module gives you the chance to work on a large, ambitious project. You will have the time to develop a concept with support and advice from our experienced tutors; then work on your idea from design sketches to test models, experiment with look development and pre-visualisation before rendering your scene to the highest standards possible. Alternatively, collaborate with our Film and Animation students on live projects providing effects shots for a full scale film production.

You can find more information about this course in the programme specification. Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.

Visual Effects BA Honours

Price on request