BA (Hons) Visual Effects (with Foundation Year option)

Core units

• Art & Design in Creative Industries: This unit is intended to give you the drawing and design skills required in order to maximise your potential on your chosen undergraduate degree. You will be introduced to the concepts of critical feedback and continuous improvement within a visual arts context. 
• Algorithmic Thinking: During this unit you will develop your understanding of mathematical and logical concepts that are the foundation of computer animation, games and visual effects.
• Digital Tools: You will gain the fundamental knowledge and understanding of computers and the digital tools available in order to maximise your potential on your chosen undergraduate degree. As such, it will provide a platform between prior and future learning and enable you to gain an understanding of digital tools in the context of your career aspirations.
• Study Skills for Creative Industries: You will develop practical skills in the production, manipulation and editing of visual media and be able to demonstrate an ability to search, locate, read and understand literature and techniques relevant to the creative industries.
• Foundation Project: This unit allows you to develop a personally defined project, you can choose to focus on either a specialist area of practice, a generalist project or a complementary skill/technique that will benefit your ongoing development.You will gain essential knowledge and experience in scheduling and identification of clear milestones within your personal projects and you will benefit from communicating with an assigned supervisor throughout.

Core units

• Introduction to Production Tools: Employing the principles and practices of software tools, you will complete an effective, realistic, visual effects project.
• History of Visual Effects: This unit will cover the development of SFX, including glass painting, model sets, rear projection, stop frame animation and motion control cameras, and will seek to describe its evolution into VFX following the transition from film/analogue into Digital.
• Visual Storytelling & Pre-Visualisation: You will be provided with a good understanding of visual structure, form and design in order to effectively communicate the visual narrative. This knowledge and understanding of key concepts, principles and tools will enable you to pre-visualise and communicate ideas effectively for every visual production assignment you do as part of the degree, and, later in your career.
• Asset Integration 1: This unit aims to further develop your understanding of the visual effects asset creation and integration pipeline. You will be exposed to more advanced asset creation techniques for modelling, UVing, texturing, lighting, shading, rendering, simulation, and compositing. You will also develop abilities to work to specific shot requirements and limitations, specifically with regards to the photo-real integration of assets.
• Post Visualisation & Shot Development: You will gain the practice and experience of working with and handling large data files, keeping track of changes/versioning, adapting and responding to frequent changes requested by the client, and, generating a post-vis video sequence. You will learn best practices for backing up and keeping track of data, naming conventions, and, production pipeline organisation and workflow. This knowledge, practice and experience will be instrumental in enabling you to respond to the challenges of subsequent production-based projects that you encounter within the course and in your careers.
• Visual Effects Photography & Acquisition: On completion of this unit you will have a thorough understanding of how to acquire high quality live actions elements for visual effects projects. You will have a sound understanding of the core principles and technical image requirements for visual effects and will have acquired a range of practical skills, including camera operation, lighting, tracking and set survey. You will also be familiar with the procedures and protocols for safely setting up and executing live action studio or location shoots.

Core units

• Image Processing for Visual Effects Production: This unit covers two main areas: Rotoscoping and prep work, which allows a visual effects artist to prepare acquisition footage and elements for digital compositing. Green screen matte extraction and compositing, which allows a visual effects artist to extract elements which are shot in front of a green screen for digital compositing in background plates. 
• Modelling & Texturing: You will learn more advanced creation techniques for hard surface and deformation modelling, UV unwrapping for multiple tile workflow and texturing. You will further develop abilities to work to specific asset requirements and limitations, specifically with regards to the creation of photo-real assets for use in the visual effects live action integration pipeline. 
• Group Project: You will work as part of a team to develop your creative and production skills through the completion of either a short visual sequence or an interactive project, demonstrating advanced CG techniques.
• Asset Integration 2: You will continue to work towards more advanced asset creation techniques for modelling, UVing, texturing, lighting, shading, rendering, simulation, matchmove, 2D and 3D tracking and compositing. You will work to specific shot requirements and limitations, specifically with regards to the photo-real integration of assets.

Option units (choose 2)

• Lighting & Rendering: This unit will further your knowledge of lighting and rendering for visual effects. Focusing on three main bodies of knowledge: The look development of the computer generated assets for material creation. The preparation of live action images for the purpose of relighting the computer generated assets and matching the lighting between the assets and the live action background. The rendering of the computer generated assets in preparation for compositing on the live action background plate. 
• Rigging & Animation for Visual Effects: You will learn techniques for rigging various different types of character and non-character assets as well as various different techniques and workflow practices for the animation of character based and non-character based assets.
• Technical Effects: You will develop an understanding of technical effects such as rigid body dynamics, particle systems, fluid dynamic systems, fire and smoke simulation, and character effects systems like fur and cloth.
• Personal Inquiry: You will be able to focus on developing a specialist area of practice, or a complementary skill or technique that will benefit your career aspirations.
• Real Time Graphics Systems: Using state-of-the-art game engines, you will be introduced to the fundamental principles of real-time graphics engines.
• Scripting for DCC: The purpose of this unit is to ensure you are equipped with the programming and scripting skills necessary to use modern Digital Content Creation (DCC) tools such as Maya, Houdini and Nuke. Using a “test driven design” (TDD) approach, you will learn core software engineering and programming skill to help understand and utilise the architecture of modern DCC tools in the development of pipeline tools and techniques.
• Character Rigging: Providing you with the fundamental skills for rigging characters for animation. You will produce a short artefact in the form of a reusable rigging tool or rig.

You will have the option of undertaking a short 8 week placement or minimum 30-week placement at the end of your second year. Visit the placement section below for more information.

Core units

• Final Major Project & Dissertation: This unit is the culmination of your studies. Working as either an individual or in a group, you must produce a significant body of work (typically a short animation or film, game or software artefact). This must be accompanied by a dissertation demonstrating your ability to communicate evidence of problem solving.
• Master Class: You will be introduced to the professional world of a digital media production house through undertaking an industry set and supervised brief, in which you demonstrate your chosen area of specialism.
• Asset Integration 3: Asset integration is a major part of the professional practice of any visual effects artist, and it is therefore essential that you constantly develop your knowledge and ability in the creation and integration of assets, and in working with live action plates. It will expand on the knowledge gained, and techniques covered, in the Asset Integration 1 and 2 units.

Option units (choose 1)

• Digital Fabrication: This unit aims to provide hands on knowledge of 3D printing technology and its application in arts and design. You will learn about the specifics of modelling methods and tools as well as about the production specifics, including state of the art and advances in hardware.
• CG and Animation for Cultural Heritage: This unit will investigate the different forms of cultural heritage (CH) that exist (tangible/intangible) and different manners in which computer graphics and animation techniques and methods can be applied in their interpretation and preservation
• Digital Matte Painting: You will develop your 2D digital painting techniques and ability with regards to creating high quality photo-realistic digitally painted images.

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Our aim is to prepare you for work in the computer animation and visual effects industry, which is why we regularly update our software to give you access to the production tools used by the professionals.  Some of the software packages used include: 

• Maya
• Mudbox
• ZBrush
• Mari
• Nuke
• Houdini
• Photoshop
• Premier.

Bournemouth University is one of a small number of institutions from around the world who have been granted Houdini Certified School status by Side Effects Software.

Placements provide a great opportunity to make your first career steps and enhance your employability while you’re completing your studies. You’ll get the opportunity to:

• Put the theory learnt throughout the course into professional practice
• Enhance your study and help you decide on subject options (where appropriate)
• Learn a wide range of skills such as time management, problem-solving and teamwork (all of these are important to succeed in any career)
• Make contacts, as it is not uncommon for our students to be offered permanent positions to return to after graduating
• Gain a real insight into how the industry operates in roles that would be almost impossible to achieve for an outsider
• Many of our students, during their placement, are given responsibilities normally associated with graduate trainees.

If you choose to complete a placement as part of your course, it will begin after completion of your second year of study. You'll have the option to complete either a short 8 week or 30 week placement.

However, your work placement doesn’t have to be with the same employer and, in the computer animation and visual effects industry, it’s often more common that you'll find a placement for around three months at a time, allowing you to gain experience with several organisations during the year. This is largely due to the timeframes many production studios work to.

The faculty running your course will offer the support of a Placement Coordinator. 

They’ll help you plan your placement to make sure you get the right experience for you. That includes offering help and support if you need to move to another part of the UK – and even another country – to get the most out of your time.

We’ve also built close industry links over the years – so our network of employers that are keen to work with placement students is always growing. Or if you’d prefer to arrange your placement independently, we can offer advice on how to do that too.

• CooCoo Squeaky (games)
• Sumo Digital (games)
• Base FX (animation and visual effects)
• Encore FX (visual effects).

AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website.

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

We select candidates for this course by looking at your application. For that reason, make sure your application really stands out from the crowd, and leave us in no doubt as to why you should be joining BU. We will ask you to provide a portfolio in support of your application which will be reviewed by one of the tutors on the course. You can find some handy hints about filling in your UCAS form on our how to apply web pages.

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your portfolio, your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

AccessBU gives you the chance to tell us more about you and your life experiences if you haven’t had the same educational opportunities as other applicants. If you are eligible for AccessBU, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS Tariff Points below the published tariff.

If your application meets our academic entry requirements, we will ask you to upload a portfolio to support your application. Please note you will have 14 days to provide your portfolio from the date of the request

For the portfolio we like to see observational artwork in a variety of different traditional media, as well as high quality observational digital artwork.  This includes life drawing, portraits, still life, anatomy studies, high quality (observational) digital painting, and well executed 3D renders of photo-realistic CG assets.  Observational work is most important for visual effects, highly stylised or very abstract work isn’t a particularly good indicator of your ability, so it's best to leave this type of work out.

It’s best to keep it to approximately 15 to 20 of your highest quality pieces of work, and let us know if the work was created as part of a particular course of study, or if it was done in your own free time.  Showing us work you have done in your own free time is the best way of showing passion and enthusiasm for the subject.  

The most important aspect of your portfolio should be its observational nature.  Visual Effects is all about producing photo-real objects and environments, therefore demonstrating strong observational skills and photo-realism is essential.

Applicants should demonstrate a keen interest in areas of moving image/animation/visual effects.

Your portfolio will be reviewed by one of the tutors on the course.

Our offer making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application, along with your portfolio and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

The entire process of visual effects production is underpinned by technology. The visual and technological aspects of the field are inseparable. To produce visual work in the field does not necessarily require a deep-rooted understanding of technological issues.

However, the ethos of the course, and one of the aspects that commands respect from employers of its graduates, is that a greater understanding of the technologies underpinning the visuals contributes to the practitioner's ability to produce work more effectively.

A desire to understand and develop a command of technology is of great benefit to any candidate for the course. While the majority of graduates tend to enter the computer animation, visual effects and games industries as visual artists, some specialise as software producers during the course, but in all cases a strong grasp of technological issues affecting computer animation and digital media production is a hallmark of the course's graduates.

This course has compulsory elements involving practical production activities. When required, students must complete a health and safety risk assessment to take part in these activities, for their safety and that of others. As part of that assessment students provide information about any conditions or disabilities that might affect their ability to undertake these activities fully or safely. 

If you have such a condition or disability, please let us know as soon as possible. You can contact our Additional Learning Support (ALS) service about this before or after making an application. We will then work with you to identify any support or adjustments you would need. Our ALS team works with the Faculty to seek to put in place reasonable adjustments and health and safety plans.

Exceptionally, it may not be possible to arrange for a student to access these courses without either over-riding their core standards or competencies or creating unacceptable risks to health and safety. If that is the case we will help you explore alternative course choices.

Once you graduate, you will be able to apply for a wide range of roles in a number of capacities as a visual effects artist. These include:

• Modelling
• Texturing
• Lighting
• FX Technical Direction
• Look DevTechnical Direction
• Digital Matte Painting
• Compositing.

Our graduates work all over the world, and many are employed by the industry’s leading animation and production houses, software houses, and computer game and digital media companies. They work in areas such as:

• Visual Effects for film or television
• Computer game design
• Animation production
• Scientific visualisation
• Historical visualisation
• Architectural visualisation
• Graphics software implementation.

Once you have completed an undergraduate Honours degree, you can further develop your education by studying for a postgraduate degree. Please visit our postgraduate section for further details about our range of Master’s degrees.

Research degrees 

If you are a BU graduate you are eligible for a 20% ‘loyalty’ discount on the published fees for further programmes with us!  

Depending on your qualifications and experiences, you can choose to undertake a MRes or PhD level research degree. Bournemouth University has a strong business research foundation within our National Research Centre for Computer Animation through a number of research centres, which explores theory, education and professional practice. 

Visit our postgraduate research courses for further details about research degree options with the Faculty of Media & Communication and the funding options available. 

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Materials for laboratory and mandatory field-based teaching activity
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds

• Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website 

• Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable)

• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately 

• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses

• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. Placement year funding information can be found on our website

• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study

• Sport BU membership.

If you need to repeat one or more units during your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full-time fee.

Once you are have enrolled as a student at BU, there is a wide range of help and support available, depending on your particular needs.

• Library & Learning support
• Additional Learning support
• Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)
• Transport and travel.

The RTS wants the television industry to reflect the exciting, diverse, and talented voices of the Britain of today, and that starts by changing the industry from the inside out. The Royal Television Society Bursary Scheme is officially open for submissions. Applications will be accepted until the 15th of July 2022.

Bursaries are awarded to talented students from lower-income backgrounds studying an undergraduate degree in the subject of Journalism, VFX, Television Production, Humanities and Social Sciences, and STEM-related courses. The RTS runs three pioneering schemes – the TV Production and Journalism Bursary, the Digital Innovation Bursary, and the Steve Hewlett Scholarship. What is important is an evident interest in pursuing a career in television, film, or related media industries.

The Bursary provides free RTS membership; industry mentoring; access to the latest events and lectures; and numerous networking opportunities. We also support our Scholars financially, awarding £1000 per academic year of study.

For more information about the bursary, how to apply and eligibility criteria, please see the RTS website.

Adam graduated from the NCCA in 2006 with a Master of Arts degree in Digital Effects. He then went on to work in the feature film visual effects industry in London for six years, during which time he worked on a number of successful films including Gravity, Harry Potter, Narnia, Prince of Persia, John Carter, Clash of the Titans, Wrath of the Titans, and Sweeney Todd.

Steve Hubbard is an animator by trade, and currently a Senior Lecturer in Effects. He currently works across both Media Production and Computer Animation Departments, teaching Cinematography, Storytelling and Visual Effects. In the past he has served as Programme Leader of MA Digital Effects, Associate Dean for Computer Animation and Programme Leader of MA Cinematography for Film and Television. He is currently undertaking PhD research in the experience of Sculpture through the mediums of Photography and Cinematography. Other interests include Screenwriting, Astronautics and Comic Books.

Rehan Zia is an experienced academic currently researching towards a PhD in photography.

He has exhibited work at a number of group and solo exhibitions and his images have been published in print and on the BBC.

Subjects he teaches include compositing, matchmoving, cinematography, digital texturing and lighting, digital filmmaking, project management and photography for computer animation and visual effects.

Rehan has recently received two Fellowships, the Royal Photographic Society and the Royal Society for Arts.

Susan Sloan is an experienced academic with a background in fine art and sculpture. 

Richard Southern is an experienced academic with a PhD in Computer Science from Cambridge University.