MDes
Visual Effects*

Industry Links

Strong links with industry and professional bodies

Contact Time

High contact time with the programme team

Specialist

Access to specialist facilities in the Centre for the Creative Industries

UCAS code: VEMD

Year of entry: 2019

UCAS Tariff: 120

Duration: 4 YRS (FT)

Institution code: G53

Location: Wrexham

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The MDes VFX programme provides an opportunity for you to extend your studies beyond undergraduate level and acquire further knowledge and expertise at master’s level.

Our degree will enable you to become part of a dynamic industry worth several billion pounds every year, giving you the opportunity to work on live projects for real clients and be part of an exciting, fast-paced industry.

This course is about everything from compositing, rig removal to bringing movies/games to life in a variety of formats, from initial ideas to creating the believable.

This idea-driven course, enables multi-creative exploration and experience in all areas of VFX, with the opportunity to collaborate with others across the creative arts.

VFX has a large market in the UK with the highest number of VFX studios in Europe. With innovation and creativity at its core, this course will allow you to express your design ideas through all areas of VFX techniques.

This programme provides an opportunity for you to extend your studies beyond undergraduate level and acquire further knowledge and expertise at master’s level that is focused around deeper practice-based skills and analytical/research skills, alongside furthering their experience of working on professional pieces of work, such as industry-led projects and commissions. The programme also challenges the way in which you think about your practice and how you might embrace and adapt to different ways of working that are ‘outside the box’.

Our external and industrial links enable you to liaise with industry and gain professional experience. Learning is driven by ‘events’ where you are able to work on real projects. These provide opportunities to work in your specialism, as well as collaboratively across other subject areas in the creative industries.

*Subject to Validation. The University reviews its courses on a regular basis to ensure that they reflect the needs of students and employers. To do this we have a schedule for approving new programmes, and updating existing ones. Some are awaiting their turn in the approval cycle and are shown as 'subject to validation'. As soon as the award is validated, details will be amended automatically. For those courses listed as subject to validation, please contact the Admissions Office on 01978 293439 for further information. Once a programme that you have applied for is validated, details will be communicated to you. If you are not happy with the changes made and wish to withdraw your choice, the University will assist you with finding an alternative programme.

KEY COURSE FEATURES

Strong links with industry and professional bodies such as Skillset, NAHEMI and various associations. Our Creative Futures student conference plays host to a large range of visiting guest speakers from the creative industries.
There are Industry-focused visits to gain first hand insight into how creative media companies function and the variety of employment opportunities that are available in the development of your career aspirations. There are also other study trips to festivals and expos.
Opportunities to enter competitions.
Our purpose-built Centre for the Creative Industries features specialist facilities, such as our TV studio with green screening, and software such as software such as Maya, Mudbox, Unreal Engine 4, Substance Painter/Designer and Creative Cloud for creating post production effects and professional quality visuals.
There is strong pastoral care within a friendly creative community with an emphasis on team building and collaborative work. Contact hours with tutors is high with enthusiastic and supportive staﬀ who are knowledgeable, research-active practitioners.

WHAT WILL YOU STUDY?

This degree is primarily designed for those who want to pursue a career in the VFX and associated media industries. It explores all key aspects of VFX production processes, drawing upon your imagination and using a variety of techniques from 3D modelling, animation, particle simulation, 3D sculpting and rendering. Emphasis is placed on your personal and professional development, communication and entrepreneurial skills so that you are well equipped to enter a diverse and rapidly changing industry.

Additionally, you will experience compositing operations like keying, working with render passes and rig removal. You will become familiar with and competent in apply the principal processes used in the industry. You will be encouraged to think creatively and analytically to develop a critical eye and gain an understanding of the core logic underpinning the software.

Year 1 (Level 4)

Modules

Contextual Studies 1: History & Context - VFX (20 Credits)
Creative Futures 1: Professional Studio Practice (20 Credits)
Compositing Fundamentals (20 Credits)
Asset Modelling (20 Credits)
Sketch to Sculpt (20 Credits)
Animation for VFX (20 Credits)

Year 2 (Level 5)

Modules

Contextual Studies 2: Critical Thinking (20 Credits)
Creative Futures 2: Business Fundamentals (20 Credits)
Matte Painting and Environments for VFX (20 Credits)
Environment Modelling (20 Credits)
CGI Animation for VFX (20 Credits)
VFX for Video Games (20 Credits)

Year 3 (Level 6)

Modules

Contextual Studies 3: Research & Application (20 Credits)
Creative Futures 3: Entrepreneurial Practice (20 Credits)
Negotiated Practice (40 Credits)
VFX Degree Project (40 Credits)

Year 4 (Level 7)

Modules

Locating Practice
Practice & Application (VFX)
Advanced Professional Practice

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND APPLYING

All candidates will either be invited to the university for an informal conversation, or where this is not practical, via a portfolio of recent work in hard copy or by digital representation.

In addition to the academic entry requirements, all applicants whose first language is not English or Welsh must demonstrate English language proficiency.

International students:

International students are required to meet Glyndwr University’s minimum entry IELTS score of 6. For level 7 of the MDes and MFA programmes, the entry ILETS score of 6.5 will apply.

International entry qualifications are outlined on the National Academic Recognition and Information Centre (NARIC) as equivalent to the relevant UK entry qualification.

International students require a UKVI Approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) (please see http://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/Internationalstudents/EntryandEnglishLanguageRequirements/ for details).

ASSESSMENT & TEACHING

There are no set exams. Assessment is continuous and relates to all aspects of the programme, providing more carefully defined emphasis on formative assessment and feedback on your coursework throughout the academic year. We will advise you on your level of attainment and direct you towards a strategy for further progression as you complete assignments and modules.

There are varied formats of assessment to encourage your learning through group seminars, critiques and tutorials. This can be through group interaction with critical analysis where you will submit a range of work including design sheets, finished artwork, 3D work, screen based work, technical/ production files, journals, essays and audio-visual presentations. There are reviews of work at key points before Christmas and before Easter and this provides time for you to reflect on your progress prior to a final or summative year end assessment.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

Wrexham Glyndŵr University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.

On this course teaching and learning is designed to support students from a variety of backgrounds with diverse needs and to promote the supportive learning environment and pastoral care the School of Art and Design provides. Timetabling is developed to help learning teaching and assessment methodologies and provide clear and effective feedback to students. Contact hours are 16 per week in year 1, 14 per week in year 2 and 12 per week in year 3.

There is strong support for students with learning differences and who can also receive additional help from support assistants through Student Support Services.

The programme is structured to enable you to work in a multidisciplinary manner, to be flexible and enable you to develop individually. This is supported by a personal tutor / tutorials system that provides you with guidance throughout all aspects of the programme

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

CAREER PROSPECTS

There is a significant amount of iconic and award-winning work done in the UK for worldwide blockbusters. A sample of our industry’s VFX makes this clear with movies such as: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Parts 1 and 2, Inception (winning both a Visual Effects Academy Award® and BAFTA for Double Negative), Captain America, Spielberg’s War Horse, to name but a few.

An alternative pathway would be to move into the Video Game industry. VFX has become a large part of the production pipeline within video game development. With past students working in triple A London studio, Splash Damage as a VFX intern.

FEES AND FUNDING

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

Wrexham Glyndŵr University’s tuition fees for 2019/20 for a full-time undergraduate degree course are £9000.

The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & finance pages. You will also find information about what your fees include in the FAQs section of those pages.

Programme Specification