MSc Computer Animation & Visual Effects

• Disney Animation Studios - Moana, Big Hero Six, Frozen
• Pixar - Monsters University, Toy Story
• Framestore - Gravity, Guardians of the Galaxy 2
• MPC - Alien: Covenant, Maleficent, The Jungle Book
• Iloura - Mad Max: Fury Road
• Animal Logic - The Lego Movie, Ninjango
• Double Negative - Ex-Machina, Interstellar, Inception, Godzilla
• The Mill - Chemical Brothers/Beck Music video, Cif advert
• Illumination Mac Guff - Despicable Me, Minions
• Frontier Development - Elite: Dangerous
• Foundry 42/Cloud Imperium Games
• Creative Assembly
• Random 42
• Blue Zoo
• Microsoft
• AMD
• Glassworks
• DreamWorks
• Playground Games - Forza Horizons
• Next Limit,
• Golaem
• Epic Games - Creators of the Unreal Game Engine
• Chaos Group - V-Ray
• Realise Studios
• Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
• Blue Sky Studios
• Karrot Entertainment
• Dave McKean - illustrator for Batman: Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
• The Foundry
• Media Molecule
• Nvizible
• Super Super Films
• Amuzo
• Axis Animation
• Industrial Light & Magic - Star Wars: The Force Awakens

• Simulation and Rendering: This unit includes simulation elements such as fluid, smoke and FEA. The rendering section includes writing shaders using renderman as well as an in depth look at how different rendering engines work.
• Animation Software Engineering: This unit will build on your existing programming knowledge and teach C++ and Software engineering principles for computer graphics. We use Modern C++ and OpenGL for realtime graphics as well as the NCCA Graphics Library ngl.
• CGI Tools: You will be introduced to the main software tools used on the course these are Maya and Houdini, lectures will also introduce the main artistic concepts such as composition and cinematography.
• CGI Techniques: This unit provides a more in-depth look at the algorithms and techniques behind computer animation, you will be introduced to the main mathematical and algorithmic concepts behind computer graphics and animation.
• Pipeline and Technical Direction: This unit enables you to define the technological strategy required for an animation project or pipeline by defining and developing the tools and key development procedures required to see a project to completion.
• Group Project: Working with students from all three postgraduate courses (MA3D, MA Digital Effects) you'll present a concept for a short animated piece.
• Master’s Project: The focus of the fourth term is on completing the Master’s component of your education. This can be a standalone project or the continuation and conclusion of another project. This project also includes a written thesis of approximately 5000 words and the year ends with a computer animation show, which gives you the opportunity to showcase your work to industry professionals and potential employers.

What follows is a small list of books we recommend (all should be in the library so there is no need to purchase them).

• Computer Animation Algorithms and Techniques, Rick Parent (2002), Morgan Kaufmann
• OpenGL Programming Guide, Mason Woo et al (2001), Addison Wesley
• Computer Graphics using OpenGL, F.S. Hill Jr. (3rd Edition), Prentice Hall
• Essential Renderman Fast, Ian Stephenson (2nd Edition), Springer
• Advanced Renderman, Apodaca & Gritz, Morgan Kaufmann
• Texturing and Modelling a Procedural approach, (3rd Edition) Ebert et al, AP Professional.

• MSc Computer Animation & Visual Effects Studio
• Programme-specific Software: Centos Linux, Maya, Houdini and Renderman
• Departmental Software: C++, OpenGL, Qt, Maya, Houdini, Renderman plus many more
• Acquisition: Full Green Screen TV and MOCAP Studio, Portable Green and Blue Screens, Track & Jib, Location Survey Kits, 3D Scanner and Motion Capture Suite
• Acquistion Cameras: Panasonic 101s and Canon 5Ds

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.

You have the option to undertake a three-month placement during the Master’s Portfolio unit, providing an opportunity to apply your acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace. You are required to find your own placement; however, our Careers & Employability Service and your faculty placements office are on hand to support you.

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.

For MSc Computer Animation & Visual Effects we are looking for applicants who:

• Enjoy working collaboratively with other students and academics
• Can focus their attention on more than one project at once
• A strong knowledge of object oriented programming is preferred
• Can adapt to varying demands/workloads
• Ideally have done some work experience within this field.

The admissions team will look at your online application including your qualifications, personal statement and any work experience. Please make sure your application stands out from the crowd and leaves us in no doubt that you want to study at Bournemouth University.

MSc Computer Animation & Visual effects is one of four Master's degree pathways created by the National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA). All pathways share a great deal of core teaching, but also have specific pathway teaching. If your primary area of interest is mostly digital effects and moving image theory, then our Digital Effects programme may be a better choice for you. If your primary area of interest is mostly illustration or figurative character-based, then our 3D Computer Animation Programme may be the better choice. MSc Artificial Intelligence for Media, will enable you to develop transferable technical and programming skills, this is a technology centred degree where you'll be encouraged to develop AI tools supporting the production of animation and games.

Our assessment panels will automatically pass applications deemed better suited to another pathway onto them, so it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with all our Master’s pathways to help ensure Computer Animation & Visual Effects is the right programme for you.

Please see our website for the application deadlines. You should apply as early as possible to be considered for your course of choice. If you require a student visa, apply for the visa as soon as you have an unconditional offer and receive your CAS. There may be delays in visa processing in your country and you need to be in Bournemouth ready to study for the start of term.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2, or equivalent is required in a relevant subject: Maths, Computer Science, Physics, Engineering, Software Engineering, Games Development, Computer Animation Technical Arts, Graduates of NCCA UG courses also considered.

Applicants are not required to submit a portfolio in support of their application.

If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow, some based on experience. Contact the Future Students Enquiry Team for more information.

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry:

• India: Bachelor’s degree (three years) from a recognised HE institution with a minimum overall result of 55%  
• Nigeria: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with a minimum classification of 2:4  
• China: Chinese Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with 65% or above  
• Turkey: Bachelor’s degree (Lisans Diplomasi - four years) with a minimum overall GPA of 2.3/4.0  
• Ghana: Bachelor's degrees from University of Ghana or Legon with a grade of 2.00 or above, or from Cape Coast with a grade 2.5 or above  
• USA: US Bachelor’s degree (four years), with a 2.5 GPA or above  

All applications will be subject to a minimum grade and your degree may need to be in a relevant subject area.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

IELTS (Academic) 6.5 with minimum 6.0 in each component, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level.

Most graduates find employment as technical directors or R&D developers in the film industry. A number of graduates have also found roles in computer games companies.

Graduates have worked for companies such as:

• Moving Picture Company (Troy, Batman Begins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Kingdom of Heaven)
• Double Negative (Batman Begins)
• Framestore CFC
• Cinesite
• BBC.

• TV
• Films
• Gaming
• Computer Animation.

If you want to continue your studies after achieving your Master’s, you can look into our range of doctoral programmes. 

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:

• Our fees commitment means your tuition fees are fixed at the price quoted.
• 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 
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Free software download to your personal device of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus while you are studying, as well as access to applications provided on AppsAnywhere, subject to licensing and compatibility restrictions.
• 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.
• 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 shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies.
• Accommodation and living costs. Please visit our website for more information.
• 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
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website.
• You will need to meet the cost of any Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if required by your placement setting, including any Post Office or Digital ID verification charges.
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

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

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. For January 2025 entry, a £5,000 deposit is required. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

• You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
• You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

We offer a range of scholarships to students who are beginning their studies at BU. Our fees and funding pages also provide details on living costs, budgeting and paying your tuition fees.