Visual Effects BSc (Hons)

This industry-focused course provides you with the skills needed to gain a leading role in visual effects for video and film.

Entry Criteria
Structure and assessment
Facilities and features
Opportunities and careers
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Overview

Jim Russell, Head of the Leicester Media School, explains the facilities, teaching and opportunities available to Visual Effects students at DMU as well as DMU Global.

As an integral part of the multibillion-pound film and television industry, studying the creative and technical skills used in visual effects can open up extensive career prospects.

This course also encourages you to develop your creative flair and understanding of industry-standard software to create your own 3D content for use in film and television projects.

Our graduates have gone on to work in roles such as compositors and matte painters, as well as wider media-based roles such as colourists and finishers.

Key features

On this course, you will study a range of topics including VFX and compositing basics, 3D modelling and animation, match-moving and MOCAP (motion capture), and tracking rigging and compositing.
Benefit from our specialist facilities, featuring audio recording studios, broadcast-standard radio production studios and management systems, standalone film studios equipped with multi-cameras, as well as green screen facilities.
Our VFX facilities include high-definition mixed media workstations, using industry-standard software such as 3ds Max, Maya, Nuke, After Effects and DaVinci Resolve.
Our DMU Global programme offers students the opportunity to have a valuable international experience as part of their studies. During a trip to Berlin, VFX students were able to explore the historical, social and cultural context of animated content, visual effects and film.
Gain valuable hands-on experience by joining a range of student societies such as the award-winning Demon Media group, with opportunities to contribute to its magazine, radio station, TV station and website.

News stories

DMU celebrated for contributing to the UK's creative excellence

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Media Production BSc (Hons)

UK
EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: W614

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Find out about additional costs and optional extras.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Book an Open Day

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: W614

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £16,250

Find out more about available funding for international students.

Find out about additional costs and optional extras.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

A typical offer is 104 UCAS points from at least two A-levels, or equivalent or

BTEC National Diploma/ Extended Diploma at DMM

Plus five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Maths or equivalent.

Alternative qualifications include:

Pass in the QAA accredited Access to HE. English GCSE required as a separate qualification as equivalency is not accepted within the Access qualification.
We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course or

International Baccalaureate: 24+ points

Portfolio Required : No

Interview Required: No

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

UCAS tariff information

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Contextual offer

To make sure you get fair and equal access to higher education, when looking at your application, we consider more than just your grades. So if you are eligible, you may receive a contextual offer. Find our more about contextual offers.

English language

If English is not your first language then an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent) is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Structure and assessment

First year

Image Capture and Processing

Foundation 3D

Compositing Fundamentals

VFX Industry Practice 1

Second year

Video and Imaging Techniques
3D Modelling and Animation
Tracking, Rig Removal, and Compositing
VFX Industry Practice 2

Third year

Technology Project
Compositing, Matte Painting, and Finishing
Post-production for Video and Film
Set Design, Architecture and Environments

Click here for more detailed module information.

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Teaching

Teaching consists of a combination of lectures, tutorials, group projects, practical workshops and self-directed study. Guest lectures from specialists working within the creative sector are organised throughout the year, and it is advisable that you attend as many of these sessions as possible. Critical sessions are delivered by a cross-faculty team of academic researchers in VFX, film, animation and the arts so students will benefit from a cross section of expertise specific to the area which is being studied in each module.

Assessment

Assessment will take place via submitted coursework constituting production and pre-production work, through individual and group projects, peer review, written exploratory pieces, and submitted academic materials. You will present work in a variety of traditional and contemporary digital formats.

You will normally attend 13-17 hours of timetabled sessions each week, and are expected to undertake at least 20-25 further hours per week of directed independent study and assignments as required.

Facilities and features

Creative Technology Studios

Our multimillion-pound Creative Technology Studios offer a host of industry-standard video, audio and radio production suites, as well as two fully equipped recording studios featuring analogue and digital recording systems and surround sound monitoring.

Use motion-capture studios for the teaching and research of 3D image capture, modelling and display, video and audio production suites, plus television studios with HD video cameras, green screen and virtual-studio capabilities.

VFX students can use recording studios with surround sound monitoring and film studios with multi-camera and green screen facilities.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available.

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub.

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Graduate Careers

VFX graduates are equipped to pursue roles such as compositors and matte painters, as well as wider media-based careers such as colourists and finishers.

Students can specialise in the field that interests them most, from motion capture or set design, to lighting and grading. Graduates of this course will also have the opportunity to apply for one of our specialist postgraduate courses if they wish to continue studying.

#DMUglobal

This is our innovative international experience programme which aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world. Through #DMUglobal, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

During a trip to Berlin, VFX students explored the historical, social and cultural context of animated content, visual effects and film. Students have also visited Hungary, where they learned about historical techniques and approaches to media production, as well as state-run media production during the Cold War era of Eastern Europe.

Placements

Work placements are offered as part of this course and can boost your skills and experience while studying, as well as improving your chances of gaining a graduate level job.

We have links with organisations both in the UK and internationally, and the placements team can help you find a placement to suit your interests and aspirations.

Students from the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media have taken part in work experience placements at a number of local and national companies, including HBO, Stormburst Studios, Vita Industrial, IBM, 508 Kings Road Gallery, Microsoft, and Intel.