Designed for anyone with a passion for computer-generated content, our BSc (Hons) Computer Animation and Visual Effects degree will help you learn and hone the skills needed to launch a career in an incredibly exciting industry.

We take a learning by doing approach on this course. Alongside our expert guidance and support, youll also benefit from a learning environment that is designed to emulate professional studio working practice. Youll have access to our high-end hardware, render farm, as well as a green screen room, lighting rigs and motion capture equipment. In other words, youll have everything you need to learn how to create your own assets for integration with virtual environments and live-action footage to produce complex visual effects. Your only limitation is your imagination and will to learn.

Regardless of whether you have prior experience in a related field, this course is designed for anyone with enthusiasm for learning the intricacies of computer-generated content. Focusing on three core threads of 3D, FX and compositing, youll learn about creating, rigging and animating 3D assets, developing advanced particle effects, as well as compositing and integration methods for post-production to bring the final shot together. And most importantly, at all stages youll have the creative freedom to develop your own ideas and concepts right through to the finished work.

With links to some of the worlds largest VFX and animation houses through our graduates and academic staff, youll be perfectly placed to jump into industry, whether you desire to move into high-end film, television or games.

Our computer animation and visual effects degree also provides the option of spending an extra year expanding your horizons by working on a placement in industry.

Career prospects

Our BSc (Hons) Computer Animation and Visual Effects degree will prepare you for a wide range of roles in the creation, manipulation and management of digital content used in film, games and television. Jobs in these industries could include environment artist, effects technical director, compositor, motion designer, technical artist, generalist and producer.

In addition, the skills you will learn are highly valued by a wide range of employers, and opportunities may exist in areas such as marketing, advertising, medical science, engineering and education.

Our graduates have stepped into roles in a variety of sectors and specialisms, from new media and games design to visual effects studios and creative agencies such as Framestore, DNEG, MPC, Stellar Entertainment, UNIT, Radley Yeldar, McCann, Dock 10 and Space Digital.

Manchester is a major hub for the digital technology industry. The close proximity of MediaCityUK and a large number of both established companies and innovative tech start-ups means that the opportunities for technological collaboration are huge. Situated in the ‘Oxford Road Corridor innovation district of Manchester, the University and the Department of Computing and Mathematics are perfectly placed to work with key players in the digital technology and new media sectors.