Futureworks

Futureworks School of Media provides world-class education and training in Sound, Music, Film & TV, Games, Animation and Visual Effects – with campuses based in the centre of Manchester and at MediaCityUK – their premises, designed and fitted from scratch, boast state of the art studios and high-spec production facilities built to industry standards.

This is the perfect environment for you to get to grips with the practical side of your chosen discipline, and develop the skills demanded by leading employers in the contemporary, commercial and creative industries.

All Futureworks courses are delivered by experienced professionals, and the excellent links with media employers mean you’ll benefit from exciting guest lectures and fantastic opportunities to gain work experience on real-world ‘live’ projects. In the past few years visiting industry professionals have included Studio Liddell, MPC, EA Dice, John Broomhall (X-Com), Rockstar Games, Outpost VFX, Woodwork Music, Sony Playstation, Unreal and many more.

Futureworks welcomes its students from all over the globe, so if you’re looking to embark on, or enhance a career in Audio, Film, TV, Games, Animation or Visual Effects then look no further…

The Future of Media Education is here. 

Futureworks believes your first day with them is also your first day as an industry professional and their aim is to respond to your motivations for entering higher education by supporting you to build a platform from which to launch your future career as a media professional.

Many of their students have gone on to work for leading AAA game Studios, Indie studios and pioneering film, music and broadcast companies such as EA Games, Rockstar Games, Sony, Warner Brothers, BBC, ITV, Vertigo Films, Sky Sports, Woodwork Studios , Ericsson Broadcast, and many more.

Futureworks give you bespoke training and the opportunity to reach the highest level of employability during your studies so that you can develop key professional skills such as teamwork, communication, networking and project management all of which boost confidence and enhance the required professional ethic. The creative content you will create at Futureworks will make it easy for you to get heard!

If you're looking to commercially and internationally release your music then their multi genre, in-house record label, Futureworks Music, has been distributing student and alumni music productions’ into the global marketplace since 2011.

Recognised for their cutting-edge media courses, Futureworks is also renowned for their talented and experienced staff. Most of their team not only teach, but they also continue to practice in their industry, with many of them working on a variety of industry projects including feature films, designing games, illustrating comics and producing music for albums, films and adverts.

Their tutors are therefore ideally placed to involve and integrate you into their projects, give practical knowledge and experience as well as keeping Futureworks courses on the cutting-edge of industry practices.

As a member of Futureworks you will be able to get involved with Programme Committee meetings once a term through volunteering as a Student Rep. You will also belong to the UCLan Student Union when joining the school, ran by five full time elected Student Officers, a Student Council, Course Reps and School Presidents. 

Manchester has many vibrant living-spaces throughout the city, and because it’s got an enormous student population (the largest in Europe in fact), there is plenty of accommodation aimed at the student market.

Whether you’re looking for shared housing or purpose built student apartments, Futureworks partner with several companies to help get you the best deals, as well as listing a range of student apartments.

If you're interested in setting up your student accommodation, head over to Futureworks’website for more details. 

Futureworks is packed with the latest gear, software and technology. From their purpose-built 5-storey main campus building at Riverside to their dedicated filming studio at MediaCityUK, there’s plenty of facilities at your disposal.

Their Recording and Post Production Studio Facilities are worth mentioning in particular, as it features desks, racks and dedicated VO and Foley rooms which include:

• Neve Studio
• SSL Studio
• D-Control Cinema Studio
• D-Command Stereo Studio
• D-Command 5.1 Studio
• Custom Pre Studio
• Toft Studio
• Foley Studio
• VO Booth
• Mastering Studio and many Post Production Suites.

Their studios feature both classic and current audio hardware and come packed with plenty of powerful plugins. 

Futureworks also has film studios based at MediaCityUK, where the BBC, ITV and numerous independent production companies have major production facilities. The studios come with a state of the art MOCAP suite, huge studio filming space and giant greenscreen backdrop for VFX. 

For a more detailed look at what these studios offer, head over to their website and take a Virtual Tour

Manchester has a huge student population (over 85,000!) so there is no shortage of things to do and places to go. Many businesses offer a student discount and there are deals, events, experiences and nights out specifically catered for students. This includes:

Music

Manchester has earned the nickname of the ‘music capital of the UK’, and with its thriving music scene, it really is an inspirational place to study – especially if you are enrolled on one of our audio courses! Home to the largest indoor arena in Europe, The Warehouse Project, Park Life Festival and a myriad of live music venues – Manchester has produced, and plays host to, many of the biggest and best bands in the world.

Arts

There are many galleries and museums in Manchester exploring many walks of life and culture, including MOSI, People’s History Museum, Manchester Museum and the city has a vibrant, colourful and lively community of artists of all media, including numerous indie game studios.

Sports

Manchester offers superb sports facilities for students to either spectate or use. Home to two of the biggest football clubs in the world (Manchester United and Manchester City) and the National Football museum, Manchester is a football lover’s dream. Manchester Aquatics Centre is located in the heart of the city and Old Trafford Cricket Ground plays host to many world class cricket matches. For keen cyclists, Manchester Velodrome is easily accessible, with the National Indoor BMX Arena right next door.

Nightlife

Manchester has an infamous reputation for an energetic and vibrant nightlife and has a huge range of different bars, clubs and places to socialise. There are student nights, cocktail bars, karaoke lounges: all catering for all types of styles, tastes and music. From Fab Cafe’s science fiction themed bar, to Matt and Phred’s Jazz Club, there is somewhere for everyone. Traditionally, students head for Oxford Road which is home to a variety of student pubs, clubs and venues, but both the Northern Quarter and Canal Street are also worth heading to for a great night out. Comedy fans can head to the Comedy Store on Deansgate Locks or the Frog and Bucket comedy club in the Northern Quarter.

There are also two main cinema chains in the city and also an independent arts venue which is well worth a visit. Manchester also has great quality theatres showing a wide variety of productions. There is so much live music around Manchester that you’ll be spoilt for choice! From the large venues, such as the 02 Apollo, Manchester Central, Bridgewater Hall and Phones4u arena offering large scale gigs, to more intimate venues such as Deaf Institute, Albert Hall, Big Hands and Soup Kitchen, there is always a chance to enjoy some live music.

Shopping

No matter what your style, Manchester has hundreds of shops for you to browse. These can be found in the vintage boutiques in the Northern Quarter and Afflecks Palace, world renowned designer shops on King Street, high street chains on Market Street and the two large shopping complexes – the Arndale Centre and Trafford Centre. Many shops offer a discount for students too, just ask!

Getting Around the City

Manchester has great transport links, many of which offer low student fares. The Metrolink is a quick way to get around the main areas of the city which aren’t in walking distance, there are buses to and from the main student living areas, and, just to make life even easier for you, there are three free buses which run though the city centre and directly past the Futureworks campus. There are also local train stations in the city centre offering local and UK travel and plenty of NCP and private car parks if you’re driving.

There are a range of groups you can join at Futureworks, including Film Society, an Animation Club and Magic the Gathering Club. All set up by students, you can also attend the Regular Games Jams, where students design and build game prototypes over a weekend. Information on current clubs and societies can be found on notice boards around the school and also on their website.

UCLan Student Union also run a large number of societies for you to get involved in, ranging from the Doctor Who Society to the Fashion Society. Sports fans will be able to join the basketball club, lacrosse club or golf club, to name but a few. You will also have the opportunity to start your own society. 

Student Services at Futureworks will be able to offer you help and advice regarding your health or any personal problems you may face during your time at the school. They will also offer guidance on any queries you may have about paying your tuition fees or applying for funding through the Student Loans Company. Disabled students can talk to a team of advisors to discuss the best way for the school to support them with their individual needs. 

UK/EU students - Fees are currently £6,765 per year. You can apply for up to £6,165 from Student Finance for the academic year 2017/2018.

You can apply for a Maintenance Loan from Student Finance for finance help whilst studying – (up to £8,430 per year depending on household income) and you can also receive additional help if you have dependents, are independent from their parents or have a disability.

The academic Quality Team at Futureworks make sure you get the most out of your studies by ensuring that their courses are reviewed, monitored and enhanced on an annual basis, and that they are working to guidelines set by the Government and their partner university. Futureworks quality assurance processes enable them to safeguard the academic standards of the courses on offer, and provide you with the best possible student experience whilst you are studying there.

For its degree programmes, delivered in partnership with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), Futureworks has undergone an educational oversight monitoring visit by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and has received its final report, which is available in full here.

The most recent QAA Annual Return resulted in the following outcome:

Futureworks submitted an annual return to the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) in November 2016 that demonstrates that it is continuing to maintain academic standards and enhance the quality of student learning opportunities and information about learning opportunities.

The Academic Quality Team follows the guidelines set out in the UK Quality Code for Higher Education, produced by the QAA, to make sure they are providing you with the best possible experience. The Quality Code gives all higher education providers a shared starting point for setting, describing and assuring their academic standards and quality of learning opportunities, and Futureworks are keen to make sure that this is embedded into everything they do.

Futureworks believe that quality enhancement and assurance is a collective responsibility. The direct contribution that students make, through providing feedback, advice and suggestions, is critical. Input from students is a key feature of all quality enhancement and assurance processes: they need students to give their perspective.

To be considered for a course, you will need:

• C,C,C at A2 Level (please note they do not accept AS Levels)
• MMM in BTEC Extended Diploma
• Other Level 3 qualifications equal to 96 UCAS points
•  A proven interest in the subject area, as shown in your Personal Statement
• At least a 'C' in GCSEs Maths and English.

Non-UK applicants will need to have an English Language qualification at International Level B2 or higher, such as an IELTS of 6.0 or better (with no component below 5.5).

Please check with our Admissions Team on 0161 214 4602 or email us if you’re not sure if your qualifications are accepted.