Visual Effects and Motion Graphics (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)
Program start date | Application deadline |
2025-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Visual Effects and Motion Graphics (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)
Overview
Combine your technical and creative skills to produce live-action and digital 2D and 3D content into sequences for film and TV. You blend computer-generated elements with live-action footage to produce scenes that are impossible to capture in real life. You merge technical expertise with artistic creativity, producing alien worlds, massive crowds, or fire-breathing dragons on our screens.
Course Details
Foundation Year Core Modules
- 2D Digital Art
- Introduced to the creative possibilities of image-making using digital tools
- Study the fundamental principles of design and composition, and explore a range of image creation techniques
- Use appropriate graphics software to improve technical skills incorporating layers, composition, color, linework, and lighting
- Case Studies
- Gain an introductory level of understanding in the context of your chosen field of study
- Observe how we interpret these types of media historically and materially
- Choose a text within your area of interest, undertaking an analytical review in the form of a case study
- Drawing, Creativity and Design
- Learn to create imagery using traditional and digital drawing tools
- Develop drawing techniques and creative interpretations of themes including figure drawing, still life, perspective, and character, creature, and environment design
- Foundation Project
- Produce an individual project with guidance from your tutor
- Gain independent working and project management skills, developing original ideas and concepts in your chosen field
Year 1 Core Modules
- Animation Principles
- Learn the principles of 2D and 3D animation
- Study the history of animation and motion design
- CG Essentials
- Introduced to the 3D asset production, look development pipeline, and the creation of production-ready 3D assets using industry-standard techniques and software
- Technical Animation
- Introduced to a variety of technical areas of animation and VFX production
- Learn the principles of forward and inverse kinematics, joints and skeletons, skinning, and weight painting
- Visual Development for the Moving Image
- Understand the pre-production process and the tools and techniques you can use
- Develop your own visual interpretation of a script or narrative and produce a moving storyboard (animatic)
Year 2 Core Modules
- 3D and VFX Techniques
- Explore techniques in performance capture and the VFX and compositing pipeline
- Animated Effects
- Study animation workflow and develop skills in animated performance, lip sync, facial animation, and creature animation
- Moviola
- Work in a team to produce an animation or visual effects sequence based on an industry-style brief
- Professional Research and Development
- Experiment in a specialist area of your choice in animation, games, and visual effects
- Develop your independent learning skills and take ownership of your chosen direction through the assessment
Optional Work Placement Year
- Work placement
- Spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills
- Gain experience favored by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset
Final-Year Core Modules
- AVFX Project
- Work alongside your project supervisor to develop a large-scale piece of individual work relating to your chosen specialism and career aims
- Creative Industry Briefs
- Choose from a selection of briefs which reflect specialist industry roles
- Explore your specialism and develop your professional skills such as pitching ideas, costing, and scheduling
- Kino
- Work in a team to produce a short film or visual effects sequence in a style of your choice
Entry Requirements
- Any combination of level 3 qualifications
- Each application is considered on a case-by-case basis
Employability
- Graduates from our Visual Effects degrees have gone on to enjoy successful careers in studios around the world working on visual effects for film, television, animation, and games
- Graduates have gone on to work in a range of areas including previs, modeling, rigging, production, effects animation, matte painting, tracking, and matchmove, lighting, look development, and compositing
Information for International Applicants
- International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
Tuition Fees
- UK applicants: £9,535 a year
- International applicants: £17,000 a year
Duration
- 4 years (5 with work placement)
UCAS Code
- I708 BA/VEMGFY
Start Date
- September
Semester Dates
- Available on the university website
Typical Offer
- 48-64 points
Overview of Entry Requirements
- Available on the university website
Apply Online
- Available through UCAS
Accommodation
- Live in affordable accommodation right on-campus - from only £100 a week
Campus
- Study in our town-centre campus with £280m of recent investment
Adobe
- Study at Europe's first Adobe Creative Campus and develop your creative and digital skills
Animex 2023
- Animex 2023 round-up, our international festival of animation, VFX, and games
Visual Effects
- Hear what some of our undergraduate and postgraduate students have to say about studying visual effects here at Teesside
Visual Effects Showreel
- Visual Effects student work showreel
News
- Emmy success for Teesside University graduate
- New scholarship will help break down barriers to the animation and games industries
- Global ranking for animation at Teesside
Student and Graduate Profiles
- Rebecca Pearce
- BA (Hons) Visual Effects
- Rebecca's course led her to a role as a production assistant working on The Lion King
ExpoTees Creative
- ExpoTees Creative presents the best work from our talented second-year, final-year, and masters students in animation, concept art, games, and visual effects
Get in Touch
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- International students: [insert email] [insert telephone number]
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- London
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Copyright
- 2025 Teesside University
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Also of Interest
- Visual Effects MA
- 2D Animation and Stop Motion (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)
- Animation (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)
Program Outline
Visual Effects and Motion Graphics (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)
Degree Overview:
This program combines technical and creative skills to prepare students for careers in visual effects and motion graphics. The course covers live-action and digital 2D and 3D content creation for film and television. The program aims to:
- Equip students with the skills and knowledge to create high-quality visual effects and motion graphics for various media.
- Provide a solid foundation in the technical aspects of 3D animation, compositing, and VFX.
- Foster creativity and innovation in students through project-based learning.
- Prepare students for professional careers in the VFX and animation industries.
Outline:
Foundation Year
- 2D Digital Art: Introduces students to the creative possibilities of digital image-making using industry-standard software.
- Case Studies: Develops an understanding of computer games, animation, and film through historical and contextual analysis.
- Drawing, Creativity and Design: Enhances drawing skills and techniques for various creative interpretations.
- Foundation Project: Develops independent working and project management skills through a personalized project.
Year 1
- Animation Principles: Explores the fundamentals of animation for film, TV, games, and commercials.
- CG Essentials: Introduces 3D asset production, look development, and creation using industry-standard techniques and software.
- Technical Animation: Covers character and prop rigging, motion capture, and visual effects.
- Visual Development for the Moving Image: Focuses on pre-production processes for animation and live-action, including cinematography, character and storyboard development, and digital compositing.
Year 2
- 3D and VFX Techniques: Explores advanced techniques in performance capture and the VFX and compositing pipeline.
- Animated Effects: Covers character animation, creature animation, effects animation, and motion graphics and motion design.
- Moviola: Works in a team to produce an animation or visual effects sequence based on an industry-style brief.
- Professional Research and Development: Develops independent learning skills and explores specialization in animation, games, or visual effects.
Optional Work Placement Year
- Gain professional experience in the industry.
- Develop technical and transferable skills.
- Enhance career prospects.
Final Year
- AVFX Project: Develop a large-scale individual project related to chosen specialism and career goals.
- Creative Industry Briefs: Apply professional skills to industry-style briefs in areas like creature animation, effects simulation, and puppet making.
- Kino: Produce a short film or visual effects sequence as part of a team, mirroring industry production pipelines.
Assessment:
Assessment methods include:
- Practical projects
- Group work
- Individual presentations
- Portfolios
Teaching:
Teaching methods include:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Studio work
- Guest lectures
- Industry visits The program features active learning and project-based work, preparing students for real-world industry experience.
Careers:
Graduates have gone on to successful careers in studios around the world, working on visual effects for film, television, animation, and games. Some career paths include:
- Previsualization
- Modeling
- Rigging
- Production
- Effects animation
- Matte painting
- Tracking and matchmove
- Lighting
- Look development
- Compositing
Other:
- The program is accredited by ScreenSkills, indicating its suitability for preparing students for careers in the screen industries.
- The school is a member of the SideFX Certified Partner Programme, recognized for its knowledgeable instructors, high-quality student work, and efforts to connect students with the industry.
- Students have access to bespoke 2D animation studios, dedicated workshops, and stop-motion studios for a real-world technical experience.
- The program is ranked 18th in the world in the Animation Career Review International Animation School Rankings 2023.
NOTE:
This information is based on the provided context and may not be exhaustive. For further details, please refer to the official program website or contact Teesside University directly.
Tuition Fees and Payment Information:
- Fee for UK applicants: £9,250 a year
- Fee for international applicants: £17,000 a year
Entry Requirements:
UK/EU applicants:
- Any combination of level 3 qualifications. Each application is considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Possible fulfillment of entry requirements: Summer and Winter University modules.
International applicants:
- Requirement: Qualifications to meet the entry needs.
- Resource: International page for non-UK students and applicants.
- Contact: International student enrolment adviser.
Language Proficiency Requirements:
- For non-native English speakers: IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component.
- Alternatively: equivalent qualifications.
Additional Notes:
- Recognition of prior learning (RPL) may be possible for credit towards the course.
- For general information, see the overview of entry requirements.