Computer Animation and Visual Effects | BSc (Hons) at Leeds Beckett University

Course Details

Creative thinking is at the heart of what we do. If you are passionate about filmmaking, animation, games or drawing, we will give you the skills to help you make your mark in the animation and visual effects industry.

The core themes of the course are storytelling, animation and cinematography. We will help you develop your creativity and technical ability in all these areas so that you graduate with the expertise in animation and visual effects employers are looking for.

You will be taught by tutors who have a wealth of experience in the industry - Senior Lecturer Darren Wall has worked on award-winning animated short films for the BBC, while Rory McLeish has worked on Clint Eastwood's Hollywood blockbusters Flags of our Fathers and The Day After Tomorrow.

We will teach you about animation principles and practice, video production and advanced post production. The visual effects element of the course covers techniques from digital compositing to 3D character animation and dynamic simulation.

You will have the opportunity to exhibit your final projects to the general public and industry professionals at our end of year showcase.

This course offers the opportunity to take a ‘sandwich’ year – a year of paid employment in industry which will build your skills and experience. This is usually taken between the second and third year of your degree, typically making your course four years in total. Students who choose the sandwich route find it helps with both their studies and getting a job after graduation. It can build your confidence, contacts, and of course your CV. Leeds Beckett advertise lots of placement opportunities and provide support in helping you find the right placement for you.

Course Benefits

You will have access to guest lectures from experts such as Jamie Lochhead - a visual effects specialist who has worked for the BBC and ITV– and Disney animator Aaron Blaise. You will also have the opportunity to take part in a live brief set by Feature Media, an award-winning video production company in Leeds, who will give you feedback on your work.

One of the most exciting parts of our course is the opportunities we will give you to get creative in our first-class facilities. You will be able to use our motion capture studio to track the movement of a performer and apply this motion onto a virtual 3D character, just like the character Gollum in Lord of the Rings or the film King Kong.

In our blue screen room you will film something live and apply it to any background or location you wish without leaving the studio. You will use our digital sculpting tool Z-brush, 3D Studio Max, Adobe Creative Suite and the latest compositing software.

There are several international animation and film festivals held locally which provide great opportunities to immerse yourself in the industry.

We also offer you the chance to go abroad during your summer break and work with students at a university in Austria on animation and visual effects projects.