Computer Animation MSc
MSc Computer Animation
Overview
Computer animation is used across so many creative industries, from computer games and advertising, to television and film. If you're ready to learn the skills you need to work in the exciting computer animation industry – and take your education to the next level too – this is the Master's course for you.
On this MSc Computer Animation degree, you'll develop technical skills, learn to use the latest kit, and put your expertise into practice as you take on a computer animation project that matches your interests and career ambitions.
When you graduate, you'll have all the tools you need for a career in the creative and media industries.
What you'll experience
On this course, you'll:
- Design and develop 2D and 3D content, software, and research for a project of your choice
- Use our industry-standard hardware, modern computer animation software and techniques to produce animation and innovative visuals
- Build technological expertise in an area such as facial animation, virtual reality or motion capture
- Carry out client-based research
Work experience and career planning
We'll help you to identify opportunities that will complement your studies.
When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work in the international development field.
After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.
Careers and opportunities
This course is ideal if you're a professional animator or someone with a computing background wanting to develop more specialist skills.
This course will give you the skills you need for a successful career in the entertainment industry, incorporating areas such as animation, visual effects in television/film and gaming. Other career prospects include:
- 2D and 3D graphics
- motion capture
- virtual reality
- project planning
Computer animation skills can also be used in fields which use visual simulation expertise, for example scientific exploration and historical or military case scenario representations.
Entry requirements
This qualification is an option on the Creative Technologies Master's course. You'll select MSc Creative Technologies when you apply, then choose Computer Animation as your pathway project after you start the course. You'll graduate with MSc Computer Animation.
These are the entry requirements for the MSc Creative Technologies course.
- A good honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject. An online portfolio submission may be required as part of the selection process.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
Course costs
Tuition fees (2018 start)
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students
- Full-time: £6,500
- Part-time: £4,330 year 1 and £2,170 year 2 (subject to annual increase)
International students
- Full-time: £14,000
- Part-time: £9,330 year 1 and £4,670 year 2 (subject to annual increase)
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Our accommodation section shows your accommodation options and highlights how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.
You’ll study up to 6 units a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each unit.
You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.
We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.
If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
What you'll study
Each unit on this course is worth a certain number of credits.
In each year, you need to study units worth a total of 180 credits. For example, 4 units worth 30 credits and 1 unit worth 60 credits.
Core units in this year include:
- Context and Definition
- Professional, Academic and Research Development
- Project Design and Development
- Project Evaluation and Resolution
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional units may not run every year. If a unit doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative unit.
Learning support
As well as support by faculty teaching staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK). ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:
- academic writing
- note taking
- time management
- critical thinking
- presentation skills
- referencing
- working in groups
- revision, memory and exam techniques
Teaching
You'll be encouraged to explore and research your specialism, and be challenged to put your knowledge to the test. You'll learn to define, implement, evaluate and reflect on what you learn, to emerge as an expert in your field.
How you'll spend your time
Each academic year is divided into 3 teaching blocks with assessment periods in between:
- Autumn teaching block – September to December
- Assessment and Activity period - January
- Spring teaching block – January to May
- Assessment and Activity period – May to June
- Summer Teaching Block - June to September
Most teaching takes place during the day, Monday to Friday. You can also use many of the facilities and get support from Faculty staff in the evenings and weekends. There’s no teaching on Wednesday afternoons. You may occasionally need to go to University and course events in the evenings and at weekends.
How you're assessed
You'll be assessed through:
- project proposal
- research and development papers
- reflective reports
- completed artefacts
- presentations
You'll be able to test your knowledge and skills informally before submitting assessments that count towards your final mark.
You'll get plenty of feedback, to help you improve in the future.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study with us, you also agree to our terms and conditions as well as the University’s policies, rules and regulations. You should read and consider these before you apply.Apply
Apply for this course by using our online application form. Choose Computing and Creative Technologies from the subject area list and MSc Creative Technologies from the course list. You’ll graduate with a MSc Computer Animation Master’s degree when you complete the course.
Our courses fill up quickly, so submit your application as soon as you decide which course you want to study.