University of Portsmouth dates back to 1908, when the school’s Victoria Park Building opened as a Municipal College and Public Library. In the school’s later years, it spent more than a decade as one of the largest polytechnics in the UK before becoming University of Portsmouth in 1992. Today, the school serves 31,000 students from around the world.
University of Portsmouth offers a BA in Animation, a BSc in Computer Animation and Visual Effects, an MSc in Computer Animation. The Animation BA is accredited by JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Services), a group of industry professionals and employers. The program can be completed in three years, full-time, and it consists of 120 credit hour of study including lectures, one-on-one tutorials, seminars and workshops.
Course highlights include Advanced Visual Effects and Environments, Animation Production Process, Experimental Animation, Motion Capture Applications, Narrative, Previsualization and Motion Capture, and Signs and Meanings of Animation. Students will also complete a number of projects, employment preparation, and a paid or unpaid internship.
In the final year of the program, students will be evaluated based on animation design projects, written coursework (one module per year), the dissertation, and a showreel and portfolio.
The JAMES accredited BSc in Computer Animation and Visual Effects covers skill-building in key areas such as 3D Animation, Compositing, Concept Drawing, and Physics-Based Simulation. Students in the program will also master professional industry software such as 3DS Max, Houdini, Katana, Mari, Maya, NUKEX, and ZBrush, and create games and participate in Game Jam Portsmouth. Other program highlights include courses taught by professionals in the Animation and VFX industries, access to motion capture facilities and the VR Lab, guest speakers, work placements, and sponsored prizes for the Final Project. Animation graduates also enjoy a 90% job or advanced study placement rate.
Career opportunities include 3D Animation, Computer Games, Visual Effects (VFX) for Film and TV, and more.
The MSc in Computer Animation is a 180 credit hour program that offers the opportunity to specialize in Facial Animation, Motion, Capture or Virtual Reality. Students in the program will learn to design and develop 2D and 3D content, use industry-standard hardware, modern computer animation software and techniques to produce animation and innovative visuals, build technological expertise in the specialization area, and carry out client-based research.
The MSc is offered on a full- or part-time, depending on whether student would like to complete the program in one year or two. Graduates of the program go on to establish careers in the Animation, Visual Effects, TV and Film, and Game Design industries. They work in 2D and 3D Graphics, Motion Capture, Project Planning and Management, Virtual Reality and more. Computer Animation skills can also be used in fields such as Scientific Exploration and Historical or Military Case Scenario Representations.