Live online learning

Please note that our daytime courses will be running in 2021 with options for both live online learning and face-to-face learning (when allowed by government guidelines), to allow us to accommodate for everyone's specific needs, and everyone's safety, as we apply social distancing measures in line with government guidance. For more information, please visit our live online learning page or contact our Admissions team.

MA Visual Effects Production (3D)

Master the art of 3D VFX and take your skills to the highest level with our postgraduate course.

The MA Visual Effects Production (3D) programme is designed to give you both the practical training and a globally recognised postgraduate qualification.

You’ll study at our state of the art studios for 18 weeks, understanding the key 3D modules and advancing your skills exploring techniques such as particle movement, hair and fluids. The remainder of the course is working on two major projects, where you will apply the techniques you have learnt to a brief. You will receive regular contact with your tutors and have two great resources to add to your showreel.

We work with industry professionals to keep our courses relevant. We partner with leading studios on all of our daytime courses (full-time) and we have regular industry events and talks so you hear directly from successful VFX Artists.

Our talented 3D tutors have worked within the industry so you get to learn from the inside out! Plus, we work with industry professionals on all of our postgraduate courses so you'll hear directly from someone who's working in the industry and get feedback on your work from a pro.

See more student work

Location: London campus or Live online
Start dates: 27 September 2021
Tuition fees:
London campus: £17,995
Live online: £15,450
Mode of study: Daytime (full-time)
Programme duration: 1 year
Entry requirements: An undergraduate honours degree with a significant component in the field of animation or related discipline.

Awarded by

Apply now

Download a course brochure

Why choose this course

From the comfort of your home, you’ll work on industry designed briefs that replicate the real workplace. We give you experience of real life scenarios, such as dealing with briefs with varying requirements, deadlines and resources.

This course is hands-on. You’ll be working on high-spec hardware to master 3D skills. We have no more than 13 students in a class so you’ll get plenty of 1-2-1 time with your tutor.

Experienced tutors. You can’t teach what you don’t know, so that’s why we employ the best. All of our tutors have worked in the industry and you’ll have industry feedback sessions during the course.
AfterCare to help you get hired. Our alumni AfterCare package will help you polish your showreel and find the right job - with access to showreel clinics, studio access for 12 months and use of tons of resources on our VLE.

You'll study in an environment that mirrors industry standards from day one, to give you a true taste of life in the workplace.

You'll graduate with a globally recognised MA qualification from the University of Kent. Known as the UK’s European University, the University of Kent is ranked 23rd in The Guardian University Guide 2017

From the comfort of your home, you’ll work on industry designed briefs that replicate the real workplace. We give you experience of real life scenarios, such as dealing with briefs with varying requirements, deadlines and resources.

This course is hands-on. You’ll be working on high-spec hardware to master 3D skills. We have no more than 13 students in a class so you’ll get plenty of 1-2-1 time with your tutor.

Experienced tutors. You can’t teach what you don’t know, so that’s why we employ the best. All of our tutors have worked in the industry and you’ll have industry feedback sessions during the course.
AfterCare to help you get hired. Our alumni AfterCare package will help you polish your showreel and find the right job - with access to showreel clinics, studio access for 12 months and use of tons of resources on our VLE.

You'll study in an environment that mirrors industry standards from day one, to give you a true taste of life in the workplace.

You'll graduate with a globally recognised MA qualification from the University of Kent. Known as the UK’s European University, the University of Kent is ranked 23rd in The Guardian University Guide 2017

Industry feedback

We pride ourselves on our industry powered training, that's why we partner with some of the world's leading studios on all our Escape Studios Postgraduate degrees. Previous partners for our 3D VFX courses have included Framestore, DNEG and BlueBolt to name a few.

This is a great opportunity for you to receive industry standard critique from an expert in their field; personalised feedback will allow you to improve your work to guarantee it's studio ready.

Module information

Module 1 - 3D Foundation

Week 1: Introduction to Maya

The user interface
Introduction to modelling
Introduction to textures
Introduction to lighting, shading and rendering

Week 2: Modelling

NURBS curves and surfaces
NURBS surfaces to polygons
Polygonal modelling
Topological rules

Week 3: Modelling continued

Polygonal modelling continued
Organic modelling
Non-linear modelling
UV mapping techniques (organic and hard surface)

Week 4: Colour and lighting

Lighting - traditional cinematographic and photographic techniques
Colour theory, three point lighting
Natural lighting
Indirect lighting techniques
Image based lighting
Matching lighting
Advanced lighting

Week 5: Basic texturing

Hypershade
Texturing masterclass
Image manipulation with Photoshop
Texture distressing with Photoshop
Non-destructive texturing workflows
Camera projection mapping

Week 6: Shading and rendering

Displacement mapping
Maya nodes
Raytracing (reflections, refractions and shadows)
Shaders
Material properties and case studies (MIA shaders)

Module 2 - Visual Effects

Week 7: Tracking and integration

Introduction to cameras
Camera tracking with 3D equalizer
Manual tracking techniques
Advanced matchmoving techniques
Lens distortion
Camera lineup

Week 8: Digital sculpting and 3D painting

Texturing
Sculpting/detailing
Import/export workflow

Week 9: Advanced shading and lighting

Mia material
Advanced MentalRay nodes
Advanced lighting theory
Lighting effects

Week 10: Render layers and compositing

Render layers and passes
Introduction to Linux
Introduction to compositing
Compositing with Nuke (CG layers)
Rotoscoping and keying with Nuke

Week 11: Animation and rigging

Keyframe animation
Path animation
Constraints and rigging

Week 12: Project week

Presentation

Module 3 - Advanced 3D for Visual Effects

Week 13: Particles and expressions

Maya rigid bodies
Constraints
Introduction to particles
Rendering particles
Emitters
Emission properties
Fields
Bullet dynamics
Expressions and particle expressions
Basic MEL scripting

Week 14: Houdini fundamentals

Introduction
Procedural modelling
Digital assets
Mantra
Dynamics
Shading

Week 15: Fur and hair

Fur basics, grooming, lighting and rendering
Hair basics, simulation and styling
Different uses of hair
Dynamic fur

Week 16: Fluids

2D/3D containers
Fluid contents and simulations
Texturing and rendering fluids
Fluid caches
Bifröst

Week 17: Cloth

Overview of Nucleus
Introduction to NCloth
NCloth solving and collisions
NParticle overview
Constraints
Caching Nucleus solvers

Week 18: Project week

Presentation

Module 4 - Visual Effects Collaborative Project

For this module you will be required to produce a project as a group in order to demonstrate your ability to choose correct techniques and approaches and to apply these to meet a specified professional brief.

Module 5 - Visual Effects Production Project

This is the major project where you will specify, refine and produce a substantial visual effects project. It will showcase your in-depth critical awareness of the area and the highly developed practical skills to deliver a complex project on time.

Assessment information

How will your work be assessed?

Formative assessment

Majority of modules contain at least one piece of practice or ‘formative’ assessment for which you receive feedback. Formative assessments are developmental and any feedback you receive for them do not count towards your overall module mark

Summative assessment breakdown

For your pathway modules (3D Foundation, Visual Effects, and advanced 3D for Visual Effects) you will be assessed as follows:

60% - Practical project
40% - Production logbook
10% - Individual presentation

For the Visual Effects module, you will be assessed as follows:

80% - Group project
20% - Retrospective group presentation

For the Production Project, you will be marked as follows:

60% - Production Project
40% - Written retrospective

Teaching and learning

Your overall workload will be divided between teaching sessions and independent learning.

During your course, you’ll be able to develop your knowledge and skills in a number of ways. Some of this will be closely directed/supervised by your tutors, at other times you’ll be free to organise your own study with guidance. All your scheduled studio time, except for some information sessions and presentations, will be in groups of around 30.

For many of your projects, you’ll be working in smaller teams, collaborating to meet a shared brief. This should give you ample opportunity to get the support and assistance that you need. The craft modules will usually have a higher contact time, as this is where you will be learning the knowledge and skills associated with your particular subject, directed and informed by your tutors’ expertise and experience. These will normally involve a large part of each day in the studio with your tutor and studio assistant, following demonstrations and working on set exercises to help you develop your craft.

The project modules will have a lower contact time, with your tutors taking on the roles of supervisors or studio leads. You’ll still meet with them regularly (usually every working day) to get feedback and help you stay on the right path, but these modules are much more about you managing the learning experience to meet your objectives. The majority of the projects will be team-based, and you’ll have the opportunity to take on different roles in a number of teams during your studies. Again, you’ll be expected to work in the studios for a significant part of each day, and attendance will be recorded, but outside those times you’ll be free to organise your work as a team to best suit your project requirements.

Each module has its own area on the OLE where you will find all the information about the module and the resources that are provided to support your learning. Some of this information will be dedicated to the module, other elements may be shared across different modules and some may be external assets that can help with your further study. There may be links to videos, online journals and e-books, and you should take advantage of these to enhance your development and take it beyond the studio experience. Tutors may highlight some of these during their sessions, so make sure you listen out and follow up on their advice!

Overall workload

The academic year consists of three terms: Autumn, Spring and Summer. Students on a typical 3 year degree attend classes during the Autumn and Spring term, for a total of 30 weeks, and will normally not attend during the Summer term, unless they have to re-attempt assessments.

Per week, your overall workload will be approximately 40 hours. Each week, you will spend 15 hours in Workshops and Practicals and 20-25 hours on self-study learning and working on your projects. More information can be found in our Learning and Teaching Strategy.

Software

Entry requirements

An undergraduate honours degree in Art and Design, Architecture, Computing or Engineering-related subjects.

Applicants without a degree who have significant industry experience in VFX or related creative subjects will be considered.

Suitable applicants will be asked to submit a creative portfolio.

English Language requirements

If your first language is not English you may need to complete an English language test, such as a Pearson English language test (PTE Academic) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test, to demonstrate you have the language skills needed to complete your degree. All our courses are taught in English.

Qualification	Score required
IELTS	6.5 IELTS (with a minimum of 6.0 in Reading and Writing and 5.5 in Speaking and Listening)
PTE	62 including 60 in each subtest
Cambridge English: Advanced & Proficiency	176 (with a minimum of 169 in Reading and Writing and 162 in Speaking and Listening)
Internet-based TOEFL	90 Overall including at least 22 in Reading, 21 in Writing, 21 in Listening and 23 in Speaking

How to apply

To apply, please complete the online application form. Our Admissions team will get in touch to arrange an interview (online or face-to-face).

If you have any questions about your application or our entry requirements, you can:

Call our Admissions Advisors on +44 (0)203 441 1303
Email us at admissions@escapestudios.com
Reach us on LiveChat Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Following your application, you will need to agree to our terms and conditions before your place on the course can be secured.

Where will this get me?

On completion of the course you will graduate with a postgraduate qualification validated by the University of Kent and the technical skills required by the Industry, helping you break into the VFX world and make an impact.

3D artists often start out in junior roles, but can rise to become mid-level and senior role such as 3D generalists and Technical directors. From here the path is open to becoming a VFX supervisor.

Escapees from our 3D VFX courses have gone on to work at companies including: Framestore, DNEG, MPC, Milk VFX, Electric Theatre Collective, Jellyfish Pictures and many more.

Fees and funding

Are you an EU student, looking to study in the UK? Take a look at our information for EU students.

Fees

London campus: £17,995

Live online: £15,450

Includes:

Escapee AfterCare and career support, including help and advice on your CV, showreel and job applications.
Free Autodesk Software upon registration to the Autodesk Education Community - full details included with course welcome information.
18 weeks of classroom study followed by 12 weeks of remotely directed learning and a 15 week remotely directed final project.

Our postgraduate fees are payable at the beginning of each academic year, or at each stage of your programme.

Please note, we review our fees every year.

Funding for UK students

For the latest information and advice on student funding please contact our Admissions Team on admissions@escapestudios.com or call +44 (0)203 441 1303.

For students to be eligible for funding from Student Finance England, they must be studying on an eligible course at a provider registered with the Office for Students (OfS). Escape Studios (part of Pearson College London) is registered with the Office for Students and our Master’s programmes are eligible for funding.

Visit www.officeforstudents.org.uk for more information.

Future Finance Student Loans

Future Finance is a private lender which offers student loans of between £2,000 - £40,000 to cover tuition fees and living costs, subject to credit checks and approval.

About Future Finance loans

Loans are offered to UK, EU and international students with a UK domiciled address
Loans are available to students studying our Escape postgraduate degrees
Repayment of the loan begins during the course but the rate will be reduced during term time and for up to 3 months after graduation.
Interest rates will be determined on an applicant by applicant basis

How to apply

Students can submit an application online up to six months prior to course start. You can get started by submitting an application via the Future Finance website to see if you're eligible.

Escape Studios will be required to verify your attendance on the course before any funding is released; this will be completed after you have attended registration at Escape Studios.

Any loan funds requested for tuition will be released directly to Escape Studios and will be applied towards your tuition and loans for living costs will be paid directly to you.

Further details of eligibility requirements, interest rates and other key terms of the loan are available by visiting the Future Finance website www.futurefinance.com.

Scholarships

At Escape Studios we want to make sure that talented students with creative potential can succeed on our degrees, that's why we offer a range of scholarships. We are offering an £8,000 scholarship to one applicant per discipline for each of the February 2021 cohorts of our postgraduate courses, which will significantly reduce your tuition fee. Find more information about the scholarship and how to apply here.

Our MA Game Art course is now also eligible for a BAFTA UK Scholarship Programme. Find out more here.

Payment Plans

We also offer simple, affordable payment plans to help you spread the cost of your tuition fees. To find out more please get in touch with our Admissions Team.

Get in Touch

We can help with any problems or questions you have with course fees and funding. Speak to one of our Applicant Advisors via phone or email today! Call us on +44 (0)203 441 1303 or email admissions@escapestudios.com.

Next steps

A group of students are sitting, listening to a speaker in front of them (not seen)

Open events

Find out more about our courses. Meet our tutors, admission advisors, alumni and current students.

Book my space

Two students are working together on a computer in a studio classroom, one is pointing at the screen.

Taster courses

Try before you buy and get a hands-on feel for what it's like to study with us.

Book my space

A tutor is standing next to a student and looking at their vfx work on their screen. Both are in a studio classroom with other students and computers and vfx work on a big screen at the back.

Meet us

For a one-to-one chat or a personal tour of our industry-like studios, contact our Admissions team.

Get in touch

Meet our tutors

Mark is our Head of 3D, combining teaching with working at the highest level in the industry.

He got his big break at Peerless Camera, the production house co-owned by Terry Gilliam, and worked on every Gilliam film from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, starring the late Heath Ledger. He also worked with director Martin Campbell on Zorro and Mask of Zorro before supervising on the set of Casino Royale.

Most recently, Mark managed the CG team that worked on the parachute scene in Angels and Demons, on behalf of post-house DNEG.

Industry partners

Industry partners and advisors influence everything we do, from the curriculum we teach and how it's delivered to our webinars and events.

We work alongside an impressive list of VFX, Games and Animation studios including Industrial Light & Magic, Framestore, Blue Zoo, MPC, Jellyfish Pictures, PlayStation London Studio and Creative Assembly and many more across all our courses at Escape Studios.

With exclusive professional feedback, intensive software training and much more, our industry-led courses give you up-to-the-minute, inspirational knowledge and experience, tailored to the work you’re passionate about. Our Escape Studios Alumni (Escapees) can be found working at a variety of studios including Pixar, MPC, Industrial Light & Magic, DNEG, Rockstar Games and Electric Theatre Collective.

Find out more about our industry partners

Why Escape Studios?

Learn industry-relevant techniques from the experts, in a studio-like environment.

Industry-experienced tutors. Our tutors have worked at studios including DNEG, Walt Disney Animation, EA, Rebellion and Framestore and their credits include Captain America, Black Mirror and Bond: Spectre. They speak at international conferences, like B’Ars (Spain) and VIEW Conference (Italy), write for industry-recognised blog Befores&Afters, and are authorised trainers for software like Unreal Engine, Autodesk or Houdini.
State-of-the-art facilities. Our central London campus is surrounded by world-leading studios and fully equipped with high-end hardware and the latest software.
Industry partners. Our studio partners, including DNEG, Framestore and PlayStation London Studio, help design and develop our courses to make sure that what we teach is relevant to the current industry practices. You’ll also have access to events and webinars ran by our Student Experience team with industry speakers.

Live online learning

MA Visual Effects Production (3D)

Next steps

Open events

Taster courses

Meet us

Meet our tutors

Industry partners

Why Escape Studios?

Escape Studios prospectus

Pearson Business School prospectus

Contact us

Study with us

Stay in touch

Legal