About the course
Creative industries such as television, film and graphic design are increasingly using computer animation and visual effects in their work. This course gives you the latest creative, design and technical skills to step into a rewarding role in a rapidly growing field.
On this leading-edge course, you learn the technical and design skills you need to produce digital content in the form of computer-generated animation or visual effects sequences for entertainment, education or promotional purposes. You gain hands-on experience creating digital animations and games, using industry-standard tools, 3D graphics software, and compositing and modelling packages while also exploring emerging applications such as virtual reality and mixed reality.
The course also benefits from being part of the School of Computer Science and Technology’s Creative Technologies cluster, sharing some teaching and technology with our BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development. This gives you the opportunity to share ideas and knowledge with students across courses.
Why choose this course?
- It takes you through the creative process from idea conception to production, using your technical knowledge and skills to create a body of original work
- Explore a range of disciplines from computer science to digital design, looking at how they interact with the visual technologies used in areas such as television and film production, video games design and web-based graphics
- Study in our high-spec STEM building with bespoke teaching spaces and technologies, including specialist Creative Technologies labs; cutting-edge software; motion-capture and green-screen studios; and VR
- Enhance your transferable skills in communication, problem solving and teamwork
- If you need to step up into higher education, you can start with a Foundation Year (see below), which guarantees your place on the degree course
Course Leader - Dr Jim Wood
Dr Jim Wood joined the School of Computer Science and Technology in October 2008 as a Lecturer in Creative Technologies, becoming a Senior Lecturer in 2013 and is currently the Course Coordinator for BSc (Hons) Interactive Digital Technologies, and BSc (Hons) Computer Animation and Visual Effects.
Before joining the University of Bedfordshire he gained 10 years experience in the education sector and had specialised in tutoring postgraduate students in interactive digital media, developing an experimental resource lab <XR>Lab, and working on both his own creative and technical projects individually and in collaboration with other artists and designers.
About the course
The Bedfordshire International Foundation Year (IFY) offers guaranteed progression* to a wide range of our undergraduate degrees, for those applicants who do not have the required qualifications or English language proficiency to join the first year of their chosen subject.
The IFY will help you improve your English language level, enhance your study and IT skills and increase your subject knowledge. This will help you succeed when you progress on to your main degree programme.
*subject to successful completion of the course
Why choose Bedfordshire International Foundation Year?
Unlike many university International Foundation programmes, The Bedfordshire IFY is delivered by the University of Bedfordshire and at the University of Bedfordshire. You will be a University of Bedfordshire student from day one.
The IFY offers guaranteed progression to over 75 bachelor’s degree programmes, via eight different pathways.
Each pathway is designed to accommodate students with a range of English language abilities from IELTS 4.5 upwards, and aims to take students up to IELTS 6.0 overall, or above, which is the requirement for undergraduate courses at the University of Bedfordshire.
The course also covers academic skills necessary to thrive in UK Higher Education and enables students to progress to their undergraduate degree, fully prepared and confident to face the challenges of a level 4 programme of study. Each pathway also offers a broadly subject-specific unit in the second semester, delivered by specialist staff from the relevant faculty, to offer you a programme specific to your subject area, as well as meeting your linguistic needs. In some cases, you may join an existing class for this session, further embedding you into university life.
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
Units
- 2d Graphics And Digital Art (CIS100-1) Compulsory
- Digital Video And Animation (CIS102-1) Compulsory
- Fundamentals Of Creative Technologies (CIS085-1) Compulsory
- Games And Digital Asset Design (CIS099-1) Compulsory
- 3d Graphics And Animation (CIS126-2) Compulsory
- Compositing For Visual Effects (CIS095-2) Compulsory
- Professional Industry Portfolio (CIS127-2) Compulsory
- Studio Development Project (CIS128-2) Compulsory
- Advanced Animation And Visual Effects (CIS057-3) Compulsory
- Disruptive Technologies (CIS058-3) Compulsory
- Research Methodologies And Emerging Technologies (CIS013-3) Compulsory
- Undergraduate Project (CIS017-3) Compulsory
Students are assessed in a variety of ways. The majority of units are assessed through coursework, group and individual projects, portfolios, essays, presentations or exams. Presentations are usually given and assessed in the context of a group seminar. You will also produce software artefacts in the area of your specialism. Constant feedback and advice from a supervisory or unit team will be provided to support you in your work. At level 4 you are assessed on your understanding of the fundamental concepts of compu-ting and digital technologies and their application. You are required to comprehend the basic range of intellectual concepts which form the foundations of the subject and application area, and will be assessed on your ability to articulate such concepts in a coherent manner, in a variety of project-based briefs. For example, you will learn about digital design and content creation for animation as well as introductory programming, and interactive development. At level 5 you are assessed on your ability to apply the basic concepts of the disciplines in-troduced in level 4 through further study and development on industry-standard computer animation and visual effects tools. You should also be able to demonstrate the inter-relationships between technical development and design. For example, you might be asked to make a prototype of a new application or service based on a client briefing, and carry this process out according to a user-centred design process. At level 6 you will be required to demonstrate independent thinking and initiative. This may be in the form of analysing and criticising current practice and theory in the fields of comput-er animation and visual effects. In all cases, you will be expected to show an awareness of the major theories and practices of the discipline. You will progress from well-defined briefs to more open-ended and challenging assessments, which culminate in your major project - the honours project where you will individually develop a project with supervision from an appointed mentor, usually a lecturer from the course team. The Initial Assessment is in the unit Fundamentals of Creative Technologies CIS085-1, fol-lowing which several units allow students to use work and feedback from the first assess-ment to perform best in the second. All units benefit from weekly practical sessions or supervisor meetings that provide a con-stant learner-teacher interaction process which also serves to reflect on learning styles.
Reasons to study in the School of Computer Science and Technology
- Specialist computing suites in our £40m STEM building
- Our computing courses are BCS and IET accredited
- Dedicated engineering environments & equipment in our new STEM building
- Our Engineering courses are IET accredited
Entry Requirements
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for breadth and depth in your current studies and enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
UCAS Tariff Points
- At least 80 points with 64 points from 2 A level passes at C or above
- At least 80 points with 64 from Merit Merit in two BTEC Subsidiary Diplomas or one BTEC Diploma
- At least 80 points with Merit Merit Pass in the BTEC Extended Diploma
- A completed Access to Higher Education Diploma Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, OCR Nationals, International Baccalaureate and CACHE Level 3 awards.
You can work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth with the UCAS tariff calculator
Contact the Admissions Team for additional guidance on whether the qualifications you currently hold or are taking would be suitable for entry.
T: +44 (0)1582 743500
E: admission@beds.ac.uk
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications. See your country page for more details
Check Your Country page to confirm that your local qualifications are suitable or contact your International Admissions Team
Entry Requirements
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for breadth and depth in your current studies and enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
UCAS Tariff Points
- At least 80 points with 64 points from 2 A level passes at C or above
- At least 80 points with 64 from Merit Merit in two BTEC Subsidiary Diplomas or one BTEC Diploma
- At least 80 points with Merit Merit Pass in the BTEC Extended Diploma
- A completed Access to Higher Education Diploma Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, OCR Nationals, International Baccalaureate and CACHE Level 3 awards.
You can work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth with the UCAS tariff calculator
Contact the Admissions Team for additional guidance on whether the qualifications you currently hold or are taking would be suitable for entry.
T: +44 (0)1582 743500
E: admission@beds.ac.uk
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications. See your country page for more details
Check Your Country page to confirm that your local qualifications are suitable or contact your International Admissions Team
- Maths GCSE Grade C or above (or equivalent)
How will this course improve my career prospects?
The course opens the door to a wide range of careers including 3D modelling; technical animation; digital compositing; and visualisation for emerging fields such as virtual production. Successful graduates may gain employment in the digital creative industries related to computer animation and visual effects, such as 3D modeller or animator for computer animation or production; VFX compositor or artist; 2D or 3D artist for games development; creative technologist or technical developer for the animation or VFX industry.
You may also wish to continue your studies at Master's level with an MSc by Research in Computer Animation or a VFX-relevant topic supervised by the Creative Technologies academic team.
Fees and Funding
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2022/23 is £13,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2023/24 is £14,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
Fees and Funding
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2022/23 is £13,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2023/24 is £14,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
Extra Costs
Luton Campus Centre
The Campus Centre brings together all our student services under one roof including the Students’ Union and spaces to eat, drink, relax and learn.
There's a large central lecture theatre as well as a range of study rooms & breakout spaces on the upper floors.
Luton Campus Library
The library is a modern 9-storey building dedicated to study and learning.
As well as traditional library provisions it offers individual and group study spaces, a cafeteria on the ground floor and a ‘Study Hub’ offering guidance and workshops on academic writing and research skills to ensure all Bedfordshire students get the help they need to succeed in their studies.
Beds SU
When you join the University of Bedfordshire, you don't just join the university - you also become a member of Bedfordshire Students' Union (Beds SU)!
Beds SU is led by four Student Officers - a President and three Vice Presidents - who are elected annually by University of Bedfordshire students to lead the Students' Union.
We are here to help every student at the University of Bedfordshire get the most out of their university experience. We campaign on issues that you care about, as well as provide lots of opportunities for you to meet new people, develop your skills, campaign for change and try something new.
Aspire Gym
The Aspire Gym has state of the art cardiovascular equipment with smart phone compatibility. There is also an extensive range of fixed resistance machines and a small free weights area.
Changing rooms with showers and lockers are available for members to use.
Luton Campus Accommodation
The University guarantees accommodation to all new students. Fitzroy Court and Wenlock Court, the two main halls of residence, are located on campus so getting to lectures, shopping in town and participating in events and activities is easy.
STEM building
The STEM building is home to courses in the subject areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Opened in Autumn 2019, its cutting edge facilities provides four computer laboratories; workshops for subjects such as automotive engineering, cyber-security and robotics, along with three large teaching labs, and four specialist containment labs.
How to Apply
Application for most full-time undergraduate and foundation courses is via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
We expect to receive UCAS applications between 1 September and 15 January for courses starting in the following academic year, but may consider applications received after this date should places be available.
Please contact admission@beds.ac.uk for further details.
All UK schools and colleges are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on how to submit your UCAS application is available from your school or college.
If you are not at school or college (including mature students) you should apply independently via UCAS
EU students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply via UCAS or direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country
You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
How to Apply
Application for most full-time undergraduate and foundation courses is via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
We expect to receive UCAS applications between 1 September and 15 January for courses starting in the following academic year, but may consider applications received after this date should places be available.
Please contact admission@beds.ac.uk for further details.
All UK schools and colleges are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on how to submit your UCAS application is available from your school or college.
If you are not at school or college (including mature students) you should apply independently via UCAS
EU students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply via UCAS or direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country
You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
