Birmingham City University
Visual Effects with a Foundation Year BSc (Hons)
Birmingham City University

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 35 graduates of Visual Effects with a Foundation Year BSc (Hons) and other courses in Computer Games and Animation at Birmingham City University for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Computer Games and Animation.

Overall student satisfaction
55 /100
35 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Computing

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Computer Games and Animation at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £25500 £23500 £28000
25-75 percentile range £21500 - £30000 £17500 - £29000 £20000 - £35500


Salary of all UK Graduates of Computing

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £23390 £20411 £24692
25-75 percentile range £19866 - £26906 £14825 - £25703 £18756 - £32023

Course Description

So you want to work in the Film or Games industry? Do you imagine yourself as a creative artist or a technical director? Our BSc (Hons) degree in Visual Effects is where creativity meets technology. It will give you the skills to unleash your true mix of creative and technical abilities. You could go on to work on top level productions for a range of industries, including TV, film, games, advertising, architecture, education and more.

Visual Effects is an ever expanding multi-billion pound industry in the UK and globally, with job opportunities in high demand. As demand grows for visual effects in Film, TV and Games, the demand also grows for skilled professionals who can bring these to life.

On this course, you will develop technical, creative and production skills to prepare you for a range of careers. You will learn a variety of disciplines from modelling, rigging, animation, dynamics to lighting, rendering and compositing, there is so much for you to explore. You will learn using state of-the-art facilities and software including a Vicon Motion Capture studio, high-specification computers, industry standard software such as Maya, Nuke and Houdini and one of the largest fixed green screen studios in the UK.

You will be taught by a range of experienced staff, with a breadth of knowledge across both visual effects and the larger area of computer graphics. This includes staff with industry experience, and staff who work and innovate alongside industry in a variety of ways.

About the Foundation Year

The Foundation Year course option enables you to study for our BSc (Hons) degree over an extended full-time duration of four years by including a Foundation Certificate (year one of four).

The Foundation Certificate provides a broad study programme that underpins the follow-on degree. In order to progress to the next year of your degree, it is necessary to achieve a pass in all of the modules of the Foundation Certificate.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Visual Effects with a Foundation Year BSc (Hons) at Birmingham City University

40% Business and public service associate professionals
15% Legal professionals
10% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
10% Media Professionals
5% Teaching Professionals
5% Caring personal services
5% Administrative occupations
5% Business and public service associate professionals
5% Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for Computer Games and Animation

English language requirements

test Grade Additional Details
IELTS (Academic) 6

with no less than 5.5 in any level

Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Visual Effects with a Foundation Year, BSc (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Visual Effects with a Foundation Year BSc (Hons)

England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
EU £16085 year 1
International £16085 year 1

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • Foundation

University Rankings

Positions of Birmingham City University in top UK and global rankings.

See all 17 university rankings of Birmingham City University

About Birmingham City University

Founded in 1853, Birmingham City University (BCU) is located in the city of Birmingham, England. The student population of this institution is made up of students from over 80 nationalities, which allows newly arrived foreign students to quickly feel welcome and at home. State-of-the-art facilities and resources await students on all courses, including the latest Engineering technology, 3D Printing studios, and Horology Workshops, just to name a few. BCU maintains a reputation for having a selective admissions process, so all applicants are recommended to prepare for their interview thoroughly.

List of 265 Bachelor and Master Courses from Birmingham City University - Course Catalogue

Student composition of Birmingham City University

undergraduates:
20675
postgraduates:
5010
Total:
25685
Number of students enrolled in courses of subject “Computer Animation and Visual Effects”: Academic year - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
  • BCU Student Stories: Student Accommodation
  • Birmingham City University graduates, advice on making the most of starting out at university.
  • University Q&A | Accommodation, facilities + social life
  • Why choose Birmingham City University (BCU)?
  • Being an international student at Birmingham City University
  • Why we love Birmingham City University!

Where is this programme taught

Millennium Point Campus
map marker Show on map

Similar courses

Program University Student satis­faction Unem­ployed Drop­out Tuition (UK) Tuition (Inter­national) UCAS Tariff City
Visual Effects with a Foundation Year BSc (Hons) Birmingham City University - - - £9250 £16085 - Birmingham On campus Full-time
Virtual & Augmented Reality BA (Hons) University for the Creative Arts 50% 15% 8% £9250 £17500 138 Canterbury On campus Full-time
CGI and Visual Effects (with a Placement Year) BSc (Hons) Staffordshire University 85% 7% 14% £9250 £16750 125 Stoke-on-Trent On campus Full-time
CGI and Visual Effects with Placement BA (Hons) Southampton Solent University - 6% 3% £9250 £15000 £16125 149 Southampton On campus Full-time
Visual Effects BA (Hons) Bournemouth University 67% 5% 15% £9250 £18800 149 Poole On campus Full-time
Computer Animation Technical Arts BA (Hons) Bournemouth University 27% 0% 25% £9250 £18800 152 Poole On campus Full-time
Visual Effects with Foundation Year BA (Hons) Buckinghamshire New University - - - £9250 £15000 - High Wycombe On campus Full-time
Visual Effects Production Technology BSc (Hons) Nottingham Trent University 100% 5% 5% £9250 £16500 168 Nottingham On campus Full-time
Visual Effects (with Integrated Foundation Year) BA (Hons) University for the Creative Arts 46% 15% 8% £9250 £17500 138 Canterbury On campus Full-time
Visual Effects (Online) BA (Hons) Buckinghamshire New University - - - £9250 £15000 - High Wycombe online Full-time