University of South Wales
Visual Effects and Motion Graphics BA (Hons)
University of South Wales

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 20 graduates of Visual Effects and Motion Graphics BA (Hons) at University of South Wales for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Computer Games and Animation.

Overall student satisfaction
79 /100
20 total respondents
The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Computer Games and Animation

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 £21000 £21000 £26500
25-75 percentile range £18500 - £24500 £15500 - £27000 £18000 - £32000


Salary of all UK Graduates of Computer Games and Animation

  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

Visual effects and motion graphics are an integral part of modern media, from Hollywood films to adverts, music promos and TV drama. This VFX degree will develop your creative instincts in VFX and motion graphics. Based in USW's Cardiff campus, the course is industry focused, with many opportunities to work with industry while you study. You’ll work on live projects and briefs, with many opportunities for practical experience through placements. USW VFX students have worked on Sherlock, Doctor Who, Bastard Executioner, and Beowulf.

This visual effects course will develop technical expertise in Nuke, Adobe Creative Suite, Cinema 4D, Maya, and tracking software. What’s more, you’ll develop an understanding of working pipelines and the ability to work collaboratively. Our best students get multiple job offers and are headhunted by industry, going on to work on big-name projects including The Jungle Book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Inception, Captain America, Iron Man 2 and The Chronicles of Narnia.

This course is industry recognised by ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the UK's screen-based industries and carries the ScreenSkills Select quality-mark for the purposes of indicating courses best suited to prepare students for a career in the screen industries.

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 and Motion Graphics BA (Hons) at University of South Wales

55% Business and public service associate professionals
15% Administrative occupations
5% Sales occupations
5% Managers, directors and senior officials
5% Elementary occupations
5% Engineering professionals
5% Web and Multimedia Design Professionals

The majority of your assessment (80%) is through presentation of practical assignments, with remaining elements in written or multi-media form. You will be expected to ‘pitch’ your project ideas and concepts to staff, leading VFX professionals and other students, in a constructive and supportive environment.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Qualification requirements

Access to HE Diploma

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.0
    • Foundation / Pathway Courses
    • 6.5
    • Graduate Degrees
    • 6.5
    • Undergraduate Degrees
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Visual Effects and Motion Graphics, BA (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 and Motion Graphics BA (Hons)

EU £9000 year 1
England UK £9000 year 1
Northern Ireland £9000 year 1
Scotland £9000 year 1
Wales £9000 year 1
International £12600 year 1

Additional fee information

Students have access to a wide range of resources including textbooks, publications, and computers in the University’s library and via online resources. In most cases they are more than sufficient to complete a course of study. Where there are additional costs, either obligatory or optional, these are detailed on the University website (on individual course pages). Of course students may choose to purchase their own additional personal resources/tools over and above those listed to support their studies at their own expense. All stationery and printing costs are at a student’s own expense.

Students from Wales and the EU may be eligible for a means-tested Welsh Government Learning Grant. Please visit the University website for full details.

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:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)

University Rankings

Positions of University of South Wales in top UK and global rankings.

See all 16 university rankings of University of South Wales

About University of South Wales

The University of South Wales is a government funded university in Wales, and its campuses are located in Cardiff, Newport, and Pontypridd. The university is the result of the merging of the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, in Newport. Each campus shares an equal importance for the university, each providing its own series of facilities for distinct uses.

List of 299 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of South Wales - Course Catalogue

  • Why study at South Wales Business School?
  • French Student studying at The University of South Wales
  • So you want to study photography? - University of South Wales
  • Lauren's Vlog - Student Life - University of South Wales

Where is this programme taught

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