Software Development for Animation, Games and Effects BSc (Hons)

Course overview

You can still apply to BU (including through UCAS Extra). Please apply through UCAS as soon as possible; your application can only be assessed once we have received it from UCAS.

This course is delivered by the National Centre for Computer Animation.

What will I study?

• The BSc (Hons) Software Development for Animation Games and Effects exposes students to both the theoretical and practical Computer Science and mathematical aspects of software development and allows you to specialise in designing and implementing software relevant to Animation, Games and Effects production
• This computer animation degree was created through extensive industry consultation with Film and Games companies such as Framestore, Natural Motion, Double Negative, Lionhead, Frontier, Rare and many more
• You will be taught and mentored by Industry Practitioners on a weekly basis and attend master classes from industry leaders such as Sony and DreamWorks
• This technical computer animation degree will immerse you into the world of animation and visual effects; you will be working collaboratively within a film and games production environment with other students within the NCCA
• See the detailed course content

Who should do this course?

• Students who demonstrate a strong mathematical and technical background
• Applicants need to demonstrate both intellectual and creative abilities
• Students who show an understanding of the animation industry
• Applicants need to demonstrate good written and oral communication skills

What can I do next?

• Graduates are now working on major international blockbusters such as Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Trek and Avatar
• Graduates of the NCCA are employed internationally by animation production houses, software houses, computer game, and digital media companies, who are invited to attend the annual degree show hosted by a top computer animation company in London

• On this computer animation degree you will learn software and application design, with the aim that you will go onto to work as Research and Development Technical Director, Games Engineer programmer or Application Software Designer within the animation or gaming industry

Tell me more

One of the most important aspects of any Animation, Games and Effects film or television series, is that it involves a large group of individuals with quite diverse areas of expertise working very closely together. To reflect this fact our animation degrees are organised in a similar fashion. Students from all three animation degree in the Media School, have to work together in production based group projects and have to rely on each other’s expertise and talent for the success of their project.

Computer Animation is one of the most rapidly expanding areas of creative endeavour and technical development. It is an exciting, fast-changing and rewarding area to be involved with. Both the technology and the creative application of this technology have reached such a level of maturity and sophistication that we begin to see a number of quite distinct and specialised application areas emerging which graduates of this course can enter. Such areas are 3D computer animation production, 2D and 3D digital special effects, and computer games.

In particular, the last decade has seen a truly amazing growth in computer animation and its applications. This is manifested in the production of fully synthetic feature films such as Shrek, photorealistic digital special effects such as Star Wars and The Matrix, and a wide range of computer games.

See some of our student work

If you are interested in this course, why not also take a look at some of our other courses on offer:

• BA (Hons) Computer Animation Arts
• BA (Hons) Computer Visualisation and Animation

In the news

• BU awarded The Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education
• BU animation graduate achieves global success at Pixar