Program Overview

Why choose this course
Our new MA in Film, Animation and Digital Arts is a broad multidisciplinary programme which responds to the latest advancements in moving image production technologies such as virtual production, performance capture and synthesis, and realtime visual effects. These and other developments in the digital media arts arena require a new breed of multi-skilled practitioners.

Our programme seeks to develop your core creative competences in a range of relevant contemporary practices. These include:

• Film
• Animation
• 3D computer graphics (CG)
• Computational arts
• Videogames
• ‘Immersive’ media
• Digital acting
• Mediatised theatre
• Motion graphics
• Movement interfaces
• Machine vision
• Interactive cinema.

Your skills and talents as a media practitioner, alongside intellectual curiosity, collaborative spirit, technical proficiency and sense of adventure, will all come into play as you make use of Surrey’s state-of-the-art facilities, great work spaces and dedicated multi-disciplinary supervision. You will also benefit from the extensive connections we enjoy with the creative industries, which include media production companies, animation studios, VFX houses, facilities providers and film studios - locally, nationally and globally.

What you will study

Our programme is primarily practice-oriented, backed up with a relevant and robust contextual framework. The programme is 12 months long, split across two semesters and the University’s summer period.

Semester 1 includes a set of focused workshops designed not only to consolidate existing practical skills in script development, film production, animation, CG and VFX; but also, to bring you rapidly up to speed in less familiar areas such as virtual production, game engines, and digital cinematography. These are accompanied by a thorough grounding in contemporary moving image theory and practice. You will then work on a collaborative, multidisciplinary production project, which provides a great opportunity to work together in a small team on an exciting creative brief.

During Semester 2 you will develop a creative specification for your final masters project. Alongside this, specialist workshops and tutorials are offered to equip you with any specific techniques you might need. Theory lectures and seminars are provided on special topics from leading researchers active in their field. Some of these are shared with, and sometimes delivered by, our active PhD cohort.

During the University’s summer period, you will complete your final masters project, with regular supervision and mentoring provided by the Department’s academics, industry based visiting tutors and associates.