This programme has the additional advantage of a master's-level year with advanced and more deeply applied and deconstructed technical expertise in visual effects for 3D animation, film, television and physical simulation. The master's year allows you to deepen your understanding of visual effects in more advanced technical ways, as well as providing a route to advanced degrees (for example, a PhD) and world-leading technical research in the visual effects area. For this reason you are expected to maintain a good grade average throughout your studies. There is a clear focus on the technical simulation and systems side of the visual effects production pipeline. You will learn skills in 3D modelling and surface shader creation, but especially in the technical development of tool plug-ins and implementation of physical simulations in realistic film and TV productions such as particle effects and water. You also gain experience of the wider pre-production and production pipelines in team modules shared with other animation and technical effects disciplines, where you can work as a generalist on effects look development, pre-production, surface shaders, or in more specialist effects direction roles in simulation or rendering pipelines. The course contains a programming strand, ensuring you are fully literate in the languages needed to develop and implement leading edge tools and systems for 3D effects animation and simulation, in small or large productions for believable photo-real effects, from the small and often unnoticed, for example water,to the large and spectacular, for example explosions.<br><br>4 years (or 5 with a work placement)