Best Universities for Computer Graphics/Animation?

Thought this may be of interest -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/dec/19/should-i-go-to-a-russell-group-university

If you're in sixth form, your teachers might be encouraging you to apply to a Russell Group university.

The Russell Group universities are often described as "elite". The 24 institutions – which include Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Manchester and Warwick – carry out some of the most highly rated research in the world and have a reputation for academic excellance.

But are they the best places to study as an undergraduate?

Russell Group graduates are not the only ones who are snapping up great jobs. Aston University, for example, ranks above Oxford in terms of employability, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

And modern universities can be more innovative. Bournemouth University is one of the leading places to study animation and digital effects – its National Centre for Computer Animation fielded 55 graduates for the making of James Cameron's Avatar.

Join us on Thursday from 1-3pm when we'll be joined by university experts, students and graduates from across the country to discuss the choice: Russell Group or somewhere else?

Cheers

Reply 2282

tangledweb

8

As a complete aside, Montreal looks to have a good line in self-promotion (and a sense of humour).
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/dec/19/golden-eagle-video-film-school-reveals-truth

Reply 2283

Original post by tangledweb

As a complete aside, Montreal looks to have a good line in self-promotion (and a sense of humour).
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/dec/19/golden-eagle-video-film-school-reveals-truth

Its a great piece...short and well executed showing plenty of skill. Good on them.. :smile:

Reply 2284

Heliar

Can anyone suggest any good unis for Computer Animation other than Bournemouth or Teeside(way too far away) I don't really want to sift through 116 pages when I need to get a lot of work done.

I don't think i'll be able to get in to BU due to the high requirements and not doing so well in my A-levels even though I'm doing foundation art course now. What about the foundation diploma courses at Bournemouth & Poole? When I spoke to them earlier this year and asked about the Bachelor course at the main Bournemouth campus they said I could transfer if I got over 50% or something in my first assessment, is there any truth to that? Is that worth doing?

I've also looked at Atrium in Cardiff and Swansea don't know how they compare to other courses but the one in the Atrium looks alright. They're mostly convenience choices since I live close to them. Preferably a course that is taught well, obviously... After experiencing the most boring 30mins of my life at Portsmouth I'd rather not have to sit through that for the next 3 years.

Cheers.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 2285

You'd learn a lot from this thread, it's worth a read. When you say Teesside is too far away from you, where are you based? I assume the Southern half of the UK seeing as you mention Bournemouth and Portsmouth and Cardiff and Swansea. In which case you should have at look at Hertfordshire, links are in my signature, jump to the previous page of this thread if you want to see our current showreel. Other options are trickier - did you look at Arts University College Bournemouth as well? They make some lovely work. If you were to consider Games Art you could also look at De Montfort as a possibility. Duncan's of Jordanstone in Scotland is probably too far for you (although it's best for 2D animation). There aren't many really good animation courses in the UK so you don't have to look too far, but you do need to concentrate on getting the grades / great portfolio together because competition for the best places is very high. If you are studying a Foundation Art course you should get quite a few UCAS points when you add those to your A-levels - the two qualifications are combined for application to university. Just make sure your portfolio is what the courses you are applying to want to see.

Reply 2286

Specialeffect

Hey, I really want to know, is it possible to change the course I want to study after applying? I've already started having interviews and even got an offer but I want to change the course I applied for at Glamorgan(comp animation to VFX). Would I have to have another interview? I've already had one but not heard back yet. I'm planning on calling Glamorgan anyway but any info would be helpful. Thanks :smile:

Reply 2287

Original post by Heliar

What about the foundation diploma courses at Bournemouth & Poole? When I spoke to them earlier this year and asked about the Bachelor course at the main Bournemouth campus they said I could transfer if I got over 50% or something in my first assessment, is there any truth to that?

Hi,

This is not true if they are talking about entering the NCCA's BA courses. They may however be referring to the courses run by the School of DEC (Design, Engineering and Computing), so make sure you ask for clarification. The DEC courses have nothing to do with the NCCA curricula nor its teaching staff and resources.

Moids suggestion are all very good - take a look at those courses . Also, just because your A' level marks were not as strong as you would liked them, does not mean you shouldn't apply to the NCCA - you are undertaking an Art Foundation course which is what the admissions team would base any entry requirements on (for the Computer Animation Arts course) - not the A' level grades.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 2288

Rockin Munki

Hi guys, this thread is awesome :biggrin:

Just some quick questions about portfolios as I have some interviews coming up. I'm applying for 3D Computer Animation courses at Glamorgan, Ravensbourne, Bournemouth and Hertfordshire. What size portfolios are expected? Most of my work is A2 or A3 but I have a couple of A1 studies. Should I go with an A2 portfolio and include pictures of the bigger stuff or go for a bigger portfolio? How many pieces roughly am I meant to bring? About 10 or more like 20-30? And finally, what sort of 3D animation would be worth showing? I have Visual effects logo intros I made on work experience (and the company actually used :biggrin:

), some character animation and some steampunk style robot stuff I'm working on for my A2 coursework.

I realise that's quite a few questions, but any help/advice you can give would be very much appreciated.
Thanks

Reply 2289

Original post by Rockin Munki

Hi guys, this thread is awesome :biggrin:

Just some quick questions about portfolios as I have some interviews coming up. I'm applying for 3D Computer Animation courses at Glamorgan, Ravensbourne, Bournemouth and Hertfordshire. What size portfolios are expected? Most of my work is A2 or A3 but I have a couple of A1 studies. Should I go with an A2 portfolio and include pictures of the bigger stuff or go for a bigger portfolio? How many pieces roughly am I meant to bring? About 10 or more like 20-30? And finally, what sort of 3D animation would be worth showing? I have Visual effects logo intros I made on work experience (and the company actually used :biggrin:

), some character animation and some steampunk style robot stuff I'm working on for my A2 coursework.

I realise that's quite a few questions, but any help/advice you can give would be very much appreciated.
Thanks

Hey,

For the NCCA there is no real requirement when applying for the BA CVA or CAA pathways. The general rule is show your best work - pieces you would be happy to talk about in an interview. Portfolio can be 2D or 3D; but not 3D work taken from online tutorial - its just shows you can follow instructions. Its important we understand how you think creatively; what informs you of your practice and what you want to achieve long term. So please make sure you bring a sketch book, and if possible a couple of pieces which start as a work in progress and then concluding towards a final piece. Its a great way for us to get to know you!

15-20 pieces should be sufficient; and obviously any film/animation work is great as well. Probably wise to bring it on a laptop or iPad so you minimise the copying of files or compatibility issues with interviewers machines. Size doesn't matter - A1-A5 is fine! A good selection of work would be great - illustration, painting, sculpture, photography, life drawing etc. Its up to you if you present a broad selection of work; or whether its more specialised - so for example character vs environment work; abstract etc. Some applicants already have a good idea of what is is they want to pursue; others want to experiment whilst on the course. Both are fine.

Does that help?

Cheers

Saf

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 2290

Original post by Rockin Munki

Hi guys, this thread is awesome :biggrin:

Just some quick questions about portfolios as I have some interviews coming up. I'm applying for 3D Computer Animation courses at Glamorgan, Ravensbourne, Bournemouth and Hertfordshire. What size portfolios are expected? Most of my work is A2 or A3 but I have a couple of A1 studies. Should I go with an A2 portfolio and include pictures of the bigger stuff or go for a bigger portfolio? How many pieces roughly am I meant to bring? About 10 or more like 20-30? And finally, what sort of 3D animation would be worth showing? I have Visual effects logo intros I made on work experience (and the company actually used :biggrin:

), some character animation and some steampunk style robot stuff I'm working on for my A2 coursework.

I realise that's quite a few questions, but any help/advice you can give would be very much appreciated.
Thanks

I think I'm going to be saying something very similar to Sofronis, but it might be one less worry for you :smile:

For Hertfordshire the portfolio size doesn't matter :smile:

Just stick your best art in. 15 -20 pieces is fine, as long as you have some life drawings (from life, not copies of photos), perspective drawing (showing 2 point perspective at least please), some renders of 3D models (can be untextured if you don't know how to texture), some colour paintings (digital or traditional, might be the same images as the perspective pictures) that show you can paint and work with colour, character sheets are good, photography (that shows lighting / composition) is good, realistic sculpture is great (just bring photos), any form of animation (traditional or digital) - you can bring that on a portable device/laptop or a USB drive as long as it's a sensible format (h264 MOV or MP4 by preference please). Sketchbooks are great as long as they contain drawings.

Please skip any pretentious Foundation stuff that your lecturer told you to put in that involves glueing pasta shapes / rubbish / broken glass / shoe fragments* to sheets of cardboard as a statement of your inexpressible desire to confuse humanity and make them stare helplessly at the majesty of your deep and meaningful art, man. That's for Fine Art, they like that stuff. Animators need to have ability instead :smile:

If in doubt, look at it and ask is this awesome and does it show skill and talent? If it doesn't, and it's only there because you like it or your mum says it's lovely, just remove it. A good way of looking at your portfolio is to think that you are only as good as the worst piece of work in it. Either make the worst piece good, or remove it - and then nobody knows how bad you can be :smile:

Just show them how good you can be instead.

*I really did interview someone with this stuff last year...

Reply 2291

Shan-Sha225

Yay I got an interview for Bournemouth Computer Visualization and Animation.
Does anyone know how long it takes for Hertfordshire to reply ?

Reply 2292

It depends on when you applied - the admissions staff are usually somewhat overwhelmed at this time of year, and we don't start interviewing until the end of January when we see the people who applied in September / October. If you are worried about your application, send me a PM with your full name, UCAS ID code and an email address and I'll try to find out where you are in the queue. I'm sure we'll get to you, but there will be a little wait :smile:

It gives you longer to make your portfolio as fabulous as possible, so look at it that way :smile:

Reply 2293

caustin

Which sixth form preparations are favoured by uni for a games design degree? I have places at 2 sixth forms -one to do A levels in graphic design, computing, maths and english lit. The other to do Btec level 3 in gaming design and animation. I do not know which to go for! I would do the Btec well as its not exams at the end, but can also manage to get Bs at A levels possible A at the graphics. I want to make sure my uni application shows the best preparation, any advice anyone? I am on track for A at GCSE art but prefer the 3d element and my sixth form favours painting!

Reply 2294

lavinia94

Hi!

I've applied for Computer animation. Would you look at my artwork and give me some feedback?

http://lavinia94.carbonmade.com/

Thanks!

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 2295

Shan-Sha225

Woo hoo got a conditional offer for Bournemouth computer visualization and animation.
Anyone else got offers.

Reply 2296

Original post by caustin

Which sixth form preparations are favoured by uni for a games design degree? I have places at 2 sixth forms -one to do A levels in graphic design, computing, maths and english lit. The other to do Btec level 3 in gaming design and animation. I do not know which to go for! I would do the Btec well as its not exams at the end, but can also manage to get Bs at A levels possible A at the graphics. I want to make sure my uni application shows the best preparation, any advice anyone? I am on track for A at GCSE art but prefer the 3d element and my sixth form favours painting!

When you say Game Design are you actually talking about Game Art, or the mechanics of designing game play (Game Design in the industry means designing the game play, whereas Games Art means the actual artwork in the game). I'll assume Games Art, because I doubt there is any qualification that can prepare you for game play design :smile:

Regarding what to study for Games Art depends on how well you can do at A-levels - if you can do very well (ABB or higher overall) then every university will be potentially interested in you because you won't count towards their numbers cap on students. The A-levels will probably make you a more well rounded person in terms of experience (not being completely focused on games is definitely a good thing in terms of finding inspiration and having different ways to look at problems), although I would advise a Fine Art A-Level because the most important skill you will need is that of the ability to draw. Graphic Design A-Level rarely teaches drawing skills - a certain amount of software and typographic skills, but rarely any actual art skills (admittedly there are plenty of bad A-level Fine Art teachers of course, so if you already know that yours do not have the skills to teach drawing, anatomy, perspective, colour theory and composition, then you might wish to look elsewhere). If they can teach this, learn as much as you can! Painting and drawing will outlive your 3D skills in terms of long term usage - you can teach yourself the basics of 3D without any problems; what you might not be able to teach yourself is creativity, and the aforementioned art skills. If the Gaming Design and Animation course is art skills heavy (most are nothing but learning software, and that sadly is much less than 50% of being a talented 3D artist), and teaches 3D as well, and the work of the students is impressive and the course lecturers can tell you how many of their students are now studying at the main Games Art degrees in the UK, then do that, as long as you are very sure that that is what you want to do for a career afterwards - the A-levels allow you many more possibilities in case you change your mind later on - and all of them (bar maybe Graphic Design) can be useful in a career in Games Art. And definitely do more painting :smile:

Reply 2297