Best Universities for Computer Graphics/Animation?
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Original post by Jaza
Moid, I have just been given an interview at Herts for April 1st, I am appling for 3D animation but don't actually have any 3D work to bring, although I am going to try and produce some stuff before I come (is 3D work from tutorials okay, just so you know we are interested? or do you expect models completely created by our selfs?)
Also, is a porfolio required to have alot of work, or just quality, not quantity?
Thanks in advance
Also, is a porfolio required to have alot of work, or just quality, not quantity?
Thanks in advance
Got an interview there on the same day
Original post by Sasha Mazendame
Original post by Sasha Mazendame
Got an interview there on the same day
ah good luck! Hopefully they go wel
Original post by Jaza
Moid, I have just been given an interview at Herts for April 1st, I am appling for 3D animation but don't actually have any 3D work to bring, although I am going to try and produce some stuff before I come (is 3D work from tutorials okay, just so you know we are interested? or do you expect models completely created by our selfs?)
Also, is a porfolio required to have alot of work, or just quality, not quantity?
Thanks in advance
Also, is a porfolio required to have alot of work, or just quality, not quantity?
Thanks in advance
Thanks to ColonelMoore for replying so clearly
I'd advise bringing one example of 3D to show that you can do it if you don't have previous experience with it. We do occasionally take students without 3D experience, but their 2D art skills have to be really amazing. I would say that over 90% of candidates already have some 3D experience, so turning up without any is not always a great move if you want to stand out. However if you are new to 3D, get hold of a copy of Maya http://students.autodesk.com/ you can get a free legal copy here for students, and then get some tutorials and have a go at modelling something http://www.learning-maya.com/ this website might help you.
We like to see an example of 3D because it demonstrates that you have tried it and enjoyed it (because if you didn't, don't apply for a 3D course - finding this out on a degree is a very expensive way to discover something you can work out for free at home), and it also shows that you are serious about the application. Plus it won't hurt your portfolio for any other university.
Seeing as you are new to 3D, follow a tutorial as best as you can and explain to the lecturer interviewing you that this is what you have done - obviously we prefer to see work created solely by the student, but we are happy to interview people with great drawing skills and beginner level 3D.
Please show a portfolio of quality, not quantity - 12 - 18 images will be fine, just have some decent life drawings, a perspective drawing, paintings that show colour and composition (traditional or digital), any animations in any media, photos of realistic sculpture you've made, good photography, character designs, environment designs etc that sort of thing. As ColonelMoore says, you are only as good as the weakest piece of art in the portfolio. If you want feedback on your work PM me a link to it.
Good luck!
Original post by thenoodlepirate
The stupid accreditation is such a mess... http://courses.skillset.org/courses/results/?course%5Bsubject%5D=Course+subject&course%5Btype%5D=&course%5Bsectors%5D%5B%5D=1&course%5Blocation%5D=Enter+Location&search=&course%5Bsearch%5D=tick&course%5Binstitution%5D=&course%5Bacademy%5D=
then u've got another list http://www.skillset.org/animation/accreditation/
then u've got this for herts http://courses.skillset.org/courses/results?course%5Binstitution%5D=318
and on every bloody page there's an extra university or a uni from one list is not on the other list..... so confusing. I don't get it .... what's the point of having so many lists and not just one with all the accredited courses....
And about Herts is it that the whole uni is a Skillset Media Academy? And then the courses from link number 2 I posted are just separate courses which have accreditation?
Can anyone once and for all explain that to me? :x
And Shermine, you should really have a look at the 3rd year films of all unis u apply for.... and you might as well read this thread in case u haven't. It's got more than enough information about Herts, bournemouth and the other universities.
then u've got another list http://www.skillset.org/animation/accreditation/
then u've got this for herts http://courses.skillset.org/courses/results?course%5Binstitution%5D=318
and on every bloody page there's an extra university or a uni from one list is not on the other list..... so confusing. I don't get it .... what's the point of having so many lists and not just one with all the accredited courses....
And about Herts is it that the whole uni is a Skillset Media Academy? And then the courses from link number 2 I posted are just separate courses which have accreditation?
Can anyone once and for all explain that to me? :x
And Shermine, you should really have a look at the 3rd year films of all unis u apply for.... and you might as well read this thread in case u haven't. It's got more than enough information about Herts, bournemouth and the other universities.
I totally agree, it's a mess... officially according to Skillset Media Academy Status means that all courses covered by that agreement (at Herts that is Animation, Multimedia, TV and Film) have Skillset approval as being of industry standard. However Skillset are very keen for Animation to have a separate standalone Skillset Accreditation, so we are currently going through the (slow) process of achieving this.
Original post by Jirai
Hi everyone, just poping in to ask a question ( directed to Moid basically): when is the deadline to send in the portfolios? Thanks!
If you have received an offer from Herts i'd go there, at least it's my favourite choice.
By the way, is it 100% sure fees are going to rise next year? Because i have considered seriously to course Fine Art here in spain to gain more skill at drawing, painting etc and then re-applying to Herts (if i don't manage to get in)
Problem is if fees rise i don't think i'll be able to afford it...(I have my conditional from Teesside though)
If you have received an offer from Herts i'd go there, at least it's my favourite choice.
By the way, is it 100% sure fees are going to rise next year? Because i have considered seriously to course Fine Art here in spain to gain more skill at drawing, painting etc and then re-applying to Herts (if i don't manage to get in)
Problem is if fees rise i don't think i'll be able to afford it...(I have my conditional from Teesside though)
Hi Jirai
Do you applications? Via UCAS this is March 24th so hurry hurry hurry! Or do you mean something else? Have you applied and have been asked to send a portfolio to the admissions department? In which case I would expect the deadline to be early April, if this is the case ask me what you need to know and I'll ask the admissions staff.
Yes course fees will rise in 2012 - nothing short of a miracle, a change of government or a revolution will stop that now. That's why everyone wants to get in this year (not just to Herts, I mean everywhere!)
Original post by CyclopsRock
This is definitely all stuff you should be researching. Where are you from? If you're from the UK, you WILL get a loan to cover your fees, as well as loans that cover living expenses (rent, food etc) for the duration of your degree. You can opt out, of course, but literally everyone can get these. I believe this is also the case if you're from within the EU, though I could be wrong. Outside the EU, you'll need to see what your country offers in the way of loans.
Within the EU this varies a lot - generally the original EU member states do support their citizens with loans, but for most of the ex Communist Bloc nations, there is no loan for students to study outside of their own country. It really is best ot check with your government to find out what they will and won't do to help you because most countries have different opinions on this.
Moid, is there somewhere for us to put our porfolio work while we walk around or do we just carry it, cheers.
Yes, you can leave it in the room where we interview you - but you won't have to carry it around for long - all our labs are on the same corridor
Hey guys, hope every-ones applications are going well!
Was just wondering if anyone else in here applied to DMU? I had my interview on the 11th and still not heard nothing yet. I'm probably being hasty but it's my last choice atm so I really want to know
Was just wondering if anyone else in here applied to DMU? I had my interview on the 11th and still not heard nothing yet. I'm probably being hasty but it's my last choice atm so I really want to know
Back from my Hertfordshire interview and I loved everything about the uni, hope my application is successful. The interview was probably the best of all the universities I applied to unlike the Bournemouth interview (very intimidating atmosphere) were I left the uni depressed.
(edited 13 years ago)
forgot to ask, does Hertfordshire accept UCAS points from an As grade as well, so like three a levels and an AS to get 280?
Yes unless the AS level is the same as the A-level - for example if you have Fine Art AS level and Fine Art A-level, we will only take the points form the full A- Level.
Hey ^_^
As I've been reading through most of this thread and after some research. I have a great interest in hertfordshire and bournemoth, maybe de montfort to apply for an animation course. I am a AS student at the moment doing art, photography, maths and ICT. But I'm very unsure which subject to drop between maths and ICT, or maybe photography. Next year I plan on picking up an EPQ, doing it about animation.
I would like to work in the film industry of animation rather than gaming. In terms of the type of courses (across between the two unis)
- which course(s) would be best/suitable in pursuing into the film industry animation?
- which AS subject to drop/keep for next year that could give me a better chance in getting into these types of courses?
I've had a look at the courses from both unis.
In bournemouth there's visualisation and animation, animation arts. I read somewhere in the thread visualisation is more mathematical then animation arts.
For hertfordsure I'm not sure which course to go for, there's so many I'd like to take >.<
Although I would like the course to be rather wide so I can have a range of skills.
The things is, I'm not sure if the film animation industry is more interested in the technical mathematical side of animation or more about the creating animation itself for employment. Or either of them are ok?
Thank you in advance ^_^
ps sorry about the essay >_<
As I've been reading through most of this thread and after some research. I have a great interest in hertfordshire and bournemoth, maybe de montfort to apply for an animation course. I am a AS student at the moment doing art, photography, maths and ICT. But I'm very unsure which subject to drop between maths and ICT, or maybe photography. Next year I plan on picking up an EPQ, doing it about animation.
I would like to work in the film industry of animation rather than gaming. In terms of the type of courses (across between the two unis)
- which course(s) would be best/suitable in pursuing into the film industry animation?
- which AS subject to drop/keep for next year that could give me a better chance in getting into these types of courses?
I've had a look at the courses from both unis.
In bournemouth there's visualisation and animation, animation arts. I read somewhere in the thread visualisation is more mathematical then animation arts.
For hertfordsure I'm not sure which course to go for, there's so many I'd like to take >.<
Although I would like the course to be rather wide so I can have a range of skills.
The things is, I'm not sure if the film animation industry is more interested in the technical mathematical side of animation or more about the creating animation itself for employment. Or either of them are ok?
Thank you in advance ^_^
ps sorry about the essay >_<
(edited 13 years ago)
I am a student at N.U.C.A. Norwich university college of the arts, and we have just got a new media lab. The Animation program is really good as far as i have heard and the show reel is jaw dropping every year.
Original post by Wonganout
Hey ^_^
As I've been reading through most of this thread and after some research. I have a great interest in hertfordshire and bournemoth, maybe de montfort to apply for an animation course. I am a AS student at the moment doing art, photography, maths and ICT. But I'm very unsure which subject to drop between maths and ICT, or maybe photography. Next year I plan on picking up an EPQ, doing it about animation.
I would like to work in the film industry of animation rather than gaming. In terms of the type of courses (across between the two unis)
- which course(s) would be best/suitable in pursuing into the film industry animation?
- which AS subject to drop/keep for next year that could give me a better chance in getting into these types of courses?
As I've been reading through most of this thread and after some research. I have a great interest in hertfordshire and bournemoth, maybe de montfort to apply for an animation course. I am a AS student at the moment doing art, photography, maths and ICT. But I'm very unsure which subject to drop between maths and ICT, or maybe photography. Next year I plan on picking up an EPQ, doing it about animation.
I would like to work in the film industry of animation rather than gaming. In terms of the type of courses (across between the two unis)
- which course(s) would be best/suitable in pursuing into the film industry animation?
- which AS subject to drop/keep for next year that could give me a better chance in getting into these types of courses?
Drop ICT, easy choice - unless you want to go into IT help support / fix computers there's little point to it, animation wise. Fine Art, Photography and Maths are really useful to you if you are thinking of 3D / VFX based work. Hmmm I've never encountered an EPQ before, if they let you do practical work then it sounds good if you can cope with the extra workload.
In terms of courses (I can't speak for Bournemouth here obviously) but at Hertfordshire it would be 3D Digital Animation or VFX - depending on whether you were more into the character animation side or the compositing side.
Original post by Wonganout
I've had a look at the courses from both unis.
In bournemouth there's visualisation and animation, animation arts. I read somewhere in the thread visualisation is more mathematical then animation arts.
For hertfordsure I'm not sure which course to go for, there's so many I'd like to take >.<
Although I would like the course to be rather wide so I can have a range of skills.
I've had a look at the courses from both unis.
In bournemouth there's visualisation and animation, animation arts. I read somewhere in the thread visualisation is more mathematical then animation arts.
For hertfordsure I'm not sure which course to go for, there's so many I'd like to take >.<
Although I would like the course to be rather wide so I can have a range of skills.
Well out first year is a combined experience, you study 3D, VFX, 2D and Games Art, at the end of it you can (if you wish) choose to move to a different degree because you've done work in that area and enjoyed it more than what you originally thought you would. Making decisions based on experience rather than speculation is always the best way to go if you can.
Original post by Wonganout
The things is, I'm not sure if the film animation industry is more interested in the technical mathematical side of animation or more about the creating animation itself for employment. Or either of them are ok?
Thank you in advance ^_^
ps sorry about the essay >_<
The things is, I'm not sure if the film animation industry is more interested in the technical mathematical side of animation or more about the creating animation itself for employment. Or either of them are ok?
Thank you in advance ^_^
ps sorry about the essay >_<
That's a difficult question to answer, and it really depends on how you break down the concept of 'animation' - some of my students are really into the art side of 'animation', they tend to go into the character animation / modelling positions. The students who are really fascinated by the technical side become TDs (technical Directors) specialising in Rigging, Particle Effects, Cloth etc. Then there are positions that benefit from both areas (art and maths) - compositing would be a good example.
Personally I don't think you can make that decision yet, you don't have enough practical experience - choose a course that covers both areas and then you can decide once you've done projects in both areas.
Thank you so much moid! ^_^
That was really helpful what you said
The thing is with maths, i'm scared that if I carry it on next year I wont get a good grade from it. As I'm only just able to manage it in AS level. But I think i'll still got enough UCAS points to enter for hertfordshire/bournemouth uni.
Oh also I read somewhere in the thread, in the interview we'd have to take a maths exam or some form of exam to be able to get into the course, i know bournemouth does this i think, does hertfordshire do that too?
Yes moid, we get to do some practical work. Do you know any good(and free) animation software you could recommend me/link me to?
That was really helpful what you said
The thing is with maths, i'm scared that if I carry it on next year I wont get a good grade from it. As I'm only just able to manage it in AS level. But I think i'll still got enough UCAS points to enter for hertfordshire/bournemouth uni.
Oh also I read somewhere in the thread, in the interview we'd have to take a maths exam or some form of exam to be able to get into the course, i know bournemouth does this i think, does hertfordshire do that too?
Yes moid, we get to do some practical work. Do you know any good(and free) animation software you could recommend me/link me to?
Original post by Wonganout
Thank you so much moid! ^_^
That was really helpful what you said
The thing is with maths, i'm scared that if I carry it on next year I wont get a good grade from it. As I'm only just able to manage it in AS level. But I think i'll still got enough UCAS points to enter for hertfordshire/bournemouth uni.
Oh also I read somewhere in the thread, in the interview we'd have to take a maths exam or some form of exam to be able to get into the course, i know bournemouth does this i think, does hertfordshire do that too?
Yes moid, we get to do some practical work. Do you know any good(and free) animation software you could recommend me/link me to?
That was really helpful what you said
The thing is with maths, i'm scared that if I carry it on next year I wont get a good grade from it. As I'm only just able to manage it in AS level. But I think i'll still got enough UCAS points to enter for hertfordshire/bournemouth uni.
Oh also I read somewhere in the thread, in the interview we'd have to take a maths exam or some form of exam to be able to get into the course, i know bournemouth does this i think, does hertfordshire do that too?
Yes moid, we get to do some practical work. Do you know any good(and free) animation software you could recommend me/link me to?
There's no specific exams for the Herts interview.
As for animation software, the only decent free one is Blender
http://www.blender.org/
However, I'd strongly recommend you *ahem* "acquire" *ahem* a copy of Autodesk Maya 2011 (or 2012, as thats out in a week or so I believe) as thats what the university (and the majority of the industry) uses. You can get Maya for free as a student in fact, but I think you need a student email address. Can't say for sure on that though, as I've never bothered with the student edition, I've just "acquired" it.
I know Moid said keep Maths, but if you think theres a danger you may fail it or it may leave you without enough UCAS points, I'd stick with ICT. Simply because theres no point having all the wonderful things the animation team want, if the University's points based system eliminates you from the chance of having an interview. For the animation team to make an exception for you theyd have to jump through a whole bunch of hoops and prove what makes you exceptional enough to warrant that etc...
Moid will probably offer you some more insight, but I hope this helps
For what it's worth, I wish I were a lot better at Maths now than I am. I'm ok, but if you ever want to get into scripting something more than simple shortcuts and whatnot and actually invent new features, you'll be glad you have that AS (and you'd probably be glad you have the A2, too, if you do it!)
Original post by Wonganout
Thank you so much moid! ^_^
That was really helpful what you said
The thing is with maths, i'm scared that if I carry it on next year I wont get a good grade from it. As I'm only just able to manage it in AS level. But I think i'll still got enough UCAS points to enter for hertfordshire/bournemouth uni.
Oh also I read somewhere in the thread, in the interview we'd have to take a maths exam or some form of exam to be able to get into the course, i know bournemouth does this i think, does hertfordshire do that too?
Yes moid, we get to do some practical work. Do you know any good(and free) animation software you could recommend me/link me to?
That was really helpful what you said
The thing is with maths, i'm scared that if I carry it on next year I wont get a good grade from it. As I'm only just able to manage it in AS level. But I think i'll still got enough UCAS points to enter for hertfordshire/bournemouth uni.
Oh also I read somewhere in the thread, in the interview we'd have to take a maths exam or some form of exam to be able to get into the course, i know bournemouth does this i think, does hertfordshire do that too?
Yes moid, we get to do some practical work. Do you know any good(and free) animation software you could recommend me/link me to?
There isn't an entrance exam at Hertfordshire, so don't worry about that, we judge people on their interview and the quality of their work.
In terms of free animation software, you can have Maya for free
Go to http://students.autodesk.com/
aand sign up and you'll be able to download almost any Autodesk software you want... you might need a .edu or .ac.uk email address though, but worth a try even with a normal address. Don't bother with Blender (it can do really good things, but it's not used in industry so there is little point learning it)
If you think you will fail maths then it makes sense not to take it - I just wanted you to know (as CyclopsRock also put it) that maths is really useful in 3D. However ICT would be much easier to pass... a lot less useful but as long as you keep the Art and Photography A-levels then that will be fine. We always look to see if a candidate has studied some art courses.
(edited 13 years ago)
Hi guys!
I'm back with a new question What materials/types of sketchbooks/ other things you think of, does an animation student need when going to uni? pencils paper drawing boards.... and it would also be nice if you could share where I can get them cheap
Thanks in advance
I'm back with a new question
What materials/types of sketchbooks/ other things you think of, does an animation student need when going to uni? pencils paper drawing boards.... and it would also be nice if you could share where I can get them cheap Thanks in advance
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