The Student Room Group

Animation at BU or MMU?

Hi,
So, I've been accepted into both Bournemouth and Manchester Met for undergrad in Computer Animation and VFX. I got a bunch of offers like Portsmouth, UWE Bristol, UCLAN etc and I've narrowed it down to these 2. But can't decide which one to firm up!

Bournemouth's got this killer rep for comp animation, but I keep hearing mixed stuff about student satisfaction and how most of the learning is individual which sounds difficult considering it's a very practical course and as an undergrad student I have no experience with the softwares. On the flip side, Manchester seems like it's buzzing with media and arts, which could be awesome for job prospects, but I'm not sure if they're all about 3D animation like I wanna dive into.

Also, Manchester's TEF rating as well as the Guardian Uni rankings are much better than Bournemouth's, but how much weight should I really put on that?

Any current or past students from either school willing to share your thoughts? Like, how's the teaching, industry connections, and overall vibe?

Thanks a ton for any advice or insights!
Original post by min50
Hi,
So, I've been accepted into both Bournemouth and Manchester Met for undergrad in Computer Animation and VFX. I got a bunch of offers like Portsmouth, UWE Bristol, UCLAN etc and I've narrowed it down to these 2. But can't decide which one to firm up!
Bournemouth's got this killer rep for comp animation, but I keep hearing mixed stuff about student satisfaction and how most of the learning is individual which sounds difficult considering it's a very practical course and as an undergrad student I have no experience with the softwares. On the flip side, Manchester seems like it's buzzing with media and arts, which could be awesome for job prospects, but I'm not sure if they're all about 3D animation like I wanna dive into.
Also, Manchester's TEF rating as well as the Guardian Uni rankings are much better than Bournemouth's, but how much weight should I really put on that?
Any current or past students from either school willing to share your thoughts? Like, how's the teaching, industry connections, and overall vibe?
Thanks a ton for any advice or insights!

Hi @min50

Congrats on your Man Met offer!

Our BSc (Hons) Computer Animation and Visual Effects course has a strong focus on 3D Animation, FX and Compositing and has a number of endorsements and accreditations. Students can also take internships and placements while on the course, boosting industry connections and improving employability post-graduation.

Have you visited both universities on open days or applicant visit days? These are a great way to get a feel for the uni, look at accommodation and experience the overall vibe of where you'll live for the next 3 years. This is usually the deciding factor for applicants in a similar situation to you!

If you've got any questions about Man Met, feel free to drop me a message or contact our Course Enquiries team. You can also message our Student Ambassadors if you want to know more about student life🙂

Hope this helps!
Chloe
As a parent, and an employee of an Arts-based Uni (not one on your list btw so not biased!) I am currently watching my offspring make final choices. The visit to the Uni was the deal sealer. At the end of the day you need to be happy with the course and Uni, and can only really get that from a visit and a chat to other students. All the reviews in the world cannot replicate experiencing the atmosphere of the place. Although recently have heard really great things about the student experience at Man Met. Good luck with your choices! How exciting.
Reply 3
Original post by Manchester Metropolitan University
Hi @min50
Congrats on your Man Met offer!
Our BSc (Hons) Computer Animation and Visual Effects course has a strong focus on 3D Animation, FX and Compositing and has a number of endorsements and accreditations. Students can also take internships and placements while on the course, boosting industry connections and improving employability post-graduation.
Have you visited both universities on open days or applicant visit days? These are a great way to get a feel for the uni, look at accommodation and experience the overall vibe of where you'll live for the next 3 years. This is usually the deciding factor for applicants in a similar situation to you!
If you've got any questions about Man Met, feel free to drop me a message or contact our Course Enquiries team. You can also message our Student Ambassadors if you want to know more about student life🙂
Hope this helps!
Chloe

Hi Chloe! Thanks a lot for the response.

I had actually applied for the BA Animation course which is why I was hesitant about firming my choice as it didn't seem 3D focused. I wasn't aware there was another course for just computer animation and vfx, which is the exact qualification i'm pursuing. I've heard some universities allow offer holding students to change courses, is it possible to ask the admissions team to reconsider my application for the BSc Comp Animation course or is it too late for that?

I'm also an International student so unfortunately, I cant attend open days. Does MMU have online open days for international applicants?

Thank you again, this is very last minute news to me 😀
Original post by min50
Hi Chloe! Thanks a lot for the response.
I had actually applied for the BA Animation course which is why I was hesitant about firming my choice as it didn't seem 3D focused. I wasn't aware there was another course for just computer animation and vfx, which is the exact qualification i'm pursuing. I've heard some universities allow offer holding students to change courses, is it possible to ask the admissions team to reconsider my application for the BSc Comp Animation course or is it too late for that?
I'm also an International student so unfortunately, I cant attend open days. Does MMU have online open days for international applicants?
Thank you again, this is very last minute news to me 😀

In order to request to change the course on your application, you will need to e-mail the relevant admissions team(s) for both courses.

Animation - [email protected]

Computer Animation and Visual Effects - [email protected]


Your email needs to be sent from the email address that you have stated on your UCAS account. Please include the following information in your email:

Full Name

UCAS ID

Date of birth

Full Name of the course that you were accepted on

Full Name of the course that you want to change to


If you are holding an offer for the original course you have applied to, this offer will remain in place until you receive a decision on the course you wish to change your application to.

We don't have any in person events for international students scheduled at the moment, but we do have a series of webinar recordings that you can watch to find out more about our courses. You can also view our campus and accommodation on our virtual map 🙂

I hope this helps!

Chloe
Reply 5
Original post by Manchester Metropolitan University
In order to request to change the course on your application, you will need to e-mail the relevant admissions team(s) for both courses.

Animation - [email protected]

Computer Animation and Visual Effects - [email protected]


Your email needs to be sent from the email address that you have stated on your UCAS account. Please include the following information in your email:

Full Name

UCAS ID

Date of birth

Full Name of the course that you were accepted on

Full Name of the course that you want to change to


If you are holding an offer for the original course you have applied to, this offer will remain in place until you receive a decision on the course you wish to change your application to.
We don't have any in person events for international students scheduled at the moment, but we do have a series of webinar recordings that you can watch to find out more about our courses. You can also view our campus and accommodation on our virtual map 🙂
I hope this helps!
Chloe
I was able to change the course to Computer Animation & VFX and I have an offer!! I will definitely check the resources on the website for international students.
Thank you so much I really appreciate the help💗
Original post by min50
Hi,
So, I've been accepted into both Bournemouth and Manchester Met for undergrad in Computer Animation and VFX. I got a bunch of offers like Portsmouth, UWE Bristol, UCLAN etc and I've narrowed it down to these 2. But can't decide which one to firm up!
Bournemouth's got this killer rep for comp animation, but I keep hearing mixed stuff about student satisfaction and how most of the learning is individual which sounds difficult considering it's a very practical course and as an undergrad student I have no experience with the softwares. On the flip side, Manchester seems like it's buzzing with media and arts, which could be awesome for job prospects, but I'm not sure if they're all about 3D animation like I wanna dive into.
Also, Manchester's TEF rating as well as the Guardian Uni rankings are much better than Bournemouth's, but how much weight should I really put on that?
Any current or past students from either school willing to share your thoughts? Like, how's the teaching, industry connections, and overall vibe?
Thanks a ton for any advice or insights!

Hi Min50,

Firstly congratulations on your offers! Brilliant achievement!
My name is Will, I'm a Media Production student at BU currently on my placement year.
As you have mentioned, Bournemouth have a very good reputation for Computer Animation and part of that comes from our advanced facilities in our new-ish building 'Poole Gateway Building' which contains various computer labs, all with large curved screen monitors giving you lots of screen real-estate and they also come with a Graphics tablet to assist you in editing.
I see you mentioned student experience as part of your post and how lots of our students are encouraged to work independently. The way the teaching often works at universities is you get the most teaching time in your first year and it gradually decreases as you move up in your education, but if you need any additional support using softwares/getting advice, then the teaching team are always happy to assist via email or in-person; University is all about collaboration and that's something we feel very strongly at BU.

If you want to speak to a current student on the Computer Animation courses, check out our Unibuddy service: https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/unibuddy

I hope this helps
Let me know if you have any additional questions

Will
BU Student Rep :smile:

Quick Reply