Students preparing for their graduation ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral

Digital Arts with a Year in Industry - MArt

UCAS code W284

This is an archived page and for reference purposes only

2017

Our integrated Master's in Digital Arts with a Year in Industry offers you the opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge in areas such as interaction design, web design, digital film-making, computer animation and special effects.

Overview

Digital technology has had a tremendous impact on all forms of communication in the 21st century. Using computers, visual artists can manipulate all forms of artefacts, whether video, photographic images, sound clips or text, to create exciting new experiences for audiences.

This programme combines the content of our Digital Arts with a Year in Industry BA with additional modules from our MSc programmes. You have the option to specialise by choosing selected modules from the MSc in Computer Animation or Digital Visual Effects.

Our computer animation content has been developed jointly by the School and our industrial partner, Framestore CFC and is oriented towards current industrial needs, technology and practice. Our digital effects content is steered towards careers such as: Technical Director in  creature development or lighting effects; Compositor; Modeller and Tracker/matchmover. In smaller environments target roles include 3D generalist/artist, effects artist or compositor. 

Between your second and third years of study, you undertake a paid industrial placement, providing you with real commercial experience and enabling you to evaluate a particular career path. Your placement might take place at a large corporation or a smaller independent company. In the past, some students have chosen to work at the BBC and Warner Bros.

The programme is also available without the industrial placement, see Digital Arts MArt.

Alternatively, we also offer a four-year BA (Hons) programme, where you spend a year on an industrial placement. For details, see Digital Arts with a Year in Industry.

Student profiles

See what our students have to say.

Independent rankings

Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Kent was ranked 1st for course satisfaction in The Guardian University Guide 2017 and 2nd for student satisfaction in The Complete University Guide 2017. In the National Student Survey 2016, 90% of students in Electronic and Electrical Engineering were satisfied with the overall quality of their course.

For graduate prospects, Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Kent was ranked 6th in The Guardian University Guide 2017.

Course structure

The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.  Most programmes require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.

For the first four years, you follow the course structure of the BA in Digital Arts with a Year in Industry.

Most modules consist of a mix of lectures, seminars, studio work, computer sessions and private study. The workstations in our computer suites are equipped with current industry-standard software.

In the fifth year, you take seven 15-credit modules based on our existing MSc provision, with the opportunity to specialise by taking optional modules from our Computer Animation or Digital Visual Effects MSc programmes. An additional 15-credit project module runs in the spring term. 

Year in industry

You spend a year working in industry between Stages 2 and 3. We have a dedicated Employability Officer who will help you apply for placements; but please note that it is your responsibility to secure a placement, which cannot always be guaranteed. The School has excellent industrial links, providing students with many placement opportunities.

Please note that progression thresholds apply. In particular, in order to be considered for an industrial placement, you need to achieve an overall mark at Stage 1 of at least 60%.

Teaching and assessment

Most modules consist of a mix of lectures, seminars, studio work, computer sessions and private study. The workstations in our computer suites are equipped with current industry-standard software.

All modules contain design and project work, and are continuously assessed. The specialist project at Stage 3 is assessed by a written report, a critique and, of course, the outcome of the project itself. Both Stage 2 and 3 marks count towards your degree result.

The industrial placement year is assessed by a written report and an interview that together count as 10% of your overall degree result.

Our students have 24-hour access to our extensive air-conditioned computer suites and are able to take advantage of dedicated photographic and production studios, with green-screen, motion-capture and 3D scanning facilities.

Programme aims

This programme aims to:

  • provide a multidisciplinary education for students who seek professional careers in the field of digital arts
  • produce graduates who have an informed, critical and creative approach to understanding communication through digital media design in contemporary society
  • prepare students to meet the challenges of a broad and rapidly changing field while providing them with a wide choice of careers
  • provide proper academic guidance and welfare support for all students
  • create an atmosphere of co-operation and partnership between staff and students, and offer the students an environment where they can develop their potential
  • give an opportunity to gain experience as a digital media practitioner working in a professional environment
  • develop employment-related skills, including an understanding of how you relate to the structure and function in an organisation, via a year in industry
  • produce high-calibre professional specialists in computer generated imagery (CGI) who are highly skilled in using state-of-the-art 3D modelling and visual effects software.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain knowledge and understanding of:

  • the audio, visual and verbal conventions through which sounds, images and words take meaning
  • fundamental concepts of IT and software engineering
  • the creative processes involved in visual design
  • the contextual, historical and conceptual dimensions of the discipline
  • audio, video and film technology, including digital television and DVD
  • the multimedia authoring process
  • fundamentals of 3D modelling and animation
  • key production processes and professional practices relevant to the multimedia industry
  • the legal, ethical and regulatory frameworks, which affect the development of multimedia applications
  • the role of technology in terms of multimedia production, access and use
  • aspects of the core subject areas from the perspective of a commercial or industrial organisation
  • the computer animation production process and pipeline roles
  • the principles and practices of animated film development
  • the technical terms and methods used in film editing
  • the fundamental concepts of digital motion art
  • current developments in the visual effects industry and related market sectors
  • the relevance of visual effects within the contemporary television and film industries
  • contemporary business practice in the visual effects industry.

Intellectual skills

You gain the following intellectual skills:

  • ability to examine multimedia applications critically with appropriate reference to their social and cultural contexts and diversity of contemporary society
  • awareness that technologies are rapidly changing and that students should expect to update their knowledge throughout their working life
  • awareness of the objectives, constraints and conditions of a commercial environment, including financial and time constraints
  • ability to design and develop software based on an analysis of system requirements
  • ability to carry out research and integrate information and data from a variety of sources for essays, projects and multimedia applications
  • ability to analyse a problem and develop a solution based on technical, aesthetic and economic factors
  • consider and evaluate their own work in a reflexive manner with reference to academic and professional issues
  • analyse, interpret and exercise critical judgement in the understanding and evaluation of multimedia applications
  • apply some of the intellectual skills specified for the programme from the perspective of a commercial or industrial organisation
  • analysis and interpretation of animation issues
  • ability to work within an animation process and to contribute to this
  • ability to identify ideas for enhancing a production’s aesthetic quality by the use of CGI
  • ability to undertake constructive research and development of character performance in animation
  • ability to demonstrate independence and creative and critical thinking.

Subject-specific skills

You gain the following subject-specific skills:

  • ability to use scripting and programming languages in the implementation of interactive applications
  • ability to demonstrate creative and technical skills in drawing and design
  • ability to develop specific proficiencies in utilising a range of multimedia design tools including 3D modelling, animation, video editing, image manipulating and multimedia authoring
  • ability to integrate text, graphics and time-based elements to produce effective websites. ability to initiate, develop and realise distinctive and creative applications which demonstrate the effective manipulation of multimedia assets
  • ability to utilise a range of research skills, for example, research into potential audiences and markets, as a production tool
  • ability to prepare technical reports and presentations
  • ability to prepare storyboards as part of the multimedia project development cycle
  • ability to apply management techniques to the planning, resource allocations and execution of a design project
  • ability to apply some of the subject-specific skills specified for the programme from the perspective of a commercial or industrial organisation
  • use of appropriate software tools, techniques and packages to produce and develop CGI
  • ability to use drawing as a way of planning, visualising and explaining work in a time-based 3D medium
  • ability to read and make storyboards and animatics at a professional level
  • ability to apply management techniques to the planning, resource allocation and execution of a visual effects project
  • ability to prepare reports and presentations relevant to the design and production of CGI

Transferable skills

You gain the following transferable skills:

  • ability to generate, analyse, present and interpret data
  • use of information and communications technology
  • personal and interpersonal skills; work as a member of a team
  • communicate effectively (in writing, verbally and in a variety of media)
  • learn effectively for the purpose of continuing professional development
  • ability for working in flexible, creative and independent ways and for critical thinking, reasoning and reflection
  • ability to organise and manage time and resources within an individual project and a group project.

Careers

This programme offers a variety of career options, dependent on the course content chosen. Graduate destinations for our Digital Arts graduates include:

  • web design
  • film
  • games design
  • animation
  • internet publishing.

Our Digital Arts MArt with a Year in Industry is a new programme and offers similar career pathways to those followed by graduates of our Master's courses in Computer Animation and Digital Visual Effects. Graduates of these programmes have gone on to work for international companies in areas including television graphics and architectural visualisation, and on major titles in games, television and film for companies such as Sony Games and Framestore CFC.

Alongside the subject-specific skills you gain, you also develop useful workplace skills such as:

  • planning and organisation
  • leadership
  • effective communication.

If you are interested in setting up your own business, Kent's Hub for Innovation and Enterprise is there to offer help and advice.

Entry requirements

Home/EU students

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice. 

It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.

New GCSE grades

If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.

Qualification Typical offer/minimum requirement
A level

ABB

GCSE

English Language at grade C

Access to HE Diploma

The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. 

If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma)

BTEC National Diploma: Distinction, Distinction, Distinction. 

International Baccalaureate

34 points overall or 16 points at HL

International students

The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.

If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.

Meet our staff in your country

For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events. 

English Language Requirements

Please see our English language entry requirements web page.

Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme. 

General entry requirements

Please also see our general entry requirements.

Fees

The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:

UK/EU Overseas
Full-time

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

UK/EU fee paying students

The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.

In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.

For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* 

The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.

Fees for Year Abroad/Industry

As a guide only, UK/EU/International students on an approved year abroad for the full 2017/18 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status. 

Please note that for 2017/18 entrants the University will increase the standard year in industry fee for home/EU/international students to £1,350.

General additional costs

Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.

Funding

University funding

Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details. 

Government funding

You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.

The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.

Scholarships

General scholarships

Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.

The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence

At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.

The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.