BSc (Honours) Interactive Media with Animation

UCAS code

G4W6

Attendance

Full-time

Four years full-time (including one year work placement) or three years full-time

At a glance

Learn how to create high-standard interactive media for everything from computer games to business applications. Study in our first-class teaching environment and gain professional skills and experience with a one-year placement in industry.

Key points
• Study a subject that offers you career options in a range of technical and creative areas.
• Develop your skills in purpose-built creative computing facilities.
• Enhance your studies and career, whilst getting paid, with a one-year placement.

What is interactive media with animation?
Interactive media applications are used in • scientific visualisations • virtual reality applications • information presentations • film and animations • e-learning material • interactive visualisations • websites • databases • computer games development.

About this course

This practical industry-focused course explores the development of interactive digital media applications and the use of 2D and 3D animation techniques. The course builds your understanding of communications and the media, and optional modules let you tailor the degree to your interests.

You can study topics ranging from games design to web technologies or e-business. As a student you learn about how to apply theory to your professional practice as a media developer with training in • scripting concepts • web development • graphics and animation • multimedia technologies • employability and professionalism.

Your studies and practical work centre around our first-class teaching facilities that include a number of IT laboratories as well as industry-level graphics and visualisation suites. You learn through hands-on experience using industry standard tools such as Flash, 3D Studio Max and Photoshop.

We also have a commercially licensed games development studio which offers projects and placements with local games companies for students to gain professional experience.

Once you’ve developed your skills, you practise what you’ve learnt in the real world with a paid third-year work placement with employers such as • 3D Web Technologies, Altrincham • Max Planck Institute, Germany • Jagex Games Studio, Cambridge • national banks • IT and engineering companies. Placements offer you knowledge of the industry and develop your personal and professional abilities, boosting your employment prospects.

The final year includes a major individual project and interactive media case studies, so you can apply your learning to real life examples.

Key areas of study
You gain knowledge and skills in • animation • interaction and systems development • virtual reality • visual communication • web-based design and development • visual effects.

You also improve your numerical and analytical skills to help your studies.

Associated careers

You gain the necessary skills for a career as a web programmer, a visualisation specialist in industries ranging from architecture to town planning, or as an applications engineer in industries ranging from real-time technologies to banking and IT.

Professional recognition

This course is accredited by the British Computer Society. It counts towards the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered IT Professional and Chartered Engineer.

Course content

Year one modules

• animation • introduction to game development • interaction and scripting for graphics applications • mathematics for graphics • professionalism and communication skills • introduction to requirements and systems modelling

Year two core modules

• virtual reality • scripting and animation • 3D animation project • web application development • professional development project

Year two options

• web design in context • human–computer interaction • scripting languages • e-business • foreign language • visualising ideas

Year three

• work placement

Final year core modules

• animation and visual effects • interactive media case studies • project

Final year options

• 3D game prototyping • advanced web design apps • foreign language • designing and developing e-learning systems • mobile apps • digital media futures

Assessment

• group work • coursework • examinations • final year project

Entry requirements

2014 entry requirements

GCSE English and mathematics at grade C or above, plus one of the following

• 240 points with at least 160 from two GCE/VCE A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. General studies and AS levels may count towards these points.

• Access – an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

If English is not your first language you must have an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

We welcome applications from people of any age. We may be flexible in our normal offer if you can show a commitment to succeed and have the relevant skills and experience. This must show that you will benefit from and finish the course successfully.

2013 entry requirements

GCSE English and mathematics at grade C or above, plus one of the following

• 240 points from at least two GCE A levels in relevant subjects, or BTEC National qualifications including at least 160 points from two GCE/VCE A levels, or BTEC National qualifications, or one AVCE double award. General studies and AS levels may count towards these points.

Fees

Home and EU students

2013/14 academic year

For 2013 entry, membership of a professional body is included in the course fee.

International students

2013/14 academic year

Typically £10,680 a year

2014/15 academic year

Typically £11,250 a year

How to apply

You apply for this course through UCAS.

Contact details

For more information or to check the progress of your application phone +44 (0)114 225 5555, fax +44 (0)114 225 2167, e-mail admissions@shu.ac.uk