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Buckinghamshire New University

Wycombe , England ,United Kingdom

MA Special Effects for Film & TV

Designed in collaboration with industry professionals, this master’s programme allows you to specialise your skills and knowledge in either Prosthetics and Makeup Effects or Props and Modelmaking.
Split between our High Wycombe Campus and BNU teaching base at Pinewood studios, you’ll have access to state-of-the-art facilities and industry insights from professionals, all whilst studying right in the heart of the famous creative hub.

Do you want a career which could take you all over the world? Working in film or TV, you could take on several roles across the globe in key areas, from prosthetics and makeup effects or props and modelmaking.

This course could help you get your dream job as being part of the team that work endlessly behind-the-scenes to bring stories to life for audiences of all ages.

Campus Information

High Wycombe Campus

At our High Wycombe Campus you’ll be in the heart of the action. As our main campus, it is home to a range of state-of-the-art facilities, such as personal Art & Design workspaces, Aviation Simulator, Gym and Film and TV Studios.

BNU based at Pinewood Studios

Our teaching base at Pinewood Studios helps give you the opportunity to learn the skills and knowledge you’ll need for your future, all whilst studying right in the heart of the famous creative hub. Whether you are looking to explore animation or get hands-on with hair and make-up, you could benefit from doing it all at our exciting teaching base.

Intakes

  • Jan
  • Oct

Application Processing Time in Days: 30

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

Upon graduation, you will be prepared for a range of career possibilities. Using the skills and knowledge learnt on this course, you could find yourself performing the following roles all over the world:

Animatronics Designer
Prosthetics
Make-up Artist
SFX trainee (make-up)
SFX technician and/or assistant
Props & Modelmaker
SFX Structure Engineer
Control & Signal writer
Sculptor
Character Designer
3D modeller
Pre-visualisation Artist
Technical Director (TD)
Animatronics Engineer
Rig-builder
Fabricator.
Potential career and employment areas will fall within the animatronics, prosthetics make-up effects, casualty simulation, props & model-making, mechanical and electronic engineering, rigging, set design and visual effects sectors of the film and TV industry.

PSW Opportunity

  • 2 Years PSW is applicable after completing a minimum duration of 9 months course (like- Undergraduate, Postgraduate Level)
  • 3 Years PSW is applicable after completing PhD level courses.

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Academic entry requirements

We require successful completion of a Bachelor degree with an overall pass or above from a UK NARIC-recognised institution.

Students are not required to provide an English Certificate if they achieve the grades listed above. Otherwise, they must demonstrate that they have the equivalent of grade C/4 at GCSE.

Mathematics entry requirements

Students need the equivalent of GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.

To study at BNU applicants must demonstrate they have sufficient English language ability to be able to succeed prior to their enrolment. This is typically evidenced through completion of a GCSE, level 2 and or by an equivalent programme from a majority English speaking country.

Any student who has studied in a non-majority English speaking country will typically be asked to complete an additional qualification testing English language ability (speaking, listening, reading & writing). Bucks New University accepts the following English language tests in addition to GCSE:

Language Test - General Postgraduate Requirement*

IELTS Academic / IELTS for UKVI - 6.5 (6.0)

Pearson Test of English - 50 (42)

TOEFL iBT - 72 overall - 17 in Listening, 17 in Writing, 20 in Speaking, 18 in Reading

Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Academic entry requirements

We require successful completion of a Bachelor degree with an overall pass or above from a UK NARIC-recognised institution.

Mathematics entry requirements

Students need the equivalent of GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.

English language requirements

Students are not required to provide an English Certificate if they achieve a score of  65% or above on the English Language subject of their a Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) / Standard 12.

Mathematics entry requirements

Students need the equivalent of GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.

To apply for the MPhil, or the MPhil with the chance to transfer to the PhD, you should have:

An Honours degree of 2:1 or above in a relevant subject from a UK university, or
A qualification which we recognise as being equivalent, such as an Honours degree awarded overseas.
To apply directly for the PhD, you should have:

A Masters degree awarded by a UK university, or
A Masters degree from a university overseas which is appropriate for the research you'd like to do, and which included training in research and the delivery of a research project.
If you don't meet the entry criteria, we could still consider you for a place. We’ll take into account the nature and scope of the work you’d like to do and might ask you for evidence of:

Professional experience
Appropriate research or professional experience at a postgraduate level
Publications
Written reports.
You should present this evidence and any supporting documentation along with your application.