Why choose this course?

Visual Effects (VFX) involves combining live action and digitally created images together to create and develop high quality digital content for the 3D animation and visual effects industry.

During this two-year course you will work with industry leading content creation tools, techniques and workflows. In addition to developing your artistic ability, you will acquire the technical knowledge and skills to produce high quality 3D content for use in the films, television as well as related areas such as games and the visualisation Industry. Your course subjects are taught by sector experts who will lead you through the process of placing real actors on a digital set, teaching you how to light and shoot the live action elements, and supervising you while you create and composite digital backgrounds and characters into footage to create the final scene.

BCFE has a reputation for graduates who excel in this field including Richie Baneham, who won an Oscar for the Best Visual Effects on the film Avatar. You can read his success story at Alumni Success Stories – BCFE.

What will you study?

Course Facilities

Industry-standard hardware/software like Maya, Nuke, Photoshop, Zbrush, Mari, Mudbox, VRay, Arnold, Shotgun and access to our cutting-edge TV Studio facilities

What do you need to apply?

Year 1 Higher National Certificate

• Portfolio (See Guidelines) and Leaving Certificate/ LCVP with a minimum of two O1/H5 and three O6/ H7 grades, or a relevant QQI level 5 award with a Merit profile.
• Suitable foundation BCFE Level 5 courses include:
  • Animation Drawing Studies Level 5, (CDS)
  • Production and 3D Graphics Level 5 (DLO)
  • Short Film & Factual Video Production Level 5 (ITC)
  • Visual Effects Traineeship – Creative Media for Production (Visual Effects/Animation/Video Production) Level 5 (VFA)
• The academic entry requirements may be waived for mature applicants (21+).

Year 2 Higher National Diploma

• Students who have successfully completed year 1 and have achieved a Higher National Certificate in Creative Media Production (Visual Effects), can progress automatically to year 2.
• Applicants with an equivalent Higher National Certificate and subject to module compatibility may also apply directly to Year 2, Higher National Diploma in Creative Media Production (Visual Effects).

Portfolio Guidelines

• Each candidate will be interviewed on his or her portfolio work. The portfolio interview will last approximately 20 minutes. Candidates may present a variety of portfolio work. The emphasis should be on quality and not quantity. Portfolio work may consist of any or all of the following: Photography, digital artwork, digital images or short video clips which have been either shot, edited or digitally manipulated by the applicant.

Progression Opportunities

• Graduates may apply for the Games Design Visual Media BA (Hons) Degree Level 8 in BCFE. The BA Honours Degree in Visual Media is validated by the University of Dundee, Scotland.
• Graduates of this course may also apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme for entry to higher and advanced certificate and degree programmes at national Institutes of Technology, Technological Universities and Universities (applicants should confirm linked awards and eligibility requirements with the relevant Higher Education Institution).
• Graduates may also gain exemption of one or two years from other degree courses in the UK.

Career Opportunities

• VFX and CGI/3D are growing sectors with significant employment opportunities in Ireland and internationally. On successful completion of the course graduates may seek employment and a career in 3D/CGI/VFX either locally or internationally