Scholarships
The scholarships below are open to international students and those applying from England, Wales and Northern Ireland with a 2.1 or above for a postgraduate course.
MSc Technical Art and VFX
This groundbreaking Technical Art and Visual Effects programme will give you access to facilities available nowhere else in the UK and the opportunity to learn under a team of academics with years of industry experience.
Course detail
Start Date
SeptemberDuration
1 year (full-time), 2 years (part-time)Award Title
MScUCAS Code
Apply DirectProgramme Overview
The games industry's rapid growth demands ever more innovative visual content, pushing developers to new creative heights. Similarly, film and television face the challenge of adapting to global audiences and the rise of streaming platforms. This evolving landscape calls for cutting-edge content that resonates across diverse markets.
In response, production methods are shifting toward real-time (RT) technologies and interactive, immersive and programmable approaches. This demands a new generation of flexible, creative and technically literate artists capable of developing content, solving problems, and building tools across platforms: the Technical Artist.
The MSc Technical Art and Visual Effects is one of the first Master’s programmes designed specifically to develop this role, combining creative and technical skills to solve complex production challenges. Core areas include the emerging synergy between Unreal Engine and Houdini, equipping graduates with real-time capabilities rooted in procedural thinking and production logic.
Using SideFX's Houdini for asset creation
A central focus of the programme is proceduralism, with SideFX’s Houdini as the primary tool for asset creation, simulation, iteration, and pipeline design. Houdini’s node-based architecture enables students to build scalable, reusable, and optimised tools and workflows essential for modern production.
🎞️ Watch the video to see examples of work created by MSc Technical Art and Visual Effects students using Houdini
Through the Solaris context, students gain experience in USD-based scene assembly, collaborative layout, and look development. The use of MaterialX also ensures cross-platform shader design for consistent visuals across offline and real-time engines, including Unreal.
MSc Technical Art and Visual Effects graduates emerge as true Technical Artists - creative, communicative problem-solvers ready to meet the demands of film, games, and virtual production.
Addressing the role of the Technical Artist
MSc Technical Art and Visual Effects is one of the first Master’s programmes to specifically address the role of the Technical Artist. It's this role that enables the delivery of creative solutions to complex artistic and logistical production challenges. Demand for this skillset is extremely high and only set to increase.
The technical and creative content of this programme encompasses engine programming, pipelines, VFX, optimisation, tools development, art, and animation pipelines.
This programme will enable you to enter the industry with the most up-to-date creative and production approaches and real time software and hardware experience.
🎞️ Watch the video to see examples of showreel work created by Abertay's MSc Technical Art and Visual Effects students.
World-class facilities
As an MSc Technical Art and Visual Effects student, you’ll have access to our state-of-the-art virtual production studio (ViPRE – Virtual Production Research Environment) - the only one in the UK.
The system is used in cutting-edge movie production and has seen the University film real-time scenes shot hundreds of miles apart – a feat never accomplished before.
ViPRE Studio
Our state-of-the-art virtual production studio is the only one of its kind in the UK
Learning and assessment
You'll be taught using a mixture of lectures and practical tutorials in our dedicated production and lab spaces. There is an expectation to underpin this learning in your own time, outside of timetabled sessions.
Assessment will take the form of practical projects, reports and exams. You'll produce a practice-based folio of technical art and visual effects examples in the shape of a showreel/breakdown reel or technical demo.
Request your Postgraduate Guide
Our Postgraduate Guide contains information about all our postgraduate programmes. It also has pages dedicated to the University, the beautiful city of Dundee, how to apply, support services ... and much more!
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have an undergraduate degree (2.2 or better) in a related area. These include 3D Modelling/Animation/Visual Effects, Computing or Computing related (Engineering).
Consideration will be made regarding individuals with extensive experience with 3D modeling tools and/or game engines.
Applicants should also submit a portfolio of work (i.e., showreel/breakdown reel, game engine demo or scripting examples).
Examples of 3D modelling/animation and/or engine exposure and portfolio and/or Coding or scripting experience should be collated in a showreel, breakdown reel or a ‘making of’ video where possible. Code or scripting can be demonstrated in short demos, either captured, pre-rendered or as a small application.
Videos should be provided as HD 1080p MP4 if possible (to keep the file size down) or provide links to YouTube/Vimeo examples, and please provide any access passwords required to view the work. You can also share links to websites with examples of your work on it.
PDF’s can also be submitted to document your production processes, and to show any pre-production, concept work, static images or other examples of technical art and visual effects work.
Modules
Programming For Games (CMP502)
Introduction to the techniques and underpinning mathematics for developing games and real-time graphics applications with a moderm API.
Technical Art and VFX (CMP515)
This module will demonstrate and follow the principles and pipelines of current technical animation and visual effects techniques, as utilised by the industry. The brief will be creatively led, with technical challenges, to incorporate character animation and visual effects elements in one work, to be delivered in a real-time engine.
Procedural Methods for Visual Effects and Computer Graphics (CMP516)
Introduction to the essential procedural methods of content creation and visual effects animation (VFX) employed in film, television, games, and virtual production environments.
Realtime Tool and Pipeline Development (CMP517)
This module develops a critical understanding of the principles, practices, and techniques in tool development. Students will develop and evaluate software tools with particular emphasis on tools addressing the needs of the game, film and special effects industries.
Realtime Graphics and Shader Techniques (CMP522)
Introduction to essential graphics concepts and techniques and a foundation of shader development for real-time graphics.
Research Methods and Practice (CMP523)
This module is designed to introduce postgraduate students to research and practice-based methods. Theoretical approaches to research and practice are taught in lectures with seminar sessions that support students as they implement this knowledge in their Master’s research project proposals.
Masters Project* (CMP504)
Select, plan, conduct and create a research-based investigation for the Masters Project. The project will include the selection of appropriate research and experimental methods, the collection and analysis of data/information and the evaluation and communication of findings. The result is a solution appropriate to the project aims - a film, application, breakdown/'making of' showreel and a dissertation.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (CMP511)
Gain AI specialist knowledge and skills so you can develop user-facing solutions that demonstrate your understanding of human behaviours. You will develop a user-facing AI solution, by evaluating and selecting the optimal ML/AI technique.
Applied Analytics: Case Studies (CMP512)
This module will consolidate knowledge in applied analytics to analyse human behaviours and UX, based on provided case studies. The case studies will highlight the limitations of the state-of-the-art, or novel use of the latest theories and technologies.
Applied Game Technologies (CMP404)
Emerging technology trends used in computer games development. Learn to develop and apply techniques using existing technologies to explore these trends. Module content: Human Computer Interface; Visualisation; Platform; Innovation.
Game Design and Development (DES502)
An opportunity for you to operate at a professional level of games development and show your ability to critically review and consolidate your working practices within a team environment. This module requires you to be part of a team that apply their skills in the critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of a professionally aligned video game. This will include being actively involved in the concept development and game design, as well as taking a central technical role in its development.
Adobe Creative Cloud
As a student on this programme, you'll have full access to a comprehensive suite of over 20 applications designed to provide tools for graphic design, video editing, photography, and more. Key applications available include Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat, and many others.
In late 2024, Abertay proudly became the first institution in Scotland to achieve the designation of Adobe Creative Campus.
Through our partnership, all Abertay students have access to Adobe Express, empowering them to enhance their digital skills with industry-leading tools.
Information for International Applicants
Learn more about Abertay's English language requirements, as well as visa information.
English Language Requirements
Explore English language requirements for entry to Abertay University.
Visa Information
All the information you need about visa requirements for studying here at Abertay University.
International Students
Find everything you need to know about applying to Abertay as an international student.
Career Opportunities
As a graduate of this programme, you'll have the knowledge and skills to enter the games, film and television industries as a competent Technical or Visual Effects Artist.
This could be with an established studio, or you may want to explore setting up your own studio as many previous graduates of Abertay's School of Design and Informatics have done.
You can find out more about the career support available at Abertay by clicking the link below.
Fees & funding
The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you depends on factors such as your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. Visit the links below and scroll down to find the Postgraduate section.
More information
Find out about grants, bursaries, maintenance loans and living costs in our postgraduate taught fees and funding section.
Abertay Postgraduate Taught rUK Scholarship
This £1,000 award is open to all prospective new postgraduate students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
International Postgraduate Abertay Scholarships
This £3,000 award is open to all prospective new international postgraduate students at Abertay University.
Explore our Dundee Campus
Abertay is conveniently located on a city centre campus, with all of its buildings within a quarter of a mile of each other. Shops, recreational facilities and the main bus and train stations are a short walk away.
Why Abertay?
We're proud of our students and graduates, and we believe there's no better place to study if you're looking for a degree that helps you stand out as an exceptional candidate in an increasingly competitive job market.
Living in Dundee
Dundee is a city of contrasts. It's vibrant and cosmopolitan, but also friendly, compact and affordable. The first UK city to be awarded UNESCO City of Design status, Dundee has a rich history of innovation and creativity, and, in recent years, has become a hub for the digital industries.
Graduate School
Our Graduate School is a dedicated facility located at the heart of the University, providing support, training and professional development opportunities to our vibrant postgraduate community and researchers.
Join us as a postgraduate
When you join us as a postgraduate student or researcher, you’ll join a community of creative like-minded scholars. You will be working in our dedicated study and social spaces – a forum in which you can meet, work and learn with other researchers and postgraduates from across the University.
You’ll benefit from training and professional development opportunities, as well as support with funding applications, placement opportunities, teaching support, public engagement and outreach activity.
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