MA — 2027 entry Film, Animation and Digital Arts
Our Film, Animation and Digital Arts course is a broad multidisciplinary programme which responds to the latest advancements in moving image production technologies such as virtual production, performance capture and synthesis, and real-time visual effects.
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Why choose
this course?
- Our programme seeks to develop your core creative competences in a range of relevant contemporary practices, from 3D computer graphics to machine vision, interactive cinema to 'immersive' media.
- Your skills and talents as a media practitioner, alongside intellectual curiosity, collaborative spirit, technical proficiency and sense of adventure, will all come into play as you make use of Surrey’s state-of-the-art facilities, great workspaces and dedicated multi-disciplinary supervision.
- We enable you to innovate and experiment creatively and technologically in film, animation, digital art and related areas of contemporary arts and media practices.
- You will also benefit from the extensive connections we enjoy with the creative industries, which include media production companies, animation studios, VFX houses, facilities providers and film studios – locally, nationally and globally.
- We’re preparing you for the future by integrating AI into every course, building digital skills, confidence and creativity that employers value in tomorrow’s workplace.
Highlights
Award-winning team
Created by the team behind the course, the film 'Remember the Future' won 'Best Environmental Film' at the Cannes World Film Festival 2023
What you will study
Setting us apart from other digital arts courses and animation masters, our programme is primarily practice-oriented, backed up with a relevant and robust contextual framework. The programme is 12 months long, split across two semesters and the University’s summer period.
Semester 1 includes a set of focused workshops designed not only to consolidate existing practical skills in script development, film production, animation, CG and VFX but also to bring you rapidly up to speed in less familiar areas such as virtual production, game engines, and digital cinematography. These are accompanied by a thorough grounding in contemporary moving image theory and practice. You will then work on a collaborative, multidisciplinary production project, which provides a great opportunity to work together in a small team on an exciting creative brief.
In Semester 2 you will develop a creative specification for your final project. Alongside this, specialist workshops and tutorials are offered to equip you with any specific techniques you might need.
During the University’s summer period, you will complete your final project, with regular supervision and mentoring provided by our academics, industry based visiting tutors and associates.
Location and connections
Our Guildford location is not only a short train journey from central London but is also a media production hub in its own right. Major film studios are nearby, and the town itself is home to a vibrant video games development community, alongside animation houses and design agencies. Notable players include:
- Supermassive
- MediaMolecule
- Electronic Arts
- Figment Productions
- BlueGFX
- Criterion.
We regularly enjoy visits and engagements with the London film production and VFX community, which includes:
- Framestore
- Moving Picture Company
- Blue Zoo
- Nexus
- Milk VFX
- KeyFrame Studios.
We also maintain close links with the British Film Institute, BAFTA, Animation UK, Visual Effects Society, SIGGRAPH London, UKIE and plenty of other important industry networks with whom you can connect.
On campus, we share a building and frequently collaborate with the prestigious Guildford School of Acting. We also work closely with colleagues from Surrey’s engineering programmes and have found touch points in many other departments across the University. In addition to this, we are actively building relationships with other institutions both close at hand and around the world; our approach is one of open collaboration wherever possible across all sections of the arts, culture and technology communities.
The structure of our programmes follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes:
Modules
Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Modules are subject to teaching availability, student demand, and/or class size caps.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught courses based on a 15-credit tariff, meaning all modules are comprised of multiples of 15 credits.
Please note that modules are listed by the academic calendar and are reflective of a September start date. For students that start a programme in February, please note that the modules listed as semester two will take place in the spring term and modules listed as semester one will take place in the autumn term.
Course options
Year 1
Semester 1
Compulsory
By consolidating your existing skills and talents, then enhancing them into areas of creative media production in which you might be less familiar, we help you develop a broad armoury of aptitudes and proficiencies. Through this, you can take part in an expanded range of contemporary media projects, drawing on both traditional and evolving techniques and technologies. You will be concentrating on 2D and 3D animation, with specialist tutors who can transform a non-artist into an animator, and who show you how to accumulate toolboxes of techniques to suit your styles and interests. In workshops and classes, you will use up-to-date software on fast, well-specified computers. You will be assessed through the development of a cumulative portfolio encompassing both 2D and 3D animation. This includes outputs from your workshops accompanied by a reflective synopsis on your learning and development. The skills and knowledge acquired in this module are cumulative and can be applied to subsequent modules and workshops over the course of the MA programme.
View full module detailsConsolidating existing skills and knowledge in practical production, your coursework for assessment will consist of one or more group projects requiring collaboration both inside and outside of the MA FADA cohort. Where possible, projects developed will make use of the latest contemporary media production technologies. This could include (as a non-exhaustive and indicative list) 4k or 8k filming, virtual production, real-time rendering, interactive video or virtual character creation. You will join a collaborative team consisting of both your own cohort members and, possibly, other courses as appropriate. The skills applied to this module will be drawn both from your existing skills-base and from those developed in Creative Media Practices (1).
View full module detailsSemester 2
Compulsory
Here, you will be shown ways of exploring theoretical and cultural contexts for film, animation and digital arts. Examples will particularly encourage you in your exploration and execution of experimental techniques. You will accomplish this not only by critically analysing current and future developments, but also by seeing how these fit within historical and philosophical debates and dialogues around creative arts in practice and creativity in general. One indicative focus is film-makers' interaction with the natural world. Initial lectures will also give you research methods for the creative arts, with a focus on the moving image. Later, you will hear and discover contemporary debates reflecting this rapidly evolving area Your coursework will be a 3,000-word research paper which complements and contextualises forthcoming work on the Final Masters Project.
View full module detailsThis module runs as a continuation from Creative Media Practices (I), to give you a range of specialist workshops in important techniques in contemporary moving image media production in addition to furthering and practicing your general abilities in 2D and 3D animation. You will be equipped further to develop your proficiencies in film, animation and digital media arts production methods, and in particular explore newer techniques in audiovisual content creation. Indicative methods could include virtual production, real-time rendering, procedural animation, performance capture, and generative AI through our Topaz AI licence. You will also engage with contemporary VFX tools and technologies, encountering and consolidating skills in compositing packages such as (in an indicative, non-exhaustive list) Nuke and Da Vinci Resolve Fusion. You will also become familiar with tools including (as an indicative, non-exhaustive list) Unreal Engine and TV Paint. Your project might require research and development, and this module can accommodate exploration and skills development in a newly identified tool or technique not previously encountered. This may include evolving research areas: an indicative, non-exhaustive list could include automated digital character animation, applied denoising diffusion probabilistic models, location-based interactive installation and augmented reality techniques. Your access to tutors, both university staff and industry specialists, will continue.
View full module detailsSemester 1 & 2
Compulsory
This module spans the entirety of the MA FADA programme, representing your cumulatively developed final creative project. This project can take many different forms and formats drawn from the multitude of film, animation and digital media arts production techniques explored and developed over the stages of the course. Alternatively, you can choose to undertake a research-oriented creative practice project, informed by both theoretical and practical aspects of the programme.
View full module detailsTeaching and learning
Your practical skills will be assessed through the development of a cumulative portfolio. This will be presented as response to and output from a series of creative and technical skills workshops in Semester 1.
We round off this part of the programme with a group project which involves multidisciplinary collaboration along with technical and creative experimentation.
Complementary theory lectures and seminars will be delivered by active practitioners and researchers from within the department and beyond, including those from our own postgraduate researchers.
Advanced skills development is offered to support your final project in areas which can include:
- Writing and screenplay development
- Character creation
- Cinematography
- Editing
- Animation
- Directing performance
- 3D animation
- VFX
- Game engines
- AI assisted content creation.
These advanced techniques will continue to contribute to the development of your final masters project through the on-going creation of prototypes, work-in-progress outputs and shorter portfolio test pieces.
General course information
Contact hours
Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.
Timetable
New students will receive their personalised timetable during Welcome Week. In later semesters, at least one week before the start of the semester.
Scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday), with part-time classes normally scheduled for one or two days. Wednesday afternoons tend to be for sports and cultural activities.
View our code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment (PDF) for more information.
Location
This course is based at Stag Hill campus. Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.
We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
The programme will provide you with an accelerated career path into numerous areas of the film, television and interactive media sectors, equipping you with sought-after skills and experience in these exciting fields. On successful completion of the course, your creative aptitude will be matched by technical acuity in whichever areas you have chosen to specialise.
The programme also provides a valuable springboard for extended postgraduate research on our own PhD programme or indeed should you choose to pursue your research elsewhere.
We have doubled the facilities space, and our Performing Arts Technology Studios have been upgraded and complemented by a £1.7m investment in state-of-the-art production and media suites.
Our students have access to a wide range of professional film, audio, video, and digital production facilities, including:
- Computing facilities based around high-end GPUs
- Fibre connected film and television studios
- Motion / performance capture facilities
- 4k and 12K cine cameras and lenses
- Lighting, sound and grip equipment
- Photogrammetry
- Film and sound editing software
- State of the art production software
- Extensive fast media storage
- VR/AR/MR/XR head mounted displays.
Teodora
Student - Film, Animation and Digital Arts (FADA) MA
Hesam Abbasi
Student - Film, Animation and Digital Arts MA
UK qualifications
A minimum 2:2 UK undergraduate degree (or international equivalent) usually, but not necessarily, in a relevant subject area.
Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of relevant work. Portfolio material usually consists of a showreel or a selection of your best work in the media and formats in which you have previously worked. Depending on the extent to which you have specialised, this could include examples of film, animation, 3D modelling, VFX, motion graphics, illustration, creative photography, scriptwriting, digital artworks, painting, sculpture, set design, live theatre work, installation, or indeed any other creative work which you feel demonstrates relevant skills and creativities.
You are also required to include a brief description of the type of project you would like to undertake on the MA. This helps us to understand your interests and likely requirements - it will not commit you to a particular project at this stage.
We may be able to take relevant work experience into consideration if you don't meet the typical entry requirements. You are welcome to contact the Programme Director to discuss your suitability for the programme prior to submitting an application.
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each element.
These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
Selection process
Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an informal (online) interview/discussion with one of the programme team. This is to ensure that the course is a good fit for you and that you are a good fit for the course.
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
We recognise that many students enter their course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of ways.
If this applies to you, the recognition of prior learning process may mean you can join a course without the formal entry requirements, or at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience.
There are restrictions on some courses, and fees may be payable for certain claims. Please contact the Admissions team with any queries.
Scholarships and bursaries
Discover what scholarships and bursaries are available to support your studies.
Fees per year
Explore UKCISA’s website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the list of fees for all postgraduate courses.
- Fees for part-time routes are applicable in each year of the course
- These fees apply to the academic year 2027-28 only. Fees are reviewed annually, and tuition fees may increase for courses running over more than one year.
Read our tuition fees guidance to find out more about payment schedules and how to pay.
Additional costs
Find out more about additional costs that may be incurred during your time at Surrey.
Funding
You may be able to borrow money to help pay your tuition fees and support you with your living costs. Find out more about postgraduate student finance.
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Our code of practice for postgraduate taught admissions explains how the Admissions team considers applications and admits students. Read our postgraduate applicant guidance for more information on applying.
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Disclaimer
This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.
Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate; some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.