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Kickstart your postgraduate journey at Brunel in January 2025

Digital Design (3D Animation) MSc

Key Information

Start date

January

September

Subject area

Digital Media

Mode of study

1 year full-time

2 years part-time

2 years full-time with placement

3 years part-time with placement

Fees

2025/26

UK £14,435

International £26,250

Scroll to #fees

Entry requirements

2:2

Scroll to #entryRequirements

Overview

Get a visual overview of this exciting programme by watching our colourful short video.

Our Digital Design MSc degree programme offers you a choice of three pathways: motion graphics, 3D animation, or immersive mixed reality. It's a modern, hands-on course that combines digital technology and creative design, and it's been designed to equip you with the advanced knowledge and practical skills necessary for a range of technology-oriented design roles in the creative digital industries.

You'll be able to choose one of the three available pathways of motion graphics, 3D animation or immersive mixed reality as your specialism, as well as selecting from a range of modules from other pathways as your optional module(s). This offers you the flexibility to switch to another specialism mid-term should you wish.

On this course, you’ll develop a deep understanding of advanced digital design working practices within the context of 3D animation and you'll develop advanced knowledge and skills from one of our other specialisms via your chosen module(s). You can see real examples of the kind of work you'll produce by viewing this showreel of project work by students graduating in 2024.

Our modern, industry-standard digital media facilities include an immersive virtual environment laboratory, a green screen and post-production studio, motion capture, photography, and sound studios, 360° VR and up to 12K cameras, lenses, motion controllers and lights, and a dedicated render farm. You'll have independent access to exclusive PC and Mac computing workshops and benefit from the latest industry standard specialist software for graphics and image/video editing, game development, 3D animation, digital compositing, and rich interactive content creation.

A calendar highlight is the degree show. Exhibiting your creative work at this event is a great way for you to connect with leading creative technologists and showcase your talent.

Brunel’s digital design master's courses are fully accredited and industry recognised by ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the UK’s screen-based industries. They carry the ScreenSkills Select quality mark which indicates they are best suited to prepare you for a career in the screen industries.

Brunel’s digital media courses are the only courses accredited by ScreenSkills in the areas of design, animation and VFX within London and the South East.

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You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.

Course content

You'll study four compulsory modules, which includes a dissertation module, and one optional module. This will give you an impressive portfolio of work, including a convincing digital artefact centrepiece developed as part of the dissertation.

Compulsory

  • Digital Design
    This module aims to gain knowledge and understanding of the fundamental elements of digital design through theory lectures and guided project work. Students to develop digital design skills through project-centred approach, focusing on the demands of the contemporary design business practice.
  • Digital Media Technologies
    This module aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the video production workflow used for promotion, which would include pre-production, production and post-production.
  • 3D Animation
    This module aims to enable students to understand both technical and aesthetic aspects of 3D animation and performance capture. It provide students with a creative approach to understanding CGI production and pipelines and develop understanding in 3D animation.
  • Major Project (Dissertation)
    This module aims to develop a digital branding artefact such as a collection of viral videos or a viral game. Students to undertake the full life cycle of branding management, including market research (product and user), budget development, media planning and distribution, and evaluation of branding project effectiveness.

Optional

  • Digital Branding Strategy
    This module aims to provide a professional and comprehensive understanding of digital branding, its relationship with design and its impact on contemporary business, organisations and society
  • Brand Experience Design
    This module aims to develop theoretical and practical understanding of brand experience design and digital branding and marketing communications channels and means (e.g. Social Media Marketing, Online Advertising, e-mail marketing, etc.)
  • Motion Graphics
    Develop the students’ practical skills and creative competence in the production of motion graphics, animated typography, post-production and compositing. Employ an understanding of the multiple outlets for motion design, and an appreciation of the application of design theory. To develop a practical understanding of, and an ability to produce, motion graphics in a variety of motion graphic design applications at a professional level.
  • Immersive Mixed Reality Design
    This module aims to develop knowledge and expertise of the key principles of Augmented and Virtual Reality design and development within the context of immersive mixed reality and digital media. To develop knowledge and experience in the state-of-the-art technologies and applications of Immersive Mixed Reality, using scripting and digital media solutions and tools. Students will particularly be able to critically and creatively apply knowledge towards production of interactive Augmented and Virtual Reality content.

This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.

This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.


Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Careers and your future

A digital design degree from Brunel prepares you for a matching career in Motion Graphics, 3D Animation and Immersive Mixed Reality.

Brunel’s one London campus makes it an easy access point for the largely London-based creative industries hub within the UK and therefore to the variety of job opportunities available in and around the region.

Our past graduates have taken on digital design roles as UX designers, interaction designers, digital product designers, web designers, creative directors, visual / graphic designers, and brand managers within a range of agencies, studios, and companies around the world.

UK entry requirements

  • A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree, or equivalent internationally recognised qualification, in design; computer engineering; IT or a related discipline.

Other related subjects with evidence of design experience (minimum 3 years) will be considered on an individual basis.

Please note that we do not require a Design portfolio as part of the application for this programme. In the unlikely event that we do need this we will contact you.

EU and International entry requirements

If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6 (min 5.5 in all areas)
  • Pearson: 59 (59 in all sub scores)
  • BrunELT: 58% (min 55% in all areas)
  • TOEFL: 77 (min R18, L17, S20, W17) 

You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.

Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.

Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.

Fees and funding

2025/26 entry

UK

£14,435 full-time

£7,215 part-time

£1,385 placement year

International

£26,250 full-time

£13,125 part-time

£1,385 placement year

More information on any additional course-related costs.

Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase. 

See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.

Scholarships and bursaries

Teaching and learning

Our digital media degrees are delivered by a multidisciplinary teaching team. This means you’ll be learning from staff with experience in the digital industry, as well as staff from academia, including researchers. They'll encourage individuality and support you to create innovative work.

Your study will combine seminars, tutorials, media workshops and studio sessions, independent learning, and individual and group project work.

Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.

Assessment and feedback

Your progress will be assessed via individual and group digital design assignments, demonstrations and presentations, structured debates, and your individual dissertation project.

Therefore, you won't be required to take any written exams.

Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.