B.A. in Visual Effects

Project by Pilar Hernández, U-tad student

An universe to create.

Description

A degree designed and taught by top professionals. Bring your imagination to life.

The Visual Effects (VFX) industry will generate more than 25 billion euros globally this year and it maintains an annual growth rate of 11%, with a significant shortage of trained professionals and much higher employability nationally and internationally compared to other professions.

Visual effects or VFX have been tied to cinema since its origins, both to modify filmed settings and to show things that cameras couldn’t capture. With the digital transformation of audiovisual content, VFX has become a fundamental part of almost all audiovisual productions, whether to create impossible worlds, recreate the past, or simply eliminate anything that the director doesn’t want to show, in commercial films, games, series, or TV shows.

The Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Effects prepares you to work as a visual effects artist in companies that create digital elements for integration with live-action footage. An industry that has grown exponentially in recent years and where there is an increasing number of productions with heavy VFX shots, whether in feature films for cinema releases, or in series and movies for streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Apple TV+, etc. And not only in cinema and fiction, but this industry has a growing presence in advertising and video games.

University affiliated to:

Location: U-tad Campus
Schedule: Monday-Friday
ECTS: 240
Language: Spanish and English
Modality: In-person

Career opportunities

By studying the Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Effects, you can work as:

Digital compositor
Paint/Prep artist
Roto/Matchmove artist
Digital matte painting artist
VFX Production Coordinator
VFX Simulation artist
Character FX Artist
VFX development artist

Where Our Students Work

U-tad students work in the best companies and top international productions such as Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, The Jungle Book, Mission Impossible, Wonder Woman, Star Wars, Game of Thrones, The Lion King, Avengers: Endgame, and many more.

Partner companies

Projects and Awards

Your Project: Your best professional showcase

You will learn by practicing from the start of the first year, with real-world application of the knowledge that you have acquired and will develop your reel through teamwork, which will be vital for your future employability. Your projects will be your professional calling card, demonstrating your value as a professional.

Colrun - Shortfilm

Modelling

Lighting, Compositing & Matte Painting

Talent Awards

Awards are the greatest recognition of consistent effort and a job well done, whether as a team or individually.

In recent years our students have won more than 70 awards in all fields. Check them out!
Our students have worked on Oscar, Bafta, Goya and other international award winning productions such as Spiderma; Into the Spiderverse, Klaus and Buñuel en el Laberinto de las Tortugas.

Student Testimonials

90% of our students study with us because they were recommended by friends or acquaintances, who have already experienced U-tad and have become successful professionals.

I've always loved animated, fantasy, and science fiction films. Watching videos of how the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' films were made, I decided I wanted to work in this field. I discovered that U-tad offered the degree I was looking for. This is how I learned of all my professional options. Having multidisciplinary knowledge has been very helpful. Additionally, I really appreciate the fact that the teachers are industry professionals. At U-tad, I learned that you should dedicate yourself to what you are passionate for, even if you're not good at it at first. You get there through hard work and effort. I really liked matte painting, but I didn't see myself as capable of doing it professionally. I worked very hard in class and my professor helped me get the opportunity of trying it out professionally. And now I'm doing it! I work at El Ranchito, in the Matte Painting department. I've worked on Netflix's 'Lost in Space 2', Amazon's 'Hernán', Movistar+'s 'La Unidad', the film 'Way Down', and other projects yet to be announced. I dedicate myself to what I love to do.

Carlos SimónEl Ranchito VFX - Los Angeles

I have always been fascinated by science fiction films and movies with great visual effects. I didn't know that I could study this as an official degree, but then I found U-tad. It was then that I learned that I was able to professionally dedicate myself to what fascinated me so much.

The best thing about U-tad is the people around you, aside from the amazing courses and education, especially in subjects like VFX, compo, motion graphics, matte painting, etc.

I currently work for El Ranchito VFX. I've been with this company for about 3 years now, and I've worked on seasons 7 and 8 of 'Game Of Thrones’, 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom', 'John Wick 3', etc. What I like most about my job is that you face a new challenge every day, getting to see the final result and, above all, everything you learn in the process. It's very satisfying.

Álex RivasEl Ranchito VFX - Madrid

International mobility

At U-tad, you can spend a period of time of your degree at one of the top universities with which we have exchange agreements through the Erasmus program.

To get rid of any limitations, we have expanded our exchange opportunities with bilateral agreements of the universities located in America, Asia, and Oceania, in addition to Europe.

SVA (USA)
Griffith (Australia)
ArtFX (France)
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (China)
Falmouth University (UK)
Haute École Albert Jacquard (Belgium)
Universidad de Monterrey (Mexico)

The world is yours: go, learn, and immerse yourself in other cultures

Faculty

Gonzalo Martín Sánchez

Animation Academic Coordinator
Audiovisual producer

Samuel Viñolo Locubiche

Animation Academic Coordinator
Journalist and Teacher

Study plan

Course 1

Course name	ECTS	Type	Duration
Narrative and Elements of Visual Composition	6	B	1st quarter
Mathematics and physics for visual effects	6	B	1st quarter
Principles of 3D graphics	6	B	1st quarter
Geometric Representation Systems	6	B	1st quarter
Theory and Science of Color and Light	6	B	ANNUAL
Creative Thinking	3	OB	1st quarter
Photography	6	B	2nd quarter
Fundamentals of computer architecture	3	OB	2nd quarter
3D Modeling	6	OB	2nd quarter
Fundamentals of Graphic Design and Motion Graphics	6	B	2nd quarter
Script	3	OB	2nd quarter
Project I:	3	OB	2nd quarter

Course 2

Course name	ECTS	Type	Duration
3D Preview	6	B	1st quarter
Texturing & Shading	6	B	1st quarter
History of cinema and VFX	3	OB	1st quarter
Digital editing	6	B	1st quarter
Introduction to digital composition	6	OB	1st quarter
Introduction to Programming	6	OB	ANNUAL
Lighting & render I	6	OB	2nd quarter
VFX Production and Pipelines	6	OB	2nd quarter
Rigging and Animation for VFX	6	OB	2nd quarter
Composition I	6	OB	2nd quarter
Project II:	3	OB	2nd quarter

Course 3

Course name	ECTS	Type	Duration
FX and Simulation I	6	OB	1st quarter
Scripting for Composition	6	OB	1st quarter
Composition II	6	OB	1st quarter
Matte Painting	6	OB	1st quarter
Lighting & Render II	6	OB	1st quarter
Scripting for 3D visual effects	6	OB	2nd quarter
FX and Simulation II	6	OB	2nd quarter
Composition III	6	OB	2nd quarter
Matchmove and rotomation	3	OB	2nd quarter
Digital Society	3	OB	2nd quarter
Project III:	6	OB	2nd quarter

Course 4

Course name	ECTS	Type	Duration
Creating 3D Environments	6	OB	1st quarter
Visual effects supervision	6	OB	1st quarter
FX and Simulation III	6	OB	1st quarter
Final Degree Project	6	TFG	ANNUAL
Work Environment	6	OP	ANNUAL
Project IV:	6	OB	ANNUAL
Character FX	6	OB	2nd quarter
Virtual production	3	OB	2nd quarter
Technical composition	6	OP	2nd quarter
Procedural 3D creation	6	OP	2nd quarter
Training for employment	6	OP	2nd quarter
Internships	6	OP	2nd quarter
Business creation and development	3	OB	2nd quarter

Additional informartion / competencies

Location: U-tad Campus
Hours: Monday – Friday
ECTS: 240
Language: Spanish or English
Modality: In campus
Centre Attached to: Camilo José Cela University

Year of implementation: 2022-2023
Spots for new students in the Degree: 30
Branch of knowledge: Humanities

Minimum number of ECTS per type of registration and course:

	Minimum	Maximum
Full-time 1st course	60	60
Full-time rest of courses	30	75
Part-time 1st course	25	30
Part-time rest of courses	18	45

Competencies

Hours

Related studies

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is studied in the Visual Effects degree?

In the U-tad Bachelor’s Degree of Visual Effects, you will learn how to create digital effects for various audiovisual productions, including movies, series, advertising, and video games. The curriculum covers areas such as digital compositing, simulations, animation, matte painting, rotoscoping, match moving, VFX tool development, and visual effects production. Additionally, you will acquire skills in editing and audiovisual assembling, texturing and shading, synthetic lighting, and rendering, among other technical aspects essential to the VFX industry.

Do I need a specific high school diploma to enter the Visual Effects degree?

It is not mandatory to take a specific high school program to access the Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Effects. However, it is recommended to opt for the Arts track, which will provide a solid foundation in creative and visual disciplines. The Sciences and Technology track is also suitable, especially if you have an interest in the technical and programming aspects related to visual effects. Regardless of the chosen path, developing skills in design, computing, and creativity will be beneficial for a more comprehensive education in this field.

Is the U-tad Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Effects officially recognized?

Yes, the U-tad Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Effects is an official degree accredited by the Universidad Camilo José Cela, with a workload of 240 ECTS credits. This degree is officially recognized and qualifies you to professionally develop in the field of visual effects.

How long does the Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Effects last?

The Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Effects lasts for 4 years. During this period, you will receive extensive training that combines theoretical and practical knowledge, preparing you to face the challenges of the visual effects industry.

Why study Visual Effects at U-tad?

Studying Visual Effects at U-tad means immersing yourself in a hands-on and specialized education, taught by active industry professionals. U-tad has agreements with world-renowned animation and visual effects studios, facilitating internships and employment opportunities for its students. U-tad graduates have participated in major productions like “Game of Thrones,” “The Lion King,” “Star Wars,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” and “Avengers: Endgame,” among others. Furthermore, U-tad organizes masterclasses with industry experts, allowing you to stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies in visual effects.