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Visual Effects for Film TV & Animation - Clonmel

Higher Education CAO
US810

What is this course about?
Are you interested in learning how to create the latest Visual Effects you see in Film, TV, and adverts? On this course you will learn how to create and develop high quality digital content for the visual effects and 3D animation industry.

Award Name Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ)
NFQ Classification Major
Awarding Body Technological University of the Shannon
NFQ Level Level 8 NFQ
Award Name NFQ Classification Awarding Body NFQ Level
Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) Major Technological University of the Shannon Level 8 NFQ
Course Provider:
Location:
Clonmel
Attendance Options:
Daytime, Full time
Qualification Letters:
BSc Hons
Apply to:
CAO

Duration

4 years
Class Contact Hours:
Year 1: 24 hours per week
Year 2: 22 hours per week
Year 3: 20 hours per week
Year 4: 18 hours per week

Specific Subjects or course requirements

A minimum of 2 H5 & 4 O6/H7 grades in six Leaving Certificate subjects, including Mathematics and English or Irish.

The presentation of a Portfolio of selected work or an interview and assessment is also required.

Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements

Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Foundation Level Irish
Foundation Level Irish at Grade F2 will meet the minimum language requirement for all courses.

Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will be awarded to any CAO applicant who has gained a grade H6 or higher in Leaving Certificate Honours Mathematics. For example, if an applicant receives a H6 grade an additional 25 points will be added to the 46 points already awarded for a H6 grade i.e. Higher Level Mathematics now carries a points score of 71 for this applicant.

Foundation Level Mathematics*
Foundation Level Mathematics at Grade F2 or higher is acceptable as meeting the Mathematics requirement for the following courses:

Courses located in Limerick, Thurles and Ennis Campuses:
US808/US703 Music Production & Technology
US807/US702 Creative Broadcast & Film Production
US920/US922 Social Care Work (Limerick / Thurles)
US923/US781 Social Care Work (Ennis)
US640 Sports Development & Coaching
US954/US785 Sports Development & Performance
US953/US787 Business Studies with Sports Management
US941/US791 Business Studies with Event Management
US940/US790 Business Studies with Travel & Tourism Management
US946/US792 Business Studies with Beauty & Spa Management
US927/US783 Early Childhood Education & Care
US931 Culinary Entrepreneurship
US795/US631 Culinary Arts

Courses located in Athlone Campus:
US926/US780 Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC)
US782 Applied Social Studies in Social Care
US921 Social Care Practice
US700 Graphic Design
US802 Animation and Illustration
US803 Graphic and Digital Design
US778 Animation and Illustration

*Please note, this list is correct at the time of print

GARDA VETTING
To ensure the protection of the public and justify public trust and confidence, TUS uses the Garda Vetting Unit (GCVU) service to assess the suitability of applicants to courses:

Athlone based courses:
US877 General Nursing
US878 Mental Health Nursing
US921 Social Care Practice
US780/US926 Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC)
US782 Applied Social Studies in Social Care
US950 Nutrition and Health Science
US951 Sport Science Exercise Physiology
US956 Athletic and Rehabilitation Therapy
US957 Physical Activity and Health Science
US788 Exercise and Health Science

Limerick, Thurles and Ennis based courses:
US801 Art & Design Teacher Education (Limerick)
US640 Sports Development & Coaching (Limerick)
US958/US786 Applied Sports Science with Strength & Conditioning (Thurles)
US959/US789 Applied Sports Science with Performance Technology (Thurles)
US953/US787 Business Studies with Sports Management (Limerick)
US954/US785 Sports Development & Performance (Limerick)
US927/US783 Early Childhood Education & Care (Limerick)
US940/US790 Business Studies with Travel & Tourism Management (Limerick)
US941/US791 Business Studies with Event Management (Limerick)
US920/US922 Social Care Work (Limerick/Thurles)
US923/US781 Social Care Work (Ennis)
US928 Community & Addiction Studies (Limerick)

Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP

Students apply through the CAO in the normal way. The LCVP module will be considered as a passing module provided the applicant achieves at least a pass grade. This will apply for entry to Honours Degree (Level 8), Ordinary Degree (Level 7) and Higher Certificate (Level 6) courses.

Points will be awarded for LCVP Link Modules as follows:
Pass: 28 points Merit: 46 points Distinction: 66 points

Leaving Certificate Applied Programme LCAP

The LCA subjects do not meet the minimum entry requirements for admission to academic courses at TUS and are not considered passing subjects. Holders of the Leaving Certificate Applied programme may wish to undertake a QQI FET course in order to gain eligibility for entry to third level courses at TUS.

QQI FET Applicants General Information

QQI-FET/FETAC
TUS accepts QQI-FET/FETAC awards for entry on all courses of study. The following minimum entry requirements will apply to graduates of QQI-FET/FETAC qualifications who are seeking admission to courses at TUS.

HIGHER CERTIFICATE (LEVEL 6)
Minimum entry: A full QQI FET/FETAC Level 5 award totalling 120 credits.

AB-INITIO BACHELOR DEGREE (LEVEL 7)
Minimum entry: A full QQI FET/FETAC Level 5 award totalling 120 credits.

AB-INITIO HONOURS BACHELOR DEGREE (LEVEL 8)
Minimum entry: A full QQI FET/FETAC Level 5 award totalling 120 credits and including a Distinction Grade in at least three modules.

Please note that special requirements may exist for particular courses, for example, a requirement
for a particular subject such as Mathematics.

A full QQI FET/FETAC award normally contains 8 modules.
A full award may be accumulated over more than one academic year. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the applicant to contact QQI FET/FETAC for a full award where programmes are taken over more than one year. A QQI FET/FETAC Level 5 or Level 6 Record of Achievement does not meet the minimum entry standards.

The maximum possible total score will be multiplied by 13 and divided by 12, to give a maximum overall points score of 390 for applicants from further education and training.

If a QQI FET/FETAC applicant also presents a Leaving Certificate, the CAO will use whichever is the better.
Applicants to Restricted Application courses or courses where a Portfolio is required will have their Portfolio Score added to their QQI FET/FETAC Score

QQI FET Entry Requirements

Careers / Further progression

What can I do after this course?
Ireland’s Film and Animation sectors are booming. National and international growth has created a real need for creative graduates who possess a unique blend of artistic and technological skills.

Graduates will have a range of industry ready skills that make them highly employable across TV, feature film, media and social media, including a variety of roles such as: Creature/ Character Animators, Lighting, Rigging, Effects, Look Development, Texture Artist, Layout, Compositing, Production Management, Creature Modeller, Character Designer, Matte Painting, Concept Art, Technical Director, FX Artists.

Course Web Page

Further information

Trade Qualifications
A trade applicant, seeking admission to the first year of a course, should do so through the CAO. Such application may be on the basis of National Craft Certificate, Senior Trades or Advanced Tourism Certification Board (NTCB)/QQI qualifications, instead of, or in addition to, Leaving Certificate results. TUS welcomes applications from such candidates. Possession of these awards at advanced level normally qualifies an applicant for entry to TUS.

Other Qualifications
Applicants with qualifications other than those listed above (including EU and overseas qualifications) should apply in the usual way, giving full details of their qualifications/application category on their application.

At LSAD we celebrate creativity. Our wide range of courses, specialising in everything from fine art, design to digital content creation, are intended to empower creativity in all its forms and produce valued sought-after graduates. Some of our courses ask you, the prospective student, to submit a portfolio of work so that we can reward your creativity, and you can showcase your passions and skills. Your portfolio of work is all about you and can contain creative content from your school or personal life.

Courses US800 First Year Art and Design (Common Entry), US801 Art and Design Teacher Education, US805 Digital Animation, US806 Game Art and Design, US810 Visual Effects for Film, TV and Animation, and US811 Interior Design require applicants to successfully complete a Portfolio for assessment prior to entry.

Digital Portfolio
Applicants will be required to submit their portfolio online. A Digital Portfolio is a digital representation of your creative skills, abilities, interests, and personality. It can include photographs and videos of your physical work, such as, painting, sculptures and fashion items; as well as files containing your digital work, such as, digital art, images, photography, 3D models, designs, videos and animation. Your digital portfolio can also include videos of notebooks containing research, sketches, and exploratory work.

How to Apply
All applications should be made through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Approximately mid to late February,the LSAD Administration Office will send applicants an invitation to submit a digital portfolio, online. The portfolio assessment is carried out by a team of Art and Design staff and applicants are notified, within a few days, of their portfolio score.

Further details with guideline video available via this link https://tus.ie/lsad/portfolio/

Entry 2024

Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm

Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm

Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm

Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm

Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.

LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.

Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.

If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.

Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.

Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.

Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.

Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:

General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices

Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course

Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants

Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR

This course is designed to develop your artistic and technical ability to produce world-class 3D content so that you can work in the VFX and 3D animation industry as artists, content creators and designers for film, TV and animation both nationally and internationally.

Why take this course?
This is an industry-focused course developed by ex-industry professionals who have worked for internationally renowned studios like Double Negative (Inception, The Dark Knight, Blade Runner 2049) and Screen Scene (Captain Marvel, Game of Thrones).

This course is suited to individuals with an artistic ability who have an interest in film making, animation and digital content creation, who wish to work in the film, TV or animation industry as VFX artists, 3D content creators and designers by combining their artistic creativity with technical know-how. If you want to learn movie industry leading content creations tools, techniques and workflows, this is the course for you.

Modules at a glance:
There are four main streams of study:
- 3D Asset Creation, where you will learn to develop movie quality 3D models from initial design and concept through to modelling, texturing and lighting. You will learn how to create high end 3D vehicles, weapons, environments, characters and creatures.
- 3D Animation and VFX, you will learn the fundamentals of 3D animation as well as FX animation e.g. water fire, magic, destruction.
- CG Filmmaking and Compositing, here you will learn how to bring elements such as your shot footage, Environments, CG Characters, FX and composite them into your final short films.
- Transversal Skills is where we concentrate upon personal, professional and portfolio development.

Other Information:
Work Placement in Year 3
Optional Industry Based Internship in Year 4

Mr. Richard Gavin, Course Leader
Tel: 0504 28490
Email: Richard.Gavin@tus.ie

Course Provider:
Location:
Clonmel
Attendance Options:
Daytime, Full time
Qualification Letters:
BSc Hons
Apply to:
CAO