Special Effects for Film & TV MA

Are you ready to elevate your career in the film and TV industry? This MA in Special Effects for Film & TV, developed in collaboration with industry professionals, enables you to specialise and refine your skills and knowledge in either Prosthetics and Makeup Effects or Props and Modelmaking. 

Split between our High Wycombe Campus and BNU teaching base at Pinewood studios, you’ll have access to state-of-the-art facilities and industry insights from professionals, all whilst studying right in the heart of the famous creative hub.

Why study MA Special Effects for Film & TV at BNU?

BNU teaching base at Pinewood

Studying at both our High Wycombe campus and teaching base at Pinewood Studios, you’ll be able to get a feel for life on set, develop your skills and understanding of this fast-paced industry, all right in the hustle and bustle of a working studio.

Facilities

Our industry standard facilities are here to help you produce your most creative ideas. We will build your confidence in using the latest post-production software. Our other specialist resources including:

  • CNC and laser cutter machines
  • prototyping workshops equipped with advanced tools
  • prosthetics lab
  • industry standard capture devices (still and moving)
  • photography studios equipped with flash and LED lighting
  • blue/green screen video studio
  • computer suites

At every step you’ll be supported by a dedicated team of technicians who will provide you with advice, technical assistance and support to realise your assignment briefs and final project.

Expert-teaching

The MA in Special Effects for Film & TV is led by a dedicated and experienced course team, you’ll benefit from their industry knowledge and the industry links they bring to the course. Many of our guest lecturers are specialists based at various studios all over the country. 

As part of the Art, Design and Performance School at BNU, you’ll benefit from a practiced-based course, supported by contextual studies. You’ll also have the opportunity to work collaboratively across the school with other courses, ensuring during your studies you are building a varied network, like you would in the real world. 

With a history of delivery expert craft, art and design education for more than 130 years, Buckinghamshire New University is the perfect place to start your creative career in special effects makeup, props or modelmaking. 

Location

With London and Oxford only a short train ride away, you will also experience visits to outside bodies, such as prop stores, sets and set stores, material suppliers and manufacturing professionals and museums.

What will I study?

This MA enables you to focus your studies either on the conceptualisation, design and crafting of prosthetics makeup effects production or towards the design and crafting of props, model-making, animatronics design and fabrication technologies.

This taught course is industry-focused and will provide opportunities for you to engage with a broad range of skills and techniques required within special effects production for film and TV and associated creative industries.

You’ll delve into the interpretation of scripted and envisioned concepts requires innovative thinking, originality and imagination and pre-visualisation, coupled with practical skills to carry the projects through problem-solving to completion. 

MA Award
September Start
Full-time Study Mode
1 years Duration

Entry Requirements For This Course

For entry requirements please visit the course page. 

Location of Buckinghamshire New University