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UNIVERSITY OF KENT AT CANTERBURY
UKC Programme Specification
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the
programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected
to achieve and demonstrate if he/she passes the programme. More detailed information
on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each
module can be found [either by following the links provided or in the programme
handbook]. The accuracy of the information contained in this specification is reviewed by
the University and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
MSc, PG Diploma Computer Animation
1. Awarding Institution/Body University of Kent
2. Teaching Institution University of Kent
3. Teaching Site Canterbury campus
4. Programme accredited by:
5. Final Award MSc, PG Diploma
6. Programme Computer Animation
7. UCAS code (or other code)
8. Relevant QAA subject benchmarking Communication, media, film and cultural
group/s studies
9. Date of production/revision January 2005 revised September 2006 (v2)
10. Applicable cohort/s 2006 entry onwards
11. Educational Aims of the Programme
The programme aims to:
1. Enable students to develop their knowledge and understanding within the field of 3D
Computer Animation which will equip them to become professionals in the Animation
and Visual Effects Industry.
2. Produce professionally-trained animators who are highly skilled in using state of the
art 3D animation software for producing animated films.
3. Provide proper academic guidance and welfare support for all students.
4. Create an atmosphere of co-operation and partnership between staff and students, and
offer the students an environment where they can develop their potential.
12. Programme Outcomes
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The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate
knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas.
Teaching/learning and assessment
methods and strategies used to enable
outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated
Knowledge and Understanding
A. Knowledge and understanding of:
1. The computer animation production Teaching/learning
process and pipeline roles. Lectures; problem-solving examples classes;
2. The principles and practices of directed work followed by review classes; PC-
animated film development. based laboratory classes and assignments;
3. The technical terms and methods project management workshop; dissertation
used in film editing. project.
4. The constraints and terminology of a
professional animation environment. Assessment
5. Current developments in the Assessed coursework in the form of PC-based
computer animation industry and assignments, assessed group presentation and
related market sectors. essay; individual project presentation and
6. The relevance of animation within dissertation.
the contemporary television and film
industries.
7. Contemporary business practice in
the Computer Animation Industry.
Skills and Other Attributes
B. Intellectual skills:
1. Analysis and interpretation of Teaching/learning
animation issues. Lectures; workshop assignments; sourcing
2. Ability to work within an animation information for essay and group presentation;
process and to contribute to this. all aspects of project work, including
3. Ability to identify and solve complex formulation of specification for the project.
problems and issues in the
generation of an animation. Assessment
4. Ability to undertake constructive Assessed coursework from PC-based
research and development of assignments, essay; project presentation and
character performance in animation. dissertation.
5. Ability to demonstrate
independence and creative and
critical thinking.
Outcome specific to MSc programme:
6. Ability to evaluate creatively evidence
to support conclusions.
C. Subject-specific skills:
1. Use of appropriate software tools, Teaching/learning
techniques and packages to produce Lectures/workshop classes; PC-based
and develop computer animated laboratories and assignments; project work.
films or film segments.
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2. Ability to use drawing as a way of Assessment
planning, visualising and explaining Assessed assignments; project presentation
work in a time-based 3D medium. and dissertation.
3. Ability to read and make story-
boards and animatics at a
professional level.
4. Ability to apply management
techniques to the planning, resource
allocation and execution of an
animation project.
5. Ability to prepare reports and
presentations relevant to the design
and production of computer
animations.
D. Transferable skills:
1. Ability to generate, analyse, present Teaching/learning
and interpret data; These pervade all modules; they are developed
2. Use of Information and through workshops, and in particular, through
Communications Technology; project work.
3. Personal and interpersonal skills,
work as a member of a team; Assessment
4. Communicate effectively (in writing, The skills are not formally assessed in
verbally and through drawings); themselves although all except 5 have an
5. Learn effectively for the purpose of impact on the assessment of assignments,
continuing professional essays, presentations and the dissertation.
development;
6. Ability for critical thinking, reasoning
and reflection;
7. Ability to manage time and resources
within an individual project and a
group project.
For more information on which modules provide which skills, see the module mapping.
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and awards
The programme normally lasts for 1 year and leads to the MSc degree, but may be taken
part-time over two years. The programme consists of two stages, and students will need
to meet University progression requirements before proceeding from stage one to stage
two. The programme is arranged so that the taught component is given over two 12 week
terms with three modules taught in each term. The programme begins with an intensive
four week period where students take the Animation Setup module which is a 15 credit
module consisting of 150 hours of student learning, endeavour and assessment. This is
followed by two further 15 credit taught modules which are taught in parallel allowing
part-time students to take one module per year over two years. In the second term, three
20 credit taught modules, consisting of approximately 200 hours of student learning,
endeavour and assessment are taken in parallel over a twelve week period. Students take
either the Character Animation option or the Visual Effects option. At the end of the
second term, students work on an intensive 4 week group project (Working with Plates)
which has a credit value of 15. Stage 2 consists of the main Computer Animation Project
which has a credit value of 60. From the end of the Working with Plates group project
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until the end of the academic year, the students work full-time on their main project. All
credits are at level M. Part-time students must complete the 6 taught modules before they
can proceed onto the project modules.
To be eligible for the MSc degree, students must obtain 180 credits at level M. Students
successfully completing the taught modules and either not progressing or failing EL830,
the Computer Animation Project, will be eligible for the award of a Post-Graduate Diploma
in Computer Animation. At its discretion the University allows for narrow failure in a
small proportion of modules to be compensated by good performance in other modules
or, in cases of documented illness or other mitigating circumstances, condoned. Failure in
certain modules, however, may not be compensated and/or condoned, as indicated by the
symbol * below.
The programme detailed below is subject to change. Please check handbooks for further
details of the modules.
Code Title Level Credits Term/s
Stage One
Required Modules
EL831 Animation Setup M 15 (*) 1
EL832 Animation Principles M 15 1
EL834 Previsualisation M 20 2
EL835 Action in Animation M 20 2
EL837 Working with Plates M 15 (*) 3
Character Animation Option
EL833 Visual Training M 15 1
EL836 Acting in Animation M 20 2
Visual Effects Option
EL839 Effects Animation M 15 1
EL862 High Definition Compositing M 20 2
Stage Two
Required Module
EL830 Computer Animation Project M 60 (*) 3+Summer
14. Support for Students and Their Learning
Induction programme for new students consisting of: introduction to the Department
and programme and meeting MSc course chairman; introduction to the Library and
computing facilities.
Course Handbook with details of all the courses, modules, lecture syllabi, and
comprehensive study information.
Health and Safety booklet given at the beginning of each academic year.
Library skills package given at the beginning of each academic year. Also, various free
courses are given on usage of Library resources, including Internet based catalogue
system of the large collection of books and journals, usage of networked CD-ROMs, and
access to the Internet. The annual Electronics Library fund is about £60,000, i.e. about
£180 per student. Copies of course texts are also held in the MSc room, for reference
only.
Student: staff ratio of 17.22. Due to recent staff retirements and increased student
numbers this ratio is quite large. We are currently recruiting new staff to reduce this
ratio.
Learning resources include computing and multimedia facilities, a dedicated classroom
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and experimental laboratories all within the Electronics building and on the campus.
Many of the rooms contain audio-visual equipment and computer projectors.
Academic support comes from the MSc Course Chairman who is responsible for the
students’ pastoral care and departmental administration.
Central support services includes: confidential Counselling Service, Medical Centre,
college Sick Bays, Faculty Concessions Committee, Hardship Fund, Careers Advisory
Service, Disability Officer, and Educational Support Services. The latter offer various
evening courses on study, revision and examination techniques, time management,
remedial Mathematics, etc.
University and Department of Electronics web pages with comprehensive information
regarding all aspects of studies at Kent.
Electronics Web Portal with full module information, course materials, timetables, etc.
15. Entry Profile
Entry Route
For fuller information, please refer to the University postgraduate prospectus.
The normal requirements are for an Undergraduate Honours Degree at 2.1 level or
equivalent in Multimedia, Art or Design, or similar. A portfolio of work should be
presented.
What does this programme have to offer?
An excellent grounding in the principles and practices of animated film developed.
The development of the ability to apply management techniques to the planning,
resource allocation and execution of an animation project.
The development of a broad range of skills that are highly sought after by employers
and which open up a career in a highly creative area of the film industry.
Personal Profile
A desire to become a professional computer animator working in the animation and
visual effects industry.
A willingness to work with computers and use state of the art animation tools.
A desire to create an outstanding show-reel to use as a showcase of your skills.
16. Methods for evaluating and enhancing the quality and standards of teaching and
learning
Mechanisms for review and evaluation of teaching, learning, assessment, the curriculum
and outcome standards
Continuous monitoring of student progress and attendance
Student evaluations: lecture, project and laboratory feedback forms; staff-student
meetings; student representations at Board of Studies, discussions with tutors
Unit team meetings and annual module reports
Course Executives and Board of Studies reviews of teaching
Departmental annual monitoring reports
External examiners' reports
Periodic programme review
External accreditation
Annual staff appraisal
Peer observation
Committees with responsibility for monitoring and evaluating quality and standards
Departmental Quality Assurance Committee
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Unit teams
Course Executives
Board of Studies
Board of Examiners
Department Learning and Teaching Committee
Faculty Learning and Teaching Committee
Board of Learning and Teaching
Mechanisms for gaining student feedback on the quality of teaching and their learning
experience
Student evaluations: lecture, project and laboratory feedback forms
General Meeting of Electronics Staff and Students
Student representation on Board of Studies
Discussions with tutors
Monitoring of Year Newsgroups (each year and each course has an Internet discussion
newsgroup)
Staff development priorities include:
Minimum expected qualification for appointment
PGCHE requirements for new members of staff
Membership of the Higher Education Academy.
Staff appraisal scheme
Staff development courses
Professional body requirements
Committee and unit team responsibilities
Research seminars
Conferences
17. Indicators of quality and standards
Teaching Quality Assessment by HEFCE, March 1997: grading of 21 out of a maximum
24 points:
Curriculum Design Content and Organisation = 4
Teaching Learning and Assessment = 3
Student Support and Guidance = 4
Student Progression and Achievement = 4
Learning Resources = 3
Quality Management and Enhancement = 3
Department was awarded Grade 4 in the 2001 Research Selectivity Exercise.
The Department ranked first among all similar departments in the UK in both the 2005
and 2006 National Student Surveys.
The following reference points were used in creating these specifications:
QAA benchmarking statements for Communication, media, film and cultural studies
Skillset benchmarking statements for Computer Animation
Departmental Learning and Teaching Strategy
The University Plan and Learning and Teaching Strategy
6
Curriculum Map for MSc and PGDip in Computer Animation
Explanation. This map provides a design aid to help academic staff identify where the programme outcomes are being developed and
assessed within the course. The map shows only the main measurable learning outcomes. There are many more outcomes in the module
specifications. Shading represents skills that pervade all units.
Modules Programme Outcomes
Codes A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7
Animation Setup EL831 x x x x x x x x x x x
Animation Principles EL832 x x x x x x x x
Previsualisation EL834 x x x x x x x x x x x x
Action in Animation EL835 x x x x x x x x x x x
Working with Plates EL837 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Computer Animation Project EL830 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Visual Training EL833 o o o o o o
Acting in Animation EL836 o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Effects Animation EL839 o o o o o o o o o o o o
High Definition Compositing EL862 o o o o o o o o
Knowledge and understanding Professional Practical Skills
A1 The computer animation production process and pipeline roles. C1 Use of appropriate software tools, techniques and packages to produce and
develop computer animated films or film segments.
A2 The principles and practices of animated film development. C2 Ability to use drawing as a way of planning, visualising and explaining work in
a time-based 3D medium
A3 The technical terms and methods used in film editing. C3 Ability to read and make story-boards and animatics at a professional level.
A4 The constraints and terminology of a professional animation environment. C4 Ability to apply management techniques to the planning, resource allocation
and execution of an animation project.
A5 Current developments in the computer animation industry and related market C5 Ability to prepare reports and presentations relevant to the design and
sectors. production of computer animations.
A6 The relevance of animation within the contemporary television and film industries
A7 Contemporary business practice in the Computer Animation Industry.
Intellectual Skills Transferable/Key Skills
B1 Analysis and interpretation of animation issues. D1 Ability to generate, analyse, present and interpret data
B2 Ability to work within an animation process and to contribute to this. D2 Use of Information and Communications Technology
B3 Ability to identify and solve complex problems and issues in the generation of an D3 Personal and interpersonal skills
animation.
B4 Ability to undertake constructive research and development of character D4 Effective communication
performance in animation.
B5 Ability to demonstrate independence and creative and critical thinking. D5 Learn effectively for continuing professional development
B6 Ability to evaluate creatively evidence to support conclusions. D6 Critical thinking, reasoning and reflection
D7 Time and resource management
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