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Virtual Production MSc

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  • Level of study:
    Masters
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information
  • Start date:
    September 2026
  • Duration:
    One year
  • Attendance:
    Full-time
  • Course delivery:
    On-campus (City Campus)
Virtual Production

About this course

Virtual Production is transforming the creative landscape—reshaping how stories are imagined, designed, and delivered across film, television, immersive media, and beyond.

This MSc invites you to explore Virtual Production not only as a set of cutting-edge tools but as a creative frontier for experimentation, collaboration, and innovation.

Rather than simply learning existing workflows, you’ll interrogate and reimagine them—pushing boundaries to discover new aesthetic, narrative, and technical possibilities. From your first semester, you’ll gain hands-on experience with industry-standard technologies such as LED volumes, Unreal Engine, motion capture, and real-time rendering, while also engaging with speculative approaches that challenge conventional production practices.

Our purpose-built Virtual Production Stage provides a dynamic environment for practical exploration, enabling you to prototype ideas, test emerging techniques, and develop projects that range from commercial applications to experimental art forms. You’ll have opportunities to collaborate with peers across filmmaking, animation, game design, and performance disciplines, as well as connect with leading industry partners, positioning your work at the intersection of creativity and technology.

  • Gain hands-on industry experience

    Gain real-world experience so you have the practical skills necessary to make it in your industry.

  • Use industry-standard equipment

    Learn how to use specialist tech and equipment including Maya, Unreal Engine and Black Magic cameras.

  • Work on live briefs

    Boost your CV and industry connections by working on live briefs set by industry giants. Previous students have worked on briefs from big names including Splendour and BBC Children in Need.

  • Study in the heart of Nottingham

    One of Europe’s top 25 student cities, and home to over 75,000 learners.

The curriculum balances technical proficiency with critical inquiry. You’ll engage in immersive workshops on In-Camera Visual Effects (ICVFX), pre-visualisation, and real-time pipelines, while also developing research skills to question the cultural, ethical, and environmental implications of Virtual Production. Over three semesters, you’ll move from conceptual design to full-scale production and evaluation—culminating in a major project that reflects your unique vision and professional aspirations.

Whether you aim to shape the future of cinematic storytelling, design interactive experiences, or pioneer new forms of live performance, this course equips you with the creative and technical expertise to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry—and to imagine what comes next.

Module information

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the course:

Core Modules

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

Student experience

  • Akshay Raman Baskar Raman

    Games, Animation and VFX student

    “NTU’s pioneering Virtual Production facilities, especially the LED wall, gave me the real‑time industry experience that shaped my career.”

    Read Akshay Raman's profile
  • Nakul Rajesh Agle

    Nakul Rajesh Agle

    Games, Animation and VFX student

    “The facilities are excellent, especially the virtual production studio, green screen stage, motion capture system, and high‑end workstations.”

    Read Nakul Rajesh's profile

Student Work

Video Gallery

 

How you're taught

Work based learning and industry engagement are at the heart of this course. Students will engage with live and technical events to produce Virtual Production content working with professionals and students on other Postgraduate pathways to deliver tailor made content.

Collaboration and networking with industry professionals through our multiple industry links within the wider creative technology community will also be an integral part of the course.

Artificial Intelligence and Innovation in Virtual Production

The MSc Virtual Production course recognises the expanding role of AI across real time and screen based production. Students explore AI both as a practical tool for asset creation, motion capture workflows and as a topic for critical and ethical reflection. The course supports students in developing responsible, transparent and future focused approaches to AI, understanding both its potential and its limitations. Where AI contributes to project work, students are required to clearly state how it has been used.

Contact hours

For each 20-credit module, you’ll spend about 200 hours learning overall. Around 40 of those hours will be taught in lectures or seminars. The rest of the time is for independent study, reading, research, or working on assignments.

Entry requirements

UK students

Academic entry requirements: A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree, or an appropriate equivalent, i.e. a professional qualification, from a recognised British or overseas institution, in a related subject.

  • Non-standard applicants with at least three years' industry experience are also welcome to apply.
  • Applicants who do not fully satisfy the general criteria will be considered if they are able to demonstrate that they are capable of successfully undertaking and completing the programme at the required standard. Eligibility may be determined by means of an interview for some applicants.
  • Applicants who have been taught and assessed in languages other than English should have an English language equivalent to IELTS 6.5.

Other requirements: You'll be invited to an informal interview after you submit your application, to determine your project ideas, your fit with the course, and to discuss your aspirations.

International students

Academic entry requirements: Bachelor’s degree grade 2:2 or equivalent qualification.

We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.

English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.
  • £11,100 per year

Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including scholarships, discounts and loans.

Scholarships

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies. See which courses are eligible for scholarships.

Alumni discount

We’re happy to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni. This discount is currently available for those starting an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.

Postgraduate loans

There is a government postgraduate loan scheme for Masters degrees. The loan contributes towards costs of study, and students can put it towards tuition fees, maintenance costs or other costs at their discretion. Find out more about postgraduate loans.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.
  • £18,300

Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including scholarships, discounts and loans.

Scholarships

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies. See which courses are eligible for scholarships.

Alumni discount

We’re happy to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni. This discount is currently available for those starting an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money, the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment as part of your offer conditions. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, in order to enrol on the course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about your advance payment, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

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Cost of living in Nottingham
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Our student benefits and free services
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Money advice for international students

Careers and employability

Our aim is for you to graduate with a standout portfolio, entering a career in areas such as film and TV production, games production, sound design, live events, and digital content production.

The type of roles could include virtual production coordinator, virtual production TD, DOP, VFX technical director, immersive sound designer, asset designer, production engineer, games engine technical artist, virtual graphics artist, and games engine specialist.

  • Employability Promise

    Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).

  • Assessed work-like experience

    We’ve embedded at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience into all of our courses. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in real-world scenarios, build your confidence, and develop the experience employers are looking for.

  • NTU Enterprise

    If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Campus and facilities

On this course you’ll study across various facilities located on our City Campus.

You’ll have access to:

  • 37m2 green screen studio
  • 48m2 Motion capture Studio
  • 24 seat post-production lab with Dual Screen PC workstations
  • 25 seat screening room with Dolby Atmos audio facilities
  • Specialist software including Nuke, Mari, Houdini, ZBrush, PF Track & Unreal Engine
  • Full Autodesk Suite (Maya, 3DS Max, Mudbox)
  • Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Photoshop)
  • Industry-standard cameras from Sony and Blackmagic
  • Wacom Cintiq 13HD touch tablets
  • Foley suite
  • Production and meeting rooms
  • Access to audio post-production equipment.

City Campus

City Campus boasts cafes, shops, a gym, a three-story Students’ Union building, and an art gallery. You’ll have access to the Boots Library right in the centre of the campus, fully equipped with journals, articles, books and e-resources, as well as a laptop loan service and PCs for student use. There’s also a dedicated postgraduate study room at the Boots Library; a private space for postgraduate students to work and study.

You can also use the facilities at Clifton Campus and Brackenhurst Campus, just outside Southwell.

Applying

UK students

Ready to join us? Apply through our NTU Applicant Portal.

Please read our application guidance before you start your application.

Don’t worry if you’re waiting for results – we recommend applying now, and then adding them to your Application Portal once they arrive.

Apply now

International students

Ready to join us? Apply through our NTU Applicant Portal.

Please read our application guidance before you start your application.

We advise you to prepare and apply as early as you can as Student visa processing time can vary.

We'll send you important emails throughout the application process. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam mail folder.

Apply now

Personal statement guidance

When you apply to NTU, we’ll ask you to submit a personal statement – here are our tips on what to include and how to structure your personal statement.

Application support

If you have any questions about applying, get in touch through our online form or call us on 44 (0)115 848 4200.

Related courses

More from this subject

View more courses on the Games, Animation and VFX subject page

Further study

View information about PhDs

Keeping in touch

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