Course summary

Designed in collaboration with industry professionals, this master’s programme allows you to specialise 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 at BNU? 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. 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. 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. The University also has a teaching base at the iconic Pinewood Studios, which means there could be opportunities to engage with the community there. With London 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 facilities can I use? 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. Our industry standard facilities are here to help you produce your most creative ideas. We will build your confidence in using the latest postproduction software. Our other specialist resources including; CNC and laser cutter machines engineering & modelmaking workshop equipped with the latest advanced tools plastic lab prosthetics lab high end cameras photography studios equipped with industry standard blue/ green screen. blue/green screen video studio computer and CGI lab adobe creative suit Auto desk. Collaborating with students from a range of different courses, you’ll also get to access our professional workshop the Red Shed and our TV and film studios. 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. As well as this as a BNU student you’ll have automatic access to our library and Students’ Union. What will I study? This MA enables you to focus your studies either towards the design and crafting of props, model-making, animatronics design and fabrication using engineering technology, or the conceptualisation, design and crafting of prosthetics makeup effects production e.g. advanced techniques in casualty simulation. This taught research-based course is industry-focused and will provide opportunities for students to engage with a broad range of skills and techniques required within special effects production for film and TV and associated creative industries. 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. On the course we will teach you how to do just this. When graduating from this course, you will have relevant skills in developing theoretical and critical approaches to your specialism, and together with the craft skills acquired in your chosen pathway, will be able to support the design, prototyping and production of polished, realistic functional camera-ready artefacts and be appropriately prepared for future employment.