Quick facts
| Qualification type |
Level 3 Extended Diploma |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Study times |
You will be expected to be in college for a minimum of 3 days per week, from 9:15 to 4:00. Your timetable will be confirmed at induction. |
| Entry requirements |
4 x GCSEs at Grade 4 or above. At least one of these should be Maths or English. Entry is via an interview where your commitment, enthusiasm and motivation should shine through. |
| Campus |
Leonardo House, West Suffolk College sixth form campus, Bury St Edmunds |
| Work placements | Work related experience |
Is it for me?
Our Level 3 Visual Effects and Model Making course is a busy, inspiring and imaginative educational adventure. The work produced by students is amazing and there is always a real buzz in the studios.
Students work on a variety of assignments that target imagination, digital skills, individual expression, and professional standards. You will be taught by skilled professional artists and designers, and you will become fluent with software and processes with speed. The assignments encourage individual flair and fascinations to flourish, bringing your personality to your work is key. You will be encouraged to develop your own personal work outside of college to broaden your experience.
The course will lead you into the thriving UK and global creative-digital industries - if you work hard. Working alongside others with similar interests and ambitions is a special thing - building friendships and business relationships that can last a lifetime.
What you'll learn
Creative and Technical skills:
- 2D digital illustration and design skills
- Model making design and realisation skills
- Animation skills
- Digital software - including Adobe CC (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- 3D digital software
- Use of hardware such as a graphics tablet
- Idea generation
- Exploration and experimentation of media and processes
- Independent development of studio work into own unique outcomes
- Contextual studies - historical and modern creative practice and wider world inspirations
Professional Skills:
- Working on 'live' assignments
- Meeting deadlines
- Working with focus and independence
- Communication
- Presentation of outcomes
- Online professional social media profile
Work experience placements
Work related experience is encouraged as part of this course, this practical experience is invaluable for your creative journey and future career prospects. By actively engaging in hands-on work, you will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills you acquire in the classroom to real-life situations.
Assessment
This course is assessed by deadline-driven coursework with no exams. All coursework is assessed at Pass, Merit, Distinction levels against the qualification unit criteria. We are proud to be a University of the Arts London (UAL) accredited college, the largest creative awarding body in Europe.
Further study
Example careers
- Games designer
- Senior Games Designer
- Software Developer
- Computer Games Tester
- Illustrator
- VFX artist
- Animator
- Concept Artist
- VFX production manager
Days & times
Starting September 2025