Duration:
One year full-time
Your degree will be delivered over 45 weeks between September to July, with six hours contact per week.
Validated by:
Nottingham Trent University
Location:
Confetti Nottingham.
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. Related subjects include (but are not limited to), music technology, film production, TV production technology, music performance, games production, games art, VFX technology production and, live and technical events.
- 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 will be determined by means of an interview.
- Applicants who have been taught and assessed in languages other than English should have an English language equivalent to IELTS 6.5.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors. Find out more about advisors in your country.
Interview:
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.
Fees & funding:
For the latest course fees and advice on funding, visit our fees and funding page.
We offer a 20% discount to most current Confetti and Nottingham Trent University students, and recent alumni.
How to apply:
To apply for this course, you will need to complete an application through Nottingham Trent University’s Applicant Portal.
Your application will include a personal statement, and you’ll need to provide a reference. For advice about making a successful application to study this course, visit the NTU pages on how to apply.
Should I apply for the MA or MSc degree?
We’re offering you the option to select which course aligns best to your previous area of study, and your speciality within the discipline.
An applicant with a technological focus to their project would be advised to choose the MSc, whilst a student with an art and design interest or specialism would be advised to pursue the MA.
If you’d like further advice before applying, please get in touch with our course leader Kim Western on kim.western@confetti.ac.uk, who can advise on your specific interests and requirements.
Course overview
As technology develops, the need for globally-minded and technically savvy creatives is growing. This course will enable open-minded and ambitious students to explore the boundaries of creative technology, through collaborative work.
Our MA and MSc students learn alongside one another, developing your ability to engage with interrelated areas, to propose innovative and exciting solutions to problems that push the boundaries of the creative use of technology. You’ll engage with contemporary research, and, using our industry-standard facilities, develop your own in-depth research project that explores your area of interest.
Who is this course designed for?
You may have recently graduated from BA or BSc course in a related area, such as music technology, film production, TV production technology, music performance, games production, games art, VFX technology production and, live and technical events.
Or, you might be a professional working within creative technologies, who aspires to senior management positions or want so develop a project. Our part-time route will be delivered predominantly outside of core working hours, helping you balance the demands of work alongside postgraduate study.
Why study this course?
- Benefit from small study groups with a dedicated postgraduate academic team. Your course leader will work closely with you to help develop your unique personal project, supported by a framework of taught content to extend your knowledge and understanding of creative technologies research.
- We can support those students returning to education after a significant break, or pursuing study for the first time.
- Benefit from our partnership with Nottingham Trent University. You'll have full student access to NTU facilities including Boots Library at the City Campus, as well as membership to the Students' Union.
- Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies belongs to the Confetti Media Group, a group of commercial creative businesses. You’ll be learning in a creative and professional environment, with the opportunity to immerse yourself within the businesses of Nottingham’s Creative Quarter, cultivating networking and collaborative opportunities.
If you want to get more information about our postgraduate courses, register your interest below!
Course structure
The course is designed to mirror industry workflow within the creative industries. Manufacturing of products and assets through the use of creative technology follows a set series of stages: pre-production, production and post-production. Our curriculum is designed to reflect this.
You’ll study a series of inter-connected modules, designed to enhance your technical expertise, creativity, research knowledge, critical thinking and employability.
The course is comprised of three consecutive modules. You will study two common modules across the MA and MSc route (120 credits), with a final module that defines the MSc or MA route (60 credits).
Modules
- Creative Technology Research - 60 credit points
- Creative Technology Development - 60 credit points
- Creative Technology Realisation (MA) - 60 credit points
- Creative Technology Production (MSc) - 60 credit points
- The first stage module focuses on the development of your research practice; you’ll have the opportunity to design and plan an innovative research project relating to your core interests in creative technologies.
- The assessment tasks are designed to allow you to demonstrate your developing practice as a researcher at postgraduate level. Throughout the module you will work collaboratively with peers to conduct a small-scale research project, which you'll present verbally.
- The aim of this module is to review and consolidate research surrounding innovative product development within your chosen media technology discipline, and provide you with a framework for the development of your own creative technology production.
- You will investigate operational issues and technical considerations required for the production management of your creative technology assets and products. You will need to undertake experimentation and prototyping as appropriate, and undertake sustained reflection against your professional and personal aims and objectives, identified in the first module.
- This module is the third and final stage of three consecutive modules. It’s the final realisation of your proposal, presented in the Creative Technology Research module. You’re expected to demonstrate how your research has developed into a professional, creative technology outcome.
- You will be concerned with the development of the commercial, technical and conceptual skills needed to succeed as a professional in your chosen area of expertise, within the global creative industries.
- As an MA student you will place emphasis on qualitative research and analysing audience responses from both a specialist and non-specialist perspective.
Our postgraduate students benefit from a bespoke study space, allowing you to work alongside likeminded creatives.
You’ll be based in Confetti HQ on Lower Parliament Street, right in the heart of Nottingham’s Creative Quarter.
You’ll have access to:
- Industry-standard workstation PCs
- Specialist software including Unreal Engine 4, Autodesk Suite (3DS Max, Maya, Mudbox), Adobe Creative Suite, Quixel 2.0
- Wacom Cintiq 13HD Touch Tablets
- Foley recording room
- Audio production and recording equipment
- Games consoles
Visit us at an open day for a chance to tour our facilities and see what’s in store.
NTU’s City Campus
As a Confetti student, you’ll also have access to the facilities at NTU's City Campus; just a ten minute walk away, boasting cafes, shops, a gym, a three-story Students’ Union building, and an art gallery.
You’ll have full student 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’ll also be welcome to use the facilities at NTU’s Clifton Campus and Brackenhurst Campus, just outside Southwell.
Linking the three modules is Confetti’s annual Industry Week. Taking place in March each year, it will form the basis for you to present your work to date as part of this event and gather important feedback from industry specialists in order to inform future work and development.
Our heavyweights have included the likes of award-winning filmmakers Nick Broomfield, Shane Meadows, Aardman Animations – the Oscar winning creators of Shaun the Sheep, TV’s Stacey Dooley, Rockstar Games, Playstation, as well as some of the most respected names in the music industry – from Radio 1’s Andy Rogers and Mistajam to Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis, Rudimental's Piers Aggett.
Postgraduate students also have the opportunity to curate and deliver your own events as part of Industry Week.
Check out our OnDemand service here.
The timetable for this course is built around four distinct sessions.
Research workshops
- These are group sessions and are a forum for discussion and practical exercises, alongside other students studying on the postgraduate courses.
- You’ll work on tasks relating to weekly module themes, which will give you the chance to learn about the research methodologies required at postgraduate level.
Tutorials/Technical Supervision
- Tutorials take place in both group and individual settings. Group tutorials focus on the development of your critical thinking skills, and you’ll engage in critical discussion as a group, facilitated by academic staff. Tutorials will require you to prepare work for discussion.
Skills workshops
- These workshops are practical sessions, designed to explore the relevant practices and procedures relevant for your career in the creative industries. Many of these sessions will be universal for all disciplines, for example through subjects such as the use of VR in the creative industries.
- You’ll have the opportunity to personalise your learning experience as part of these sessions, by selecting those that meet your career aspirations. Sessions will be held in places such as our IT suites, recording studios, TV studio, green screen room, or live event space. You’ll be encouraged to take part in sessions not immediately related to your discipline, in order to forge collaboration and create innovation through the fusion of technology.
- You’ll also benefit from guest presentations, delivered by alumni and employers within the sector.
Research Academic and Professional Sessions (RAPS)
- Hands-on workshops, designed to help you develop your skills and knowledge as an academic researcher and a creative industries professional.
Other learning experiences
You’ll have the chance to get involved with additional opportunities to complement your academic experience. These opportunities include work-based projects such as involvement with NottsTV, Game City festival, Confetti Live events at The Bodega and Dot to Dot festival, and through events such as Industry Week.
Potential job roles include:
- Research Director
- Technology and Innovation Manager
- Creative Director
- 3D Animation Programmer
- Visual Effects Producer
- Audio Visual System Designer
- Software engineer
- VR simulations developer
- Digital media manager
- Project Manager
- Games developer
- Application designer or developer
- Digital platforms engineer
- Social and locative media engineer
- Camera Assistant
- DIT
- Edit Assistant
- Lighting assistant
- Colourist
- Researcher
- Production assistant
- Post house technical support
- Rental house support
- Camera / Lighting technician
Our alumni
In August five Confetti postgraduate students each secured a £500 Santander grant from The Hive – Nottingham Trent University’s consultancy service which offers enterprise and entrepreneurship support to anyone with a viable business idea.
The funding is to support the development of their Master’s project ideas and is available for all degree students if you have an idea you want to pursue.
Open Days
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