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Geek Culture / Universities for 3D Modelling

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SpyDaniel
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Posted: 8th Jan 2008 17:01
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I'm in the middle of looking for Universities that have courses on 3D Modelling. I really want to get into the games industry, but I need degrees and some more help along the way.

So does anyone know of any Universities that have courses on 3D Modelling? UK based only.

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Duplex
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Posted: 8th Jan 2008 17:18
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I'm pretty sure coventry do some. And I think it's either somerset or devon has a arts and technology Uni.

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Scraggle
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Posted: 8th Jan 2008 17:32 Edited at: 8th Jan 2008 17:32
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The University of Teesside is without doubt your best option.
I went to their open day and had a look around the game creation section and it is truely amazing, their motion capture suite is like something out of hollywood.
The main reason I would say it is the best option is because they hold the Animex conference there every year and they attract some of the major players in both the games and the movie industry (ILM, Dreamworks, Pixar etc...).

I am currently writing my personal statement to apply to start in september as a mature student ... maybe I will see you there?



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El Goorf
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Posted: 8th Jan 2008 17:35
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go on the UCAS website, do a course search for 3d animation or w/e, and it'll give a list of every uni in the UK that does the course

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RalphY
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Posted: 8th Jan 2008 18:00
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I'm fairly sure Bristol does 3D Modelling courses, at least they had classes using Maya as part of their Computer Science degree.

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Oolite
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Posted: 8th Jan 2008 19:12 Edited at: 8th Jan 2008 19:12
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Falmouth is a very good arts uni, not sure about the 3d for it though.
Bournemouth, de monfort (decent games course), Portsmouth and Southampton Solent

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Jeku
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Posted: 8th Jan 2008 20:40
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Quote: "at least they had classes using Maya as part of their Computer Science degree."


That doesn't make sense, why would they have 3D modeling as part of a comp sci degree?

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Math89
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Posted: 8th Jan 2008 21:05
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I am planning to study computer graphics at Teesside next year, it looks really good (I have seen the work of some 2nd year-students, and it's amazing !). I hope I'll accepted .
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RalphY
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Posted: 8th Jan 2008 21:21 Edited at: 8th Jan 2008 21:24
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Quote: "That doesn't make sense, why would they have 3D modeling as part of a comp sci degree?"


From what I gathered from the open day, computer graphics was a big area of research for them. The projects they demoed to us included stuff like making a 3D game for this simulator type thing they had (basically it was just a chair on hydraulics), recognition of number plates etc in images. As far as I remember they teach a module on basic modelling in Maya in the first year as an introduction into 3D graphics, and then went into more detail teaching the maths/ programming behind it in the second year.

I don't know for sure, I didn't go there in the end and this was three years ago. All I know is they sat us in a room full of computers running Maya and told us how we would get to use them at some point.

[Edit] to add where I am now doing Comp Sci they introduced a new module this year that involves using Blender, Max etc. unfortunately they didn't bother to mention the fact they were starting it until after I had selected all my modules.

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SpyDaniel
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Posted: 8th Jan 2008 23:00
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Scraggle, ill look into Teesside and maybe I will see you there, imagine that, meeting the Higgins.

I'd need to get a student loan and find out the fees first. I also have pet rats I need look after and I'm not sure what I'll do when it comes to moving to what ever Uni I choose.

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John H
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Posted: 9th Jan 2008 09:37 Edited at: 9th Jan 2008 09:41
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Shame, UK based only. I currently attend Champlain College in Burlington, VT. We have one of the most world-renowned Game Design programs. The program started with two different sub-sections, Game Design, and Art & Animation. Recently they've added Programming to the major - and the Art & Animation track plans on becoming its own section in the college "Game Art & Animation".

I'm currently an Art & Animation student, and the possibilities so far, are simply endless. We have a campus in Montreal, Canada (any many others around the world), home of the Montreal Game Summit. We are very well known (have our own chapter) with the IGDA (International Game Developers Association - look'em up) and graduates are in high demand by many professional companies. Currently, Ubisoft and EA are fighting for our graduates, especially 3D modelers. I've been asked to work a 40 hour a week internship in Montreal, which would guarentee me a Level 2 job immediately out of college which would pay between $60,000 - $80,000 a year, with a promotion in 3 Years at the most.

Here are a few references...
The egame.champlain.edu website, currently under construction
http://egame.champlain.edu/

My 3D Art Professors Faculty Page (with information about each 3D section, and the projects we work on)
http://egame.champlain.edu/faculty/buck/

Last but not least, the EGD page of champlain.edu
http://www.champlain.edu/majors/egame/index.php

At the very least, this information should give you something to compare other schools with. Burlington VT is a beautiful area, with everything you could ever need, all in a home town environment. The dorms here are all old victorian houses, averaging about 35 students in nice, big, comfy rooms (with a beautiful view, I might add - my room has a balcony!) I think there are about 3000 students at the school, and most my largest class so far has been 25 students.

As far as getting into the game industry right out of college, Champlain is one of your best choices, if not THE best We have one of the most respectable names throughout the industry, and our graduates are in VERY high demand (I know I am at least )


EDIT - LOL - Sounded like a tour guide. Hmm, maybe I should go apply to be a tour guide down at student life, could use the spare cash xD

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SpyDaniel
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Posted: 9th Jan 2008 14:51
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@Scraggle

I got an email back from Teesside with a list of "2" 3D modelling courses. One wasn't even 3D Modelling, it was creating models out of cardboard. The other was mainly animation and didn't sound too fancy :\

//

On the other hand, Seppuku told me about Derby University. I took a look at the course and it looks quite good. That's one place I might go.

I just need to resit my GCSE's :\ or get in on raw talent

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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 9th Jan 2008 15:46 Edited at: 9th Jan 2008 15:54
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I thought I mentioned the two A-Levels (or equivalent, one needs to be art based and they need to add up to 200 UCAS tariff points, usually it's better to take 3 a-levels and 1 AS Level to boost those up) as well, it'd mean resiting your GCSEs and taking 2 A Level course. But that's not something to get you down, because A Levels are a great preparation for university in many ways and well you learn some pretty interesting things as well.

Though you can sometimes slip beneath the minimum requirements if either: They have unfilled students slots or they feel you'd be right for their course. (I fell beneath the requirements, but my 2 choice universities, accepted me - one did because I submitted portfolio work (for a course in writing not 3D graphics) and they were more than happy to accept me, of course they were the ones I turned down)

Even if you're a good 3D modeller, they'll mark you on certain things and no doubt there'll be a level of theory and things related around the subject (in my creative writing course we don't sit down and write stories and poems all day, heck that accounts for only one set of the marks we get, the rest is theory, history, analysing and a lot of other work)


Though some of that advice I could have given over MSN as well, though I kind of was busy - University is a great thing my friend, not many course or uni's let you in on GCSEs - but I hope you can find the right one for you. Derby, as I said is a great uni and a great place - but only once you're qualified for the workload, my friend who does a computing course is struggling because he can't do the programming side of it, my flatemate who does Motorsport engineering was a little stumped when asked to explain 'what he did' when he knows how to do something but didn't know the information behind it (and is taking a maths course alongside as a requirement)


Though, good luck with pursuing your 3D modelling aspirations.

Click to go to seppuku-arts.co.nr
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Jeku
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Posted: 9th Jan 2008 21:36
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Quote: "I've been asked to work a 40 hour a week internship in Montreal, which would guarentee me a Level 2 job immediately out of college which would pay between $60,000 - $80,000 a year, with a promotion in 3 Years at the most."


I'll believe that pay when I see it If they're paying modelers that in Montreal, straight out of school, which I highly highly doubt, then I'm working in the wrong province!

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 9th Jan 2008 22:02
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I'd be surprised if there was a whole degree devoted to 3D modelling - you probably ought to check out the whole package.
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Scraggle
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Posted: 9th Jan 2008 23:17 Edited at: 9th Jan 2008 23:35
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Quote: "The other was mainly animation and didn't sound too fancy"


It's definitely fancy!
Yes, there is a lot of animation but you can't animate anything if you can't model it first. So, the first part (year?) of the course is learning to use 3DS MAX.

As an interesting footnote: Did you know that a large part of all the latest Pixar films (Ratatouille, Cars, The Incredibles etc.) were modeled and animated at Teesside Uni?

However, if all you are interested in is modelling then they do have a course that is just doing that. It is called 3D visualization and is part of the game creation degree.

Perhaps this PDF will help you get a better idea of what they do



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SpyDaniel
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Posted: 10th Jan 2008 01:10
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I guess I want to do modelling and animation, the pdf looked good. The only thing is, I won't be able to apply, for 2 years o.0

I have to get 4 GCSE's ontop of the one I already have and then get 200-300 ucas points from A levels.

Looks like ill be 22 when I start uni

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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 10th Jan 2008 12:11
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22 is not a bad age, there are a couple of people in my class that are in their 50's and 60's (or look it, I kind of feel it rude to ask their age) my presenter on my radio is in her 40's...so people of all ages mix and get along remarkably well.

Click to go to seppuku-arts.co.nr
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SpyDaniel
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Posted: 11th Jan 2008 15:11
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I've emailed Derby to see if I could get in with my current knowledge of modelling and animation. I have sent them two emails so far, but no response yet.

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SpyDaniel
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Posted: 25th Feb 2008 15:07
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Thought I'd post about my day at Derby.

I met up with Seppuku Arts at the entrance and he took me on a tour of the University. The helpers who where there to tell you where to go didn't really have a clue as to where the 3D modelling talk was being held, they tried to get me to go to another campus

In the end I found out where to go and I got to the talk just in time, as Seppuku had showed me the halls and we had just 10 minutes to get back.

I've decided to wait a year before picking a university to apply to, as I still have my pet rats to look after and I want to study art at my local college.

//

My next University to visit will be Teesside, for this course:

http://www.tees.ac.uk/Undergraduate_courses/Computer_Games/BA_(Hons)_Computer_Games_Art.cfm

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Sid Sinister
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Posted: 25th Feb 2008 16:57
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I attend baker college for Computer Animation. Right now I'm just finishing up the graphic design/art courses and next fall I move into the Animation classes and Game design/development theory. It's an associates degree, which most are anyway (?), but I'm also staying to get my bachelor of science, which helps out CONSIDERABLY when trying to find a job.

My thing is this... why spend hundreds of thousands of dollars going to a fancy school, when you can learn the same program and same design elements in a normal, yet still accredited, school? Full Sail down in Florida is freaking amazing, but it's $35,795.00 for their computer animation class (including books, tuition and housing).

Baker has a 98% employment rate coming out, and provides internships during the program. So, in turn, I pay less for college, get a job, build a portfolio and move on in my life. I shouldn't have a problem getting into game dev or movie animation.

"If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants" -Isaac Newton
-Computer Animation Programming Major @ Baker.edu-
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