The hunger for the digital visualisation of architecture and urban environments has grown exponentially in both the Architectural and Film Industries. As the need for skilled modellers and animators with an awareness of architectural and cinematic issues increases, this MA in Architectural Visualisation develops your skills to communicate architecture and urbanity for a variety of applications and audiences.
The MA in Architectural Visualisation is jointly taught by Kent School of Architecture and Planning and the School of Engineering and Digital Arts. Building on the successful Master's programmes in Computer Animation and Digital Visual Effects, this MA enables students to develop at an advanced level the skills, knowledge and understanding of digital simulation and 3D modelling which will equip them to become highly skilled professionals in architectural visualisation.
Drawing influence from both architecture and film, this programme offers a progression route into both industries, highlighting the different requirements needed for each profession while exploring the similarities of these markets. In this programme, the professions of architecture, film and animation fuse together, providing students with the ability and understanding to work in each or all of them.
The MA Architectural Visualisation blog.
The School of Engineering and Digital Arts successfully combines modern engineering and technology with the exciting new field of digital media. The School was established over 40 years ago and has developed a top-quality teaching and research base, receiving excellent ratings in both research and teaching assessments.
Kent School of Architecture and Planning is a young school that has built an excellent reputation, based on high quality teaching and excellent resources. Architecture at Kent was ranked 12th in the UK in The Times Good University Guide 2019, and 13th in The Complete University Guide 2019.
A 2.2 or higher honours degree in multimedia, art or design or a related subject. All applicants must present a portfolio.
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
If you are an international student, visit our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country, including details of the International Foundation Programmes.
The University requires all non-native speakers of English to reach a minimum standard of proficiency in written and spoken English before beginning a postgraduate degree. Certain subjects require a higher level.
For detailed information see our English language requirements web pages.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme.This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
This module will explore the digital representation of and in the urban environment. Students will use 2D and 3D software to develop the relationship between actual and virtual cities, navigating the past, present and future. Drawing from professional practice in a number of industries, such as architectural visualisation, projection-mapping, heritage, film and games, this work highlights the differing approaches that each profession takes in the digital creative process.
The study of photography is often a complementary element of architectural education. Understanding of the processes of composition, framing and lighting is essential in both disciplines. Through a series of lectures and workshops students will comprehend these concepts, as well as fundamental principles of photographic creation and processing, enabling them to apply these skills and principles to the communication of architectural space and form through photography.
This module will guide students through the skills and procedures needed in a professional architectural visualisation context. The programme of study will compare the available software packages used in industry and will provide students with a hands-on ability to model, texture, light and render architectural visualisations. Through a series of exercises advancing in complexity, by the end of this module successful students will be able to create a portfolio of realistic digital architectural models and images appropriate for a range of target industries and applications.
This module reviews the representation of architecture in film through history, by looking at influential cinematic depictions of the built form. With light being such an important factor in both disciplines, the links between the two industries are explored, analysing films from early German Expressionist cinema through to present-day utopian/dystopian films. Students will investigate how the cinematic depiction of architecture can alter the character of the built environment and the way in which it is portrayed. This module aims to explore the relationship of architecture to lens, and screen to audience. These relationships are then further explored and realised through the production of a film project.
In this module, students will learn the processes and techniques used to composite computer-generated imagery into 'real' still and moving film and video footage within an architectural visualisation context, and visa versa. Through a series of lectures and workshops, students develop fundamental skills and a thorough understanding of industry standard software to enable the integration of architecture into site context to a professional standard. Learning techniques, such as compositing, camera tracking, rotoscoping, blending modes and keying, students will produce a portfolio and show reel of architectural imagery using both captured footage and computer-generated modelling.
Students develop their communication and research skills to a high professional standard in an academic or industrial setting. Students elect to produce a theoretical, interdisciplinary or practice-based response in a topic related to the field of study. Working with an assigned tutor; students develop a research proposal, incorporating a methodology and schedule for the work. Students are expected to develop their ability to gather and synthesize data, as well as to analyse it in a coherent and convincing manner. In addition, they are expected to situate their own investigation in the broader context of architecture. Interdisciplinary investigations that further inform architectural thinking are encouraged.
Modules are taught over three terms, concluding with a Major Project Visualisation, which accounts for one third of the programme. The content of the visualisation is agreed with programme staff and you build a showreel to a professional standard. Each module is assessed by practical assignments. The project work is assessed on the outcome of the project itself.
This programme aims to:
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
You develop intellectual skills in:
You gain subject-specific skills in:
You gain the following transferable skills:
Students on the programmes in Architectural Visualisation, Computer Animation and Digital Visual Effects work in a dedicated, state-of-the-art suite, equipped with leading-edge PC workstations running Alias™ Maya and Foundry Nuke. There is also a photographic studio and a production studio with green screen and motion capture facilities. The School is also equipped with a 3D body scanner – one of only two in the UK.
As a postgraduate student, you are part of a thriving research community and receive support through a wide-ranging programme of individual supervision, specialised research seminars, general skills training programmes, and general departmental colloquia, usually with external speakers. We encourage you to attend and present your work at major conferences, as well as taking part in our internal conference and seminar programmes.
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Recent contributions include: IEEE Transactions; IET Journals; Electronics Letters; Applied Physics; Computers in Human Behaviour.
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
The Digital Media group is a multidisciplinary group with interests in many areas including social computing (eg, social networking, computer mediated communication), mobile/ubiquitous computing, human-computer interaction and digital arts (eg, computer games, 3D animation, digital film). Our work is applied across a wide range of domains including e-health, cultural heritage and cyber influence/identity.
Current research themes include:
We have developed our programmes with a number of industrial organisations, which means that successful students are in a strong position to build a long-term career in this important discipline. You develop the skills and capabilities that employers seek, including problem solving, independent thought, report-writing, time management, leadership skills, team-working and good communication.
Building on Kent’s success as the region’s leading institution for student employability, we offer many opportunities for you to gain worthwhile experience and develop the specific skills and aptitudes that employers value.
The 2021/22 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Find out more about general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
This course page is for the 2021/22 academic year. Please visit the current online prospectus for a list of postgraduate courses we offer.
Supporting your success
Kent ranked top 50 in The Complete University Guide 2024.
Fees and funding
Kent has risen 11 places in THE’s REF 2021 ranking, confirming us as a leading research university.
Accommodation
