Model Making for Film and Animation

Entry requirements

There is no typical candidate for this course. Your background will almost certainly be in the Arts, and you may well be a recent graduate or Industry professional looking to further specialise.

You will most likely have some pre-industry experience of model making or training in your chosen field and have a basic understanding and experience of workshop equipment and machinery. You will also have a mixture of creative, technical, communicative, and problem solving skills necessary to work within a highly productive team.

While many applicants will have a degree from a British or overseas university, we will consider applicants who do not have a degree if they have an impressive portfolio, a creative track record or an alternative qualification.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Launch your model/prop making career with our specialist course.

This unique and exciting one year full-time practical Postgraduate Diploma course aims to equip you with the skills and experience necessary to enhance your career in the field of professional model and prop making for the feature film, TV, and animation Industries.

This is the only UK-based model making course located in a dedicated film studio environment. It has been designed to replicate Industry practices in model and prop making.

On the course, you’ll be studying in a fully-equipped workshop/studio environment. You will create work individually and collaboratively, and spend time working with students from other specialisms, such as Directing Animation, Visual Effects, Production Design, and Cinematography to make several films and practical projects throughout the year.

Course graduates are now successfully building their careers on feature film, animation, theatre, and TV commercial projects.

Course Facilities

You will have access to a dedicated workshop which includes everything necessary to introduce you to the world of model and prop making. Examples of machine tools include: table saw, wall saw, bandsaw, chop saw, sanders, pillar drill, laser cutter, hand tools, 3D printing technology, lathes, and resin room for moulding and casting. You will also have access to two student bases where you will have a dedicated work area.

Throughout the year, you will be taught by your departmental head and regular visiting tutors who teach at various times throughout the year.

What You Will Study

This is a highly creative course, comprising of challenging modules, workshops, and tutorials. During the course, you will work individually, but also spend valuable time collaborating with your fellow students creating professional models, sets, props and puppets.

A selection of possible modules include: introductions to pattern and mould making, miniature set building to scale, stop frame animated puppet, and 1:1 prop making. The course also offers curriculum opportunities for interaction with other courses at the NFTS.

You will also receive ongoing professional advice on creating your portfolio and CV as well as meeting industry supervisors who often make visits to the department.

You will also work in teams to create puppets and props on some of our short animations. Many of these go on to win awards at festivals worldwide, such as Do Not Feed the Pigeons which won the 2022 BAFTA for Best Short Animation, giving you credits on high-quality films you can use as an invaluable calling card in the Industry.

Information for international students

This course is open to UK/EU/International students.

Fees and funding

Please visit our website for fees information. All production costs are included in the course fees, including the use of School facilities and equipment.

The NFTS is committed to ensuring it is open to students of genuine ability, no matter what their background or financial circumstances, which is why we award more scholarships and bursaries to British students, relative to the size of our student body, than almost any other educational institution in the UK.