MA Immersive Arts (Virtual and Augmented Reality)

Overview

Creative technologies, interactive and immersive media are transforming the ways in which we experience and engage with culture. Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) are being used across a wide range of industries, including games and entertainment; theatre and live events; museums and heritage; marketing, advertising, and tourism; architecture and design; and simulation and healthcare.

This MA will enable you to translate your learning and experience in creative arts (for example writing, theatre, film or music production) into making engaging immersive content and designing innovative interactive experiences. We will equip you with the technical skills and knowledge to succeed in this exciting and rapidly growing sector. Throughout the course, you will learn from world-leading academics and pioneering thought-leaders, and work closely with creative industry partners. This MA equips students with:

creative skills and knowledge to work with virtual reality, augmented reality and interactive media,
critical, theoretical, and practical skills in creative technologies and immersive storytelling, which underpin effective extended reality experiences (XR),
the ability to consider the processes of digital content creation, delivery, and consumption holistically in order to produce interactive media for a range of audiences while meeting technological constraints and addressing live industry briefs,
the ability to work across disciplines to produce engaging immersive experiences for a variety of contexts, through working collaboratively with students on the MSc Immersive Technologies (Virtual and Augmented Reality) to bring together skills in creative arts and computer science/software development,
skills in responsible innovation and entrepreneurship to become the next generation of leaders in immersive industry startups.

The creative, immersive and screen media industries are thriving in Bristol and the region, which makes the city an ideal place to study Immersive Arts. The MA has been co-designed with industry partners and is closely associated with excellent cutting-edge research within the University in immersive technologies and creative practices, for instance MyWorld. The teaching will be research-led, give students insights into emerging media and how the creative industries are evolving, along with emphasising practical approaches to learning.

Programme structure

You will be introduced to the fundamental technologies underpinning immersive media, the diverse applications and experiences that can be achieved with these technologies, and the wide range of opportunities in the sector. You will get to experience and discuss inspiring examples, cover theories of immersivity, histories of immersive and interactive media and emerging technologies and approaches. This will enable you to position your practice in the field and reflect critically on how the sector is developing.

You will be made aware of the ethical considerations that should be taken into account when developing immersive experiences. Virtual and augmented reality require new forms of non-linear narrative and you will develop your understanding of interactive storytelling, non-linear dramaturgy and how to structure compelling experiences. You will explore creative content creation, producing 360-degree video and spatial audio, motion capture, directing and/or performing in virtual environments and AR scenes. You will learn how to design interactions to further immerse your audience in the action, giving them agency in how an immersive experience unfolds, and developing understanding of how the player/user is being affected by the experience.

To complete your studies, a 60-credit individual research or group practical project can be chosen. This unit will provide you with first-hand experience in planning, delivering, and presenting a substantial piece of original immersive and creative work in an academic, civic or commercial environment. The aim of this unit is to give you a substantial opportunity to integrate material from all taught units and demonstrate the breadth and depth of your learning on the MA.

Visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content for our MA in Immersive Arts (Virtual and Augmented Reality).

Entry requirements

An upper second-class honours degree or international equivalent in any discipline. A creative arts subject would be particularly beneficial, but not essential. Applicants with a lower class of degree with relevant work experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Admissions Statement

Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.

Go to admissions statement

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level C.

Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.

Fees and funding

UK: full-time: £13,600 per year
UK: part-time (two years): £6,800 per year
UK: part-time (three years): £4,533 per year
Overseas: full-time: £27,200 per year

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.

More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.

Alumni discount

University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.

Funding for 2023/24

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.

Career prospects

Graduates from this MA will be capable of developing immersive applications and content for a variety of sectors, applying their knowledge to real-world challenges, and will be able to innovate and work successfully in interdisciplinary teams. As diverse sectors pivot to embrace immersive technologies, the demand for graduates with skills in this area has skyrocketed and such expertise is becoming integral to a wide range of occupations across the globe. Students will graduate with a portfolio of work that shows what they are able to do and you will have a network of professional contacts to draw on.

Graduates from this MA will be sought after in a wide range of roles, for instance in immersive theatre and events, in the interaction department of animation, film and screen media companies, in advertising, marketing, experience and app design, in digital museum interpretation and in games development.

How to apply

Apply via our online application system. For further information, please see the guidance for how to apply on our webpages.

Application deadline

Due to high demand we will be closing MA Immersive Arts (Virtual and Augmented Reality) to applicants from China on 26 April 2023 and to all remaining applicants on 30 May 2023.

Please find out more information by reading our guidance for when to apply.

Places are limited and allocated on a continuous basis from October 2022 until all places are filled. Early applications are advised to avoid disappointment.

Apply now