BA (Hons) Model Design and Special Effects

Want an exciting career working on special effects? or the opportunity to work on the next huge fantasy film? Our purpose-built course delivered by industry experts will integrate your artistic and technical talents.

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Typical offer: 112–120
Entry requirements
Fees: £9,535 per year (UK)
Full details
UCAS code: W615
Course length: Various
Find out more
Location:
University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
Institute code: H36
Work placement option
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Study abroad option
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Learn traditional and digital methods for model design

9th in the UK for art (Daily Mail University Guide, 2025)

Outstanding record at New Blades model makers show, London

Brett's story

Course overview

From the Harry Potter film series to Madame Tussauds, one thing holds true – the skill and craftmanship of model designers is pivotal to the creative industry. Our innovative course will refine your skills and provide you with all the tools to thrive in the ever-growing space.

Created with an all-round approach to skill development, the programme integrates practical and theoretical elements to build your expertise in the end-to-end process of model design. Create models, props and miniatures for use in architectural, automotive and entertainment space, using mechanical and physical effects,

Made for the creative and talented model maker, engineer or designer, the course aims to sharpen your skills and prepare you for a vibrant career in whatever career path you choose. Whether that is working on films and television, museums and exhibits or for design companies and architects.

Across your three years of study – four if you choose to take a sandwich year – you will study the use of traditional and digital materials and techniques to create industry standard results, while enhancing your skills in project management, collaborative working and professionalism.

You will graduate having built your knowledge of machine shop skills and digital processes, as well as how to use hard and casting materials. Overall, you will complete the course with a toolkit of key skills with which you will confidently be able to enter the workforce and begin building you ideal career.

Why choose this course?

Get a head start to stand out in your career with an immersive programme that is designed to push the limits of your creativity. While focusing on learning the most modern techniques in model design and animatronics, you will also have numerous opportunities to collaborate with peers. This will encourage you to explore a range of alternative idea and challenge your thinking, developing a wider breadth of expertise.

The course is delivered by industry experts with experience in a variety of areas, including product design, sculpting, moulding and casting, digital processes and beyond. Their own experiences will further enrich your learning and they will support you to create a professional portfolio that will kickstart your career.

On campus, you will benefit from many fantastic facilities including a large atelier-style studio where you will be able to meet and connect with students from other year groups. In addition, you will be able to make use of a state-of-the-art sculpture studio with facilities for resins and composite mould making.

Our prime location in Hertfordshire puts you in close proximity to all major film studios. With London less than 30 minutes away, you will have easy access to design and architecture studios and exhibition workshops such as Madame Tussauds.

Outside of the main curriculum, the are many opportunities for you to boost your knowledge. Each year, there are numerous guest lectures delivered by industry leaders as well as commissions for local institutions or industry contacts that you can partake in.

Your future career

There is a strong focus on ensuring that you graduate feeling confident to transition into your career path of choice. This is evidenced by our dynamic curriculum that combines project-based work with theoretical concepts, while encouraging self-leadership and collaboration.

Areas in which you could work include:

Mould room supervisor
General modelmaker
Miniature maker
Designer and art director
Stickies fabricator
Animation Props maker

Recent graduates have gone on to work in a range of industries including advertising, film and television and architecture. Some companies where our graduates work include Merlin Entertainment (Madame Tussauds), Warner Bros Harry Potter Experience and Disney Productions.

Employability is at the heart of our programme and there is an array of tools and support that will be available to you. While you develop your skillset on the course, your lecturers will support you in building a professional portfolio and our industry contacts and alumni.

What you'll study

In your first year, your focus will be on learning the fundamental principles of general workshop practice. You will be introduced to sculpting, moulding and casting, basic level digital processes and machine shop inductions. Your classes will be shared with your peers from the Character and Creative Effects pathway, giving you ample opportunity to exchange ideas and collaborate. As you progress through the year, your skills will continuously be developed as you work on three projects, each with increasing design content.

As you progress to your second year, you will build on the skills you would have developed, with more of a focus on competencies directly related to your course. You will produce miniatures, props and highly finished products. To strengthen your knowledge and grow your time management and project planning skills, you will take on two short ‘turbo’ projects, each giving you eight weeks to deliver a project.

At the end of your second year, you will have the option to take a sandwich year to go on a placement or study abroad and broaden your skills in a new environment.

In your final year, you will work with a higher level of independence. This year acts as a capstone for your degree, bringing together all your learnings from previous year and combining that with a focus on work readiness. You will have two major projects to deliver, both of which will support you in further developing your professional approach to your work and build your understanding of self-promotion.

Level 4

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Scale and Structure	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module provides an introduction to design conventions, materials, fabrication, technical machines and practical hand making skills required for subsequent programme modules.Students attend workshops and demonstrations; they are introduced to operating workshop machinery with an emphasis on safe working practices and health and safety.
Shape and Form	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module provides an opportunity for students to experience the design and construction of a range of models for use as communication tools. Students will research historical context, develop design ideas and produce 3 dimensional models of those concepts. It also allows further practice of workshop equipment and making techniques.
Design and Fabrication	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module builds on the skills developed in previous projects and incorporate ideas that relate to the perception of their work in historical contexts and how these are used in creative industries. Students research a specific time-period as aesthetic direction for more complex pieces of work than produced previously.
The Model in Mind: histories, contexts, theories (C&CS)	30 Credits	Compulsory
The Model in Mind examines the use of models as complex cultural objects and their role in diverse contexts, e.g. cinematic, theatrical, architectural. The module looks at key ideas and theories of communication and meaning, at the way models are (and have been) used to explain, impress and delight.

Level 5

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Year Abroad	0 Credits	Optional
The Year Abroad will provide students in Creative Arts with the opportunity to expand, develop and apply the knowledge and skills gained in the first two taught years of the degree within a different organisational and cultural environment in a partner academic institution. The host institution will appoint a Programme Co-ordinator who will oversee the student's programme during the Year Abroad and will liaise with the appointed UH Supervisor.
Design Process and Realisation	30 Credits	Compulsory
The introduction to, and exploration of a larger sphere of materials and techniques enables the student to develop a broader knowledge base and implement a higher level of design and making skill. Effective self-management is developed.
Talking Models: the theory of practice (C&CS)	30 Credits	Compulsory
Talking Models further develops knowledge and understanding of the historical and contemporary uses of models in the full range of their application. The module enables students to identify their own areas of critical interest in relation to the traditions and contemporary contexts of Model Design and their own professional aspirations.
Turbo A	15 Credits	Compulsory
Turbo A involves highly focused one or two-week projects, comprising concentrated periods of intensive making or learning which are designed to develop the student's explorative approach to materials and processes against a realistic timeframe.
Turbo B	15 Credits	Compulsory
Content comprises one or two-week projects, involving concentrated periods of intensive making or learning and are designed to further develop the student's explorative approach to materials and processes. Turbo B projects are intensively taught and introduce a range of more complex technical skills and materials than in Turbo A.
Model Design and Special Effects Contextualised Model	30 Credits	Compulsory
Students generate their own brief for a Model Design and Special Effects project with a particular emphasis on the professional context. Appropriate professional behaviour in the workplace is also emphasised.

Level 6

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Sandwich Year (Creative Arts)	0 Credits	Compulsory
The optional 'Sandwich' placement year may be undertaken between the levels 5 and 6. Students undertake the placement within a commercial, public or not for profit setting that is able to provide an appropriate learning experience related to the creative and cultural industries. A placement could take a variety of forms, including: * working in an external organisation; * working with a University company or professional team within the University; * self-employment within defined context and externally refereed. The placement duration would typically be sustained for at least 36 weeks (from a maximum of two separate placements, neither of which should normally be less than 12 weeks in duration), though may be sustained for a full year. While the School actively supports the placement process, ultimately it is the placement provider that will agree to manage and select students, normally through an interview process. During the placement a member of the academic staff will be assigned to the student as a tutor and will monitor the student's progress during the placement period.

What if I need support?

Student Success Officers and Student Wellbeing can arrange support for many needs. This includes writing support, mental health and general needs that help progression through the course. Careers Officers are also available to help advise you as you go through the programme and look to progress into industry.

Optional sandwich year

At the end of your second year, you have the option to experience a year of working life with a placement, or a shorter internship, a huge CV booster!

Professional work experience is the biggest contributor to your future employability. It allows you to put your knowledge into action, while learning how a business operates and making some handy professional connections.

We'll help you make the most of the experience, holding your hand from start to finish. You also get assistance with your CV, plus help preparing for interviews and presentations, at our ground-breaking mock Assessment Centre Experience.

Industry partners linked to this programme continually look to nurture talent and support students in securing placement opportunities that help them better understand the environment of professional model making.

Past students have taken on placements at companies including KOBE architects and Henning Larsen.

Find out more about work placements

Study Abroad offers the opportunity for an amazing experience, which will help make you stand out from the crowd. With more and more companies working internationally, experience of living in another country can make a great impression on future employers.

This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a sandwich year abroad. The University has partnerships with over 150 universities around the world, including the USA, Canada, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and closer to home in Europe.

If you study abroad between your second and third year of study, you’ll pay no tuition fee to the partner university and no tuition fee to us either. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it.

Find out more about study abroad options

At the end of your second year, you have the option to experience a year of working life with a placement, or a shorter internship, a huge CV booster!

Past students have taken on placements at companies including KOBE architects and Henning Larsen.

Find out more about work placements

Find out more about study abroad options

Where you'll study

You will learn on our College Lane campus, which you will share with other creative arts students as well as students on science and health-related courses. This means you’ll share the campus with future nurses, scientists, artists and more.

For your course, you will have access to a purpose built atelier-like studio which is shared by students across all three year groups. In addition, you will be able to make sure of a well-equipped sculpture studio, which contains state of the art moulding and casting rooms as well as a plaster room.

As well as these dedicated workshop facilities, you will be able to make use of facilities across the school including photography equipment/studios and printers.

Check out our students’ work

Who you'll learn from

Learn from a diverse range of experts who have gained a wealth of experience in film, advertising and museum. Your lecturers are highly skilled in areas including sculpting, moulding and casting, general modelmaking, figurative drawing, prop making for animation, product design and more.

In addition to learning the fundamentals of key concepts on your course, you will gain a deeper understanding of the realities of working in industry, brought to the forefront by your lecturers’ own real world experiences.

How we support our students

At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible.

We offer a range of support services, from childcare to counselling, ensuring that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying, having fun, and have the support you need.

Find out more about support and wellbeing

Entry requirements

The University of Hertfordshire is committed to welcoming students with a wide range of qualifications and levels of experience. The entry requirements listed on the course pages provide a guide to the minimum level of qualifications needed to study each course. However, we have a flexible approach to admissions and each application will be considered on an individual basis.

Typical offer (UCAS points)	112–120
Typical A Level offer	BCC–BBC
Typical BTEC offer	DMM
Accepted T Levels	Design Survey & Planning for Construction; Digital Production, Design & Development; Education and Childcare; Healthcare Science; Health; Science; Digital Support Services; Digital Business Services; Onsite Construction; Building Services Engineering for Construction; Accounting; Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing; Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control; Finance; Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing; Management and Administration; Agriculture, Land management and Production; Legal Services
Access courses	Diploma with 45 level 3 credits at merit
Interview	Interview required
Additional information	Find out more about our Undergraduate Entry Requirements.

English language	All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band. If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.
Additional information	Find out more about International Entry Requirements.

English language

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

Additional information

Find out more about International Entry Requirements.

Ready to apply?

UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

Start date	Study type	Apply
September 2025	Full time	Apply via UCAS
	Full time with placement year	Apply via UCAS
	Full time with study abroad year	Apply via UCAS

International and EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Apply through our international/EU application portal

Apply through Clearing

Make sure you've got your UCAS number, if you've got one (you can find this on your UCAS Hub), your results (including GCSEs, A levels, BTECs or equivalent) and the course(s) you'd like to apply for.

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Find out more before you apply

Our Clearing hotline is open Monday – Thursday, 09:00 – 16:45, and Friday 09:00 – 15:45. To apply you will need your UCAS number, if you've got one (you can find this on your UCAS Hub), your results (including GCSEs, A levels, BTECs or equivalent) and the course(s) you'd like to apply for.

Fees and funding

At Herts, we’re dedicated to providing world-class teaching supported by industry-level facilities and incredible social spaces. We believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier to higher education, and we strive to keep both our standard and additional costs as low as possible.

	Study type	Fees
UK students	Full time	£9,535 for the 2025/2026 academic year
EU students	Full time	£15,965 for the 2025/2026 academic year
International students	Full time	£15,965 for the 2025/2026 academic year

Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed “When tuition fees change”), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

Scholarships, grants and bursaries	Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a non-repayable scholarship, grant or bursary to support your studies.
Disabled Students' Allowance	The Disabled Students’ Allowance can cover any study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability.
Student loans	Find out about securing a student loan, from how much you could be eligible for to when you need to start making repayments.
Accommodation costs	We offer a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.
Additional course fees	Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet.

More about the course

Course fact sheets
BA (Hons) Model Design and Special Effects	Download PDF

Programme specifications
BA (Hons) Model Design and Special Effects	Download PDF

Additional information
Applications open to international and EU students	Yes
Course length	Full Time, 3 YearsSandwich, 5 YearsSandwich, 4 Years

BA (Hons) Model Design and Special Effects

Want an exciting career working on special effects? or the opportunity to work on the next huge fantasy film? Our purpose-built course delivered by industry experts will integrate your artistic and technical talents.

Typical offer: 112–120

Fees: £9,535 per year (UK)

UCAS code: W615

Course length: Various

Location: University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Institute code: H36

Work placement option

Study abroad option

Course overview

Why choose this course?

Your future career

What you'll study

What if I need support?

Optional sandwich year

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Where you'll study

Check out our students’ work

Who you'll learn from

How we support our students

At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible.

Entry requirements

UK applicants

International applicants

Ready to apply?

UK applicants

UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

International applicants

International and EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Apply through Clearing

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Additional information

More about the course

Further information

Not ready to apply?

Undergraduate degrees and courses

Student Life at Herts

Chat with students and staff

Location:
University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield