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Virtual Reality

Course Code: DIPVR
  • Level: 3
  • Qualification: Diploma, Extended Diploma
  • Awarding body: Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC)
  • Duration: One to two years
  • Course type: Full-time
  • Time of day: Daytime
  • When you'll study: Various days and times
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What's it all about?

This course is for the curious, experimental and pioneering. It is for creatives who are ready to push the boundaries, and embrace new and emerging technologies in an immersive sector that has many possibilities. Due to the increasing developments of AI, VFX and overlap between digital and creative industries, the UK is the largest European market for immersive technologies including virtual and augmented reality,* where over 400,000 jobs will be enhanced by immersive technologies by 2030**.


Plymouth is home to an eclectic and diverse cultural and creative industries sector, so where better to study the art form to learn how to create meaningful content within this virtual reality course, identifying ways to combine art and digital. 


Using cutting-edge facilities, you will create content and produce project work that is at the forefront of this rapidly expanding industry. 


*Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, 2022 

**UK’s Immersive Economy report, 2020


Course information

This exciting course gives you practical training and an in-depth insight into the professional world of the digital arts industry, where you will be able to emulate the development and production process applied in the games and filmmaking industries.

You will have access to unique facilities, which include:

  • VR/AR (Quest 2, Quest Pro, HTC Vive Pro 2, Rift S) 

  • 3D scanning and photogrammetry

  • 3D printing

  • projection mapping

  • surround sound and ambisonics

  • 360 filming and photography

  • motion capture

  • industry standard software.

Topics will include:

Year 1 (Diploma) 

  • Practical workshops for technical skill development 

  • Presenting work 

  • Design and research skills 

  • Critical and contextual awareness 

Year 2 (Extended Diploma)

  • Specialising in your chosen discipline 

  • Technical skills and problem solving 

  • Live projects and presenting client work professionally 

In addition, you will:

  • learn from industry experienced staff

  • benefit from links with local employers such as the Real Ideas and Pushed, as well as freelancers. 

  • use cutting-edge equipment

  • get fantastic opportunities to display your work in and outside of the College

  • collaborate with performing and production arts, film, graphic design, music, esports and games development students.

Your individualised study programme will be made up of the following four areas:

  • the qualification you are studying

  • English and maths

  • work experience

  • other activities to develop your personal skills eg preparing you for employment, training or further/higher education.

In our experience in order to be successful on this course you will need one of the following:

  • four to five GCSEs at grades 9-4 (A*-C) (including English)

  • a level 2 media qualification

  • a BTEC first diploma

  • an NVQ Level 2/technical certificate

  • successful completion of an Apprenticeship course

  • equivalent qualifications or relevant work experience.

Assessment will be through written and practical coursework, employer projects, group work, presentations and analysis.

On successful completion of the diploma you can progress onto the extended diploma, which can lead to further progression:

  • the Foundation Degree in Virtual Reality and 3D Modelling at the College

  • the Foundation Degree in Games Design and Production at the College

  • university-level study in a related subject at institutions throughout the UK

  • an Apprenticeship

  • employment in a variety of jobs, for example: junior games developer, junior programmer, junior level designer. 

Please note fees are quoted for one year only.

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Future careers

What you could earn:

IT Business Analysts, Architects and Systems Designers

£77,032.25

Potential salary

£27,362.18

Entry level salary

£46,659.99

Average salary

12

Annual openings in Plymouth

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