The virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) industries are continually growing and evolving, requiring fresh new talent as well as experienced minds. To encourage this, universities have begun to offer various courses to students keen on learning various aspects of this multifaceted industry. This September, Liverpool’s John Moores University will be launching a new MA in Immersive Arts to explore XR technology and storytelling.
Run by Liverpool Screen School and Liverpool School of Art and Design in dedicated lab facilities, with access to cutting-edge equipment, software and practical research expertise, the degree will enable students to experiment with making applications, prototypes and experiences in VR, AR, mixed reality (MR), projection mapping and holographics.
Housed in a brand new facility in the John Lennon Art and Design Building, the course is being developed in consultation with the industry including a number of national companies and organisations. The team running the course recently ran the Immersive Storytelling Research Symposium bringing together industry professionals and academics from across the UK.
“It’s a really exciting time to be working at the intersection of creativity, storytelling, digital arts and emerging technology. We wanted to design a course that wasn’t just focused on virtual reality headsets, although we cover that too, and we are incorporating a wide range of practical immersive technology skills into the programme. This includes spatial experience design, sensor-based projection mapping, augmented reality, binaural sound, physical-digital art practice and new capture, simulation and display techniques and technologies,” says Peter Woodbridge, Programme Leader, in a statement.
“Students on this course will be investigating and inventing new ways to engage audiences in spatial story and arts experiences by learning about what happens when our definitions of media arts go beyond the screen,” Woodbridge adds. “It’s about making new possibilities, ideas, experiences, installations and applications for engaging audiences across a number of areas.”
The MA in Immersive Arts is aimed at creators across a diverse background of skills, from film and videogames to theatre and music production. Full time the course will last one year (or two part-time) starting from £6,900 GBP. For further info head to the course website. As more universities explore XR courses, VRFocus will let you know.