Virtual and Augmented Reality MA

Postgraduate

Young woman wearing a VR headset playing against a green screen

Develop creative, critical and technical skills and learn to design and collaborate on immersive art experiences applicable across various industries.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

CAST026

Start date

September 2025
November 2025
January 2026
March 2026
May 2026
June 2026

How to apply

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Course overview

This course empowers you to develop the creative, critical, technical and leadership skills required to craft, perform, co-create and share immersive experiences.

Gain hands-on experience with VR/AR tools, including motion capture suits, high-performance VR/AR systems and software such as Unreal Engine and Unity.⁴
Engage in projects that unite students from a range of creative and technical backgrounds, fostering collaboration and innovation in immersive storytelling across industries such as entertainment, gaming, healthcare, cultural heritage, architecture, live arts and political activism.
Develop a portfolio of work that reflects your ability to tackle real-world challenges in the creative industries.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

Industry-leading facilities and technology: access immersive technology including a Vicon motion capture lab, a dedicated VR lab and a digital hack space equipped with high-end computing. Work with the latest VR headsets, AR glasses and industry-standard software.⁴
Strong industry connections and real-world projects: experience real-world briefs and playtesting opportunities, collaborate with immersive technology companies, and benefit from guest lectures by industry experts which have previously included Mathew Ragan (Sudo Magic) and Minsoo Kang (Basictech, South Korea), providing direct industry engagement and networking opportunities.²
Interdisciplinary and collaborative learning: the course shares modules with other disciplines such as film, media and performance, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration.
Employability and career prospects: graduates can explore a range of career opportunities in virtual production, immersive storytelling, game design, digital heritage, AR marketing and XR experience design for healthcare and education. The course is designed to equip you with technical and creative skills, ensuring you are ready for roles such as VR/AR developers, interaction designers and creative technologists.
Adaptive learning approach and research-led teaching: rather than focusing solely on specific software, the course emphasises adaptive learning, ensuring you can upskill and remain competitive as technology evolves. With a research-informed curriculum, explore emerging trends in immersive design, human-computer interaction and extended reality storytelling, preparing you for both industry and academic research routes.

Collaborations

Endorsement: Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA)

Coventry University and the RSA have collaborated on a module concerning social and ethical responsibility. You will be entitled to a 12-month fellowship of the RSA so you can access all RSA resources and platforms during your period of study. Once you have successfully passed the Professional Practice and Innovation module, you will receive an RSA digital credential.

What you'll study

Rather than focusing solely on headset immersive technologies, you can expect to work across disciplines, producing hybridised post-digital work that challenges the conventions of media disciplines and encourages you to operate at the forefront of the expanding immersive sector.

Extensive expertise in the research and practice of immersive forms leads your learning and includes:

performance/motion capture and networked performance
spatial, 360° and volumetric filmmaking
immersive sound design and multichannel music composition
animation and games art.

Modules

Immersive Storytelling and Interactive Experiences – 30 credits

VR/AR for Industry – 30 credits

Virtual Character and World Building – 30 credits

Collaborative Technologies – 30 credits

Enhance your technical expertise and interpersonal communication skills through teamwork, working with students from other disciplines on practical projects creating live and pre-recorded content, such as motion capture, film, music or sound. Gain hands-on experience with high-end production equipment.

Compulsory

Professional Practice and Innovation – 30 credits

Creative Frontiers Project – 30 credits

Personalise learning through independent research in a chosen area relevant to your discipline. Develop your research skills and explore theoretical, conceptual and professional issues within today's creative industries. Develop your own negotiated project at the forefront of contemporary practice in a particular area of interest, deepening your technical knowledge.

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

group critiques
artist talks and lectures
masterclasses
seminars
tutorials
field trips and industry visits²
workshops.

Teaching and learning hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching and learning hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours will vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average, you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions, including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent learning

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent learning which will make up the required study hours per module. You will be undertaking a variety of activities, learning through guided background research, planning and preparation, studio activity, creative practice and making, reviewing what you have learned and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress towards the end of your studies, you will spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending on the module. Assessment methods may include:

immersive artefacts/bodies of work
contextual documents
portfolios
proposals
presentations
research books.

The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent).

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Portfolio

As part of your application, you are invited to include a link to your online portfolio in your personal statement so that the course team can get to know your practice.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical requirements

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent).

Portfolio

As part of your application, you are invited to include a link to your online portfolio in your personal statement so that the course team can get to know your practice.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Speak to one of our advisers today for more information regarding specific requirements.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200	Not available
EU	£11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³ and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Coventry University is home to superb media facilities across our three main buildings: the Ellen Terry Building, a former Art Deco cinema; the Delia Derbyshire Building, named after the celebrated electronic composer; and our television studio, The Tank.

You can access post-production studios, games and animation studios, immersive studios and hack labs in the Delia Derbyshire Building.

Media loan service

Borrow from an extensive range of specialist, professional equipment, including digital film cameras, Blackmagic, Sony and RED cameras, audio equipment and lighting, with technical support from our knowledgeable staff.

Immersive lab

The Delia Derbyshire Building boasts a Vicon Shogun optical motion capture system and VR lab with high-powered VR-ready workstations, HP backpack VR systems and a post-production suite which hosts Avid Media Composer, the Adobe Suite and access to the Asset Management system. The immersive sound lab features an Adobe Atmos 15.1 sound system.

Broadcast Television Studio

Our on-campus TV studio, The Tank, has specialist TV studio equipment, including a live three-camera set-up, with a gallery for broadcasting across the internet. The Tank also features a green screen used for either live compositing or for use in post.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion, you could explore a variety of careers.

VR or AR Developer: design, develop and implement VR/AR applications for industries such as gaming, marketing, education and entertainment. Work with programming languages and development tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, ARKit and ARCore.

Immersive Experience Designer: create engaging and interactive VR/AR experiences, focusing on user interaction and storytelling. Develop immersive content for sectors like museums, retail, tourism and live events.

Motion Capture Specialist: capture and process real-time motion data for use in VR/AR environments, gaming and film production. Operate motion capture suits and cameras, integrating motion data into virtual spaces.

3D Artist or Modeller for VR/AR: create 3D assets, environments and animations for VR/AR applications, ensuring visual quality and realism. Work in areas like gaming, film, architecture and product design.

XR (Extended Reality) Content Producer: oversee the creation and production of immersive content for VR, AR and mixed-reality experiences. Collaborate with creative and technical teams to produce high-quality XR projects.

User Experience (UX) Designer for Immersive Technologies: focus on the design and improvement of user interfaces and experiences within VR/AR applications. Ensure immersive environments are user-friendly, intuitive, and engaging.

VR or AR Marketing Specialist: develop and implement marketing campaigns using VR/AR technologies to engage consumers in unique and interactive ways. Work with brands and agencies to create immersive experiences for product launches, virtual showrooms or interactive advertisements.

VR or AR Project Manager: lead and manage cross-disciplinary teams in the development of VR/AR projects. Oversee project timelines, budgets, and deliverables, ensuring the successful execution of immersive technology initiatives.

Game Designer (VR/AR): design and develop gameplay mechanics, environments and characters for VR/AR games. Work closely with developers and artists to bring immersive gaming experiences to life.

Augmented Reality Consultant: advise companies on the implementation of AR technologies to enhance business processes, training, or customer engagement. Help businesses integrate AR into their operations or marketing strategies.

Educational Technology (EdTech) Specialist: design and implement VR/AR experiences for educational institutions and corporate training. Develop immersive learning modules and simulations for subjects ranging from science to soft skills training.

Creative Technologist (VR/AR): combine creativity and technical skills to develop innovative immersive experiences, working across fields like art, digital installations and interactive media. Experiment with new technologies to push the boundaries of VR/AR in creative sectors.

VR or AR Solutions Architect: design and develop complex VR/AR systems tailored to specific industries such as healthcare, manufacturing or architecture. Work with clients to create custom solutions for immersive simulations, training or product development.

Virtual Production Specialist: use VR/AR tools in filmmaking, game development and live events, to blend real-time virtual environments with live-action footage. Specialise in real-time rendering, virtual sets and motion tracking, in virtual production pipelines.

VR or AR Researcher: conduct research in emerging areas of VR/AR technology, human-computer interaction or immersive media. Contribute to advancing knowledge in the field by exploring new ways VR/AR can be applied in different industries.

Healthcare Simulation Specialist (VR/AR): develop VR/AR applications for healthcare training, patient care or rehabilitation. Create immersive medical simulations to enhance learning for healthcare professionals.

Architectural Visualisation Specialist: use VR/AR to create immersive architectural walkthroughs and designs. Collaborate with architects and real estate developers to provide clients with interactive, 3D visualisations of buildings or spaces.

Digital Twin Engineer: create virtual representations of physical objects, systems or environments using VR/AR technology. Develop digital twins for industries such as manufacturing, construction and urban planning, to monitor and optimise real-world systems.

Product Designer for Immersive Technologies: design and prototype VR/AR products, tools or hardware. Collaborate with engineers and designers to create immersive devices or accessories.

VR/AR Consultant for Public Engagement: advise cultural institutions, museums or governments on using VR/AR to engage the public. Develop immersive exhibitions, virtual tours or public outreach initiatives that use VR/AR to enhance user engagement.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online. Please read the entry criteria page before applying.

Full-time applications

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

Full-time international students should apply directly to the university. Please read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degrees view our International hub.

You can also download our international mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations, partnerships and memberships

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply. See the relevant body website for more details). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships are subject to successful renewal in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. If the accreditation, recognition or membership of this course changes, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Where relevant, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) module content is undergoing assessment by the CMI to confirm that all criteria are met to the required standard. Whilst it is expected that students who successfully pass the module will be eligible to be considered by CMI for the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice as an additional qualification, we cannot confirm this until the accreditation is approved. This is a normal part of the continuous improvement process for our courses to ensure they remain up-to-date and reflect best practice.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.