The University of Salford is launching the UK’s first diploma for students wanting to train in motion capture technology.
Applications are now open for the DipHE Motion Capture for the Screen Studies programme for September 2025. DipHe is a Diploma in Higher Education and is awarded after two years of full-time study at the University.
Salford is the first Higher Education institute in the UK to offer a specialist degree in motion capture – though others do offer short courses that last five days at most.
The course launch comes after a number of successful years of teaching on modules from technicians on the subject, which resulted in the university winning the Digital Education and Development Award at the 2024 Educate North Awards.
Led by award-winning technicians Connoll Pavey and Jake Louden, the course will position students to learn the fundamentals of motion capture technology, be able to set up and run their own project in a studio and spend time working with an industry partner specialising in the technology.
It will be offered in association with the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology and also offered as a one-year CertHE (Certificate of Higher Education) course.
Co-programme leader Pavey said: “The use of motion capture technology is exploding across the creative industries.
“It’s already widely used across video games, television and film and as the technology develops, it will soon become available to those filming at home as easily as it is for those on film sets. The tech is going to get smaller and easier to access for all.
“With this rate of progress and the potential careers that are going to open up to those who have expertise in this technology, we are priming our students to be right at the front of the queue to get access to these opportunities and fill those gaps that open up.”
The UK’s motion capture sector is still relatively in its infancy in 2024, however, roles relating to graduates studying Motion Capture Technologies are forecast to grow by 4.6% over the next six years.
Whilst the traditional route for motion capture technicians is the screen industries, the exploration of the technology across other sectors, notably the health sector, illustrates a variety of career routes for potential graduates.
Louden added: “When you look at film production, there are so many roles that incorporate this technology as it is now at the forefront a lot of production but what people don’t realise is that it can play a supportive role in so many different areas.
“Even here at Salford, we’ve had many different programmes want to get involved with the technology because they realise the role it can play. Those working in medicine or in a laboratory can utilise this kind of technology in their line of work. There is no end to where this technology can go in the coming years.”
The university has consulted with video games developer Cloud Imperium Games and MediaCity’s leading television studio hub dock10 on the components of the course with a view to providing placements for students on the programme.
Louden added: “Through the input from partners, we’re confident that we will have a programme here that will allow students to develop the confidence to have all the training and insight they need to be properly prepared to go in and work or run a motion capture studio.”
The course will be taught within the purpose-built motion capture studio in our New Adelphi Building on our Peel Park campus.
