IA7003 - Major Project

What will I learn on this module?

In this module you will learn through practice to professionally meld the concepts and forms of the creative arts with digital and immersive technology, and you will apply these technological and creative skills in a specific context that illustrates your mastery of digital and immersive arts. This module has two components. Firstly, you will produce a significant piece of work in the area of Digital and Immersive Arts and this builds directly on the practical experience and knowledge gained in modules IA7001 and will be directly informed by the research and development carried out in IA7002. Secondly, you will critically reflect upon the ideas underlying your work and this builds on your interdisciplinary knowledge gained in ‘Research for Practitioners.’

Component 1
This module gives you the opportunity to produce a significant piece of work which can be self-initiated either individually or as a team, or can be developed in collaboration with a creative or industrial partner. This work may include but is not limited to the production of a live or virtual immersive performance, a live or virtual audio-visual performance, an immersive installation, a VR experience, a immersive game, or a screen-based work which incorporates immersive data. This significant piece of work will demonstrate an original and critical engagement with both the technologies and ideas within the fields of Digital and Immersive Arts and will directly support your future opportunities in this dynamic emerging field. The project in terms of scope, design and proposed production methodology will be subject to consultation and approval with the project supervisor and module tutor. The project will be shown in a final degree show, to which potential employers will be invited.

Component 2
The second aspect of this module is a significant piece of reflective writing which demonstrates firstly, a thorough understanding of the relevant histories and theories which underpin the practical work in Component 1 and secondly demonstrates a critical reflexivity in your practice as you articulate the underlying motivations and processes employed in the realization of the project.

How will I learn on this module?

You will be expected to develop and realise your Major Project through self-directed learning supported by individual tutorials, peer learning, group critiques and presentations. This should be directly built upon the research and development carried out in IA7002.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

You will be assigned a personal tutor matched to your subject focus. This tutor will guide you through the final major project through individual project supervision meetings.

Further academic support is provided via e-Learning tools, such as discussion groups, blogs and wikis. Additional contact with tutors may be available during office hours by arrangement. You will also have direct assistance with CVs & portfolios and will have the opportunity to demonstrate your work to potential employers in a final degree show, which will be arranged in tandem with the course tutors.

Additional support is provided through the English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) module where English is not your first language.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:

• To evidence the knowledge, understanding and capability to Independently plan, organise and manage effective research and development to inform your self-determined project and your future development as a researcher and/or practitioner. (KU4)
• To demonstrate the ability to synthesize and apply theoretical knowledge derived from a range of fields to contribute to new knowledge and/or creative innovations in the field. (KU5)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

• To demonstrate innovation, collaboration and consensus with peers, a project team or collaborative partners to deliver a project to a professional standard. (IPSA5).
• To demonstrate creativity, originality and mastery of digital and immersive arts in a professional context. (IPSA6)
• To demonstrate the ability to publicly present your work in a professional exhibition. (IPSA6)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

• To demonstrate an ability to make an original contribution to the field of digital and immersive arts. (PVA4)
• To demonstrate a solution-based critical engagement with the challenges faced by contemporary culture. (PVA5, PVA6)
• To have the awareness, ability and ethics to critically present your research in a logical, factual, and well-reasoned manner. (PVA6)

How will I be assessed?

This module will be 100% summatively assessed at the end of the module through an exhibition and submission of the following two components. This work must evidence your learning against the Learning Outcomes.

Component 1
This should be a significant piece of immersive work delivered as a documented performance, experience or installation, a working prototype such a live or virtual immersive performance, a live or virtual audio-visual performance, an immersive installation, a VR experience, an immersive game, an immersive video or film, or a screen-based work which incorporates immersive data. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your work in a final degree show. Students will be expected to develop their ideas and produce scripts, storyboards, technical demonstrations, and prototypes as appropriate to the specific projects.

Students should be capable of producing a substantial immersive project to a professional standard, which shows creativity, originality, and a mastery of digital and immersive arts. This should consist of more than a demonstration and should be a viable, interactive and/or immersive project that can be experienced by the cohort and the general public in a final show. Students will be summatively assessed on the technical, aesthetic and conceptual quality of the final documentation and public presentation of their practice work.

Component 2
The second aspect of this module is a significant piece of reflective writing which demonstrates firstly, a thorough understanding of the relevant histories and theories which underpin the practical work in Component 1 and secondly demonstrates a critical reflexivity in your practice as you articulate the underlying motivations and processes employed in the realization of the project. 7000 words maximum.

You will receive feedback in one to one and/or group tutorial sessions, and at interim and final presentations. Formative assessment will be provided through tutorials or formal presentations. Summative assessment will be written, giving a marks breakdown of how the submission met the five individual learning outcomes.

Pre-requisite(s)

IA7001
IA7002
IA7000

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

This module is dedicated to the realisation of your Major Project - a significant piece of practice-based research in the area of Digital and Immersive Arts. This project can be self-initiated, either individually or as a team or can be developed in collaboration with a creative or industrial partner. This work may include but is not limited to the production of a live or virtual immersive performance, a live or virtual audio-visual performance, an immersive installation, a VR experience, an immersive game, or a screen-based work which incorporates immersive data. This significant piece of work will demonstrate an original and critical engagement with both the technologies and ideas within the fields of Digital and Immersive Arts and will directly support your future opportunities in this dynamic emerging field. This work will be demonstrated on a final degree exhibition.

Drawing from the historical and theoretical grounding developed during the programme you will support your project with a significant piece of reflective writing which demonstrates firstly, a thorough understanding of the relevant histories and theories that underpin the practical work and secondly demonstrate a critical reflexivity in your practice as you articulate the underlying motivations and processes employed in the realisation of the project.

Course info

Credits 60

Level of Study Postgraduate

Mode of Study 1 year Full Time

Department Northumbria School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries, Arts

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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