Graduate Certificate in Compositing and Tracking

The Graduate Certificate in Compositing and Tracking is a short, focused qualification for people who want to work in visual effects (VFX) for film, television and streaming. It is a graduate certificate, which sits at AQF level 8. That makes it a step above a bachelor degree but below a master's, and it is normally completed in about six months of full-time study. At Adelaide University, the course runs for 26 weeks. It is a coursework qualification, so you will not be writing a thesis. Instead, you will spend your time learning the tools and techniques that compositors and matchmove artists use every day.

Compositing is the craft of combining multiple layers of footage, computer-generated imagery, mattes and effects into a single, believable shot. Tracking is the process of matching the movement of a camera or an object so that digital elements sit correctly in the live-action plate. In this certificate, you will study both. You will learn how to pull a key, build a matte, integrate CG renders with live plates, manage colour and lighting to make a composite look real, and use tracking software to solve camera moves and object motion. You will also cover the pipeline around these tasks: how shots move through a VFX studio, how to work with other departments, and how to deliver shots that meet a client's brief. The exact units of study and their credit points are set out in the official course structure, so check the Adelaide University page for the current list.

Assessment is practical. You will build shots, solve tracking problems and present your work for feedback. There is no research thesis in a graduate certificate of this kind. The course is designed to be hands-on, so you finish with a reel of work that shows what you can do. Adelaide has a small but active screen production sector, and VFX studios in Australia and overseas regularly hire people with compositing and tracking skills. The certificate is also a way to build a portfolio if you come from a related field such as graphic design, animation, film production or photography and want to specialise. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while you study, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Confirm your visa options with the Department of Home Affairs.

This course suits people who already have a bachelor degree or relevant industry experience and want to move into VFX, or who want to add compositing and tracking to their existing design or media skills. It is also a good fit if you are considering a longer master's later but want to test the field first. English requirements are set by the university; for this level, an IELTS Academic score of 6.0 to 6.5 overall is the common coursework-postgraduate standard, though some courses ask for more. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge C1 Advanced are accepted as equivalents. The Student visa has its own English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 115796C. Always check the official Adelaide University page for the most current entry requirements, unit details and fees.

• Compositor, working in VFX studios, post-production houses and production companies on film, television and streaming projects.
• Matchmove artist / tracking artist, solving camera and object motion for shots that combine live action with CG elements.
• Roto and paint artist, creating mattes and cleaning up plates, a common entry point into VFX studios.
• Junior VFX artist, supporting senior artists on shot work, often in Australian studios in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
• Post-production assistant, coordinating shot delivery and data management in a VFX or post facility.
• Motion graphics and design compositor, applying compositing skills in advertising, broadcast design and online content.

Australian employers in the screen sector include VFX and animation studios, post-production facilities, television networks, streaming production arms and advertising agencies. Some graduates also work freelance or set up their own small studio. The skills you build here transfer to game cinematics, virtual production and architectural visualisation, where compositing and tracking are used alongside real-time engines.