From Nigeria to Salford: Ejike's experience studying at Salford

Journey to Salford

"I’m from Nigeria, and my creative journey has been shaped by moving across different cultural and educational environments. I studied Animation at the United States International University - Africa in Kenya, where I built my foundation in visual storytelling, design, and animation principles.

Before coming to Salford, I was already working professionally as a remote video editor for PBC, which strengthened my sense of narrative structure, pacing, and emotional timing. I also gained experience in immersive media through an internship with Black Rhino VR, a 360 VR company.

At that stage, my work sat between film, animation, and immersive media, but I felt a strong need to push further. I didn’t just want to edit stories anymore; I wanted to fully construct them from the ground up.

Salford stood out to me as the place I wanted to study because of its openness to experimentation and the flexibility within the course. After studying animation during my undergraduate degree, I didn’t want to follow a rigid or purely traditional path. From my research, Salford felt less restrictive than other courses. It encourages students to take creative risks and define their own direction. That was important to me because I wanted to grow not just technically, but conceptually. I was also drawn to the creative environment in Manchester, which felt like a place where I could develop both academically and professionally."

Studying at Salford

"A typical week on the MA Animation course feels quite self-directed, with a balance between workshops, feedback sessions, and independent learning. I spend most of my time working on ideas, refining animation, and experimenting with different approaches. There are also moments in the mocap studio with other students, which helps you understand what works and what doesn’t while learning to collaborate. The programme feels less like a traditional timetable and more like a creative practice. You’re expected to manage your time and take initiative, but there’s always support from the tutors and facilities.

One of my most meaningful projects is Ulondú Green Hub, a 3D environment I’m designing as an immersive, sustainable space. I model assets in Maya and bring them into Unreal Engine, experimenting with scale, lighting, and atmosphere. It’s still a work in progress, but the process has taught me about optimisation and balancing creative vision with technical constraints. Using course resources like labs and feedback sessions has helped me refine my ideas and strengthened my confidence in 3D environment design.

Studying in Manchester has made the industry feel more tangible. A big moment for me was attending the Manchester Animation Festival 2025, where studios like Netflix, Disney and Aardman were present. Being in that environment made everything feel more real. I also attended a session on In Your Dreams and met Alex Woo, the director of the Netflix feature. Hearing him speak made the industry feel less abstract and more human. Experiences like that have boosted my confidence, and networking feels like a natural part of the process".

Being an International student at Salford

"Building a life in Salford has been a mix of excitement, independence, and adjustment. Getting around was straightforward, and accommodation was relatively smooth. Having my own space helped me settle in. What took more adjustment was the personal side of things, moving to a new country and adapting to a different environment and pace of life. Over time, building a routine helped, and Salford started to feel familiar rather than foreign.

Studying alongside people from different creative backgrounds has reshaped how I work. Collaborating with film and acting students made me realise how much performance drives storytelling. That led me to explore Metahumans and motion capture, capturing subtle expressions and body language in a more organic way. Being around different perspectives has also made me more open creatively and willing to experiment."

Future plans

"The course has helped me understand where my strengths lie, particularly in storytelling through experience using motion capture and Metahumans. I see myself stepping into a studio environment first, while keeping the long-term goal of setting up my own company. I’m also open to freelance projects or developing my own ideas."

Advice for future students