Polyu: Higher Diploma in Multimedia Design and Technology
Well, as I am the first graduate of the above course, I can
tell you something.
Study this course they will require you to buy a notebook. You can choose PC or Mac. Because they have not enough workstations.
As the course stated: Multimedia, so as you learn 3D, you need to learn other subjects and learn to use other softwares and skills.
Actually, my first year learnt Animation Master 2000 (AM)by Rijk Lau. (And I think they continue to teach AM in first year). AM is a low system requirement program but if you own a mac, hahahahaha (hang). And AM is a time consuming program as you make a plane by stitching points. But you will understand what is the work flow of making 3D.
In spare time, School of Design & Multimedia Innovation Centre
http://mic.polyu.edu.hk(I designed this website)will run additional course for learning 3D programs. They usually teach 3ds max and maya. (but maya course is usually run by MIC so you will not taught by Eddie Leung)
Then, you have a six weeks of "client project". it is run by MIC. The staff will(may) teach you 3ds max or Maya if you are in the 3D stream (There are four streams actually). I think if you learn max, you supposed to be use max to make 3D games and if you choose to learn maya, you supposed to make animation. But this subject you need to "suit outside clients" so don't look forward to do anything to show your creativity.
Second year, there is a subject that related to learning 3D. And Eddie Leung really will teach Maya to you. But don't be so happy. This subject will run in 6 weeks only and he will require you to make a 1 minute movie. The course contents actually from the Maya online tutorial. And the course is really extensive. Most of the time you need to attend lessons and less time for you to create animation. If you miss one lessons you will get lost what he taught. Also, PolyU's machines are really slow, (student used PIII 300 MHz Computer at that time while he was using Dual PIII 700 MHz Computer) so the student shift to use MIC facilities which have better config.
In personal opinion, I think Eddie Leung is a bit to "Pride" as I remembered that he claimed himself that he is one of the three people in Asia that got something like "offical teaching cert" from Alias|wavefront. So no student was brave enough to ask him questions and odds their head that they were understand what he taught.
Results: some of the students can reserves the MIC machines(one or two) to complete the project. Some of the students "borrow the windows" outside and get a very good subject grade. About me, I cannot complete the Animation subject and I just only can render simple wireframe animation and I got a pass D.
When I was in Year 2, the subjects have a little bit change. Eddie takes part in teaching Year 1. But still teaching AM and no Maya.
There is one story about the foreign girl who finished this course and have an exchange program to PIXAR. When she was in Year 1, she, and some of the students not really made their own 3D characters themselves. They just download some 3D models from websites and claimed that they made by themselves. So her animation in year 1 is "camera 360 degrees orbit-rotation, target on character" Because her character is not rigged with bone and no motion on her character.
I don't know how she got 10 characters design and send to PIXAR to make them interest on her (from SCMP). I have no comment on her as when she was in Year 2, I am already a Graduate and worked for Christine Loh office (Civic Exchange) for six-months concentraded on building website. May be she had paid efforts on 3D animation, who knows?
My Suggestion:
I think if you like 3D animation, you should take courses that is really 3D animation training program. But sometime concept training is also important, so POLYU can help you too but you should study BA Design Program. Also, self-learning can be a successful way. I studied Lightwave by self-learning. I start to read the CG-WORLD magazine and several LW books when I was in year2. Now, I cannot claim that I am a successful animator, but I have my animation broadcast in RTHK program. But it is hard to survive in Hong Kong if you don't have a Degree cert in Hong Kong. Yesterday, Raman Hui in his seminar said he would like to teach animation in PolyU, but he don't have a Master Degree so he cannot do that.