Integrated Foundation - Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Game Design

The BA (Hons) Game Art degree is designed to develop creative and technical skills at the intersection of art and technology, preparing students for careers in the games and wider entertainment industries. The course begins with a broad foundation in game art, design, technology, and asset production, before progressing into more specialised areas of 3D asset creation and games production.

At the end of the first year, students can choose between two pathways: Game Art, which focuses on concept design, sculpting, worldbuilding, and asset production pipelines; or Game Technical Art, which develops skills in areas such as motion capture, rigging, tool creation, and shader development. The chosen pathway is reflected in the final award.

Throughout the course, students work on creative and technically challenging projects, often in collaboration with industry professionals, helping to build a strong portfolio and professional experience. Access to state-of-the-art digital art studios, including high-performance workstations, graphics tablets, 3D facilities, and software such as Autodesk Maya and Adobe Creative Cloud, supports practical learning in a studio environment that reflects industry practice.

The programme also benefits from partnerships with game studios and digital art companies, providing opportunities for live projects, mentorship, and insight into current industry trends and technologies.

The course offers an optional professional placement year, providing students with the opportunity to spend a full year working with an employer after successfully completing their second year of study. This placement enables students to gain valuable industry experience, develop practical skills, and explore potential career paths, with some choosing to return to the same employer after graduation.

Students who wish to undertake a placement year are responsible for securing a suitable role relevant to their area of study, supported by the University’s extensive network of employers and dedicated Careers teams. Once a placement is secured, students can transfer onto the placement version of the course.