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Game Art

Foundation Degree

Study Game Art at University Centre Leeds

Get ready to delve into the exciting world of video games with our Game Art Foundation Degree. You will explore prop creation, game environment creation, modular assets, high polygon sculpture and character art as you learn to create assets in a variety of workflows and styles. Work alongside peers to create games to ensure your projects reflect industry practice.

  • Starts:
  • Duration: 2 years full-time
  • Venue: University Centre Leeds
  • Fee: £8,745 full-time (per academic year for UK students)
  • UCAS Course Code(s): I710
  • UCAS Institution Code: L21
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Validated By: Luminate Education Group

Entry Requirements: 48 UCAS Tariff Points

TYPICAL OFFER

UCAS Tariff Points: 48 UCAS tariff points from two A-levels (or equivalent qualifications)

A Levels: 2xD grades 

BTEC Level 3 Diploma or Extended Diploma: MP, MPP grade.

IELTS: IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any component.

International qualifications: International qualifications will be assessed against these criteria.

Mature applicants: University Centre Leeds welcomes applications from mature* applicants who may not have met the academic criteria, but who can demonstrate a wealth of experience in their chosen field. Candidates in this category and otherwise are likely to be interviewed to assess their suitability for the course and may be asked to provide a portfolio of evidence to support their application.

*21 years and over at the start of the course

RPL claims: The course structure actively supports claims for Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL) or Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL).

University Centre Leeds student illustrating on a computer

Game Art

About the course

Explore current game art practice and technological advances ensuring you stay up to date with current industry techniques. You will learn how to critically analyse artwork and apply this knowledge to your own game art creations. To reflect industry practice we promote the use of agile workflows and industry events such as Game Jams and Game Societies.

As you progress through this course you will work across a wide range of projects, developing the workflows required to create game-ready assets. You will create environments and props and will sculpt realistic game characters. Additionally, you’ll learn how to implement these assets into a game engine, bringing your creations to life.

We emphasise employability so your studies will be tailored to meet industry standards and adopt industry workflows. You will use professional software and tools to create game art and will render high-quality images for use within your professional portfolio.

Upon completion of this Foundation Degree, students can choose to progress to a full BA (Hons) Game Art Top-up Degree. This program includes an additional year of study for full-time students and two years for part-time students.

 

This course is validated by Luminate Education Group

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Working with

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100%

of student satisfaction that staff are good at explaining things

94.7%

of student satisfaction that ‘My course has provided me with opportunities to bring information and ideas together from different topics’ on NSS 2019

How to Apply

If you would like to apply for to study full time, please do so via UCAS.

The institution code for University Centre Leeds is L21.

The application fee for applying through UCAS is £27.50.

Apply via UCAS

Course Information

Modules may include

Year 1 (Level 4)

Digital Sculpting (20 credits) – Using digital sculpting software to create highly detailed and multimillion polygonal assets for use within games.

Introduction to 3D (20 credits) – You will be introduced to 3D modelling software, skills, techniques and pipelines.

Principles of Gameplay (20 credits) – You will explore and analyse existing games to understand the core functionalities and gameplay properties that are used to create engaging and immersive experiences.

Professional Development (20 credits) – Learn about the academic requirements of University whilst contextualising this research for games.

Project 1  (20 credits) – Working together as a team to create, develop and produce a game, game level or experience. Collaborating with students from other courses and specialisms. 

Visual Design (20 credits) – Explore and understand the techniques used to create artwork within the Games industry.

Year 2 (Level 5)

Advanced 3D (30 credits) – Using advanced techniques to create 3D artwork, you will explore and create environments to be used in games.

Art for Emerging Technologies (20 credits) – You will research then develop artwork for upcoming technologies such as VR, AR, 3D Printing.

Character Art (30 credits) – You will learn how to create and develop characters for next-gen games.

Employability Skills (20 credits) – You will develop the softer skills to prepare you for a job in the industry, learning how to pitch and present yourselves in a professional manner.

Project 2 (20 credits) – Working together as a team to create, develop and produce a game, game level or experience. Collaborating with students from other courses and specialisms. 

You will be given the opportunity to work across a wide range of projects, developing skills in game art. By developing the workflows required to create game ready assets, you will create environments and props and sculpt realistic looking game characters. You will develop skills in implementing these assets into a game engine, preparing them to showcase your skills by rendering out high-quality images for use within your professional portfolio.

You will develop the following skills:

  • Innovative and creative thinking preparing you for the ever-evolving games art industry.
  • Critical understanding of game art and the creation of 3D models.
  • Self-discipline and independence as learners and industry practitioners.
  • Academic skills including critical thinking, academic writing and time management.

Benefits include the following:

  • Taught by professionals with industry experience.
  • Opportunities for networking with our industry connections.
  • The opportunity to work collaboratively on ideas and projects.

You will also be developed as a creative individual, learning to appreciate and apply the artistic, technical and narrative techniques that form the core of contemporary games development. Finally, you will become well-versed in the real world of computer games, learning how the past, present and future of computer games are vital to your career and personal development.

Modules will be formally assessed and graded through a range of methods, including:

  • Practical demonstrations.
  • Portfolios.
  • Reflections.
  • Case studies.
  • Solo and group projects.
  • Evaluations.
  • Academic posters.

This range of activities provides the opportunity for everyone to demonstrate the knowledge and skills that they have acquired throughout the course of their studies.

TYPICAL OFFER

UCAS Tariff Points: 48 UCAS tariff points from two A-levels (or equivalent qualifications)

A Levels: 2xD grades 

BTEC Level 3 Diploma or Extended Diploma: MP, MPP grade.

IELTS: IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any component.

International qualifications: International qualifications will be assessed against these criteria.

Mature applicants: University Centre Leeds welcomes applications from mature* applicants who may not have met the academic criteria, but who can demonstrate a wealth of experience in their chosen field. Candidates in this category and otherwise are likely to be interviewed to assess their suitability for the course and may be asked to provide a portfolio of evidence to support their application.

*21 years and over at the start of the course

RPL claims: The course structure actively supports claims for Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL) or Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL).

Upon completion of this Foundation Degree, students can choose to progress to a full BA (Hons) Game Art Top-up Degree. This program includes an additional year of study for full-time students and two years for part-time students. Alternatively, you may seek relevant employment in the following roles:

  • Character artist
  • Environment artist
  • Weapons artist
  • Prop artist
  • 3D artist
  • 3D generalist

For the latest version of the programme specifications for this course please click here.

For the latest version of the course handbook for this course please click here.

For last years version of the course handbook for this course please click here.

For the latest version of the Leeds City College regulations please click here.

Unistats

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