The Games market in 2021 generated a total of $180.3 billion with $93.2 billion belonging to the Mobile Game market, with an estimated 3 Billion players in 2021 that drives these revenues. According to UKIE 16% of Job Roles within the Games Industry are related to Art. With 78% of employees having a Bachelor's degree in which 55% of these degrees are within the Games/STEM field.
The BA (Hons) Game Art prepares you for employment within the games industry as well as surrounding industries with a 3D art based environment as well as Graphic, CGI and Arch Vs roles. It is an exciting time to join an industry which is growing and with good career prospects are generally good (Prospects, 2022).
Working with
TYPICAL OFFER
Foundation Degree: 50% module average on the second year of an FD in a relevant subject.
HND: Merit grade in a relevant subject.
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).
On this course you will develop creative, polished and fully crafted props, assets and characters that explore the advanced practices used in the game industry. The Major Project module will enable you to pursue a problem related to your own interest and produce a working solution. Throughout the year you will be participating in a group project that will be emphasised on the simulation of workplace practices, building team working and professional skills. You will develop and build a game through all of its core production stages alongside Games Development and Games Programming peers.
To reflect industry practice we promote the use of agile workflows and promote events such as Game Jams and Game Societies. We focus on employability, so work is tailored to match and meet industry standards whilst also adopting industry workflows. We emphasise personal development, encouraging you to work with industry standard software and tools to art work.
You will specialise within the field of Game Art, learning advanced techniques and skills using industry standard software, techniques and workflows. Utilising core understanding of 3D production pipelines, game art, model optimisation to create rich, well thought-out, polished, creative environments and characters ready to be used in games. This course covers:
This course is validated by The Open University
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 £28.50, unless you are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM).
How to Apply:
To access your account again and complete your application, use the second link provided in your verification email.
Apply Now: Direct Application Form
Need Help? For further information, please email admissions@ucleeds.ac.uk
Please note, if you apply directly, we are required to submit a Record of Prior Acceptance (RPA) application to UCAS on your behalf if your application is successful and you enrol.
If you are:
you can make an application directly to us for this course.
To make your application, use the below link and register for an application account via the Create a New User facility. You will then be sent an email to the email address you provided when registering for an account, on which you will need to click the link to verify your email address.
Once you have created an account, you will then be able to start and save your application, should you not be able to complete it all in one go. Please note that your username is the email address you provided when registering for an account.
To access your account again should you need to complete and submit your application form, simply use the second link provided in your verification email.
To register for an application account please use the following link and use the Create a New User facility:
Internal Students - Direct Application Form
For further information in regards to this please email admissions@ucleeds.ac.uk
Modules may include:
Level 6
Advanced Visual Design (20 Credits)
This module will enable you to develop the ability to design your own assets using advanced design theories. You will also be taught current techniques for designing assets so that assets can be quickly generated and iterated. This module can be linked with Specialised 3D where you will take your designed asset/s and create it in the module.
Specialist 3D (20 Credits)
This module aims to allow you to choose your own specialist area of the games industry that you would like to enter and create 3D art in that chosen area. This module can be linked with Advance Visual Design where you create the asset designed in that module.
Team Project (20 Credits)
This module aims to focus on the group working element of game creation. Working as a group is a paramount skill in being successful within the games industry. Working as a group of Games Artists, Game Developers and Game Programmers you will create a complex game.
Research (20 Credits)
Every design decision reflects the ideological, technological and historical context of production. This module will encourage you to directly address these design constructs. You will conduct independent research into this issue, locating their problem in a theoretical context, with reference to existing exploration by practitioners and theorists.
Major Project (40 Credits)
The major project will provide you with a period of sustained engagement with a chosen field of expertise and the opportunity to showcase your specialist practical skills. You will develop your practical and theoretical skills by selecting, evaluating and analysing a pertinent issue within the contemporary computer games industry.
You will be given the opportunity to work across a wide range of projects, developing skills in the specialism of Game Art. Looking at the workflows required to create unique and refined characters, creatures, worlds and environments for contemporary computer games. You will develop skills in implementing assets and characters into multiple engines and utilising game engines to produce high quality and industry standard renders. There is heavy emphasis on the team working and producing high quality and polished props, assets and characters to be used by Programming and Development peers. Throughout the year you will be preparing and creating work to be showcased within a portfolio.
You will develop the following skills:
Benefits include:
You will also be developed as a creative problem solving individual, learning to appreciate and apply advanced techniques in the creation and development of games. You will learn the skills required to be a well versed industry professional. You will develop a range of workflows that will be able to be used in a variety of roles within the Games industry as well as being used across multiple other industries which is vital to your career and personal development. You will develop a range of skills that can be used across industries, such as Game Artists, Storyboard artist, Computer animation, 3D visualisations, visual effect artist and many others.
Modules will be formally assessed and graded through a range of methods, including:
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.
The course is delivered in purpose-built suites at the University Centre.
TYPICAL OFFER
Foundation Degree: 50% module average on the second year of an FD in a relevant subject.
HND: Merit grade in a relevant subject.
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).
On completion of this Top-Up Degree you can progress on to a Masters or seek relevant employment which may include:
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.
Applications are open for 2025 entry.
To apply directly to study at University Centre Leeds as an international applicant, please see the direct apply link further up this page or visit our 'How to apply' page and complete the steps.
You can also apply through UCAS.
For more information please visit our 'How to apply' page.
Course fees for Undergraduates are £14,000 (GBP)
Scholarship available £3,000 (GBP) all courses.
For more information about fees and scholarships, please click here.
Please see our entry requirements page for additional requirements as an international student
International students will study 5 additional hours on top of the regular timetable.
For more information about visa and immigration, please click here.
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