Animation, Games & Computer Graphics

Are you creative? Do you love computer games? Want to combine your traditional art skills with cutting-edge creative technology in 3D art, animation and motion graphics? A job in the computer games industry could be for you – a course in computer games art could get you there. The computer games artist creates a game's visual characters, objects and scenery, and produces concept art and storyboards at the planning stage.

The computer game industry is thriving. It is the biggest entertainment industry in the world surpassing film, DVD and music sales. Many box office hits and popular TV series are accompanied by games such as Harry Potter and CSI. Games are virtually everywhere with adults and children increasingly learning through computer games with everything from keep fit and skiing to French lessons, as well as the whole exciting range of traditional games being played out on consoles, computers and the internet.

If you want to be part of the next generation of games developer then we can help you develop your artistic skills and let you explore specialised areas including:

• 3D character modelling
• environment modelling
• vehicular modelling
• basic real-time animation
• 3D effects.

Use your creative skill and passion for computer games to help you achieve your goal.

*This course has a Foundation Year for applicants who don’t meet the requirements for Year 1 entry. Limited places are available.

Foundation Year Games and Animation

How you learn

For each module you are studying you will be expected to attend a lecture and a tutorial session each week. Early tutorials will focus on developing skills. In the later tutorials you will be working on assessments and using this time to get feedback and advice from tutors.

You will be expected to manage your time in order to complete work outside the tutorial sessions. In your final year, the Practical Project allows you the freedom to set your own project based on your skills and interests. This year also requires you to work as part of a team consisting of artists, designers, programmers and musicians to create a game.

How you are assessed

Assessment for all modules will be in the form of practical projects, which you work on throughout the year.

Professional placement

You may apply to take a year-long supervised work placement between your second and final years. Placements provide an opportunity for you to improve your employment prospects by developing new skills and deepening your understanding of the subject.

The placement year is assessed and contributes to your final degree award. Currently students are placed in games companies, such as Rare, Blitz Games and Reflections, and animation companies, such as Triffic Films. Students are selected by employers and are normally paid by the host organisation during the placement.

Career opportunities

This highly specialist degree offers the skills you will need for a career in the games industry, but also provides generic skills which open up numerous other career paths in digital media – typically areas of film, TV, advertising and multimedia – through to architectural visualisation.

Graduates from our games degrees have gone on to work as artists, level designers, 3D modellers and texture artists at a wide range of games companies including 3rd Dimensions, Atomic Planet, Bizarre Creations, Blitz Games, Codeworks, Eutechnyx, Halch, Media Molecule, Microsoft Rare, Rebellion, Rockstar North, Sega, Streamline, Traveller's Tales, Ubisoft Reflections, Venom, Weta Digital and many more.

Entry requirements

A typical offer will be 260-320 tariff points which must include at least two A levels or equivalent.

Normally you will be expected to attend an interview.

You must also be able to show evidence of artistic ability with either an art-based qualification or a portfolio of work.

If you apply for a course for which your educational background is inappropriate, you may receive an offer in a related but more suitable area.

For additional information please see the standard University entry requirements.

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