Duration:
2 years full-time | Top-up available

Location:
Confetti Nottingham Campus, NTU

UCAS course code:
I630

Institution code:
N91

Quick! We have some places remaining for this September. Check out the entry requirements below.

This Games Art foundation degree, based in Nottingham, is designed for those who want a career in the growing games art industry. 

The game artist creates the visual elements of an interactive computer game, crafting assets like 2D graphics, 3D characters and environment models, surface textures and user interface components.

A game artist may also be involved in conceptualising ideas to help communicate the proposed visual elements during the pre-production phase. This Games Art degree will give you the opportunity to experience a range of techniques and software used in the games industry, whilst developing specialist skills to support career goals within your chosen art role.

This course is for you if:

  • you enjoy drawing and designing environments, characters and assets 
  • you are good at drawing, building worlds and telling stories
  • you are excited by the potential of being a game-changer for the next generation of gamers.

Progression route

Top-up your degree to a full BA (Hons) qualification in Games Art at NTU

Clearing 2024

  • 48 UCAS points from up to three qualifications; and
  • GCSE – English and Maths Grade C / 4

Spaces are limited, so call NTU’s Clearing hotline on 0115 848 6000 to secure your place.

2025 entry

  • 64 UCAS Tariff points; and
  • GCSE – English and Maths Grade C / 4

To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.

Other qualifications and experience

We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.

Meeting our entry requirements

Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS tariff points attached to specific grades, including A levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.

How to apply

This degree is validated by Nottingham Trent University. You can apply through UCAS.

Apply now

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.

Fees & funding

Designing a game world (20 Credit Points)

This module will allow you to learn and develop the skills required to imagine and visualise imaginary worlds and the characters and assets within them, representing them with verisimilitude. You will develop concept art skills in order to explore ideas and produce client ready speculative art.

Building a game world (20 Credit Points)

This module will teach you how to explore 2D and 3D solutions to environment design and apply technical knowledge to these tasks. You will develop your concept art skills in order to explore ideas and produce client ready speculative art. You will also enhance your 3D repertoire to develop your concept and ideas as fully realised 3D Levels. This module will also include written elements in the form of media reviews (prose and moving image) as well as artist reviews.

Industry Collaboration: Pre-Production (20 Credit Points)

This module challenges students to pre-produce your first AWLE Project.  Taking a brief from client to final presentation encourages you to engage with an ambitious creative pipeline, creating and developing final designs for characters and assets for an existing IP.

Industry Collaboration: Production (20 Credit Points)

Produce your first AWLE Project. Taking a brief from client to final presentation encourages you to engage with an ambitious creative pipeline. Building on the work completed in the Pre-Production module, you will now use industry-standard software to finalise your designs to present to clients.

Games artist toolkit (20 Credit Points)

This module comprises two elements – Life Drawing and 3D Software. Together, they enhance and expand upon core skillsets fundamental to the origination and execution of engaging computer-generated imagery. Drawing introduces approaches to studies in drawing central to the enterprise of visual expression with an emphasis on life drawing.

Critical & contextual studies (20 Credit Points)

You’ll be introduced  to theoretical frameworks through which to consider, contextualise and challenge your creative practice. Understanding the historical, cultural and theoretical context in which computer-generated imagery situates is crucial to broadening perspectives and enriching your abilities to discuss, develop and disseminate your ideas with confidence.

Building Alliances (40 Credit Points)

Experience of collaboration is a key expectation of students of Games Design. This unit challenges you to engage in teamwork in the pre-production, production and promotion of an Game Concept. You are required to identify your strengths as they align with specific studio roles; for example, concept artist, production designer, character designer, pre-visualiser, modeller, texture artist, sculptor etc.

Real Worlds (40 Credit Points)

This module challenges you to pre-produce and produce your second AWLE Project. Taking a brief from client to final presentation encourages you to engage with an ambitious creative pipeline.

Games Artist Toolkit (20 Credit Points)

This module comprises two elements – Character Design and 3D Software. Together, they enhance and expand upon core skillsets fundamental to the origination and execution of engaging computer-generated imagery.

Industry Practice (20 Credit Points)

During this module you will undertake an overarching, self-directed game development project, working both individually and collaboratively on creative work – allowing you to directly apply the research, knowledge and skills learnt throughout the programme in the context of the workplace.

This module aims to develop overall professionalism and provide the knowledge and resources to begin a career in the creative industries. This module aims to develop these skills and knowledge by challenging you to develop a range of self-directed projects along with analysis of the processes involved along the way.

Do It For Real

Industry Week

Studying at Confetti you’ll take part in Industry Week where you’ll be able to meet a range of professionals within your field of interest as well as other areas of the creative industries. 

Past guests include Sony, Sumo Digital, Game Workshop, Mantic Games, Warlord Games, Dambuster Studio, Multiplayer Group and Lighthouse Games.

Student work

Our Talent Development team works closely with course leaders to link students with opportunities across the industry. Games Art students have previously worked with and visited leading companies, such as:

  • Mantic Games
  • Warlord Games
  • Sumo Digital
  • Games Workshop

You also may be going on trips to Vertex Conference, The Victoria and Albert Museum and Leeds Armoury.

On this course you’ll study in Confetti HQ – our £9.1million digital media hub. You’ll have access to:

  • Industry spec PCs
  • Wacom graphics tablets
  • Photoshop
  • Z-Brush
  • Autodesk Maya
  • Substance Painter
  • Unreal Engine 5

Courses

After finishing your foundation degree, you may decide to go straight into industry or top-up to a full honours degree.

If you achieve a Commendation or higher grade, you’ll be able to progress onto the Level 6 (Final Year) of the popular BA (Hons) Games Art at NTU course.

For those completing their foundation degree with a Pass, you’ll have the opportunity to progress onto Level 5 (Year Two) of the course.

If you choose to progress onto the full honours degree at NTU, you’ll be invited to a transition tutorial with the Illustration course team at NTU. The aim of the tutorial is for you to meet the course team; present your work; and for the team to ensure any appropriate support (if necessary) is made available to you before you progress.

What roles do our graduates go on to?

  • Character Artist
  • Environment Artist
  • Prop Artist
  • Vehicle Artist
  • Character Designer
  • Clothing/ Costume Designer
  • Vehicle Designer
  • Environment Designer
  • Concept Artist
  • Game Illustrator
  • Cinematographer
  • Art Director
  • Hard Surface Modeller
  • Toy Designer
  • Digital Sculptor
  • Game Artist
  • 3D Generalist
  • Illustrator
  • UI Designer
  • Real-Time Visualisation Artist

NTU Employability support

Our support doesn’t end when you graduate. As a Confetti and NTU student you will be entitled to dedicated graduate employability support for up to three years after you complete your studies. You’ll have access to exclusive events, initiatives and work experience opportunities to support you in the early stages of your graduate career.

NTU Employability support

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