Game Art BA(Hons)
Develop your artistic and creative capabilities while honing the skills you’ll need to make it as a successful artist in the games industry.
Key details
| Course Duration | 3 years |
| Attendance | Full-time |
| UCAS code | W280 |
| Location | Penryn Campus |
| Contact | 01326 254350 |
Introduction
Art in the games industry is one of the fastest growing sectors and games artists are in higher demand than ever before. On this course you’ll work within game development teams from the course’s halfway point, allowing you to operate within the context of professional game making.
You will:
- Make a completed game within a team during your third year.
- Acquire the skills you need to make a successful career from your artistic skills.
- Learn about concept art, character art and environment art as well as the pipelines and processes used to make games.
- Work in an industry-standard environment.
- Be surrounded by people who live and breathe games.
What our students do
What our graduates do
Our students set themselves on career paths leading to roles like character artist, 3D modeler, environment artist, concept artist and producer.
Course details
What you'll learn
You'll study game art principles alongside traditional art practice - combining subjects like landscape painting with advanced photoshop, concept art with critical analysis, and life drawing with 3D modelling. We’ll also build your expertise in concept, character and environment art, agile project management, and development pipelines and processes.
Focused on industry practices, much of your learning will come from working in game development teams - devising and developing real games using real-world practices.
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You'll build the basic skills demanded by the industry, and learn about game artists’ major roles and techniques. Working with industry-standard software, methods and pipelines, you'll develop your drawing skills, better understand anatomy, and apply these abilities to 3D modelling and related elements.
You'll learn traditional and digital art skills - both 2D and 3D, alongside concept, environment and character art.
Modules
Introduction to Concept Art & Visual Cultures
Introduction to Character Art
Introduction to Environment Art
Making It Up: Concept & Visual Cultures 2
Making Avatars: Character Art 2
Making Space: Environment Art 2
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You’ll grow your confidence in game art and your skills in professional tools. You’ll then provide art assets to a collaborative project with game development students - giving you valuable experience in the development pipeline.
An additional specialist practice project lets you hone your skills in a particular area of game art, and create some high quality work for your portfolio.
Modules
Developing Concept Art Vocabularies
Developing Character Art Vocabularies
Developing Environmental Art
World Creation Project : Production
Developing Specialist Game Art Practice
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With specialism, independence and professional practice front and centre, you’ll join a multi-skilled team on a game development project. Working in a studio, you’ll contribute art assets using industry-standard methods and pipelines.
You’ll also create distinctive and polished work for your growing portfolio by working on specialist game art. We'll then help you commercialise this work and prepare you for the transition to professional life.
Modules
Major Game Development Project: Pre-Production
Preparing for the Future
Major Game Development Project: Production
Professional Practice
The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.
How you'll learn
You’ll learn through lectures, seminars, workshops, group and individual tutorials, and tutor and peer feedback on your work. Our guest lecture series is your chance to see industry professionals talk about their work, their approaches, and the lessons they’ve learned.
As you progress, you'll focus and develop a distinctive practice. With your basic skills developed, you'll be able to work and experiment within game development teams - so you can apply your practice to professional game making.
How you'll spend your time
Year | Timetabled teaching and learning activity | Guided independent study | Placements |
1 | 22% | 78% | 0% |
2 | 18% | 82% | 0% |
3 | 14% | 86% | 0% |
How you'll be assessed
Year | Written exams | Practical exams | Coursework |
1 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
2 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
3 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
Assessment methods
- Continuous assessment with no formal examinations.
- Visual, verbal and written assignments.
- A portfolio of project work is developed over the course of the degree to enhance your employability.
Staff
You’ll be taught and supported by professional artists, game art practitioners and developers, and game-focused academics. Together they provide industry experience from titles like World of Warcraft, League of Legends, Project Gotham Racing and the Total War series.
Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every member shown here.
Dr Douglas Brown
Formerly employed by international games developer and publisher Square-Enix and credited on...
Professor Tanya Krzywinska
Tanya started playing computer-based games on Usenet when working at the Digital Equipment...
David Croft-Sharland
David studied Game Art at Staffordshire University, winning 1st place at EGX Graduate Games...
Roman Dlapa
Roman Dlapa joined Falmouth University in September 2017, joining the Games Academy as a...
Phoebe Herring
Phoebe Herring joined Falmouth University as a lecturer in BA(Hons) Game Art after freelancing...
Jon Pledger
Following my masters I worked as a Senior Artist for two games companies: Evolution Studios and...
Andrew Smith
Andy joined Falmouth University in 2013 to after completing his undergraduate studies in...
Facilities
- XSens Motion Capture suites.
- Large studio equipped with regularly updated, state-of-the-art game development machines.
- Life drawing studio for artists and weekly life sessions.
- Specialised computing hardware for game development, motion capture and immersive experiences.
- Standard packages used in software development for the games and visual effects industries, including Adobe and Autodesk suites.
- Attached lab committed to staying at the cutting edge - featuring AR, VR and MR (XR) equipment including HoloLens, Vive Pro and Oculus Rift.
- Attached lab with access to PS4 development and testing kits.
- Access to a variety of game engines including Unity and Unreal.
- Studios open late during term time.
- Access to free software via Microsoft Imagine.
- Industry-standard game engines including Unity and Unreal 4.
- Industry-standard software including Maya, Zbrush, Blender and the Adobe Creative Suite.
- Technicians on-hand during opening hours to assist with the different tools.
How to apply
Entry requirements
104 - 120 UCAS points, primarily from Level 3 qualifications like A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma.
Check how many points your qualifications are worth
We’ll also consider you based on your individual merit and potential. So get in touch if:
- You’re predicted points below our requirements
- You’re thinking about transferring from another institution
- You have other qualifications or professional experience
Language requirements
GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent.
We also accept qualifications equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.
If you need a Tier 4 student visa to study in the UK, you’ll need to take an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT).
Apply via UCAS
Enter these codes at UCAS Apply and Track
- University code F33
- Course code W280
Deadlines
UK/EU applications: 15 January
Late applications will be considered if there are places available.
International fee payers can apply after the deadline. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.
Next steps
Once you’ve applied, you’ll receive a Falmouth Applicant Portal login, where you’ll find more details about these requirements.
What we're looking for
We want someone who:
- Understands what is required of game development artists.
- Shows an awareness of visual communication.
- Is motivated and suitable for the course.
Fees, costs & funding
Tuition fees 2019-20
£9,250 - full-time UK/EU
£15,000 - full-time international
Typical course costs
£300 - Recurring annual costs (art materials)
£1500 - Laptop or desktop capable of running 3D modelling software
If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter.
The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs
Funding
For information about funding available, please visit our undergraduate funding page