BA (Hons) Game Art (with foundation year)

• Includes a foundation year to prepare you for further years of study.
• Strong links with industry and professional bodies such as Skillset, NAHEMI and various associations. Our Creative Futures student conference plays host to a large range of visiting guest speakers from the creative industries.
• There are Industry-focused visits to gain first-hand insight into how creative media companies function and the variety of employment opportunities that are available in the development of your career aspirations. There are also other study trips to festivals and Video Game expos.
• Opportunities to enter competitions.
• Our purpose-built Centre for the Creative Industries features specialist facilities, such as our TV studio with green screening, and software such as Maya, Mudbox, Unreal Engine 4, Substance Painter/Designer and Creative Cloud for creating Game Art and playable levels.
• There is strong pastoral care within a friendly creative community with an emphasis on team building and collaborative work. Contact time with tutors is high with enthusiastic and supportive staff who are knowledgeable, research-active practitioners.

This degree is primarily designed for those who want to pursue a career in the game art and associated design industries.

It explores all key aspects of game art production processes, drawing upon your imagination and using a variety of techniques from 2D concepts to 3D production on screen, including 3D Modelling, sculpting, level design and mixed screen-based media.

Emphasis is placed on your personal and professional development, communication and entrepreneurial skills so that you are well equipped to enter a diverse and rapidly changing industry.

Year 1 (Foundation Year)

The foundation year will introduce you to the key elements of art and design, including design practice, applied and fine art.  You will explore the creative thought process relating to various art and design disciplines, developing your ability to put ideas down on paper quickly.  There will be a range of practice assignments that will increase your recognition of strong ideas and original concepts.

Modules

• Introduction to Art and Design
• Introduction to Applied Art
• Introduction to Fine Art
• Creative Thinking
• The Skills You Need
• Contextual Studies

Year 2 (Level 4)

Modules

• Critical Studies 1: History & Context - Game Art (20 Credits)
• Creative Futures 1: Professional Studio Practice (20 Credits)
• Concept Art Fundamentals (20 Credits)
• Asset Modelling (20 Credits)
• Sketch to Sculpt (20 Credits)
• Gameplay Design(20 Credits)

Year 3 (Level 5)

Modules

• Contextual Studies 2: Critical Thinking (20 Credits)
• Creative Futures 2: Business Fundamentals (20 Credits)
• Characters in Context (20 Credits)
• Environment Modelling (20 Credits)
• Virtual Reality: Level Design and Creation (20 Credits)
• VFX for Video Games (20 Credits)

Year 4 (Level 6)

Modules

• Contextual Studies 3: Research & Application (20 Credits)
• Creative Futures: Entrepreneurial Practice (20 Credits)
• Negotiated Practice (40 Credits)
• Game Art Degree Project (40 Credits)

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

BA (Hons) Game Art (four years including foundation year)

UCAS code: 305G

Our general entry requirement for the foundation year is 48 UCAS tariff points but all applications are considered individually and we consider work experience, vocational training/qualifications as well as motivation and potential to succeed.

The programme welcomes applications from anyone who can demonstrate a commitment to the subject and the potential to complete their chosen programme successfully. This can be established by showing appropriate academic achievements or by demonstrating that they possess the knowledge and ability equivalent to the academic qualifications.

All candidates will either be invited to the university for an informal conversation, or where this is not practical, via a portfolio of recent work in hard copy or by digital representation.

In addition to the academic entry requirements, all applicants whose first language is not English or Welsh must demonstrate English language proficiency.

If you have studied in another European country, please check the Entry Requirements for your qualification.

International Students - BA (Hons) Game Art (four years including foundation year)

If you are an international student please visit the countries page and select your country to see the relevant academic and English language entry requirements.

There are no set exams. Assessment is continuous and relates to all aspects of the programme, providing more carefully defined emphasis on formative assessment and feedback on your coursework throughout the academic year. We will advise you on your level of attainment and direct you towards a strategy for further progression as you complete assignments and modules.

There are varied formats of assessment to encourage your learning through group seminars, critiques and tutorials. This can be through group interaction with critical analysis where you will submit a range of work including design sheets, finished artwork, 3D work, screen-based work, technical/ production files, journals, essays and audio-visual presentations. There are reviews of work at key points before Christmas and before Easter and this provides time for you to reflect on your progress prior to a final or summative year-end assessment.

Teaching and learning

Wrexham Glyndŵr University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.

On this course teaching and learning is designed to support students from a variety of backgrounds with diverse needs and to promote the supportive learning environment and pastoral care the School of Art and Design provides. Timetabling is developed to help learning, teaching and assessment methodologies and provide clear and effective feedback to students. Contact hours are 16 per week in year 1, 14 per week in year 2 and 12 per week in year 3.

There is strong support for students with learning differences and who can also receive additional help from support assistants through Student Support Services.

The programme is structured to enable you to work in a multidisciplinary manner, to be flexible and enable you to develop individually.  This is supported by a personal tutor/tutorials system that provides you with guidance throughout all aspects of the programme

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work.

 Our student support section has more information on the help available.

Our Careers & Employability service is there to help you make decisions and plan the next steps towards a bright future. From finding work or further study to working out your interests, skills and aspirations, they can provide you with the expert information, advice and guidance you need.

Emphasis is placed on your personal and professional development, communication and entrepreneurial skills, so that you are well equipped to enter a diverse and rapidly changing industry. Our graduates have gone on to work for companies like the BBC, Channel 4, S4C, Disney, Molinare, McKinnon & Saunders, Passion Pictures, Asylum Models and Effects, EA Games and Traveller’s Tales, Splash Damage, taking leading roles such as senior designers, working on titles such as A Bug’s Life, The Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie and the Harry Potter series games.

Career opportunities exist in all areas of Game Art including: concept artists, storyboard artists, freelance artists/animators, character designers, game artists, interactive developers, environment and background artists, freelance visualisers, model making, set design, digital media texture art, digital painting, compositing, lighting, rigging, visual effects and post-production.

Our degree also allows you to gain a range of transferable skills that can lead to a variety of employment opportunities. Further study opportunities are also available at MDes / MA or PGCE level.

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

Wrexham Glyndŵr University’s tuition fees for 2020/21 for a full-time undergraduate degree course are £9000 per year.

The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & finance pages. You will also find information about what your fees include in the FAQs section of those pages. 

You can see the full programme specification here.