BA in Video Game Digital Art
Birmingham City University
Key Information
Campus location
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 11,100 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* UK students: £11,100 per year | international students: £16,870 per year
Scholarships
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Introduction
The BA Video Game Art undergraduate degree course responds to the growing demand for skilled, team-orientated, reflexive graduate professionals ready to succeed.
Interactive entertainment and video game development are key sectors for contemporary culture, economic growth and employment locally in the Midlands, nationally and globally.
This accelerated two-year course offers a studio simulation in our on-campus lab, which will take place over the summer term of the course. The workplace simulation approach of our School of Games, Film and Animation has been championed by the influential 2009 Livingstone Next Gen Report, which cited us as a national best practice example for developing new talent for the games industry.
What's covered in this course?
The course covers both core and technical art skills. It starts with helping you develop your art production skills, so expect to be using a variety of software packages from Blender to Photoshop. Once we’ve covered the fundamentals we’ll move on to supporting you develop your technical and digital art skills. You will focus on 2D and 3D graphics covering, texturing, user interface design, environment art, character art, and art pipelines for interactive products.
Your first position in the video game industry
Building upon your core and technical art skills, in the first year you will be tasked with a specific role within our simulated game development studio over the summer term. This experience gives you the opportunity to apply the knowledge and professional practices you’ve learnt on the course in a safe and supportive environment. Typically for these projects, you’ll be using industry-standard game development tools such as Unity and Unreal. These summer projects have in the past been mentored and supported by external partners such as Rare, Rockstar, Playground Games and Codemasters. The work you’ll produce during these summer modules can act as excellent portfolio pieces, demonstrating your ability as both a professional artist and an effective team member.
Putting you in control of your final project
Throughout the two years of your course, you will be provided with a structured programme of learning, which will encourage you to choose your specialism that will steer your career in the Video Game Industry. The course culminates with a project you define yourself which targets your chosen specialism, such as character art, vehicle art, environment art or user interface (among others). You will be encouraged to collaborate or propose your own solo project to create another video game project for your portfolio.
Teaching takes place in a modern campus based in Birmingham City Centre where you’ll be provided with studio space to complete projects and access to the software you’ll need for the duration of the course.
You will be taught by staff with significant experience in the video game development industry, having worked with game developers including, Free Radical Design, Codemasters, Freestyle Games, Sega and EA Games.
Real experience
So, by the time you graduate, a whole year before most students, you’ll have two years of tangible, games development studio experience under your belt and have acquired the foundations to begin your career in the video game industry.
Why choose us?
- This fast-track programme provides a rare opportunity to secure a BA (Hons) degree in only two years.
- Teaching is delivered by our team of industry practitioners, who collectively have over 100 years of video game industry experience, having worked on franchises such as EA’s ‘Battlefield’, Codemaster’s ‘Formula 1’ and Sega’s ‘Sonic’. They have also taught, trained and mentored students, graduates and practitioners, who are now successful industry developers, working at studios and publishers which include Ubisoft, Microsoft and Rockstar North.
- During the two-year course, you’ll work on numerous projects with periodic input from industry partners. Previous partners and mentors have included Codemasters, Pixel Toys, Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe, Microsoft’s Rare Studio and Rockstar North.
- On the course, you’ll learn a range of new skills and art disciplines relevant and appropriate for careers in the field of video game development, such as concept, environment, character, GUI and animation.
- This course will develop you to be able to move into employment, or further study, for example on our Industry-recognised Master’s Course, Gamer Camp, which is a finishing school for game developers (coders, artists, designers and producers) based in Birmingham City University.
- Top 5 for Animation and Game Design (Guardian League Tables 2023).
Gallery
Curriculum
Year one
During the first year, teaching methods may include practical sessions, lectures and group debates, featuring input from both University staff and guest lecturers from the industry, providing you with a wide range of practical knowledge and insight.
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 180 credits):
- Art Theory and Practice
- 2D Art Production
- 3D Modelling Theory and Practice
- 3D Art Production
- Collaborative Project
Year two
During your second year, there will be further opportunities to learn from guest lecturers.
You will undertake one major project module, where you will go through the process of scoping, defining and pitching the creation of your own project, which may include your own art assets, a new product, or even working with an industry partner to respond to a brief they have set.
If you are creating your own product, you may wish to partner up with the students with complementary skills such as programming, design, production and business.
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 180 credits):
- 3D Sculpting Primer
- 3D Character Production
- Animation Pipelines
- Professional Practice
- Major Project
Career Opportunities
Enhancing your employability
Courses within the School of Games, Film and Animation are built upon workplace simulation and industry-standard work, ensuring you behave less like a student and more like a professional, gaining the workplace experience and attributes you need.
As well as gaining course-specific skills, you could also gain broader tools through our Graduate+ programme, which will help enhance your employment options by helping with career development, employability activities, volunteering and part-time work experience.
Leading up to and upon graduation
At the end of your studies you’ll complete a final major project, this project may lead you to work directly with a client. This direct contact will give you the experience, confidence and freedom to put into action all you’ve learned in your studies. Allied with this course-specific experience, you will also have access to a range of support staff and services from the University’s Careers Service, who can help with:
- Reviewing CVs, covering letters and application forms
- Career planning and decision making
- Preparing for interviews and assessment centres
- Developing portfolios
- Networking with employers
- Advice about self-employment and entrepreneurship