BA (Hons) Game Art (with Foundation Year)

What you will study

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)

This year of study ensures that students from all subject backgrounds and life experiences get a foundational course of study that both prepares for subject specific and wider, university skills at an undergraduate level. You will spend time with a subject specific teaching team and a wider support network to ensure you get the support for a wide range of skills. You will be trained with game industry-standard techniques and software and will have the opportunity to collaboratively create fun and engaging game products. 

MODULES

• Games Studies: This module will introduce some key game design concepts whilst exploring the relationship between creativity and the limitations of real-world game production by studying the contemporary games industry. You will also be tasked to design and create a fun and engaging board game and run a testing event. 
• A Day In The Life: The module aims to introduce you to the diverse and varied careers available within your chosen sector, with focus on the multi-disciplinary/interprofessional workforce. You will explore relevant professions, the skills required to access them and roles within services that support them. 
• Study Skills for Success: The module aims to ensure that you develop key academic, personal and professional skills required for successful study at higher education level. The module will focus on effective time management around study/work and personal life, developing the required skills for study such as reading, writing and the foundations for research. 
• Game Design Fundamentals: This module will introduce some of the key technical skills and software that you will utilise across the degree to create an Unreal Engine tech demo. You will begin by spending time with digital content creator packages such as the Autodesk suite to create simplistic game characters and then design a full level in Unreal Engine. 
• Game Design Project: This module will challenge you to design and create a vertical slice of a 2D Indie Game Project. You will need to reflect on subject pathways and skills to create a multi-disciplinary team to produce an engaging game whilst applying foundational knowledge of an industry standard management methodology.
• Collaborative Practice: This module is designed to introduce the importance of collaborative and cross-disciplinary practice within the context of higher education learning. You will be encouraged to combine diverse viewpoints with other students to design and pitch enterprising ideas, along with reflecting on the benefits of diversity within STEAM. 

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 4)

In year two, you will be introduced to a variety of themes that relate to the art and design of game products across aesthetic and design modules along with opportunities expand on your skills in a full game project. You will begin studying game design, 3D software and concepting in the first semester, and build on this to utilise Autodesk Maya to begin to create Characters from initial 2D drafts to a sculpted final 3D Character. 

MODULES

• Game Design and Interaction:  In this module, you will design and create a vertical slice of a 2D Indie Game in a collaborative group. You will be facilitated to make fun and bitesize 2D gameplay in simplified game creating software. This module is paired with Game Industry and Agile Production to replicate a full game production process. 
• Game Asset Production: This Module introduces you to the fundamentals of 3D modelling and engine integration with asset development through developing a modular ‘Dungeon’ environment. A simple 3D workflow pipeline is introduced with primitive modelling, UVs creation and texturing. You will finalise the game asset pack by demonstrating it in Unreal Engine. 
• Design Workshop: This specialist module focuses on key foundational themes of art and design in game creation and focuses on key aesthetic themes and how they related to real-world game design problems. This includes both 2D and 3D workflows and design solutions. 
• Game Environments and Narrative Design: This is a multi-disciplinary module where you will utilise Unreal Engine to construct a 3D environment with narrative and artistic themes. You will use this environment to create a game trailer for a game you have yet to produce. 
• Character Design and Digital Sculpting: This specialist module is designed to be the first opportunity for you to focus on the character design process, from taking an initial idea through concept, mood boards sketching to a fully realise 3D character sculpt. 
• Game Industry and Agile Production: This module is an introduction to a range of themes across game industry and production. This module pairs with Game Design & Interaction to allow you to deliver Agile production against a live game project. 

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 5)

In the first semester, you will study two specialist modules and explore the world of environmental design in a more detailed way, as well as producing game characters that can be interacted with in a game engine. In the second semester, the focus will shift to student-led, multi-disciplinary 3D game project in which you will be required to manage and deliver a significant vertical slice of a 3D game whilst maintaining a professional management methodology. 

MODULES

• Character Production for Game Engines: This specialist module reinforces 3D character development workflows with additional in engine requirements. You will demonstrate an understanding towards character optimisation for game engines by producing a simple in-engine character customisation system. You will create a high-quality interactive portfolio piece that demonstrates a range of artistic and technical skills.
• Real-Time Environmental Art for Game Engines: This specialist module focuses on aesthetic 3D environment design using real-time game engine technologies and strategies. You will demonstrate a focused diorama in Unreal Engine and include elements such as concepting, White boxing, set dressing and composition in an industry standard workflow. 
• Asset Production for Game Engines: This module introduces the full development pipeline for high to low poly modelling focusing on optimisation and texturing. You are facilitated through the full workflow pipeline with a small asset, then are tasked with reapplying the workflow from a 2D concept of your choice. This reinforces your knowledge of the workflow and provides two opportunities for portfolio work. 
• Serious Game Design: This module aims to introduce concepts of serious game design and development whilst relating it to the wider context of the games industry. This module examines the subject of serious games and its related terms such as gamification, applied games and simulation. You will demonstrate and apply your knowledge and understanding of traditional game design through a development prototype with a real-world serious application. 
• Group Project: This module is the first of two significant games projects in the programme. This module will require you to develop a vertical slice of a 3D game in Unreal Engine. You will demonstrate work through collaborative teamwork that showcase diverse set of skills across game design, art, development and enterprise.
• Indie Studio Management: This module is designed to implement and facilitate management of a games project (Group Project) through the lens of an Indie Game studio. This module will discuss agile, reflective and collaborative work through a series of production meetings to discuss ongoing practice. You will be challenged with demonstrating your project as an industry standard indie games product. 

YEAR 4 (LEVEL 6)

The final year of the course will further build on your subject specialisms, as the course starts to explore what graduate opportunities you have in the games industry – whether that be in a larger studio or in your own indie studio. You will have final core and specialist training modules; however, the area of development will be through the large scale games project which will run from the start of the year until the summer.   

MODULES

• Game Industry Specialist: In this module, you will break down and analyse job roles and areas within the contemporary games industry. This will include action planning for the last year of undergraduate study and will be finalised in a formal simulated interview process for a specific contemporary game industry position.   
• AAA Asset Production: This specialist module is designed to focus you on producing high quality models for your own portfolios. You must demonstrate advanced understanding of industry leading 3D workflow techniques throughout your work and will have have freedom to establish its direction. Work produced can be of environmental designs, character or asset modelling. 
• Advanced Asset Production and Technical Art: This module tasks you to produce a project with a focus on your own developing specialism in line with contemporary job roles within the games industry. This module will allow you to approach 3D technology and asset production from a range of design and technical perspectives to support your ongoing specialist practice. The projects must be showcased as a portfolio piece and demonstrated with rational on how the project benefits your chosen specialist area. 
• Advanced Game Design and User Engagement: You will prepare, setup, test and gather data through user testing / play testing of a live project (Project) and produce improvements based on the outcome of the tests. The benefit of this module is that it will allow you to fine tune the project through your own role within the development. 
• Project: This module is designed to be the pinnacle of student achievement across the programme. You will create a substantial games project that will require a wide range of skills from a collaborative group. You will act as Indie Studios and be encouraged to pursue regional and national funding schemes to produce a well-rounded games product and release it on a portfolio platform. 

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.

Entry requirements & applying

Our general entry requirement for the foundation year is 48-72 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.

Candidates may be interviewed and asked to display a portfolio of their work. Experience may also be taken into consideration depending on the extent and depth of such subject knowledge. Students from overseas, or who are unable to attend an interview, are asked to send their portfolio of work digitally for consideration.

Teaching & Assessment

This course is portfolio focused and as such, there are no formal exams. Students will focus on developing technical and theoretical skills via practical assignments and research & development activities. 

Assessment methods include the production of digital (and non-digital) games, character and creature models and game environments, compiling, analysing production data, giving presentations and producing 3D models.

At higher levels of the course, students must also provide statistical evidence of work hours with supporting evidence as part of key assessment outcomes. 

TEACHING AND LEARNING

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.

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.

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

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.

In terms of particular needs, the University’s Inclusion Services can provide appropriate guidance and support should any students require reasonable adjustments to be made because of a recognised prevailing disability, medical condition, or specific learning difference.

Career prospects

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. 

Students completing this course may forge successful careers as 3D character artists, game and level designers, animators, and vehicle/weapons artists. 

Our graduates are employed by some of the worlds most recognisable brands such as Ubisoft, Sony, Nintendo, Rockstar and Travellers Tales. We also work hard to support graduates who choose to set up their own games studios based within our innovative business incubation centre. 

This course delivers practical skills in 3D modelling, digital sculpting, game design, environment art, and project management which will qualify you to work in a variety of roles within the industry. 

Given the business and entrepreneurship skills acquired on the course, some graduates opt to start their own game studios with the support of our business incubation centre as part the Business Accelerator programme. 

Fees & funding

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

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 fee FAQs.

All fees are subject to any changes in government policy, view our undergraduate fees.

Programme specification

Accommodation

At Wrexham University, we offer on-campus en-suite rooms within our Wrexham Student Village. These private, fully furnished spaces are conveniently located, providing easy access to campus facilities, study areas, and social spaces. Plus, you’re just a 10-minute walk from the city centre!

With all bills included, free Wi-Fi, 24/7 security, and large social areas, you’ll find everything you need for a great student experience.

Explore our student accommodation options to find your perfect home away from home.