Key information
UCAS code:
I630
Typical offer:
112-120 UCAS points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent
Showing content for section Overview
Overview
Discover the power of art in games by studying BA (Hons) Computer Games Art at СÀ¶ÊÓƵ – two-time winner of TIGA's Best Educational Institution award (2021, 2014).
You'll delve into how game assets are created and used by exploring game art and developing your skills across drawing, modelling, animation, texturing, and composition. You can apply that knowledge in many ways, from collaborating with fellow students on live industry projects to working professionally on an optional placement. With our established relationships with acclaimed national and international games companies – including Rare, Codemasters, Jagex, Stainless, and Climax – you’ll always stay on top of the latest industry standards.
By the end of this course, you'll become a versatile games artist ready to transform the games, creative, and tech industries.
Course highlights
- Develop traditional art knowledge by learning concepts such as art theory, observational life drawing, high-resolution digital sculpting, digital substance creation and texture painting
- Gain skills in 3D art by working with real-time engine-compatible 3D modelling, animation rigging and skinning, and engine special effects – with games engines like Unreal and motion capture technologies
- Work with the latest and future technologies in our impressive facilities, including the UK's first ever Centre for Creative Immersive and Extended Reality (CCIXR)
- Enhance your teamworking skills by collaborating with other Games students on game projects, including our annual prize-giving
- Expand your cultural horizons by studying abroad in Europe as part of the Turing Scheme
- Wow potential future employers by showcasing your final-year work at our annual Graduate Showcase
10th
for animation and game design in the UK
(Guardian University Guide, 2024)
Top 30
for student satisfaction
(Times Higher Education, 2024)
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsClearing is open
This course is available through Clearing.
How to apply for accommodation
We have a variety of accommodation options, including studios, en-suites, catered, self-catered and private rental options. See how our housing team can help you find a place to call home.
Clearing FAQs
To work out your UCAS points, use our UCAS Calculator to work out how many UCAS points you have.
The tariff calculator will allow you to see what grades you need to get into your preferred course at СÀ¶ÊÓƵ.
You can apply through Clearing if:
- You don't meet the conditions of your offer for your firm (first) or insurance (second) choice courses
- Your exam results are better than you expected and you want to change your course or university
- You don't hold any offers
- You've accepted an offer but changed your mind about the course you want to do
- You're applying for the first time after 30 June 2024
After we make you an offer we'll send you a confirmation email. This email will let you know what you need to do next and it will tell you what you need to provide us. In some instances we may ask you to send us copies of certificates or you may need to send us a portfolio.
If you've previously applied through UCAS you'll need to use your UCAS Hub to accept our offer by adding us as your Clearing choice.
If you're having issues, please contact us on +44 (0)23 9284 8090 or admissions@port.ac.uk
Once you've accepted your Clearing course offer, we'll be in touch with details of available accommodation in the area. This will include our latest hall availability and support to find local rented accommodation via
See our accommodation page for more information.
No, it's not too late and you should make your application for student finance as soon as possible. You don't have to wait for your results. You can make your application now and just amend it when you know where you're going to be.
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Find out more in our Student finance for Clearing guide.
If you're an EU or international student and you need a visa to study here, you need to start the process quickly as visas can take some time to come through. Get in touch with our visa support team if you have a question or problem.
See more on visa advice.
If you would like further information or guidance, please contact our international office or call our International Clearing Hotline on +44(0)23 9284 8785.
Entry requirements
BA (Hons) Computer Games Art requirements
Typical offers
120-128 UCAS points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent (calculate your UCAS points)
- A levels - BBB-BBC
- T-levels - Merit
- BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DDM-DMM
- International Baccalaureate - 25
Selection process
A relevant qualification or experience in art/design/creative computing or graphic arts is required. Applicants without relevant qualifications will be asked to provide a portfolio to support their application.
You may need to have studied specific subjects or GCSEs -
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
We look at more than just your grades
While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.
Facilities
Skills and qualities you need for this degree course
To get the most out of this course, you'll need one core element: a passion for games and art.
You should enjoy critically analysing games art – such as identifying their systems – in order to understand, implement, and potentially improve them.
You should also be:
- comfortable discussing games and ideas in the context of games industry, culture, and art
- enthusiastic about developing your understanding of the applications of art in games
- eager to translate your knowledge into polished assets
Careers and opportunities
With an estimated global value of $131.23 billion (£97.95 billion) in 2020, the computer games industry is a force to be reckoned with. In the UK, it contributed £2.2 billion to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2019/20, and the number of workers in the field grew to 18,279 (TIGA, 2020).
As the game industry and its workforce continue to expand – especially across sectors adopting its technologies and systems – multi-skilled and specialist graduates are more in demand than ever before.
Areas you can work in with a Computer Games Art degree
Areas you can work in include:
- computer games development
- visual effects
- synthetic training for healthcare, security, and defence
- simulation development
- architectural/historical visualisation
- marketing
- advertising
Jobs you can do with a Computer Games Art degree
Roles you can work in include:
- Games Artist
- 3D Artist
- Environment Artist
- Character Artist
- 3D Generalist
- Real Time Effects Artist
- Technical Artist
- Indie Games Developer
Continuing your studies
You can also advance your studies to Master's level on MA or MSc courses focused on Games Art, as well as Computing courses depending on your specialisation.
Placement year (optional)
After your second or third year, you can complete an optional work placement to gain professional experience and enhance your skills. It's also a great incentive for employers once you graduate.
You can work for a company, organisation or agency, or you can go self-employed and start your own business with fellow students or by yourself.
Whatever you decide – or even if you just want some employability advice – our exclusive Creative Careers team can support you every step of the way.
Creative Careers
Our in-faculty Creative Careers team has extensive recruitment experience and knows the creative sector well, making it easier for students to .
They can guide you through every step of the application process, including:
- Searching for the ideal job through their database of vacancies
- Giving tips on how to write an interesting CV that will catch employers' attention, no matter the role
- Organising mock interviews, so you can hone your technique and familiarise yourself with the recruitment environment
- Writing your startup business proposal – if you're going down the self-employment route
The team will continue to give you support throughout your placement year.
Placement roles
You can work in a range of technical and artistic roles, such as:
- games artist
- 3D artist
- environmental artist
- character artist
- real-time effects artist
- games developer
Placement destinations
You can intern at games studios and technology companies like:
- Rare
- Sumo Digital
- Sega
- Criterion Games
- IBM
- Amazon
- Babcock
Alternatively, you can work as an independent or freelance game designer and developer.
Ongoing careers support
Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.
Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.
Modules
Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.
In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, four modules worth 20 credits and one module worth 40 credits.
What you'll study
Core modules
You’ll practice various modeling techniques, from box modelling to sculpting. Master the art of asset creation that meets specific project requirements.
By assessing basic principles and their impact on final results, you’ll develop advanced technical skills. With your creative thinking and understanding of procedures, you'll excel in 3D roles and unlock new possibilities.
By practising texture and movement rendering techniques using analogue mediums, you’ll develop your drawing prowess.
By the end of the module, you’ll be able to bridge principles of visual communication with emerging tools for crafting emotive digital worlds.
You'll put leading software to the test, and through mentoring sessions and portfolio enrichment, discover strengths and knowledge gaps. You'll discover your specialisms and pursue them across concept art, texture art or animation roles.
You’ll work with different programming languages and APIs to show your understanding of technical terms. You’ll also master the control of game behaviors and data variables.
By recognising patterns in syntax, you’ll be able to write or forecast code outcomes accurately, establishing essential skills for creating functional game systems and mechanics.
You’ll test code and asset creation techniques aligned to brief specifications and actively identify and resolve product issues from visual bugs to interactive mechanics.
The collaborative context requires coherent documentation and excellent team communication.
By the end of the module you’ll be equipped with project lifecycle experience - from aligned ideation to an optimised, playable game demo.
Learn how gameplay mechanics, storytelling, and level design work together by studying successful games.
By looking at important academic sources, you’ll improve your academic writing skills and come up with original game concepts.
This module is ideal for developing your own design approach and generating marketable ideas for the entertainment industry.
Core modules
In this module, you'll generate and evaluate ideas that bring narrative concepts to life.
In the design process, you'll express your vision through composition, observation, and interpretation. Experiment with software to advance your surfacing, lighting, and rendering techniques, then use your new technical and creative skills to craft an animated short through performance and visual storytelling.
With this module, you can transform a story from page to screen using 3D animation and visualisation abilities. By the end, you'll have valuable experience in creating captivating characters and animated worlds.
In this module, you’ll work with others to explore game ideas from concept to execution. Learn how to do market research, business strategy, marketing planning, and pitching with lecturers’ guidance. Work on team projects and presentations to assess the usefulness of game concepts and plan for their commercial success.
By the end, you’ll have the entrepreneurial mindset, collaboration skills, and industry knowledge to set up your own studio or prosper in one.
You'll discuss research approaches and gain skills to strategise methods for independent study.
You'll formulate plans tailored to your goals, create research proposals and hone your scholarly writing. Investigating your chosen career path, you'll identify opportunities, appraising your skills and interests. This experience provides a robust foundation to initiate an impactful creative project aligned with your aspirations
Optional modules
You’ll research, design, and develop a character and environment following an industry-standard brief. Create model sheets and mood boards to guide your 3D workflow and visualise your concepts as you take your asset from concept to finish. Finally, you will use professional real-time techniques to create a demo reel that shows your technical excellence.
This module will equip you with practical experience and key skills in creating triple-A game assets, VR/AR content, and other real-time 3D applications.
You’ll get to spend a semester at one of our global partner universities, giving you a unique international spin on your learning. This experience is perfect for building professional skills and a global outlook, preparing you for work anywhere in the world. You’ll also get the chance to study and work on your own in a new setting, which will boost your personal growth and relate to your degree.
When you come back, you’ll be full of fresh ideas to energise your work.
This module gives you the chance to explore different approaches and build international networks in creative technologies.
It will help develop your practical knowledge and collaborative abilities to thrive in the film and games industries.
You’ll use drawing to capture animal forms, structure, texture, and proportions. Relating visual research to the design process, you’ll develop industry-standard workflows, put your skills into practice through industry-led briefs and create professional-quality concepts and assets.
You can immerse yourself in the production pace and pipelines of entertainment studios through collaboration in a simulated studio environment.
You’ll finish this module with real-world creative experience and a portfolio of your design talents.
Join a team of creative students and do a project together. Try new things and see how they can help you.
You’ll also grasp how to use your skills with others. Sometimes you’ll be a leader, sometimes a helper. Talk about your ideas and learn from them. You’ll make something to show what you learned and share it with others.
This module helps you gain new skills and understand other fields. You’ll be a smart and creative person, ready to solve real-world problems.
You’ll choose learning tasks that add up to 60 hours, like internships, volunteering, research, or remote study that match your career plans. Workshops will help you make meaningful goals and think about what you’ve accomplished. Through this, you’ll grow the knowledge, skills, and qualities you need to thrive in the workplace.
By looking at your growth through active participation and reading, you’ll become a perceptive, eager job-seeker who stands out.
Core modules
Demonstrating project management and problem-solving skills, through critical analysis and experimentation, you'll produce a body of work that advances knowledge in your discipline.
Communicating scholarly outcomes with impact, you'll demonstrate your knowledge and abilities, drawing together your learning into a compelling self-directed showcase.
This is the culmination of your degree journey - proving your readiness for professional and academic challenges ahead.
You'll prototype concepts while negotiating roles and self-managing workflows. You'll evaluate and bring ideas to life using professional project management approaches.
This module empowers you to translate concepts into tangible prototypes, and put technical and artistic skills into practice — preparing you for the creative challenges of real-world production.
Collaborating in a group, you'll refine and optimise a real-time interactive experience based on the brief from an external client. Through analysis and critical reflection, you'll assess the processes undertaken and trade-offs made between project stages.
The module cements both technical and teamwork skills. You'll gain hands-on practice applying project management methodologies in a professional manner.
Completing this module will provide experience negotiating the realities and demands of commercial production, allowing you to emerge industry-ready.
Optional modules
As part of your games industry training, you will work on a project that aligns with your career aspirations. This could involve creating 3D characters and worlds, designing original artwork or animating game levels. You will have the freedom to unleash your creativity and showcase your skills by incorporating real-world elements into your game designs.
In addition, you will learn to make informed design decisions through independent study and proactive feedback, rather than relying solely on classroom instruction. By analysing professional works, you will be able to evaluate your own creations and ensure they meet industry standards.
By the end of this module, you will have built a portfolio that demonstrates your readiness to embark on a career in game development, with projects that reflect your ambitions.
Using creative applications in game development software and Adobe Creative Suite, learn to design user experiences (UX) and user interfaces (UI), discovering the principles of interaction design.
You'll explore the ethical considerations you need to craft Creative Technology projects, and create a product to apply and demonstrate your understanding in this hands on module that puts the user first.
Through lectures and discussions, you’ll explore academic perspectives, covering analytical, cultural, and design approaches. You’ll think critically about old and new ideas, using theories such as Huizinga’s ‘magic circle’ to examine game structures, content, and players. You’ll also focus on how to research games, using various methods to understand them in context.
By the end, you’ll be able to study games academically. This knowledge is great for your final-year projects, further study, or jobs in game production, journalism, user testing, and research and development.
You’ll end up with a firm grasp of games as a cultural form, preparing you for an industry or academic career in games.
You’ll learn to use game data like player input, physics, and game states to design reactive soundscapes that adapt as you play. Explore how to create non-linear music and sounds that can be generated on the fly. Pick up industry skills in audio middleware to build systems that can mix and switch sounds dynamically.
Make and produce your own music and sound effects that work well with interactive elements. Use coding to create your own audio plugins. Show off your technical and artistic skills with an interactive audio project in a game engine.
This intense training in a specialised area will give you expertise that game studios really want.
The module also gives you valuable experience in managing projects as you turn your sound ideas into reality. Challenge what’s possible in game audio and let your creativity soar.
Delve into the latest algorithms, rendering, and development tools that drive interactive media. Use real-life examples and exercises to examine the technologies shaping the future of games, animation, and more. Get tips from leading graphics researchers and develop the advanced skills you need to be innovative — whether in business or academic work.
Once you finish, you’ll be set to use the latest graphic techniques to make your own virtual worlds. This module will motivate you to keep pushing the envelope.
In this fascinating module, you’ll delve into this enthralling next-gen realm. Explore the latest techniques for digitally capturing human motion and seamlessly applying it to 3D character animation.
Join us in our futuristic mocap studio and master the entire process — from capturing data to animating it using industry software. Experts will guide you as you critically assess different technologies and develop skills to preserve the authenticity and nuance of performances.
By the end, you’ll have firsthand experience with this powerful storytelling tool, widely used to create captivating virtual characters in films, games, and beyond. Your creativity will soar as you explore the boundless possibilities of bringing digital worlds to life.
You’ll look at basic psychology ideas, like how people think, feel, and act, and how they relate to player experiences. Delve into perception, memory, rewards, and social interactions, and how to use them to make fun gameplay and powerful stories. By testing theories and principles, you'll get better at analysing how game elements impact psychology. Most of all, you’ll find out how human psychology affects player engagement and enjoyment. This knowledge will help you make design choices based on scientific theory.
In the end, this module gives you a psychological toolkit to create amazing, unforgettable player experiences.
During this module, you'll spend 6 months working on your own business venture, then 3 months gaining industry experience. This opportunity allows you to apply what you've learned in a practical setting while exploring different career options. You'll also have the chance to develop professional relationships and expand your network.
Assess your personal strengths and weaknesses to set goals for the future. Throughout the module, you'll demonstrate increasing independence while still valuing the support of others. Gain a broader understanding of the world through real-world experiences and insights. Additionally, you'll earn valuable credits for your CV and enhance your skill set.
By the end of this module, you'll graduate with the practical experience that employers are seeking.
This experience lets you learn firsthand how to set up and run a small business. You’ll absorb professional practices and business situations that matter to your entrepreneurial goals. Make important connections while working independently within set rules. Think deeply about your strengths, weaknesses, criteria for success, and future plans.
This opportunity is useful for your career. It lets you use what you’ve learnt in your degree in the real world and helps you understand your capabilities.
After finishing this placement and the related assessments, you’ll get more credits for your sandwich degree. This practical experience is a valuable step in developing an entrepreneurial way of thinking.
You’ll spend 24–48 weeks at a chosen company, learning from professionals and helping out with actual projects. Gain confidence, knowledge, and skills by taking on more responsibility with gradually less help. As you progress, you’ll make professional connections and think about how you’re doing. Take in what you learn about how industries and businesses work.
This placement is an ideal chance to grow in your career. By using what you’ve learnt in a workplace, you’ll understand more about your own strengths, what you need to work on, and your plans after you graduate.
After this placement and the related assessments, you’ll get extra credits for your sandwich degree. This practical experience is a valuable part of your education.
Showcase specialised abilities by completing relevant assignments abroad. Then examine your global experience critically: how has immersion in foreign creative culture expanded your perspective? Identify new cross-cultural transferable skills to empower your continued educational and professional journey.
Evaluating international contexts, you'll critically connect on-site activities to your disciplinary knowledge, gaining global insights. Working independently abroad, you'll complete relevant assignments, honing skills transferable to your future career.
Upon returning, thoughtful reflection will reveal your personal growth as you process new worldviews and cross-cultural competencies.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, course content is revised and regularly reviewed. This may result in changes being made in order to reflect developments in research, learning from practice and changes in policy at both national and local levels.
Teaching
Teaching on this course includes:
- lectures
- seminars
- practical problem-solving and experimentation (individual and in group)
During your final year, as part of your specialisation, you'll have one-to-one tuition with a project supervisor and work on briefs from real industry clients.
Our teaching staff are published, practice-based games researchers that have worked on commercial games with various studios, including:
- The Chinese Room (Dear Esther)
- Rebellion (Sniper Elite series)
- Jagex (Runescape)
- Stainless Games (Carmageddon)
Many of our staff members hold PhDs in game-related fields, attend conferences regularly, and are active in the University's Advanced Games Research Group.
How you're assessed
You'll be assessed through:
- practical artefacts
- presentations (video and in-person)
- written reports
- exams
You'll be assessed during modules and you'll receive feedback to help improve your learning.
How you'll spend your time
One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.
We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies. As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.
A typical week
We recommend you spend at least 30 hours a week studying for your degree.
In your first year, you’ll be in timetabled teaching activities for about 10 hours a week. These activities include:
- lectures
- seminars
- group work
The rest of the time you’ll do independent study, either tutor-directed or alone, such as:
- practice
- reading
- research
- revision
- coursework
You may also participate in external events, like GameJam, to develop your portfolio and challenge your skills.
You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose.
Most timetabled teaching takes place during the day, from Monday to Friday. You may occasionally need to go to University and course events in the evenings. There’s usually no teaching on Wednesday afternoons.
Term dates
The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.
Supporting you
The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
You'll have regular contact with your personal tutor in learning activities or scheduled meetings. You can also make an appointment with them if you need extra support.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
Our online will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees
- UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,535 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
- EU students – £9,535 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
- EU and International students – £17,900 a year (subject to annual increase)
Funding your studies
Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Our accommodation section shows your accommodation options and highlights how much it costs to live in СÀ¶ÊÓƵ.
You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.
You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.
We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.
If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
You may need to spend £20 - £75 per annum on drawing and modelling materials, printing, memory sticks or CDs, and DVDs. (Depending upon option modules selected).
If you take the Student Enterprise Module, you’ll need to pay an additional cost of approximately £20.
If you take a placement year or study abroad year, tuition fees for that year are as follows:
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
- EU students – £1,385 a year, including Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
- International students – £2,875 a year (subject to annual increase)
You may need to spend £25–£50 per annum on drawing materials.
Apply
Ready to apply?
To start this course in 2025, apply through UCAS. You'll need:
- the UCAS course code – I630
- our institution code – P80
If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our .
You can also sign up to an Open Day to:
- Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
- Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
- Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join
If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
Applying from outside the UK
As an international student you'll apply using the same process as UK students, but you’ll need to consider a few extra things.
You can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.
Find out what additional information you need in our international students section.
If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the СÀ¶ÊÓƵ, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.