Game Art
Entry requirements
Access to HE Diploma
Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, in an art or media-related programme from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate
GCSE/National 4/National 5
English Language at grade C or 4; Maths at grade C or 4.
UCAS Tariff
This must include at least 64 points from two A levels, or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example: BBC-BBB at A Level. DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma. Merit overall from a T level Qualification. A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies.
You may also need to…
Present a portfolio
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information.**
**Course summary**
- Develop technical production skills through the creation of 2D and 3D artwork.
- Collaborate in creative projects alongside programmers.
- Work with cutting edge tools to produce various game art styles, and work to art limitations for use on different gaming platforms.
- Work in partnership with Sony within our commercial games studio, Steel Minions.
- Study at the only university in the UK to produce a game on a Sony platform.
This course will equip you with the practical skills required to work in the games industry ranging from concept to post-production, and you will graduate with a portfolio of projects.
**How you learn**
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
Throughout this course you will build a professional quality portfolio that is aimed at meeting the requirements of potential employers. The teaching and learning on this course is designed to help you do this.
You learn through:
- specialist technical workshops
- group projects
- one-to-one support
- live projects
- industry visits, field trips and festivals
- self-directed and independent study
**Applied learning**
**Work placements**
In year three, you have the opportunity to take a one-year paid work placement, which is an excellent way to enhance your graduate employment potential. Games design is a very competitive industry, and there are a limited number of placements available in games companies. You are supported in finding a placement by our experienced Placement and Employability Team who have a large range of employer contacts.
**Live projects**
You will have the opportunity to work on commercial opportunities with real-life clients. Previous students have designed game levels and concepts for Pixel Bullies and Sumo Digital, and worked with English Heritage to create a virtual tour of Conisbrough Castle.
**Networking opportunities**
During your degree you will have access to careers advisers, employability enhancing workshops and networking opportunities including guest speakers and master classes from the creative media industry. We also help you to master social media for networking and making contacts.
A number of industry days and events (Game Republic events, Pathways) are also held on campus where you can network with and attend talks and workshops run by creative media industry professionals and organisations.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
**Important notice:**
The structure for this course is currently being reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment are all likely to change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Once the changes have been confirmed, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
**Year 1**
**Compulsory modules**
3D Modelling
Game Design Theory
Game World Mechanics
Level 4 Game Project
Visual Concepts For Games 1
Visual Concepts For Games 2
**Year 2**
**Compulsory modules**
3D Animation Project
3D Character Modelling
Professional Development Project
Prop Development
Real-Time Environment Creation
**Elective modules**
App Design And Development
Creative Sound Practice
Documentary Production (Photography, Sound And Moving Image)
Experimental Game Practice
Introduction to Concept Art
Virtual Reality Design
**Year 3**
**Optional modules**
Placement Year
**Final year**
**Compulsory modules**
3D Game Art
Final Game Project
Game Professional Practice
**Elective modules**
3D Games Prototyping
Life Drawing
Pre-Production For Animation
Sound Design And Sonic Arts Practice
Visual Effects Project
Assessment methods
Coursework and practicals
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
Extra funding
Scholarships, discounts and bursaries may be available to students who study this course.
The Uni
Sheffield Hallam University
College of Social Sciences and Arts
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Computer games and animation
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Computer games and animation
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
This is a relatively new subject area for this kind of data, so we don’t currently have very much information to display or analyse yet. Gaming is a growing industry, and if it continues to grow we should see the rather high unemployment rate coming down over the next few years. Much the most common jobs for graduates who do get work after six months are in programming roles - but as things stand, be aware that jobs in the field are very competitive and personal contacts - either through family, friends or via specialist employment agencies - are a crucial way into the industry so be prepared to talk as well as code!
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Computer games and animation
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£25k
£27k
£30k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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