Gain a degree in game art, with an initial foundation year to prepare for the course.
Prepare for the degree with an extra foundation year at the start.
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.

Work placements

In year four, 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.

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.

The course is suitable if you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) Games Art course, or you want extra preparation before starting degree-level study. You share the first year with other media arts and communication foundation year students, then move on to the degree.

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

In the foundation year, you'll study wide-ranging media arts and communication topics, while also focussing on your particular subject area and completing assignments in that field. You'll grow as a creative, and begin developing a professional portfolio. You'll also become familiar with Hallam's exceptional facilities and staff, so you're fully prepared for undergraduate study.

This course prepares you for a career as a

• concept artist
• 2D artist
• 3D environment artist
• 3D character artist
• animator

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for

• Rare
• Electronic Arts
• Sumo Digital
• Rockstar North
• Forsaken Studios
• SEGA Europe
• Framestore
• Jagex
• Lightning Fish

 

UCAS points

• 80

With at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:

• CDD at A Level.
• MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
• A combination of qualifications which must include an A level grade C or BTEC grade M.

GCSE

• English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents*
• Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalents*

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.p>

• 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 from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

We may also accept you, if you have limited qualifications but can show evidence of ability and a genuine commitment to studying Media Arts and Communication.

We treat the foundation year as part of the Media Arts and Communication degree programme. Offers made to students will be for four years of study (or five years of study including a placement). This is made up of the foundation year plus one of our Media Arts and Communication degrees.

If your application is successful, you will be invited to submit a portfolio of work to demonstrate your ability. Find out about the selection process and how to produce a strong portfolio.

We welcome applications from people of any age. We may be flexible in our normal offer if you can show a commitment to succeed and have the relevant skills and experience. This must show that you will benefit from and finish the course successfully.

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, 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
Module	Credits	Assessment
Creative Synergies In Media Production	40	Coursework
Media In Context	20	Coursework
Media Project	40	Coursework
Preparing For Independent Practice And Study	20	Coursework

 

Year 2 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
3D Modelling	20	Coursework
Game Design Theory	20	Coursework
Game World Mechanics	20	Coursework
Level 4 Game Project	20	Coursework
Visual Concepts For Games 2	20	Coursework
Visual Concepts For Games 1	20	Practical

 

 

Year 3 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
3D Animation Project	20	Coursework
3D Character Modelling	20	Coursework
Professional Development Project	20	Coursework
Prop Development	20	Coursework
Real-Time Environment Creation	20	Coursework

 

Elective modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
App Design And Development	20	Practical
Creative Sound Practice	20	Coursework
Documentary Production (Photography, Sound And Moving Image)	20	Practical
Experimental Game Practice	20	Coursework
Introduction To Concept Art	20	Coursework
Storyboarding For Film And Animation	20	Coursework

 

Year 4 Elective modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Game Studio Project	20	Coursework

 

Optional modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Placement Year

 

 

Final Year Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
3D Game Art	40	Coursework
Final Game Project	40	Coursework
Game Professional Practice	20	Practical

 

Elective modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Life Drawing	20	Coursework
Pre-Production For Animation	20	Coursework
Sound Design And Sonic Arts Practice	20	Coursework
Visual Effects Project	20	Coursework

 

Optional modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Placement Year