Games Art and Animation

取得日期：未有保存

https://www.uwl.ac.uk/course/undergraduate/game-art-animation?start=1898&option=33

BA (Hons) Games Art and Animation | University of West London

Skip to main content

Search Open menu Close menu

Current students

New students

Returning students

Support for students

Semester and term dates

Policies and regulations

Learning tools and resources

Your feedback

Studying off campus

IT Services

Results and graduation

Student Portal

Student handbook

Student news

Search UWL.ac.uk

Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Games Art and Animation

Full-time

September 2027

Fees per year†

£17,250 – International

£10,050 – UK

Duration

Location

Overview

Course details

Our students

Entry and fees

Facilities

Teaching staff

Related courses

How to apply

Register for open day

Start date

On this BA (Hons) Games Art and Animation degree, you will be encouraged to showcase your creativity as you learn to create the visual worlds, characters, and animations that bring games to life.

Specialised teaching focused on game art and animation will help prepare you for a career in the fast-growing and creative games industry.

Developing the key artistic and technical skills required by employers, you will learn how professional artists use 2D and 3D art, modelling, texturing, animation, and visual effects to build immersive environments and memorable characters.

You will also study the creative and cultural aspects of games, exploring how art direction, visual storytelling, and animation influence how players interact with and experience games.

This games art course will give you a strong foundation in the history and future of games, examining play as art, entertainment, a form of communication, and an engaging storytelling medium.

Why study this course?

Our Computer Games and Animation courses are ranked 2nd in London and 5th in the UK - National Student Survey 2026*

2nd London university for overall student satisfaction - National Student Survey 2026*

Ranked top 50 in the UK and 2nd modern** London university - The Guardian University Guide 2027

Top 20 in the UK for teaching quality - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to

see relevant course information:

Study options:

We support flexible study by offering some of our courses part-time or via distance learning. To give you real world experience before you graduate, we also offer some courses with a placement or internship. All available options are listed here. Your choices may affect some details of your course, such as the duration and cost per year. Please re-check the details on this page if you change your selection.

Duration: 3 years

With Foundation Year

Duration: 4 years

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available,

try selecting a different study option.

What you'll study

This BA (Hons) Games Art and Animation degree has been developed to combine artistic creativity with the technical workflows used in modern game production. It is grounded in visual design and animation practice, while introducing the digital tools and real-time pipelines used to create professional game art.

As you develop your skills, you will explore 2D and 3D art, modelling, texturing, animation, and visual effects, learning how artists create characters, environments, and assets that shape the visual identity of games. You will experiment with different artistic styles and visual approaches, while building a strong foundation in drawing, composition, colour, anatomy, and visual storytelling.

We will introduce you to the software and techniques used across the industry, such as real-time game engines, digital sculpting, and animation tools. You will learn how to create game-ready assets, design environments, develop characters, and bring them to life through animation and cinematic sequences. Alongside this, you will explore how visual design influences player experience, narrative, and world-building.

As the game art course progresses, you will work on collaborative and individual projects that mirror professional studio pipelines. You will investigate areas such as modular asset creation, visual identity and branding for games, character art pipelines, and cinematic storytelling, developing both creative confidence and technical fluency.

In your final year, you will undertake a major project where you create a substantial piece of work that reflects your artistic specialism and career ambitions. This project will allow you to develop a professional portfolio that demonstrates your skills in game art and animation and showcases your creative voice to future employers.

You will graduate with strong artistic, technical, and professional skills, and a portfolio that prepares you for careers in game art, animation, and the wider digital creative industries.

Course subject to approval

Approval is the formal process by which the University ensures that the proposed design, content and delivery of a course will provide a high quality learning experience for all students.

Please note, we regularly review our course content to offer relevant, impactful and career-shaping learning. Therefore, the following modules are indicative and subject to change.

Compulsory modules

Games Narrative Design

This module introduces the foundations of storytelling in games. Students explore how narrative, interaction, and player choice combine to create meaningful experiences. You will learn the language and theory behind game storytelling while developing your own ideas and documenting them through structured design processes such as a Game Design Document (GDD).

2D Visual Design

This module develops the core artistic skills required for game art. Through traditional and digital techniques, you will practise sketching, composition, anatomy, perspective, and lighting. These foundations support the creation of concept art, character designs, and environment studies, helping you communicate visual ideas clearly and effectively.

Interactive Environments and Level Design

In this module you will explore how digital environments are built for games. You will learn the technical concepts behind computer graphics and gain practical experience using industry-standard tools and engines. The focus is on understanding how environments, layout, and visual design work together to shape player navigation and interaction.

Game Design and Concept

This module introduces creative ideation and design thinking for games. You will explore research, visual development, and concept generation, learning how to develop original ideas beyond initial concepts. Through structured design processes, you will build confidence in planning and communicating creative ideas.

Keystone Project

The Keystone Project provides your first experience of developing a complete game prototype. Working individually and in teams, you will design and produce a small playable game, integrating art, level design, mechanics, and narrative. The module develops practical production skills alongside teamwork, problem-solving, and project management.

3D Assets

This module introduces the creation of game-ready 3D assets. You will learn modelling, UV unwrapping, texturing, and optimisation techniques used in real-time engines. The module focuses on efficient workflows and the technical requirements of games production, allowing you to develop assets that can be implemented within a real-time environment.

Modular Asset Creation

This module introduces the workflows used to create modular 3D assets for game environments. You will learn how to design, model, and texture reusable assets that can be combined to build large environments efficiently. The module focuses on optimisation, visual consistency, and the use of real-time engines such as Unreal or Unity to assemble modular environments.

Designing for Interaction

This module explores user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design within games and interactive media. You will learn how to design menus, HUDs, and interactive systems that support accessibility and player engagement. Through practical projects, you will prototype and test interactive interfaces using industry tools and workflows.

Visual Identity

This module focuses on how games establish a strong visual identity through branding, marketing, and promotional design. You will explore how elements such as typography, colour, composition, and logo design contribute to a recognisable style. Students will create promotional assets including key art, posters, and digital branding materials that communicate the look and feel of a game.

Aesthetic Play

This experimental module encourages students to explore how visual style influences player experience. You will investigate how art direction, genre conventions, and aesthetics shape meaning and emotional impact in games. Through creative experimentation, you will develop original visual concepts that challenge traditional expectations of genre and style.

Research Project for Games Art and Animation

This module introduces research methods used within games and creative practice. You will learn how to develop research questions, conduct literature reviews, and gather and analyse information using appropriate methods. The module supports critical thinking and prepares you for independent work in the final year.

Character Art and Animation

This module explores the full character art pipeline used in game production. Starting with concept design, you will create a high-resolution sculpt, then develop a game-ready character through retopology, UV mapping, and texturing. The character will then be rigged and animated, culminating in a fully realised model ready for real-time environments.

Cutscenes and Cinematics

Planning, Pitching, and Production

This module focuses on professional project planning and creative development. Students learn how to develop project proposals, pitch ideas, and plan production workflows for creative projects. Emphasis is placed on project management, communication, and presenting ideas clearly to both creative teams and potential stakeholders.

Technical Art

This module introduces the technical processes that support real-time game art production. Students explore tools and workflows used to bridge the gap between artists and developers, including shaders, visual effects, procedural workflows, and optimisation techniques. The module develops technical problem-solving skills and prepares students for specialised technical art roles.

Creative Practice in Games

This module encourages you to explore your professional identity within the games and wider creative industries. Through experimentation and reflection, you will develop original visual concepts and refine your artistic voice. The module supports portfolio development while encouraging critical engagement with contemporary visual styles and artistic approaches in games.

Major Project for Games Art and Animation

The Major Project is the culmination of the course and allows students to develop a substantial piece of work that reflects their chosen specialism within game art or animation. Students undertake a full production cycle from concept and research through to final artefact, demonstrating advanced creative, technical, and project management skills. The final project forms the centrepiece of the student’s professional portfolio.

What our students say

2nd London university for student satisfaction - National Student Survey 26*

As someone who entered the course only knowing how to do 2D art, I learnt a lot about narrative and storyboarding, and 3D modelling helped boost my skills too. Overall, the course gave me more confidence in digital creation!”

Dalia Abusalah, Game animation student

Explore student work

Games design and animation student showreel (2026)

This video showcases a range of high-quality work produced by UWL's games design and animation students.

Play the video

Summer Game Jam 2026

Every year, students from across the University of West London come together for our Summer Game Jam in partnership with SEGA Europe. Competing in teams, they are given seven days to transform a real-world industry brief into original playable video games. Under this year's theme of 'Reefs: Where Life Builds Structure', students explored environmental storytelling and underwater world-building, inspired by the global Green Game Jam initiative by Playing for the Planet.

Games design and animation student showreel (2025)

Previous slide Next slide

Entry requirements

Requirements:

International

104 UCAS points required

from level 3 qualifications

These can include:

A Levels at grade B, C and C, or above

BTEC Extended Diploma with Distinction, Merit, Merit

Access to HE Diploma

T Levels

You also need GCSE English and Maths (grade 9 – 4 / A* - C) or Level 2 equivalents.

Looking for BA (Hons) Games Art and Animation with Foundation Year?

View Foundation Year course

Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.

Mature applicants (aged 21+): If you do not hold the qualifications listed but have relevant work experience, you are welcome to apply. Your application will be considered on an individual basis.

Level 5 (year 2) entry

To directly enter the second year of this course, you will need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 120 undergraduate credits at Level 4 or a CertHE in a related subject area.

Level 6 (year 3) entry

To directly enter the third year of this course, you need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 240 undergraduate credits (at Levels 4 and 5), a DipHE, foundation degree or HND in a related subject area.

6.0 IELTS or above

You need to meet our English language requirement – a minimum of IELTS 5.5 for each of the four individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening). Visit our English language requirements page for information on other English language tests we accept.

You also need academic qualifications at the same level as UK applicants. In some countries where teaching is in English, we may accept local qualifications. Check for local equivalents.

We offer pre-sessional English language courses if you do not meet these requirements.

Find out more about our English Language courses.

Fees & funding

Funding:

per year†

Additional costs

There are additional costs for this course that are not included in the tuition fees. See the links below to get a better idea of what to expect:

optional study trips

Please note:

Fees for the 2027/28 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.

Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs over 2 academic years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year, except if otherwise stated.

If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

You may be eligible for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees or a maintenance loan. Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as those with dependants and disabled students.

We offer generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit.

View full details, including conditions and eligibility.

International students - funding your studies

We offer scholarships for international students including International Ambassador Scholarships.

Further information about funding and financial support for international students is available from the UK Council for International Student Affairs.

Financial support for international students

Game design and animation facilities

Explore the range of facilities available to our game design students, from our Digital Futures Lab and the latest VR equipment through to motion capture, photography studios and more.

Digital Futures Lab

The Digital Futures Lab is equipped with high-specification dual-screen PCs plus GPUs to support game design and development, esports, AI, and creative content creation. Additionally, the latest VR headsets offer both a fully immersive virtual experience and mixed reality.

Technical demonstrators

Our students can mine the expertise of our dedicated Technical Demonstrators through demos like this one with our motion capture system. These hands-on lessons allow you to practice with technology used in the industry.

Your future career

Games art and animation graduates can go on to work in a range of roles within the games industry, including environment art, character art, concept art, animation, and visual effects. You may also pursue opportunities in related creative industries where your skills in 2D and 3D art, digital animation, and visual storytelling are highly valued.

Many graduates apply their skills in areas such as film and television visual effects, virtual production, advertising, digital media, and interactive design. The course helps you develop a strong professional portfolio, helping you demonstrate your artistic abilities and creative thinking to potential employers.

You may decide to specialise further in a related field or explore a new subject. Please see our postgraduate courses for a range of options.

Taught by lecturers with industry experience

Career-focused modules

Strong links with SEGA, ustwo games, Payload Studios and MSI

Build your portfolio

Guest lectures and seminars with industry experts

Field trip opportunities

One-to-one, life-long careers support

On campus, specialist careers fairs

Job roles

Graduates from this course may pursue roles such as:

Game designer

Level designer

Character artist

Environment artist (common industry role)

Concept artist

Animator

Visual effects (VFX) artist

Technical artist (bridges art and programming)

Interaction designer

Play tester / QA tester

Motion graphics designer

Creative developer

Graphic designer

Web designer

UI/UX designer (very common in games and apps)

3D artist

Digital illustrator (useful for concept and marketing art).

Sally Sheppard Course Leader

Sally teaches across Games Art and Animation, Games Design and Development, Esports, and Esports with Livestreaming at the University of West London. As Course Lead for Games Art and Animation, she leads curriculum development while delivering industry-focused teaching that combines creative practice with contemporary production workflows.

Her teaching philosophy integrates technical skills, creative exploration, and critical thinking, preparing students for careers across the games and interactive media industries.

View more

View full profile

Ryan Callard

Jay Shin

How to apply:

Play the "How to apply for university | The University of West London" video

Head to the UCAS website where you can apply using:

our institution code - W05

the UCAS course code (below)

Want to ask us a question first? We would love to hear from you.

Call us free on 0800 036 8888

Email us at courses@uwl.ac.uk

We're here to help

Any questions about a course or studying at UWL?

We're here to help - call us on

(Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm GMT)

Or email us anytime:

courses@uwl.ac.uk

Apply for this course:

Institution code W05 Institution code

UCAS code currentVariantData.field_p_cv_ucas_code UCAS code

Apply on UCAS.com

You will need our institution code and the UCAS code (above)

You can apply to us in two ways:

on the UCAS website you will need our institution code (W05) and the UCAS course code (see top of page)

directly on our website – follow the ‘Apply now’ link

Want to ask us a question first? Our dedicated international students’ team would love to hear from you.

Ask the International Recruitment Team a question

Learn more about international student applications

Find out more about why you should study in London at the Career University

Apply now

Gaming - art, design, development and esports

We have a range of game courses, including games design and development, games art and animation, esports, computer games technology and visual effects courses. Benefit from professional facilities, experienced tutors and industry connections.

Gaming - art, design, development and esports courses

BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology

BA (Hons) Esports

BA (Hons) Graphic Design (Visual Communication and Illustration)

BA (Hons) Photography

BA (Hons) Visual Effects and Animation

Search for courses

Student life at UWL

Play the "Why choose the University of West London" video

Find out more

Discover seven reasons to study with us and how studying at UWL will support your future career.

Find out about student accommodation and the support for students.

Explore our campus and sites and book onto a campus tour or open day.

Chat to our students

Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

†Fees - the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the course. Fees are subject to change. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught international fees are subject to an annual increase.

Teaching - your course will primarily be delivered in-person, however it may include delivery of some activities online, either in real-time or recorded.

Testimonials - quotes are provided by current or former UWL students. These are mostly from the course but quotes from a UWL student on another course may be used if, for example, the course is new.

Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.

Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming, however staff and course content may have since changed.

Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route and a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.

Rankings

*The National Student Survey 2026 result is based on the average of all answers by the taught student populations.

**Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and after, 1992.

***PRES - rank out of 53 institutions.

Calling from outside the UK

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Accessibility

Privacy policy

Modern slavery statement

© 2026 University of West London - St Mary's Road, Ealing, London, W5 5RF

Chat with our students

Chat now

院校未公布 DSE 對應等級，請向院校確認。

請查看下方完整入學要求原文，或向院校確認。