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Computer Games Art

Entry requirements


A level

B,B,B-B,B,C

112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels. A relevant qualification or experience in art/design/creative computing or graphic arts is required.

112-122 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma. Must be accompanied by relevant experience or additional qualifications related to art/design/creative computing or graphic arts.

Cambridge Pre-U score of 46-50. A relevant qualification or experience in art/design/creative computing or graphic arts is required.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

3 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English and Mathematics/3 GCSEs at grade 4 or above to include English and Mathematics.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

25

25 points from the IB Diploma, to include 3 Higher Level subjects. A relevant qualification or experience in art/design/creative computing or graphic arts is required.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H3,H3,H3,H3,H4-H3,H3,H3,H3,H3


A relevant qualification or experience in art/design/creative computing or graphic arts is required.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDM-DMM

A relevant qualification or experience in art/design/creative computing or graphic arts is required.

112-120 Tariff points to include a minimum of 2 Advanced Highers. A relevant qualification or experience in art/design/creative computing or graphic arts is required.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

T Level

M

A relevant qualification or experience in art/design/creative computing or graphic arts is required.

UCAS Tariff

112-120

112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent. A relevant qualification or experience in art/design/creative computing or graphic arts is required.

112-120 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 1 A level, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate. A relevant qualification or experience in art/design/creative computing or graphic arts is required.

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About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

4 years | Sandwich | 2024

Subjects

Computer games graphics

Computer games

**This is a Connected Degree**
Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

**Overview**
Discover the power of art in games by studying BA (Hons) Computer Games Art at Portsmouth – 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.

**Why study BA (Hons) Computer Games Art at Portsmouth?**
You'll be able to:

- 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 University GameJam

- 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

Modules

**Year One**

Core modules
- 3D Modelling
- Art Skills For Games
- Art Studio
- Coding and Scripting For Games
- Game Development
- Games Design and Context

**Year Two**

Core modules
- Designing For Animation
- Project Initiation and Career Management
- Student Enterprise For Games

Optional modules
- Commercial Asset Production For Real Time
- Creative Technologies Study Exchange
- Creative Technologies Study Exchange
- Design and Visual Research For Cinema and Game
- Engaged Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Practice
- Modern Foreign Language
- Professional Experience

**Year Three**

Core modules
- Final Year Project
- Real-Time Interactive Group Project: Stage One
- Real-Time Interactive Group Project: Stage Two

Optional modules
- Advanced Graphics Techniques
- Create Worlds
- Games Research
- Implementing Game Audio
- Motion Capture Applications
- Psychological Theory For Game Designers

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.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through: practical artefacts, presentations (video and in-person), written reports, and exams. You'll be assessed during modules and you'll receive feedback to help improve your learning.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£9,250
per year
International
£17,900
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Portsmouth

Department:

Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries

Read full university profile

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.

68%
Computer games graphics
68%
Computer games

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

81%
Staff make the subject interesting
85%
Staff are good at explaining things
82%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
91%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

74%
Library resources
63%
IT resources
77%
Course specific equipment and facilities
60%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

88%
UK students
12%
International students
82%
Male students
18%
Female students
70%
2:1 or above
11%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
C

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.

£23,000
med
Average annual salary
96%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

44%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
14%
Artistic, literary and media occupations
7%
Information technology technicians

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.

£22k

£22k

£27k

£27k

£31k

£31k

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.

Explore these similar courses...

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Higher entry requirements
Royal Holloway, University of London | Egham
Video Games Art and Design
BA (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 112-144
Lower entry requirements
Ravensbourne University London | Greenwich
Games Art
BA (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 96

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here