BA (Hons) Game Art & Production - (Level 6 | Top-up)

The Conservation and Education Centre at the former Bristol Zoo Gardens site remains open to students.

You will have private access to the zoo grounds during lectures, to carry out your observations and data collection, but as more animals are moved, this will gradually be carried out at the Bristol Zoo Project. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Game Art & Production Course

Our BA (Hons) Game Art & Production one-year Top-up Degree programme is an exciting course based in Bristol at our University Centre WISE campus. This innovative third-year degree level provision is available to both existing SGS Higher Education and University Centre degree level students, as well as external applicants with the relevant qualifications. The course is focused on providing you with the relevant skills to become a professional games industry member.

This one-year top-up degree programme combines students from both technical and artistic disciplines, simulating a real-world games development studio environment, further developing professional skills required to create innovative and captivating game content. You will also gain valuable knowledge on how to succeed in the games industry using industry-standard software, methods, and pipelines. Software used includes Unreal Engine game development software; Visual Studios integrated development environment software; Perforce version control software, Autodesk Maya 3D modelling software; ZBrush sculpting software; Photoshop image-editing software; Substance Suite and Ableton audio editing software.

Within the course and as preparation for entering the creative industries, through a combination of elective specialist lectures; dedicated group work; and independent working experiences, students will gain an opportunity to master disciplines established over the past two years and solidify key requirements and skills expected within the games industry. The content will help you develop outstanding communication skills, by assessing your team members complementary strengths. This will thoroughly equip you with the relevant skills and knowledge to build a professional portfolio ready to land your first job in the games industry.

Combining creativity with emerging and established technology, you will be part of a top-up degree offering innovation, imagination, and employability at its heart.

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Why SGS Higher Education and University Centre?

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We have dedicated specialist tutors and smaller class sizes offering you the support you need to help develop at the pace that’s right for you. Alongside this, we have industry professionals providing bespoke lectures within different disciplines.

Get Kraken, our in-house studio offers an exciting opportunity for you to work in a real studio alongside your studies. If selected, you will become part of the team designing and developing a game to be released in the 2nd year of the course!

We are part of Bristol Academy of Media (BAM) so can offer collaboration between the two departments: Games and Media. This helps expand the reach of the course and provides the opportunity to learn about the wider avenues surrounding the technologies used.

Alongside your study you will have the opportunity to get involved in our Sports Academy. Whether you're a top-level athlete or you just want to give something a go, you can get involved with our sports academies, the competing arm of SGS Sport. Students can 'bolt on' a sports academy alongside their full-time study programme.

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Understanding the Games Industry

The games industry is rapidly growing globally. Within the UK, over 44 million people play video games; the industry employs over 47,000 people; and is worth upwards of £4 billion. On completion of the course you can top up to get a BA (Hons) in Game Art and Production or work within the games industry as a freelancer, indie developer, or in a AAA company. Previous students now work for Auroch Digital, Flaming Fowl Studios, Flix Interactive, Double Eleven and many more.

"I’ve met some of my best friends here"

"I chose UCWISE campus after looking at other Game Art university courses, it turned out to be the best in terms of student output and opportunities. There is a chill, friendly atmosphere with the students and lecturers, I’ve met some of my best friends here."

Emmeline

BA (Hons) Game Art & Production - (Level 6 | Top-up)

Study Modules

DM6004

Final Project/Dissertation

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You will identify an area of practice, a practitioner or an equivalent negotiated aspect for research. This research is intended to be closely relevant to your own area of practice and of direct use to you in progressing your own work and ambitions. You will, through negotiation with your dissertation supervisor, identify an appropriate topic of interest to you and undertake research in depth on it to produce either: A formal written dissertation of 5800 words. OR An identified research project that would lead to a practical outcome (e.g. a media production) supported by a critical and evaluative text of 2900 words. Each will be supported by a presentation of your research proposal early in the module by means of a 10-minute assessed presentation (plus 5 minutes Q&A).

Presentation: 20% [10 minutes (plus 5 mins Q&A) or 1200 word equivalent]

Dissertation / Major Project: 80% [5800 words or 2900 words plus a practice-based outcome]

GA6001

Contemporary Design Contexts

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This module provides an opportunity for you to analyse the contemporary issues surrounding character, environment, narrative, and game design. There will be opportunities to investigate issues relating to age, race, gender, identity, appearance and culture, with consideration on how these impact design ideas and product marketing.

Assignment: 30% (2100 words or equivalent)

Portfolio: 70% (4900 words or equivalent)

GA6002

Collaborative Development Project

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This module provides an opportunity to collaborate with peers in a multi-disciplinary team, reflective of a professional working environment. Building on both interpersonal and technical skills, you will negotiate roles and create a production plan to develop an artefact, which will then form the basis for critical reflection. You will each record your engagement in the team and the related processes encouraging a level of professional autonomy appropriate to the expectations at Level 6. There will be opportunities to use reflection and feedback to analyse your own and the team’s capabilities and effectiveness, appraise alternatives and implement actions to improve.

Portfolio: 70% (4900 words or equivalent)

Individual presentation: 30% (15 minutes or 2,100 words)

GA6003

Professional Portfolio

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This module provides you with an opportunity to develop your own professional portfolio, which can be used for progression in the industry. The games industry and the wider creative sector are evolving rapidly so planning a viable path is critical to successfully navigating this increasingly complex professional environment. We will explore ways in which practitioners position themselves in both commercial and non-commercial contexts. The module focuses on selecting and enhancing a specific specialism in the industry and contextualises this through an exploration of emerging practices and effective planning, commissioning, funding and promotion of your work.

Presentation: 30% (15-minute presentation or 2100 words equivalent)

Portfolio: 70% (4900 words or equivalent)

Course Video

Stephen Barton

Subject Area Lead & Programme Lead for Computer Game Design Development, Game Art & Production, CDO Get Kraken Games

*This programme is subject to validation and delivery approval by the University of Gloucestershire.

APPLICATIONS FOR SEPT 2024 ENTRY ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS COURSE.APPLY VIA UCAS FOR FULL-TIME STUDY_(FULL-TIME)APPLY ONLINE FOR FULL-TIME STUDY_(FULL-TIME)APPLY ONLINE FOR PART-TIME STUDY_{(PART-TIME ONLY)}

Campus:

University Centre WISE

Level:

Top-up Degree

Full-time Duration:

1 Year

Full-time Fee (Per Year):

£9,000

Part-time Duration:

2 Years

Part-time Fee (Per Year):

£4,500

UCAS Application Code:

I620

UCAS Entry Tariff:

Entry Requirements

For direct entry onto a Level 6 (Top Up) course, you will need to have achieved a level 5 qualification e.g. HND, Level 5 Diploma or Foundation Degree in a related subject.

CONTACT ADMISSIONS

Awarded by the University of Gloucestershire Awarded by the University of Arts London

Course info last updated:

April 14, 2025

Full-Time

Part-Time

Delivery Format

The delivery format for your degree-level programs is primarily face-to-face and in-person sessions. However, there may be some hybrid sessions offered occasionally, mainly for flexibility purposes, such as tutorials or for larger events like visiting lecturers. Additionally, it's mentioned that all degree programs are well-supported by Virtual Learning Environments, which include Teams or Google Classroom.