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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Games Art


College
London College of Communication
UCAS code
I630
Start date
September 2024
Course length
3 years

BA (Hons) Games Art gives you the tools and skillset to bring your worlds and characters to life. Prepare for a career in games by expressing your unique ideas and unleashing your creative potential.

Why choose this course at London College of Communication

  • Principles of Games Art: You'll acquire core skills and principles in Games Art such as drawing, colour theory, concept and character design to inform all aspects of your subject knowledge and technical expertise.
  • Software skills: From Year 1, you'll learn software skills in 2D and 3D to underpin any future specialism – e.g. as 2D concept artist or 3D artist.
  • Collaboration: You'll collaborate with BA (Hons) Games Design, BA (Hons) Animation and BA (Hons) Virtual Reality students to create original, exciting, playable experiences, developing vital industry skills around teamwork.
  • Career oriented: You'll engage in Live projects and competitions delivered in collaboration with external industry partners, enabling you to practice your skills in a professional context, build a professional network, and develop your portfolio.

Open Days

The next Open Day for this course will be announced soon.

Explore life at LCC with our interactive Virtual Open Day.

Course overview

BA (Hons) Games Art is a practice-led course that will support you to develop a creative skillset relevant to the evolving computer games industry.

You'll have opportunity to gain industry experience through live briefs or external collaborations and have the option to explore further work experience and placements through the optional Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS).

With access to specialist facilities including computer labs, green screen and motion capture facilities, you’ll use specialist technologies and software to create 2D and 3D computer game characters, environments and artefacts.

Additionally you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with Games Design and Animation students to create interactive games and entertainment as well as opportunities to engage with industry through live projects, internships and guest speakers.

What to expect

  • You’ll develop a broad range of skills in fields such as research, ideas generation, design, modelling, and game engines to underpin your creation of original characters, levels, artefacts and environments.
  • You will develop essential drawing and design techniques to inform all aspects of your subject knowledge and technical expertise. Digital production skills are taught intensively from Year 1, recognising industry demands and expected levels of graduate expertise.
  • Industry-led and mentored ‘Live’ projects and competitions are delivered in collaboration with external partners, enabling you to practice your skills in professional contexts while building your portfolio.
  • You’ll develop communication, teamwork and project management abilities through collaborations across BA (Hons) Games Arts and other closely aligned courses such as BA (Hons) Games Design, BA (Hons) Immersive Media and Mixed Reality and BA (Hons) Animation.
  • You’ll develop a contextual vocabulary and historical knowledge for analysing games as art.
  • You will build critical skills to articulate meaningful ideas in your practice that promote equality, diversity, and inclusivity as well as themes around sustainability and sustainable practices.

Industry experience and opportunities

You’ll participate in live projects responding to client feedback, developing a professional portfolio to launch your career.

You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake the Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) or the UAL Diploma in Creative Computing between Years 2 and 3 to enhance your learning experience and employability skills.

Mode of study

BA (Hons) Games Art runs for 93 weeks in full-time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage lasts 31 weeks.

Course units

In response to the Climate Emergency, UAL has embedded responsible practices within the curriculum. We shaped our courses around principles of social and racial justice, and environmental sustainability that ensure learning outcomes reflect the urgent need to equip you with the understanding, skills, and values for ethical practice and empower you to work towards an equitable future.

In common with all courses at University of the Arts London, this course is credit rated. The course is 3 years, levels 4-6. Each year requires you to achieve 120 credit points. To be awarded the BA (Hons) Games Art qualification, you need to accumulate a total of 360 credits.

Year 1

Introduction to Games Art (20 credits)

This unit introduces you to your course, subject, and effective learning as an undergraduate student. It will orientate you to the practices and knowledge-base needed to understand your discipline, and help you to develop skills for independent and collaborative learning, reflection, and your own self-development. Students come from many diverse educational backgrounds, and you’ll have an opportunity to reflect on how your own background shapes the way you approach your course.

Principles of Games Art (40 credits)

Providing an understanding of narrative design and how the fundamentals of design underpin games art, this unit will support you to develop essential skills through a range of creative and technical analogue and digital workshops. You’ll use short projects to reinforce and embed learning and work collaboratively to maximise the scope of project development. The skills and technical aspects you develop will underpin your approach to future projects.

Games Art Pipeline (40 credits)

Building on previous units, you’ll develop your skillset further by experimenting with different themes, techniques, skills and formats. Applying artistic rules and theories, you’ll put theoretical studies into practice to challenge and advance your ways of working.

Informed Practice 1 (20 credits)

This unit will establish and negotiate a project that pushes your critical and creative research, writing and exploration, you’ll be introduced to histories, theories and debates relating to games, visual and technological cultures, and study examples in broader social, historical and cultural contexts to consider the multiplicity of meanings and functions assigned to visual culture.

Year 2

Professional Practice (20 credits)

This unit introduces you to the roles and responsibilities of group work, enabling you to put personal and professional development principles into practice.

You’ll have the opportunity to work in multidisciplinary teams with students from other courses - and, more widely, with external collaborators – to use subject-specific skills to achieve a common goal. This unit can also help prepare you for the Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS).

Visual Immersion (40 credits)

You’ll be introduced to the defining technical and artistic principles that underpin visual immersion, enabling you to better understand the practices and skills needed to create professional moving image products. You'll also be encouraged to experiment with a wide array of digital production methodologies to develop project work.

Exploratory Practice (40 credits)

You’ll produce game-ready artefacts that demonstrate a developing knowledge of your specialist practice, and - most importantly - how that practice intersects with other mediums. You’ll produce a project that demonstrates your understanding of the broader context of your technical specialism.

Informed Practice 2 (20 credits)

You’ll develop your broader knowledge and understanding of culture within the video games industry alongside wider culture informing your practice. You’ll reflect, analyse and contextualise by exploring themes of equality, diversity, inclusivity and sustainability through theoretical investigation, such as the critical evaluation of ethics and violence within video games. This unit will prepare you for your extended piece of academic writing in Informed Practice 3.

Year 3

Final Major Project (60 credits)

You’ll have the space and direction to produce and negotiate a specialised piece of work that supports your future aspirations. You’ll consider your creative route, receive expert guidance towards completion of your chosen subject, and have the opportunity to work collaboratively with other disciplines.

Informed Practice 3 (20 credits)

You’ll submit an academically rigorous piece of work manifesting critical enquiry, reflection, analysis and original research. You’ll demonstrate detailed research, apply a range of different research methods and methodological approaches, and contextualise your work from a historical, socio-political and theoretical perspective, informed by your approach to your own creative practice.

Professional Futures (40 credits)

You’ll consider your future goals and aspirations and produce content to help propel your career forward. Shaping your knowledge of professional standards, you’ll also enhance your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on finessing your professional, industry-facing portfolio of work.

Optional Diploma between Years 2 and 3

Between Years 2 and 3 of your course, you’ll also have the opportunity to undertake one of the following qualifications:

Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) (Optional)

An optional, year-long learning opportunity which enables you to develop your professional skills by undertaking time out for industry experience. Supported throughout the year by academics, you’ll build on the knowledge gained on your course in a range of national or international locations, and graduate with an additional qualification of Diploma in Professional Studies.

UAL Diploma in Creative Computing (Optional)

Between Years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Creative Computing. This will develop your skills in creative computing alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Games Art (with Creative Computing).

Learning and teaching methods

  • Seminars
  • Study visits
  • Personal tutorials
  • Group tutorials
  • Lectures
  • Supervised workshops

Online Open Day

(Recorded November 2022)

Course Leader Luca Rosino gives an overview of studying BA (Hons) Games Art.

Student work

Course stories

Staff

Staff continuously learn and update their skillset to enable your best possible learning experience.

Guest speakers come from a wide range of industries and companies, such as Rockstar, ILM and Playground Games.

Cross-course teaching will give you access to lecturers from related disciplines who can provide a broad perspective and enable you to tailor your personal skill set.

Fees and funding

Home fee

£9,250 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£28,570 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

The course team welcomes applicants from a broad range of backgrounds from all over the world. The course attracts students who apply direct from A-level (or equivalent) or from Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, or other art or design courses, as well as mature students who may have previously worked in industry.

The standard entry requirements for this course are as follows:

96 UCAS tariff points which can be made up of one or a combination of the following accepted full level 3 qualifications:

  • A Levels at Grade C or above
  • Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4)
  • Merit, Merit, Merit in BTEC Extended Diploma
  • Merit in UAL Extended Diploma
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma
  • OR equivalent EU/International qualifications, such as International Baccalaureate Diploma at 24 points minimum 

And 2 GCSE passes at grade 4 or above (grade A*-C).

APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

If you do not meet these entry requirements but your application demonstrates additional strengths and alternative relevant experience, you may still be considered. This could include:

  • Related academic study or work experience;
  • The quality of the personal statement;
  • A strong academic or other professional reference;
  • A combination of these factors.

Each application will be considered on its own merit. We cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English language requirements

  • IELTS level 6.0 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking is required for this course. 

All classes are taught in English. If English isn’t your first language, you will need to show evidence of your English language ability when you enrol. For further guidance, please check our  English language requirements.

Selection criteria

The portfolio, along with the details on your UCAS application (including the academic reference and your personal statement) will be assessed against the following criteria: 

  • Ideas generation: quality of ideas and expression of conceptual thinking. 
  • Technical skills and experimentation with visual creativity: a fundamental understanding of shape, form, observation, drawing and colour, utilising a range of 2D and 3D media demonstrated through design aspects of characters, environments, illustrations, vehicles and other game related artefacts.
  • Materials and media exploration and experimentation: experimentation and testing of materials in realisation of concept.
  • An understanding of the need for a critical and analytical approach (through research and practice) to this area of study.

Apply now

Application deadline

31 January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time)

If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Apply to UAL

Home students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

I630

Start your application

Apply now

Application deadline

31 January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time)

If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Apply to UAL

International students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

I630

Start your application
or

Apply with a UAL Representative

Based across the world, our local UAL representatives can support you with your application from your home country. Check to see if there is a representative available in your country currently.

Find your representative

How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 4,000 characters and cover the following:

  • Why have you chosen this course? What excites you about the subject?
  • How does your previous or current study relate to the course?
  • Have you got any work experience that might help you?
  • Have any life experiences influenced your decision to apply for this course?
  • What skills do you have that make you perfect for this course?
  • What plans and ambitions do you have for your future career?

Visit the UCAS advice page and our personal statement advice page for more support.

Step 2: Digital portfolio

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a digital portfolio.

You’ll need to submit these via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool.

Digital portfolio advice

Your portfolio should consist of recent work that reflects your creative strengths.

It should:

  • be maximum 20 pages
  • include curated examples of your current work
  • demonstrate your creative skills and interest in games art
  • include works in progress as well as finished pieces to demonstrate how you develop your work from initial idea to final outcome.

For more support, see our Portfolio advice and PebblePad advice.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. This means that we may request your portfolio and/or video task before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

You must apply in the year that you intend to start your course. If you are made an offer and your circumstances change, you can submit a deferral request to defer your place by 1 academic year. You must have met your conditions by 31 August 2024. If you need an English language test in order to meet the entry requirements, the test must be valid on the deferred start date of your course. If not, you will need to reapply. Requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contextual Admissions

This course is part of the Contextual Admissions scheme.

This scheme helps us better understand your personal circumstances so that we can assess your application fairly and in context. This ensures that your individual merit and creative potential can shine through, no matter what opportunities and experiences you have received.

Careers

Potential careers within Games Art:

  • 2D Concept Artist
  • 3D Artist
  • Game Animator
  • Technical Artist
  • Games Designer
  • QA Tester
  • UI Artist
  • Marketing for games

More widely, Careers and Employability at UAL will support you in your journey to becoming an innovator in the creative and cultural sectors through a programme of events, seminars, workshops, online resources and funding opportunities.