With the advent of real-time 3D technology, the Games and Film industries are becoming more closely intertwined than ever before. On this course you’ll learn the highly in-demand 3D skills required in this exciting area. With more than 2000 active games and film studios in the UK, has there ever been a better time to start your career as a 3D Artist?
Given the current digital content-boom, this course is designed to respond to emerging skills shortages within the 3D creative industries, with a dynamic curriculum informed by the latest industry trends.
BA 3D for Games and Film focusses on the cutting edge of Game and Film tech to prepare graduates for the future job opportunities in these creative industries.
This course provides a professional studio environment to prepare and empower you for the world of work as a creative practitioner with your own personal tool kit of skills, the confidence and the adaptability to take on a productive role in a team in a constantly developing industry landscape.
The course has been designed so you can align your studies with your passion in 3D for Games and Film and graduate with a degree that represents your interests and skills. The wide range of specialist training and projects in your final year will lead to a degree with one of the following titles:
You will gain a solid foundation in the 3D Fundamentals and will be challenged to explore a wide range of creative specialisms such as Virtual Production, Concept Art, Compositing, Environment Art, 3D Animation, Motion Capture and Character Art.
You'll perfect your skills in a live studio environment working on the latest industry standard software and techniques, mirroring exactly how 3D Artists work daily.
You will learn through discussions, demonstrations, seminars, presentations, and practical work, as well as intensive workshops combining individual and group work, as well as through a regular programme of industry guests. All of this supports you as you learn about contemporary 3D pipelines used in commercial games and film studios.
Our studio facilities are second to none. We have a professionally equipped Motion Capture studio and Green Screen room set up for Virtual Production, suites of digital workstations with latest industry-standard software, overclocked workstations, and a state-of-the-art 3D printing and scanning studio. Additionally, we have Editing Suites and a fully functional Music Recording Studio with a team of specialist technicians to guide you every step of the way.
Showreel
Cinematics for Games and Film Workshop
Virtual Production Masterclass
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You will be learning a wide range of subjects all chosen to make you a better practitioner. These range from applied creativity to knowledge of cutting-edge technology. Some of the subjects include:
Through lectures, workshops and your own studies, you will develop employable skills in 3D asset creation, hand keyed animation and Motion capture, Virtual Production and Visual Effects, project management and specialist skills for your chosen career.
Learn how visual art techniques are used to tell stories in Games and Film. You will study composition, Film language, art direction, visual styles and apply what you learn to Concept Art, Storyboards, Animatics and Previsualisation.
Learn how CG imagery is made, from digitally painted concept art to composited effects shots in films to real-time visuals in games, this module gives you the theoretical understanding of image creation techniques and practical, hands-on use of industry standard tools.
You will learn industry standard workflows for building complex scenes for Games and Film. Learn how high-quality 3D assets are designed and made, how they are shared between a studio of artists and how they are combined into epic Game levels or Film shots. Practical workshops will give you direct experience of creating and using assets.
To bring Game and Film characters to life, they need to move. In this module you will be introduced to the principals of animation, learn the workflows for producing handmade character animation and Motion Capture performances for Game and Film. With practical animation assignments you can put your knowledge into action.
Games and Films need a believable, detailed, compelling setting for the characters to live in and the action to take place. This module explores the ideation and creation process for developing a script or concept into a fully realised story world. In the practical workshops, you will be creating environments in 3D for use as levels for Games or Virtual Production sets for Films. You will also have opportunities to work alongside Film and Games Design students on collaborative projects.
High end Games and Films need ever more complex and detailed 3D assets. This module will cover the technology used to scan, process and create photoreal models of the real world which can be used to make impressive CG scenes.
Whether it is a Virtual Production shoot for a Film or a cut scene for a Game, cinematography is fundamental to creating a compelling narrative. Advanced technology such as motion tracking, live compositing, real-time rendering, AI and more are revolutionising the way Films and Games are made. This module will give you hands-on experience using these technologies as well as the conceptual understanding of how they work and how they will develop in the future.
The word “kinesthetics” means the study of body motion. This module builds on the animation fundamentals learned in the first year and introduces techniques for creating animated characters. You will be using our Motion Capture studio to record and process body and facial performances for use in Games and Film. There is also the opportunity to work with acting and dance students from our Performing Arts programmes.
The most important skill in the creative industries is problem solving. In this module, you will learn research methodologies and undertake an extended investigation into the career role you want to specialise in. With supporting workshops and tutorials, you will develop specialist knowledge and skills which you can apply in your personal and group projects.
Your personal showreel is your calling card for entering the industry. A good showreel will display your skills and make you stand out when applying for a job. This module will focus on developing your coursework up to showreel quality. Through tutor feedback and guidance from industry mentors, you will enhance your personal projects and showcase your role in the Major Project to produce the best showreel possible.
In the final year of your studies, you will undertake an extended, ambitious group project to put all your learning into action. You will take on a specialist role as part of a team and, together, work as your own boutique studio to develop a concept.
In this module, you will realise the creative vision your team has developed in Pre-production. This group project will form a major part of your showreel and gives you the opportunity to experience your chosen specialist role in a live production.
All modules are taught in a hands-on “studio” style with training and instruction in the morning and workshop activities in the afternoon to apply what you’ve been taught immediately to your coursework. At the end of each studio day, a daily review of what you’ve achieve gives immediate feedback from your supervising tutors – just like the daily reviews used in industry.
Assessment is 100% by coursework. You will be carrying out two or three assignments in each module and following a brief to produce a practical outcome. Instead of writing essays and reports which are separate to your practical work, you will be providing documentation to go along with the art work you create making your academic writing directly relevant to your practical skills.
This course gives students a solid foundation in the 3D Fundamentals, then challenges students to explore a wide range of creative specialisms such as Virtual Production, Concept Art, Compositing, Environment Art, 3D Animation, Motion Capture and Character Art.
We also have strong industry links, with a regular programme of industry guests. Past visiting lecturers include:
Students also have the chance to visit Industry networking Events such as EGX Rezzed and Vertex Conference.
Our facilities are second to none and include:
You can also hire specialised equipment for your assignments and there is a wealth of specialist technical help in our workshops from professionals who are dedicated to helping you achieve excellence.
You will have access to our media store, with a range of industry-standard equipment for loan.
We have state-of-the-art digital print facilities.
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
Start: September 2023
Duration: 3 years full-time
Code: W615
Start: September 2023, September 2023: EU/INT induction
Duration: 3 years full-time
Code: W248
Start: October 2023, EU/International induction: September 2023
Duration: 3 years full-time, Usually 6 years part-time
Code: P303
