Games Art BA (Hons) at Coventry University

Developed in conjunction with games industry employers like Radiant Worlds, this exciting course is designed to equip you with the distinctive skillset required to be a successful games artist – integrating art school training with games technology know-how and familiarity.

The UK was estimated to be the sixth largest video game market In 2015, worth nearly £4.2 billion in consumer spend with around half of UK video games companies are based in London and the South of England.

Delivered in collaboration with the School of Computing and capitalising on expertise within the University-based international Serious Games Institute, this course will develop your understanding of the needs of coders and game developers, at the same time addressing the visual needs of games development. You will learn about industry practices in a simulated games studio environment, gaining a solid grounding in visualisation techniques, character, environment and concept design

Why Coventry University?

An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.

Course information

The course responds to the growth in the games art sector and the expansion of animation and computer graphics training from the fields of film and television to include the highly-rendered environments within games, with their increased focus on character driven narratives.

The course responds to the growth in the games art sector and the expansion of animation and computer graphics training from the fields of film and television to include the highly-rendered environments within games, with their increased focus on character driven narratives. 

Based around our professional studio culture, we will aim to teach you high level art skills relevant to the games industry, encompassing visual design and practical games production, immersing yourself in 3D environments and developing in-game content using industry standard 3D modelling, mapping, materials, rigging and dynamic effects.

Career prospects

The video/computer games industry has become a dynamic and growing contributor to the UK’s creative economy – in 2014, there were almost 2,000 video games companies located in the UK alone and almost nine in ten of these companies began operations in the 2000s or the 2010s*.

This course models itself on the professional expectations of industry, with a strong emphasis on time management, good communication and self-sufficiency. Professional practice is embedded into the learning experience; we will help you prepare for the rigours of the professional world by simulating the challenges that you will face as a practitioner, developing independent thought, innovation, imagination, critical reflection and confidence in your practice, as well as transferrable skills suitable for employment across the full breadth of the creative industries. 

Our Creative Futures employment team is on hand to offer tailored career and enterprise support if you wish to gain employment or take advantage of professional practice opportunities within course specific industries. It provides a programme of workshops, embedded learning, lectures, professional experience and one-to-one guidance to help you develop the transferable skills and enterprising habits required for a successful career. Our dedicated enterprise officers also offer valuable assistance on how to begin as a freelancer/entrepreneur. 

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The University's Careers and Employability team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.

Where our graduates work

Graduates of this course can expect to find employment as a character designer, animator, environment designer or concept artist. Notable alumni who are already successful in the gaming industry include Alex Underhill, senior VFX Artist at Rocksteady Studios, and James Biddulph, design lead at Applio.

Some of our students choose to enter the teaching profession after PGCE study and others go into further study, into our own postgraduate programmes or elsewhere within the UK or internationally.