Digital art showing high-rise buildings in a city at night-time
BA (Hons) Available in Clearing

Computer Games Art

Develop art skills relevant to the fast-moving games industry including sculpting, modelling, texturing, characters and environments.

Start date
September
Location
Cambridge
Duration
3 years
UCAS course code
W281

Start date
September
Location
Cambridge
Duration
4 years with foundation
UCAS course code
W282

Start date
September
Location
Cambridge
Duration
4 years with placement
UCAS course code
W283
1st

in the East of England for undergraduates employed as managers, directors or senior officials.

Source: GOS

Discover how to use visual research, creative experimentation and technical development to forge a career as a computer games artist.

You’ll learn how to move from concept to game-ready assets, bringing your work to life using industry-leading software including Unreal Engine 5, Autodesk Maya, ZBrush and the Adobe Substance Painter.

TIGA

Our course is accredited by TIGA, the trade association representing the gaming industry in the UK.

TIGA logo
Why ARU?
  • Study in a region renowned for computer games, with 26 games companies in Cambridge alone (source: Ukie Games Map, January 2024).

  • Attend exciting industry events including games jams, industry talks, and festivals including our annual Gamebridge.

  • Explore different aspects of digital art, helping you specialise and future-proof your career.

  • Work collaboratively in a development studio environment that reflects the professional workplace.

  • Study on a course that's a member of the Unreal Academic Partner programme, recognising university courses that are committed to providing ongoing, high-quality educational opportunities.

Logo: THE Awards 2023
 

Study at an award-winning university

We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Careers

Sabrina Minter

Seeing women succeed in games has encouraged me to work in a field that I thoroughly enjoy.

Sabrina Minter, Graduate and games designer

Gain the skills to land a career in the gaming industry, and open doors to other sectors, including VFX, film, animation, television and motion graphics.

82% of the UK computer games industry is educated to at least undergraduate level, according to UKIE’s 2022 census – so completing this degree is highly likely to boost your employment prospects.

Graduation doesn’t have to be the end of your time with us. You might stay at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our MA Games Development (Art). Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Teaching and modules

Adam Twycross addressing the camera from a gaming chair

Using universal design principles, computer game artists need to translate the ideas of others into visually compelling characters and environments.

Dr Adam Twycross, Senior Lecturer

Start the course by discovering the core skills and processes that computer games artists use, and understand where creative vision and technology meet.

You’ll also meet the challenge of translating concept images into game-ready 3D assets.

Later in the course you’ll study in a studio environment, developing your skills in rendering and lighting techniques to expand the expressive range of your artwork.

Finally, you’ll develop artefacts for your portfolio, take on live briefs for industry partners, and complete a Major Project that will bring together all your skills and knowledge.

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1
  • Game Concepts and Analysis
  • Digital Sculpting for Games
  • Introduction to Game Art
  • Game Art Creation
  • Into ARU
Year 2
  • Collaborative Games Development
  • Specialised Practice in Games Art
  • Technical Development for Games
  • Ruskin Module (15 credits)
Year 3
  • Studio Practice for Games
  • Major Project for Games
Module details

To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.

Year 1
  • Foundation in Art and Design
Module details

You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.

Year 3
  • Work Placement - Cambridge School of Creative Industries
Module details

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Facilities

From gaming and 3D modelling software through to HD cameras and graphic tablets, our games studio is filled with the latest industry-standard tools and equipment.

Our dedicated Computer Games Technical Officer will be on hand to offer full training and support.

You can also get training in the use of all our creative facilities, including a digital workshop with variety of computer aided manufacturing machines.

Entry requirements

Fees and funding

Apply for Computer Games Art

Clearing places available

UK students, apply through Clearing for a September 2025 start

UK students

Call our Clearing line

01245 686868

UK students

Apply through UCAS for 2026

International students

Apply direct

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