Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,250 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
International/EU: £16,655 per year (£1,200 for placement year) -
How long will I study?
3 / 4 Years
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Where will I study?
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What is the UCAS code?
W280
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When do I start?
September 2024
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Placement year available?
Yes
Come to an open day
Visit us to learn more about our gold-rated teaching and why we were awarded the highest possible rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
Course summary
- Develop technical production skills through the creation of 2D and 3D artwork.
- Collaborate in creative projects alongside programmers.
- Work with cutting edge tools to produce various game art styles, and work to art limitations for use on different gaming platforms.
- Work in partnership with Sony within our commercial games studio, Steel Minions.
- Study at the only university in the UK to produce a game on a Sony platform.
This course will equip you with the practical skills required to work in the games industry ranging from concept to post-production, and you will graduate with a portfolio of projects.
South Yorkshire Institute of Technology
As a partner of the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology, we offer high-quality technical education across multiple STEM subject areas.
View our students' work
Find out more about the Media Arts and Communications department and view the work of some of our students.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
Throughout this course you will build a professional quality portfolio that is aimed at meeting the requirements of potential employers. The teaching and learning on this course is designed to help you do this.
You learn through
- specialist technical workshops
- group projects
- one-to-one support
- live projects
- industry visits, field trips and festivals
- self-directed and independent study
Course leaders and tutors
Adam Shepherd
Senior Lecturer in Creative MediaI teach within Games Design. During my time at the university I have taught 3D modelling, Rigging, Texturing and Animation through levels 4-7, as well as various ski … Read more
Applied learning
Work placements
In year three, you have the opportunity to take a one-year paid work placement, which is an excellent way to enhance your graduate employment potential. Games design is a very competitive industry, and there are a limited number of placements available in games companies. You are supported in finding a placement by our experienced Placement and Employability Team who have a large range of employer contacts.
Live projects
You will have the opportunity to work on commercial opportunities with real-life clients. Previous students have designed game levels and concepts for Pixel Bullies and Sumo Digital, and worked with English Heritage to create a virtual tour of Conisbrough Castle.
Networking opportunities
During your degree you will have access to careers advisers, employability enhancing workshops and networking opportunities including guest speakers and master classes from the creative media industry. We also help you to master social media for networking and making contacts.
A number of industry days and events (Game Republic events, Pathways) are also held on campus where you can network with and attend talks and workshops run by creative media industry professionals and organisations.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career as a
- concept artist
- 2D artist
- 3D environment artist
- 3D character artist
- animator
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for
- Rare
- Electronic Arts
- Sumo Digital
- Rockstar North
- Forsaken Studios
- SEGA Europe
- Framestore
- Jagex
- Lightning Fish
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreLearn more about your department
Media, Arts and Communications Facilities Tour
Take a look around the media, arts and communication facilities at Sheffield Hallam University with lecturer Saskia Wilson.
Equipment and facilities
On this course you work with
- the largest PlayStation teaching facility in the world
- a motion camera lab
- specialist virtual reality space
- our commercial games studio , Steel Minions
- 3Dstudio Max
- Maya
- ZBrush
- Unreal Engine
- Unity
- Phyre Engine
- Marmoset Toolbag
- Photoshop
- Quixel Suite
- Knald
- Substance Painter
- Substance Designer
- Marvelous Designer
- World Machine
- 3D Coat
- Agisoft Photoscan
- Oculus Rift
- PlayStation VR
Media Gallery
Entry requirements
All students
We will offer flexibility on our usual entry requirements for clearing applicants. Please call us on 0330 024 6390 to discuss your options and apply.Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
3D Modelling
Game Design Theory
Game World Mechanics
Level 4 Game Project
Visual Concepts For Games 1
Visual Concepts For Games 2
Year 2
Compulsory modules
3D Animation Project
3D Character Modelling
Professional Development Project
Prop Development
Real-Time Environment Creation
Elective modules
App Design And Development
Creative Sound Practice
Documentary Production (Photography, Sound And Moving Image)
Experimental Game Practice
Introduction To Concept Art
Virtual Reality Design
Year 3
Optional modules
Placement Year
Final year
Compulsory modules
3D Game Art
Final Game Project
Game Professional Practice
Elective modules
Game Studio Project
Life Drawing
Pre-Production For Animation
Sound Design And Sonic Arts Practice
Visual Effects Project
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2024/25 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £16,655 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Digital media courses (PDF, 326.4KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
