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Games Art university programs

I want to do a Games Art program that does both 2D and 3D design, and has a mix of concept art (creating ideas) and technical skill (learning software like Unreal/Unity/Blender/Adobe etc)
This is my current list, are they good universities? If anyone have suggestions for good game art programs that have good professional connections and is good for portfolio work, please let me know

- University Arts London
- Falmouth University
- Abertay University
- Arts University Bournemouth
- Bournemouth University
- Leeds Art University
- Anglia Ruskin University
- University for the Creative Arts

Reply 1

Arts University Bournemouth – Uni Rep

Official Rep

Original post by oqwieeru

I want to do a Games Art program that does both 2D and 3D design, and has a mix of concept art (creating ideas) and technical skill (learning software like Unreal/Unity/Blender/Adobe etc)
This is my current list, are they good universities? If anyone have suggestions for good game art programs that have good professional connections and is good for portfolio work, please let me know
- University Arts London
- Falmouth University
- Abertay University
- Arts University Bournemouth
- Bournemouth University
- Leeds Art University
- Anglia Ruskin University
- University for the Creative Arts

Hey there!

Awesome to hear you're interested in Games Art!

Our BA (Hons) Games Art and Design course covers all of the topics you mentioned, you might be interested to know that we explore meaningful games, too. These are interactive experiences designed to go beyond simple entertainment – focusing on conveying important themes, ideas, or messages to players. Through their mechanics, storytelling and visual elements, they aim to make you think, stir emotions and sometimes even inspire social change.

If you're passionate about games that provoke thought or ones that make an impact on the world, you'll find our program a great fit. We also have units that investigate identity and gender values in gaming.

At AUB, we're big on industry connections and getting you prepared to graduate and find work. To that end, each course has an Industry Patron, course teams that are connected to industry and there are plenty of networking opportunities. The course also has an optional placement year if that's something you're keen to do between your second and third year of study.

We've got some Open Days coming up – the next one is on 21 September and then once a month until the end of the year. I think no matter where you're looking to apply, an Open Day is a really great way of finding more about the course, life at the uni and a chance to meet staff and students.

Hopefully this helps, and we might see you at an Open Day soon. 😄

Best wishes,
Charlotte – AUB

Reply 2

ARUOfficial

Official Rep

Original post by oqwieeru

I want to do a Games Art program that does both 2D and 3D design, and has a mix of concept art (creating ideas) and technical skill (learning software like Unreal/Unity/Blender/Adobe etc)
This is my current list, are they good universities? If anyone have suggestions for good game art programs that have good professional connections and is good for portfolio work, please let me know
- University Arts London
- Falmouth University
- Abertay University
- Arts University Bournemouth
- Bournemouth University
- Leeds Art University
- Anglia Ruskin University
- University for the Creative Arts

Hi there,

It’s great to see you’re considering us and also looking into a range of universities 😊

Here at ARU, our Games Art course is based in the historic city of Cambridge– a lively student city filled with green spaces, quirky shops, and the River Cam. Our Games Art course is accredited by TIGA and offers industry-standard facilities like game software including Unreal Engine 5 and Unity 3D, a Futures Lab and workshop equipment, and exciting events like Gamesbridge – an event filled with industry-led talks, one-to-one portfolio reviews, and the chance to network with experts in the industry. Some of the first-year modules actually include Game Concepts and Analysis and Game Art creation, and in the second-year modules include Technical Development for Games and Specialised Practice in Games Art.

If you have any queries around admissions or applying, please do reach out to our friendly Admissions team anytime:
📞 01245 68 68 68
📧 [email protected]

Have you visited us at an Open Day? Our next Open Day is on Saturday 5^th October 😊 If you can attend, it’ll be a great chance to speak with the Games Art lecturers and student ambassadors, explore the Games Art facilities and campus, and to see if ARU is right for you. Feel free to book your place today!

If you’re unable to attend, pop onto our interactive online platform Experience ARU. The platform allows you to see a day in the life of a Computer Games student, explore Cambridge city and the things to do there, and virtual tours of the campus and student accommodation.

Let us know any other questions & good luck!

Jemma

Reply 3

BU Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by oqwieeru

I want to do a Games Art program that does both 2D and 3D design, and has a mix of concept art (creating ideas) and technical skill (learning software like Unreal/Unity/Blender/Adobe etc)
This is my current list, are they good universities? If anyone have suggestions for good game art programs that have good professional connections and is good for portfolio work, please let me know
- University Arts London
- Falmouth University
- Abertay University
- Arts University Bournemouth
- Bournemouth University
- Leeds Art University
- Anglia Ruskin University
- University for the Creative Arts

Hi @oqwieeru,

Great to hear you're starting to think about your university journey and exploring different options!
I'm Q, a Media Production student at Bournemouth University (BU).

I can definitely recommend checking out BU’s National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA). The NCCA offers hands-on training, industry-led projects, and opportunities to connect with professionals. With a focus on creative and technical skills, students build strong portfolios and benefit from work opportunities as there are strong connections to the industry. The NCCA also hosts the BFX Festival, featuring world-class animation, industry talks, workshops, and student competitions.

We have two courses that might interest you: Games Design and Games Programming. For more specific details on course modules, you can find a full breakdown in the 'Course details' section on the relevant course pages.
I'm not too sure about the software or any specifics, so it might be a good idea to attend an Open Day where you can speak to someone and have a look at our new building Poole Gateway, which is where Games are based.

I hope this helps - let me know if you have any other questions.
Q - BU Student Rep

Reply 4

aspalax

Original post by oqwieeru

I want to do a Games Art program that does both 2D and 3D design, and has a mix of concept art (creating ideas) and technical skill (learning software like Unreal/Unity/Blender/Adobe etc)
This is my current list, are they good universities? If anyone have suggestions for good game art programs that have good professional connections and is good for portfolio work, please let me know
- University Arts London
- Falmouth University
- Abertay University
- Arts University Bournemouth
- Bournemouth University
- Leeds Art University
- Anglia Ruskin University
- University for the Creative Arts

Hiya! I answered a similar thread to this recently so here is a snippet from that thread:

From prev thread

Falmouth were absolutely lovely when I spoke to them. I did a regional interview with them (they organise for people who live far away) in Manchester and they were brilliant, honestly. The location was the main dissuade for me, as I never got to see their campus.

Abertay I hear great reviews from but A) are a 4 year course and B) don't conduct interviews or formal portfolio reviews, which I think is a shame. That feedback is really invaluable. And if you're paying 9k+ more than other courses, you want to be really sure they're going to be better, which I wasn't personally.

DMU is one of the oldest Game Art courses in the country with grads in industry since 2007 or something. They don't pay me to talk about them here but I do, as a graduate who now works in industry, because I genuinely believe they're one of the better options out there.
Check out the DMU Game Art potfolio here: https://www.artstation.com/gameartdmu

Reply 5

Kingston Reps

Official Rep

Original post by oqwieeru

I want to do a Games Art program that does both 2D and 3D design, and has a mix of concept art (creating ideas) and technical skill (learning software like Unreal/Unity/Blender/Adobe etc)
This is my current list, are they good universities? If anyone have suggestions for good game art programs that have good professional connections and is good for portfolio work, please let me know
- University Arts London
- Falmouth University
- Abertay University
- Arts University Bournemouth
- Bournemouth University
- Leeds Art University
- Anglia Ruskin University
- University for the Creative Arts

Hi @oqwieeru

Have you considered Kingston University?

Kingston is 2nd in London for Animation and Game Design. And no.1 in London and top 5 in the UK for Graphic Design. We have two courses here that I think you would be interested in:
Game Development BSc (Hons) - Undergraduate degree course - Kingston University London
Illustration Animation BA (Hons) - Undergraduate degree course - Kingston University London

Kingston is a very creative university and has many connections. For example on the Games Development course Kingston is a PlayStation licensed developer, and you will be able to create games for the PlayStation 5.

Students go on to work for great creative agencies like Netflix, Sony, Google and Mojang.

Another thing that is great about these courses is the equipment and facilities. There are lots of labs and studios that I would really recommend you coming and seeing for yourself, if you can, at an open day. Our next open day is this Saturday, and there are more throughout the year just keep an eye on the website.

I hope this helps and is something to consider :smile:

-Grace (Kingston Rep)

Reply 6

LeedsArtUniRep

Official Rep

Hi 😃,

It’s great to hear that you're wanting to study BA (Hons) Games Art. It is a fantastic course that focuses on bringing game worlds to life through captivating visuals. You will delve into the core elements of games art, honing your skills in visual design, digital illustration, 2D art, and 3D modelling.Our studios are outfitted with industry-standard equipment including high-specification PCs capable of running all industry-standard software games used in development such as Unreal Engine/Unity, Maya/Blender, 3D sculpting applications such as ZBrush and Adobe Substance Suite.

https://www.leeds-art.ac.uk/courses/ba-hons-games-art

Leeds is a great city to study in with a thriving arts community. There’s always something different to do so you are guaranteed an excellent social life. Our campus is based next to the city centre, so you have a range of great cafes, shops, green spaces and galleries at your doorstep. The Sunday Times has recently named it as the best place to live in the north. I have enclosed a link below with some of our must-visit places :

https://www.leeds-art.ac.uk/life-in-leeds

We recommend that you come to one of our open days, it will give you the opportunity to explore our campus and the city itself. Our friendly staff and student ambassadors will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. Our next open day is on Wednesday 19 June however we will also be running open days in autumn/winter. You can book on the link below:

https://www.leeds-art.ac.uk/book-an-open-day

You can also chat with one of our current students if you have any questions about the course or studying in Leeds.

https://www.leeds-art.ac.uk/chat-to-a-student

If you have any more questions please let me know. 😎
Leeds Arts University Rep!

(edited 1 week ago)

Reply 7

Thisismyunitsr

Original post by oqwieeru

I want to do a Games Art program that does both 2D and 3D design, and has a mix of concept art (creating ideas) and technical skill (learning software like Unreal/Unity/Blender/Adobe etc)
This is my current list, are they good universities? If anyone have suggestions for good game art programs that have good professional connections and is good for portfolio work, please let me know
- University Arts London
- Falmouth University
- Abertay University
- Arts University Bournemouth
- Bournemouth University
- Leeds Art University
- Anglia Ruskin University
- University for the Creative Arts

Definitely not AUB as it’s a new course. I wouldn’t go to any as game art is a niche course with little to no genuine employment prospects. Do an apprenticeship or something similar instead