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MA Concept Art and Experience Design

Course Details

Start date

23rd September 2024

Duration

1 year 

Mode of study

Full time (2.5 days per week)

Fees

London campus (UK students): £18,995 

London campus (international students): £19,995

Entry requirements

An undergraduate honours degree in a field related to Concept Art and Experience Design

Degree awarded by (subject to approval)

Transparent black Coventry University logo
Top 10 Rookies award for creative schools in the UK

Atomhawk joins Escape Studios to bring students a brand-new, industry-focused Concept Course. Professionally tailored modules and firsthand Atomhawk insights to prepare the next generation of UK gamedevs. Make the unbelievable, believable.

Atomhawk

Course overview

This masters degree encapsulates the many roles that a Concept Artist / Designer can do in the entertainment industries. We focus on digital design for industries, such as games, animation and film, as well as real thematic environments in the areas of experiential design for branded events, theme parks, interiors and museums using a combination of 2D and 3D approaches.

As well as games and film design, you’ll learn design methodologies and artistic practice from the fields of industrial design, concept art for characters, props and environment design as well as experiential design for thematic real-world scenarios used in events, branded entertainment, theme parks, museums, installations, set design, VR visualisation and VAD (Virtual Art Department).

You'll develop your design skills and build upon core fundamentals of traditional and digital drawing, digital painting, design and digital art practice, allowing for pathways that utilise industry standard approaches. You'll elevate your designs, develop new approaches in 2D and 3D, empowering them to create concept art for their portfolios and projects. For the 2D Artist this course provides the platform to learn how to augment their existing workflows with new technologies in real-time engines and 3D visualisation.

As well as modules covering Digital Drawing and Design, the course combines modules in 3D Modelling, Sculpting, Realtime game engines, supported with industry briefs and mentoring.

Upon graduating from Concept Art and Experience Design will have the training to develop a sustainable and exciting career in both 2D and 3D visualisation and able to use the latest tools and design methodologies in a range of exciting and developing sectors.

Why choose this course

  • Based in London - home to some of the best animation, video games and VFX studios in the world 

  • Partnership with Epic Games - we are the first Unreal Engine Authorized Training Center in the UK and an Unreal Engine Academic Partner. Our certified tutors also run short courses for studios to train their staff in Unreal Engine 

  • We’re a Houdini certified school - learn from the experts and benefit from exclusive access to Houdini webinars and presentations 

  • Industry feedback - receive industry-standard critique from an expert in their field.  

  • Industry briefs - work on industry-standard briefs and experience real-life scenarios, just like in a professional studio

  • Professional input - our advisory board of experts, from the likes Creative Assembly and Improbable, help develop and keep this degree relevant

  • Successful alumni - you’ll join our community of thousands of Escapees, many of whom have gone on to work at some of the world’s top animation, games and visual effects studios including Rare, Rockstar, Ubisoft, DNEG and Framestore. 20 Escapees worked on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, 36 on No Time to Die and 16 on Stranger Things 

  • Aftercare package - we'll help you polish your portfolio and find the right job, with access to our studios and showreel clinics for 12 months

  • Industry-standard facilities - study in a studio environment that mirrors current industry practice, using high-spec equipment and professional software such as Unreal Engine and Houdini 

  • Recognised degree - graduate with a postgraduate MSc qualification from Coventry University which will boost your employability around the world.

Course modules

Subject to approval by Coventry University.

Foundations in 2D drawing approaches and Design.

  • Digital drawing style and approaches

  • Perspective and technical drawing

  • 2D technical workshops

  • Tonal approaches

  • Digital Painting

  • Colour Theory

  • Art history 1

  • 3D modelling for Digital Paintovers

  • Introduction to (Blender)

  • Introduction to (SketchUp)

  • Kitbashing

  • Technical workshops

  • Lighting and rendering for illustration

  • Art history 2

Project - Redesign a range of Props from a Film or Game

Digital Drawing, Painting and Design of Characters.

  • Digital drawing style and approaches

  • 2D technical workshops

  • 3D technical workshops

  • Character design history 1

Project - Redesign a character or add a cast member to an existing IP such as an existing film, game or theme park ride.

Digital Drawing, Painting and Design for Themed Environments.

  • Digital drawing style and approaches

  • 2D technical workshops

  • 3D technical workshops

  • Architectural history 1

Project- Redesign an interior or exterior scene, take an existing film, game or theme park ride and either redesign it or add another space that fits the aesthetic.

Student led specialism research project with a negotiated brief.

Project- Tutor mentored, Individual negotiated project brief.

Students work individually or in small groups to create design for industry mentored project brief.

Project- Industry mentored, Individual negotiated project brief.

For more details about modules, see the programme and module specifications.

More information

To apply, complete an online application form which includes a link to submit your portfolio. Our Admissions Team will get in touch to take you through the next steps.

If you have any questions about your application, your portfolio or our entry requirements, get in touch!

As part of the application process, you will need to agree to our terms and conditions for your place on the course to be secured.

Minimum requirements 

An undergraduate honours degree with a significant component in the field of art and design or related discipline. 

Applicants without a degree who have significant industry experience in animation or related creative subjects will be considered. 

Suitable applicants will be asked to submit a creative portfolio.  

International students 

We welcome applications from qualified candidates all over the world. 

Postgraduate applicants will need a good undergraduate degree in a relevant subject (or significant professional experience) and a postgraduate portfolio.

View individual country requirements. If yours are not listed, then please contact admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk

English language requirements

All our courses are taught in English. If your first language is not English, you may need to complete an English language test, such as a Pearson English language test (PTE Academic) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test, to demonstrate you have the language skills needed to complete your degree.

QualificationScore required
IELTS 6.0 IELTS (with a minimum of 6.0 in Reading and Writing and 5.5 in Speaking and Listening)
PTE 62 including 60 in each subtest
Cambridge English: Advanced & Proficiency176 (with a minimum of 169 in Reading and Writing and 162 in Speaking and Listening)
Internet-based TOEFL90 Overall including at least 22 in Reading, 21 in Writing, 17 in Listening and 20 in Speaking

International students will be required to hold a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at B2 in order to be able to apply for a visa to study at Escape Studios on a student visa. View Qualifications that are accepted by UKVI.

You may be exempt from proving your English level if you are from an English-speaking country listed as recognised for visa purposes or have a degree level qualification obtained in one of these countries. The latest list is available on the UK Government website.

For students who have a SELT at B2 but who do not meet our requirements, we can also consider alternative qualifications. Please contact admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk for more information.

If you’d like to discuss your circumstances before applying, contact us at admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk or +44 (0) 20 4570 5091.

Fees

London campus

  • UK students £18,995

  • International students: £19,995.

Our postgraduate fees are payable within the first 18 weeks of the course, with a deposit to be paid before the start of the course. Please note, we review our fees every year.

Fees include:

  • Escapee Aftercare and career support, including help and advice on your CV, showreel and job applications for 12 months after the end of your course.

  • Free Autodesk student registration allowing access to educational versions of software such as Maya and Arnold.

  • 18 weeks of classroom study followed by 12 weeks of remotely directed learning and a 12 to 15-week remotely directed final project. All with feedback from your lead tutor and from an industry professional.

Funding for UK students

To be eligible for funding from Student Finance England, you must be studying on an eligible course at a provider registered with the Office for Students (OfS). Escape Studios is registered with the Office for Students and our masters programmes are eligible for funding.

Visit www.officeforstudents.org.uk for more information.

Payment plans

We offer a range of payment plan options for all courses. Following an initial deposit at registration stage, your chosen payment plan will break down your remaining fees into up to six equal instalments, to be paid over the course length.

Contact our Admissions Team on admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk or +44 (0)204 570 5091 or visit our admissions page for any questions about fees, funding and payment plans.

The assessment methods employed in this programme have been developed to mirror industry practice as far as possible. We balance feedback from tutors and industry experts. It is crucial that, as a student, you learn how to accept and work with feedback from your superiors and peers, as this will be the norm when you work in industry. You also need to develop a keen self-critical eye, to be able to step back from your work and see what you could improve, and to have the ability to look at yourself and your working practices and make changes where necessary.  

Formative assessment

This is one of the most important aspects of your work. You will receive regular feedback from your tutor, studio assistants and peers during your modules. This will often be oral feedback on your work, sometimes on a one-to-one basis, sometimes in a group feedback session or daily. All of this should help you build on your strengths and develop your skills as you progress through the course. 

Summative assessment

This will be specifically designed to measure how well you meet the learning outcomes of the module. They will usually involve a task to meet a brief set by your tutor and will allow you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills that you have learned during the module. You’ll need to decide exactly how to complete the task, choosing particular techniques and approaches, and making decisions on the aesthetics and style to meet the given requirements. 

Each module will have a practical element (usually a practical project, where you make something) and a written element (usually a journal or blog, where you reflect on what you’ve made). Sometimes you will also have to give a presentation to demonstrate your work. All these elements are essential to your development, by showing that you can deliver to a required level and that you understand why you can and how you could improve.

Summative assessment breakdown

Craft module:

  • Individual project - 75%

  • Presentation - 25%

Specialism project module:

  • Specialism project - 75%

  • Specialism presentation - 25%

Production module

  • Production project - 60%

  • Production logbook - 40%

Your overall workload will be divided between teaching sessions (2.5 days per week) and independent learning. 

During your course, you’ll be able to develop your knowledge and skills in a number of ways. Some learning time will be closely directed and supervised by your tutors, at other times you’ll be free to organise your own study with guidance. All your scheduled studio time, except for some information sessions and presentations, will be in smaller groups based on specialism. 

For your team project, you’ll be working with a smaller team, collaborating to meet a shared brief. This will give you ample opportunity to get the support and assistance that you need. 

The first three modules have a high contact time (180 hours for each module), as this is where you will learn the knowledge and skills associated with your chosen subject, directed and informed by your tutors’ expertise and experience. These will normally involve a large part of each day with your tutor and studio assistant, following demonstrations and working on set exercises to help you develop your craft. 

The Studio Project and Production Project modules will have a lower contact time (15 hours and 30 hours respectively), with your tutors taking on the roles of supervisors or studio leads. You’ll meet with them regularly to get feedback and help you stay on the right path, but these modules are much more about you managing the learning experience to meet your objectives. You’ll be free to organise your work either as a team or an individual to best suit your project requirements. 

Each module has its own area on our Online Learning Environment (OLE) where you will find information about the module and the resources that are provided to support your learning. Some of this information will be dedicated to the module, other elements may be shared across different modules and some may be external assets that can help with your further study. There may be links to videos, online journals and e-books, and you should take advantage of these to enhance your development and take it beyond the studio experience. Tutors may highlight some of these during their sessions. 

Students with additional needs or disabilities are supported by our Student Services team

Overall workload 

This programme has two entry points each year. It is divided into two stages. Stage 1 comprises modules to a total of 120 credits and stage 2 comprises a 60-credit Production Project module. You must successfully complete each module in order to be awarded the specified number of credits for that module. One credit corresponds to approximately ten hours of 'learning time' (including all classes and all private study and research). Obtaining 180 credits in an academic year requires 1,800 hours of overall learning time. 

The first three modules are taught in intensive blocks of eight weeks each, giving a total of 24 weeks. During each of these modules, you will spend around 30 hours per week studying in tutor-led sessions or practice supported by studio assistants. The final two modules are more self-directed. The Studio Project will take around 8 weeks, during which you will have around 15 hours of feedback sessions with your tutor. Finally, you will spend around 16 weeks on the Production Project, including around 30 hours of feedback sessions with your tutor. 

Each 30-credit module on the course requires you to commit 300 hours of study, with one 60-credit module which requires 600 hours of study. Some of these hours will be formally supervised in the learning environment and others will involve private study.  

For more details about modules, credits and workload, see full programme specifications.

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Meet our industry-experienced tutors

Our tutors have industry experience and are experts in their fields, including certified trainers for Unreal Engine, Autodesk and Houdini. They've worked at studios such as Walt Disney, EA and Framestore, on credits including Doctor Strange, Kingsman and Bond: Spectre.

Meet your tutors