Video Games Art and Effects Production (18 weeks)
Advanced Game Art (18 weeks)
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Course details
Location
London campus or live online
Start date
2nd October 2023
Duration
18 weeks
Mode of study
Full time
Fees
London campus (UK residents): £15,950
Live online: £12,760
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Course overview
You’ve played the game, now it’s time to create it!
You'll study the core principles from our 12-week course before developing your skills to an advanced level via techniques such as simulations and dynamic meshes.
This course has been designed to meet the demand for new creative talent as the UK's video games industry expands across mobile, PC and console. It focuses on developing your artistic skills and creativity as preparation for a career in the games industry, from world-building to workflows for magical effects.
Our industry advisors and partners have inputted into the design of the course to ensure you learn real-world skills. Taught by our studio-experienced tutors, you’ll get to grips with industry-standard software such as Unreal Engine, ZBrush and Maya, as well as the practical vocational experience to secure a job in the games industry.
See also MA Game Art or Game Art (12 weeks)
Why choose this course
Ranked 1st in the UK - and 9th in the world for Game Design and Development by The Rookies
Based in London - home to some of the best video games studios in the world
Partnering with Epic Games - the first Authorized Training Center in the UK and an Unreal Engine Academic Partner. Our certified tutors also run short courses for studios who want their staff to be trained in Unreal Engine
We’re a member of TIGA, the trade association for the UK video games industry, with the vision to make the UK the best place in the world to develop video games. We were shortlisted for a Best Educational Institution TIGA Award in 2021 and 2022
Industry feedback - receive industry-standard critique from an expert in their field. Previous studio partners for our game art course have included Climax Studios, Creative Assembly and Media Molecule
Professional input - our advisory board of experts, from the likes of PlayStation London Studio, Creative Assembly and Improbable, help keep this course 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 studios including Rare, Rockstar, Ubisoft, Creative Assembly, Improbable and Framestore
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 - you'll work in a studio environment that mirrors current industry practice, using professional software such as Unreal Engine 5, Maya and ZBrush
Fast-track advanced learning - our advanced short courses allow you to go deeper into technical and software skills for a quick springboard into your next creative career step
Strong portfolio - along with an Escape Studios Certificate of Achievement, you'll leave with strong creative and technical skills and great pieces for your portfolio
Small class sizes - a convivial environment allows students to assist and inspire one another and benefit from personalised feedback from tutors.
Course modules
These modules are common with our 12-week Game Art course and the first 12 weeks of our MA Game Art.
Art direction
Introduction to modelling
Introduction to Unreal Engine 5
Modularity
Texturing and materials
Introduction to lighting
Introduction to blueprints
Introduction to digital sculpting
Advanced modelling
Advanced Unreal Engine 5
Baked and procedural textures
Advanced materials
Advanced lighting
Foliage and SpeedTree
Introduction to FX
Particles in Niagara
Blueprints
Photogrammetry
Virtual cinematography
Materials for FX
More information
Unreal Engine 5
ZBrush
Maya
SpeedTree
Quixel Mixer
Substance Painter
Substance Designer
Substance Sampler
Reality Capture
Photoshop
DarkTable
Call our Admissions Advisors on +44 (0)203 441 1303
Email us at courses@escapestudios.ac.uk
Reach us on chat Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
Be over 18
Have a good understanding of written and spoken English
Feel comfortable using a computer.
Gov.uk - Check if you need a visa
Gov.uk - Standard visitor visa
Gov.uk - Caseworker guidance
UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) - Information for visitors
A strong internet connection
An external hard drive (minimum 2TB) to back up your work during the course
A three-button mouse (or optionally graphics tablet)
A computer microphone (and optionally a webcam)
Note-taking materials
Game Artist
Environment Artist
Prop Artist
Material Artist
FX Artist
Level Artist
Lighting Artist
Foliage Artist
Technical Artist
Visualisation Artist
Real-Time Generalist
Real-Time Generalist in Virtual Production
Real-Time FX Artist
Real-Time Cinematic Artist
Unreal Engine Artist
Producer
To apply for this course, or if you have any questions about your application 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
We welcome and encourage applications from students with a variety of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
To study this short course, you must:
If you’d like to discuss your circumstances before applying, contact us on courses@escapestudios.ac.uk or +44 (0) 203 441 1303.
Non-UK students
We accept international students for our short courses, with no difference in course fees or administration costs.
The Standard Visitor visa allows students to come to the UK to study for a course of up to six months at an accredited institution. Depending on your nationality, you may need to apply for a standard visitor visa prior to departure from your home country. For more information visit:
Contact us on courses@escapestudios.ac.uk or +44 (0)203 441 1303 for any questions.
We can provide remote access to our workstations during teaching time. Due to availability restrictions, we highly advise you to have your own set up at home to study in your own time.
More things you’ll need:
If you have any questions about learning online or if you need help with what to buy, get in touch at courses@escapestudios.ac.uk.
Fees
London campus: £15,950
Live online: £12,760
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 courses@escapestudios.ac.uk or +44 (0)203 441 1303 or visit our admissions page for any questions about fees, funding and payment plans.
“London is now the largest cluster for games studios in Europe. In the next three years, Games London is expected to bring in a further £45m for games businesses and create an extra 270 jobs.” (source Film London)
Along with an Escape Studios Certificate of Achievement, you'll leave with strong creative and technical skills and great pieces for your portfolio, which you can then finesse with help from our Aftercare programme. Ready to apply to start your career in the industry!
Some of the opportunities you can consider once you’ve finished your studies include:
Our students have gone to work as both specialist and generalist artists in studios creating games and real-time graphics, including PlayStation London Studio, Rare, Rockstar, Ubisoft and Improbable. Those not only apply to video games but are also used in VFX (film and TV production, virtual production), real-time immersive media (augmented reality, theme parks, rides, entertainment), cinematics, architecture visualisation, VR visualisation, simulations for medical professions and the automotive and engineering industries. Read some of our games Escapee success stories.
Check out our Careers Guide for more information about career opportunities and progression routes.
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Meet our industry-experienced tutors
Christian Avigni is the lead tutor on this master’s programme. He worked at Alpha Channel and on Formula Fusion. Our tutors work together to develop our courses. They all have industry experience, at studios such as EA, Climax, Rebellion, Codemasters and Framestore, and are experts in their fields, including certified trainers for Unreal Engine.
Student showcase
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To be a part of PlayStation and working on their next-gen games has been a thrilling experience! It feels so surreal to be working amongst such talented people, producing games that both myself and friends will love.
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