Game Arts & Animation

Prepare for a highly competitive, rapidly expanding entertainment and media industry (forecast to reach $3.5 trillion globally by 2029). Develop expertise in storytelling, prototyping and problem-solving, with the option to specialise in game arts or animation.

Our BA (Hons) Game Arts & Animation degree prepares you for today’s highly competitive market and rapidly expanding entertainment and media industry, which is forecast to reach $3.5 trillion globally by 2029.

Through storytelling, prototyping and problem-solving, you will develop projects and lead in interdisciplinary contexts, gaining knowledge that will be valuable whether you work for a multinational organisation or a small studio. Alongside the teaching of other content linked to entertainment designs, integrated studies and the humanities and arts, you will develop a comprehensive and sustainable approach for creating dynamic and engaging games and animations.

At a glance

• Degree: BA (Hons) Game Arts & Animation

• UCAS codes: 3-year degree W61M / 4-year extended degree W618

• Typical UCAS points: 104–120

Course overview

The objective of the course is to prepare each student to join a studio, having observed and practised the numerous phases required in the production of game design and animated features, including:

• Writing

• Concept art

• Storyboarding

• Art direction

• Animation

• Editing

What you’ll learn and how you’ll study

During the first year, a significant part of the course is devoted to fundamental drawing practice, such as anatomy, characters, posing and animation.

Following on from this, your skills will be developed further through working with the digital tools that are widely used within the industries. As a student you will focus on concept art and visual development towards outputs such as characters, worldbuilding and asset creation.

Choose your specialism in year two

During your second year you will be able to select either a games or animation career development specialism.

• Game arts path: prepares students to create and communicate visual concepts through 3D and 2D prototyping, iteration and production.

• Animation path: develops students in the disciplines of character animation, storyboarding, modelling, art direction and the principles of 2D and 3D lighting.

Why choose this course?

• Industry-ready expertise: graduates emerge with expertise in storytelling, prototyping and problem-solving, perfectly primed for fulfilling roles in the dynamic and demanding entertainment industry.

• Real Ideas partnership: opportunities to develop and screen 360-degree content in Europe’s first-of-its-kind immersive dome, compatible with VR, AR, mixed reality, games and animation software.

• Specialised career paths: choose between game arts and animation, tailoring your education to your entertainment-sector career goals.

Student satisfaction

Students on BA (Hons) Game Arts & Animation recorded 94% positive responses to “Teaching staff are good at explaining things” and 97% positive responses to “I have the right IT resources for my studies” in the National Student Survey 2025.

Overall, the course achieved 94% positive responses in the academic support theme, confirming that tutors and technical demonstrators are accessible and give timely help when it is needed.

Careers and future opportunities

Career opportunities include: 2D Texture Artists, 3D CGI Animators, 3D Modellers, Print Artists (stop-motion production), Animators, Art Directors, Character Designers, Compositors, Concept Artists, Illustrators, Set and Prop Designers and Storyboard Artists.

Course Modules

Arts University Plymouth offers a year long sandwich year option. Framed within the institution’s innovative Common Unit Framework, the sandwich year experience is offered as a unit that contributes to your BA (Hons) Degree.
The sandwich year can take the form of an internship or work placement, and can take place in the UK or abroad. It is intended to give you the possibility of gaining experience in art and design practice in a ‘real life’ industry setting, before you return to complete the final year of your degree. You will be able to build your CV and, if you choose to take on your sandwich year outside of the UK, enhance your experience of international creative practice.
Sandwich year placements will be selected by each student who wishes to take one, assisted by Course staff within AUP. Opportunities may also come through corporate approaches to AUP or through links built by your course tutors. Each placement opportunity will be reviewed by the University before being approved to ensure its suitability to be part of your course. During the Sandwich Year you remain enrolled at AUP with access to IT and your email accounts, online library and learning support.
Once approved, the sandwich year will count towards your overall degree and completion of it will be acknowledged on your degree certificate.