Overview

Our four-year Graphics for Games sandwich degree focuses on the creative side of game development. It will give you the skills and contextual theory you need to start a career in this fast-growing industry.

You’ll gain a strong grounding in:

• game level design and creation
• digital and physical concept art
• 3D computer animation
• observational drawing
• digital motion capture
• image production and manipulation

You will learn how to generate and develop ideas and adopt a creative approach to your work. In the final year you will undertake an individual project and major production project in a studio environment designed to replicate real world and industry production processes.

Our industry experienced team of academics and visiting industry experts will give you the tools you need to emerge a confident, creative, well-rounded professional.

In your third year you can take a year’s placement in industry; an invaluable way to gain practical experience and build contacts. Alternatively, you can choose to study a year abroad at one of our partner institutions around the world.

Entry requirements

 

Typical offer – 112 UCAS tariff points.

We take into consideration a number of factors when assessing your application. It’s not just about your grades; we take the time to understand your personal circumstances and make decisions based on your potential to thrive at university and beyond.

A levels

There are no specific subject requirements.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DMM — there are no specific subject requirements.

Applicants on Access Programmes

Meet UCAS tariff of 112. There are no specific subject requirements.

International Baccalaureate requirements

112 UCAS tariff points to include at least 80 points from 2 HL subjects. Plus HL 3 or SL 4 in Maths and English Language and Literature A or English B.

Plus minimum of

GCSE English and Mathematics at grade C or 4 (equivalents accepted).

English language requirements

Minimum IELTS at 6.0 or the equivalent.

If you do not meet the IELTS requirement, you can take a University of Bradford pre-sessional English course.

CIFS entry requirement

If you are an International student and do not meet the entry requirements for direct entry onto this course you may be interested in our Certificate of International Foundation Studies

80 UCAS points or equivalent (see individual country pages for details) plus a Maths qualification equivalent to GCSE Grade C. UKVI approved IELTS of 5.0 overall with no sub-test less than 5.0.

CIFS modules to be taken

Students study the four core modules plus TWO of the following modules:

• Foundation in Human Biology
• Foundation in Chemistry
• Introduction to the Social Sciences
• Global Business Environment
• Foundation Mathematics 2

Progression requirements for degree programme

An overall average of at least 50%

Course Content

What you will study

All module information is for 2019 entry, and is subject to change.

First year

Core

Introduction to 3D Computer Animation (GAV4007-B)

Drawing for Production (GAV4012-B)

Creativity and Imagination (FAM4001-B)

Creative Industries – Foundations (GAV4006-B)

History and Conventions of Computer Games (GAV4002-B)

3D Character Modelling and Animation (GAV4003-B)

Second year

Core

Game Appreciation and Industry Analysis (GAV5010-B)

Advanced Drawing for Production (GAV5020-B)

Advanced Character Animation (GAV5007-B)

3D Character Creation (GAV5012-B)

Environment, Set and Prop Creation (UG) (GAV5014-B)

Option

Motion Capture and Digital Scanning (GAV5017-B)

Facial Modelling/Animation (GAV5005-B)

Look Development, Lighting and Advanced Rendering (GAV5016-B)

Third year

Placement (ENG5002-Z)

OR

Study Abroad (ENG5004-Z)

Final year

Core

Individual Project (GAV6003-D)

Major Project Pre-Production (GAV6007-B)

Major Project Production (GAV6008-D)

Option 

Look Development, Lighting and Advanced Rendering (GAV5016-B)

Motion Capture and Digital Scanning (GAV5017-B)

Facial Modelling/Animation (GAV5005-B)

Career prospects

Many of our graduates are now important figures within the animation and games development industry.

Alumni from our long-standing games development courses have worked on games development in high-profile organisations (including games such as Lego Lord of the Rings, Watchdogs, Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars, and the Burnout series) and for major organisations (such as Ubisoft, Sony Computer Entertainment, Rockstar Games, Blizzard and EA).

Others are currently employed as: games designers, artists and testers, animation apprentices, 3D modellers, editors, graphic designers, new media consultants.

Employment statistics

94% of our 2017 graduates in Animation, Games and Visual Effects found employment or went on to further study within six months of graduating.*

*These DLHE statistics are derived from annually published data by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), based on those UK domiciled graduates who are available for employment or further study and whose destinations are known.

Learning and assessment

You will experience a wide range of teaching and learning environments. Concepts, principles and theories are generally explored in formal lectures, discussed and debated in associated tutorials and seminars, and demonstrated in laboratory classes.

Practical skills are developed in studio, laboratory, and workshop sessions, taking advantage of the University’s, and its partners’, extensive software and hardware provision.

Professional, personal, and presentational skills are developed through discussion and small-scale project work which involves problem solving and design exercises. These are often tackled through collaborative learning in small groups supported by members of academic staff.

Larger–scale project work is used to bring various aspects of your programme together. A particular strength of this programme is the contribution made to the teaching programme by successful practising animation professionals.