Oliver Miles
3D artist
Graduated: 2010
BA (Hons)Computer Games (Art)
3 years
- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year
2023
UCAS code:
G450
Institution code: S30UCAS points:
Campus:
Southampton City Centre
Why study a computer games (art) degree at Solent University
Grow your artistic skills for the thriving games industry - using Unreal, Unity and 3D Studio max. Solent graduates have worked on AAA titles for Rockstar Games, Epic Games, Codemasters and more.
- 0%of students feel they've been able to contact staff when needed (NSS 2022)
- 0%of graduates are in highly skilled employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2022)
- Top0schools in the world by The Rookies (2021)
- Many of our graduates have gone on to work at AAA studios in the UK and across the world. These include Rockstar Games, Epic Games, Frontier Developments, Codemasters, Airship Interactive, and Sumo Digital.
- For the past five years, our students regularly won awards from, or were finalists at, the Sumo Digital Grads in Games in both Character and Environment categories.
- Benefit from access to dedicated gaming labs providing all the specialised software you will need, including Unreal, Unity, Visual Studio, 3D studio max, ZBrush and Substance to name just a few.
- Solent is an Adobe Creative Campus. You will have free access to Adobe Creative Cloud, which contains the full suite of Adobe professional software, including Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, Premier Pro, and more.
- Develop projects with students on other gaming courses at Solent.
- Gain industry insight from guest lecturers who are industry professionals and experts.
- Take part in a wide range of extracurricular activities with our video games academy, game jams, end of year graduate show and freelancing through our in-house creative agency, Solent Creatives.
Alongside the development of creative design and art direction skills, this computer games art degree covers computer graphics, the business of games, employability and project management. This broad comprehension will help put students in the best possible position to find employment after graduation.
Students benefit from free access to our dedicated high-spec computer games lab, where they can make use of industry-standard software from Adobe, Autodesk and Epic (Unreal Engine).
Using these facilities, students build up a varied portfolio of creative work. From character models and level design to environment rendering and textures, this portfolio helps students to demonstrate their competencies to potential employers.
At Solent, our excellent industry links play a key part in student development, and past students have had the opportunity to work on live briefs for real clients. In addition, our academic team is formed of expert professionals who have wide-ranging experience in computer game technology and the gaming industry.
Additionally, Solent is a founder member of SIGN. This not-for-profit network was established to represent and support independent video games developers and facilitate growth in the south’s independent video games development sector.
Student work
Solent student wins prestigious gaming award
Course features
Further studies
After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent
Foundation year available
If you're not quite ready for a full undergraduate degree, there's alternative entry through one of our foundation years
Specialist facilities
This course has access to specialist facilities
Top-up option
If you have an appropriate Level 5 qualification, you can top it up to a degree in just a year
Who is this course for?
This unique computer games art degree is ideally suited to students who want to put their traditional fine art skills to use creating exciting and interactive digital outcomes. Students gain a broad understanding of the technology that holds games together and are given ample opportunities to build a professional portfolio.
What does this course lead to?
Graduates have gone on to roles such as freelance concept artist or 3D artist, working for a range of companies including MicroNav, Real Visual, Ninja Theory and FuturLab.
Facilities
During your studies you’ll have access to our dedicated computer games lab with industry-standard hardware and the latest software, including Adobe, Autodesk and Epic’s world-class Unreal Engine toolset. And as Solent is an Adobe Creative Campus, all students also have free access to Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes the full suite of Adobe professional software, including Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, Premier Pro, and more.
Our vibrant campus brings state-of-the-art facilities to enhance your learning and elevate your student experience. Our award-winning teaching building, The Spark is centred around students and offers a stimulating study environment with flexible learning spaces. Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.
Core modules
Art 101
This module introduces the fundamental skills required to understand and create traditional artwork. The skills you learn as part of this module will act as a foundation for all your future art studies.
Collaborative Art
This module will introduce core digital 3D software and you will create assets for a game project. You will learn how to work with other artists; how to review, communicate ideas, share assets and to negotiate.
Visual Communication
In this module, you will be introduced to theories and methods of visual communication. You will be taught how to think creatively, research and problem solve using graphics and pictorial imagery.
Game Art Production
In this module you will develop an understanding of the relationship between game art and the real time systems in which they are deployed, what makes game art distinct from non-real-time systems and the technology of the art pipeline.
Buildings and Bodies
In this module you will study the theories and technical processes required to construct game environments and characters. You'll be taught how to identify, and then apply, the different approaches required to create these two important types of asset.
Collaborative Games
This is a group-based module where students from the Computer Games Art and Design courses collaborate to create small game projects using game engine technology. Students will work in teams and record their individual progress in a reflective blog.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
You may be assessed by a combination of:
- Coursework
- Portfolios
- Essays
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out more
Study support
The student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
Access Solent provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
Why choose the industry?
The computer games development sector is now worth more than the film and music industries combined. The UK computer games industry is the largest in Europe, generating £2bn in global sales each year. With the booming casual games market and the ever increasing popularity of mobile computing devices, this industry growth is likely to continue.
Members of the teaching staff have wide-ranging experience in the games industry and can help you to build your own contacts.
Solent is the founder member of the Southern Independent Games Network (SIGN) providing students with many crucial networking and knowledge sharing opportunities.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2023/24 academic year are:
- UK, EU (settled status) and Channel Island full-time fees: £9,250 per year
- International full-time fees: £15,000 per year
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
Extra course costs
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
Bursaries, scholarships and financial support
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Financial information videos
Student finance - bitesize This video 'Student finance - bitesize' is available as a text transcript, with a description of visuals.
Student funding - the essentials This video 'Student funding essentials - Student Funding for 2023' is available as a text transcript, with a description of visuals.
Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
112-128 UCAS tariff points from A-levels
- A minimum of two completed A-levels (including an Art and Design subject), a BTEC Extended Diploma at DMM or BTEC Diploma at D*D* in an Art and Design subject, T-level Merit, or a combination of qualifications which comply with the minimum entry requirements of 112 UCAS points.
- All applicants are required to submit an electronic portfolio.
- Direct entry into the second or third years may be considered for this course.
- Applicants over the age of 21 may be considered based on relevant experience, without having the required tariff points.
- For further information about UK qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about EU qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about international qualifications, please contact admissions.
Note to all international students requiring a visa:
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application and to take a look at this PDF document which outlines both Solent University and Home Office requirements for a number of language tests.
112-128UCAS points
Any questions?
Contact our admissions team!Call: 023 8201 5066Email: admissions@solent.ac.uk
How to apply
Full-time
Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.
Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.
Your application should reach UCAS by 25 January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until the end of June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.
Find out what happens after you apply
Contextual offers
Solent endeavours to offer learning opportunities to students from all backgrounds. When we receive and review an application, we take into consideration the context and personal circumstances of applicants when making a decision, which means our advertised entry tariff could be reduced.
Alternative entry options
Top-up route:
We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses. Please contact our admissions team for more information: contact us
Language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
- IELTS minimum 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component
- TOEFL IBT minimum 80 with a minimum of 20 in each individual component
- Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 95 in each component or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
Pre-Sessional English programme
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
We will prepare you for your future
The course is directed at art production for computer games. It also provides transferable skills in the creative industries such as model-making for film and television.
- 3D modeller
- Prop artist
- Environment artist
- Technical artist
We will help you start your career
The Solent Futures team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
If you're in your final year, we also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
Find out more
Support at Solent
All students at Solent University have access to a range of specialist support services. Whether you are having financial difficulty, need additional help with academic skills or want advice on setting up your own business you'll find that help is always on hand.
Most of our specialist support services are based around the Student Hub, a central space where you can access all the information and support you may need during your time at University. The Student Hub is the first point of contact if you have any queries relating to your course, including questions about your timetable, options, and assessments and extenuating circumstances.
We work in partnership with the University to build a sense of pride and confidence in your Union, University and student experience.
Find out moreFurther study
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Make your application
- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year
