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Check eligibility →BA (Hons) Games Art Bachelor's degree at Northampton
BA (Hons) Games Art at Northampton. The University, established in 1975, holds Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 and is.
About this course
Master the essentials of games design and collaborate with Games Development students on the UON From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Games Art is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Northampton, based in Waterside Campus, University of Northampton. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Computing graduates from this provider, 80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 85% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £36,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Computer Science, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Limited evidence Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 80% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 6 modules
- Drawing FundamentalsCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module introduces students to 2D and 3D visual communication, stimulating visual perception and idea generation. Students will be encouraged to be experimental in their approach to applying suitable media and techniques to communicate technical and aesthetic subjects.
- Group Game Project: FundamentalsCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module introduces students to group working practices within the context of a computer game development project. The module encourages the development of key interpersonal skills needed for collaborative work, such as communication, problem solving, respect and consideration of others, and identifying roles and responsibilities within a multidisciplinary group project.
- 2D Game Asset ProductionCompulsory20 credits
Module details
The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the principles and technical skills used to create 2D digital graphics for video games and other creative industries, and to explore the creative processes required to produce their own digital assets to professional standards.
- 3D Game Asset ProductionCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module introduces students to the technical 3D modelling skills and creative processes required to produce 3D digital assets within creative industry projects. The module will also introduce students to the study of professional developers and their product standards, to contextualise and understand current market trends and platform limitations.
- 3D Character ArtCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module develops the student's knowledge and practical expertise in 3D modelling, with a specific focus on the technical skills required to produce 3D character models for use in computer games. Students will develop experience with character construction, topological deformation and rigging for animation.
- Material Development for GamesCompulsory20 credits
Module details
The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the principles and technical skills used to create materials and textures for use in video games and other creative industries. Students explore the creative processes required to produce their own digital materials to industry standards.
Year 2 6 modules
- 3D Environment ModellingCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module further develops learners' technical 3D modelling skills in application to computer game environment production. Learners are encouraged to produce optimised and efficient digital assets for game environments following industry development standards.
- Digital Sculpting FundamentalsCompulsory20 credits
Module details
The purpose of this module is to develop fundamental skills in 3D digital sculpting. Students use relevant digital sculpting software and non-linear creative processes to produce efficiently retopologised 3D models for use within computer game projects.
- Group Game Project: AdvancedCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module develops students' professional collaborative skills and experience of the game development process when working in multi-disciplinary groups to develop a 3D digital game to a deadline. Students use effective communication methods, empathy and compromise, problem solving and organisation skills within the context of a computer game project.
- Concept Art TechniquesCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module provides students with the opportunity to expand their digital and traditional drawing skills into contemporary concept art techniques for creative industries such as computer game development. They will develop their individual design philosophy and workflow through study of current industry trends and practical application to computer game projects.
- 3D Art for Game EnginesCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module develops the technical skills required to integrate 3D game art assets into a real-time game engine. Learners develop game engine specific techniques such as basic scripting, shader and geometry management, lighting and post processing.
- Digital Sculpting for Character ArtCompulsory20 credits
Module details
The purpose of this module is to develop students' skills in 3D digital character sculpting. Students will design and build 3D character models through the study of organic forms such as anatomy, skin, hair and clothing with consideration of polygonal topology and rigging for animation
Year 3 5 modules
- Professional Game Industry PracticeCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module ensures students are fully aware of the needs and expectations of the contemporary computer game industry through an understanding of its social, economic, and cultural climate. Students will engage in employability focused tasks to develop a greater understanding of professionalism within their chosen industry and specialism.
- Group Game Project: Industry PracticeCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module develops the student's experience and collaborative skills when working in multi-disciplinary groups to develop a social computer game to a deadline. Students are encouraged to apply themselves professionally to recognised industry specialisms within the framework of a live computer game project.
- Visual Design and DevelopmentCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module builds upon the first two years study of visual form and language within the context of design for game art assets. Learners are encouraged to develop individual design philosophies through research and design ideation techniques to a conceptualise new designs within the constraints of an industry brief.
- Game Industry ReportCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module provides students with the opportunity to investigate and research an aspect of the games industry and produce a dissertation through study of current industry practice and trends, and analysis of primary and secondary data sources.
- Final Major Game ProjectCompulsory40 credits
Module details
This module allows students to develop a body of professional portfolio work that focuses on a chosen career specialism. Students are supported through regular staff mentoring and projects refined via critiques of work-in-progress and feedback from milestone presentations.
Foundation Year 3 modules
- Professional and Academic Skills for University StudyCompulsory40 credits
- Applied Learning ProjectCompulsory40 credits
- Foundations in TechnologyCompulsory40 credits
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
You'll focus on the essentials of games design and collaborate with Games Development students across the University of Northampton. A course like this typically moves from foundational computing concepts, programming fundamentals, computer systems and discrete mathematics, through intermediate design, algorithms and software engineering principles. You'll usually study artificial intelligence and machine learning alongside specialist options in areas such as cybersecurity, data science, human-computer interaction and systems & networks. By your final year, you'll undertake substantial project work, bringing design theory and technical skills together in supervised, practical work.
Who it's for
This course suits those seeking part-time study in games art and related disciplines. You'll develop skills across specialisations such as Software Engineering, Data Science, AI & Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Web & Mobile, Cloud & DevOps, and HCI. The flexible part-time structure accommodates working professionals and others balancing study with other commitments.
University & format
The BA (Hons) Games Art is delivered part-time at Waterside Campus, University of Northampton. The University of Northampton is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; degrees are nationally recognised. Teaching is in English. The University holds Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 and is.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Northampton →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Computer Science graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £36,000 | £28,000 – £45,000 | 10 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate / Junior DeveloperFirst engineering role · 0–2 yrs
- 2Software EngineerShipping features end-to-end · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / Lead EngineerOwning systems and mentoring · 5–9 yrs
- 4Principal / Engineering ManagerArchitecture or leading teams · 9+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Computer Science nationally
National figures for Computer Science graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 15-month median earnings compare with Computer Science courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,820 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Information Technology ProfessionalsSOC 2020 213 · 55% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
- Science, engineering and technology associate professionalsSOC 2020 31 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,828
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 25; response rate: 75%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Computer Science graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Boilerplate and scaffolding code
- First-pass tests and docs
- Routine debugging and refactors
- Standard data wrangling
More human than ever
- System design and architecture trade-offs
- Reviewing and owning correctness & security
- Translating fuzzy problems into software
- Leading delivery and mentoring
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Computer Science graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Tech companies
- Banks & fintech
- Consultancies
- Government (GDS) & startups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Computer Science graduates.
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £36,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.0 out of 10: in work or study 80%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Northampton
Computing across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Waterside Campus, University of Northampton
2,220 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Computer Science right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Northampton from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £17,000 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Northampton’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Northampton and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Northampton
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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