We’ll teach you the artistic and technical skills needed to work in the games industry. We deliver a mix of teaching methods, from project work to software and art-based workshops and lectures. You’ll be assessed on group and individual project work. We’ll ask you to submit portfolio submissions, sketches, storyboards, 3D game assets and presentations. Plus, you’ll develop your analytical thinking, critical curiosity and easy writing skills.

In your first year, you’ll benefit from common modules within the wider animation programme, gaining valuable knowledge of the digital media industry. You’ll study alongside peers on 2D and 3D animation, comics and concept art and visual effects, expanding your network from day one. We’ll teach you the latest software and digital illustration techniques. You’ll practice life drawing, designing characters and environments. You’ll write engaging stories with a strong narrative arc. You’ll explore comics, animation and film history, bringing cultural context to your craft. We’ll teach you key skills in texturing, character animation and rigging. Together we’ll explore real-time skills such as procedural modelling and level construction. At the end of this year you’ll have the choice to switch to a different animation degree course if your passion has led you in a new direction.

In your second year, we’ll teach you modular environment construction and level design. You’ll explore gameplay design, gameplay mechanics and coding. You’ll also try your hand at real time lighting and special effects. You’ll take the leap from creating individual art, models and images to developing playable worlds that intrigue and excite. You’ll grow in confidence as you see how these environments compliment the stories you want to tell and the game worlds you want to create. You’ll work on live projects with industry and design a playable level as part of a team. We’ll encourage you to use this industry project to identify the job role you want to work towards. Whether you want to be a game designer or a character, environment or technical artist, by the end of this year you’ll know where your passion is guiding you.

In your third year, you’ll focus your dissertation on an area of popular culture, linked to 3D games art and design, that fascinates you. You’ll also get stuck into an ambitious final games project. You’ll take this project through all stages of production, from concept and storyboarding to post-production. You’ll prove your project management and leadership qualities. We’ll encourage you to engage in real-world practices so you’re ready for employment. Your games project will be screened at our Animation Exposé show where you can enter it for different awards, judged by a panel of industry experts. To see the show’s live stream in 2020 please click here. Previous judging panels have included companies such as Creative Assembly, Rare, Rebellion, Jagex, Airship Images and Space Ape Games. Plus, we’ll encourage you to enter your work into The Rookies and other international competitions. Our students have won The Rookies Console and PC Game of the Year for 3 consecutive years in 2018, 2019 and 2020! When you graduate, you’ll have an impressive professional portfolio, showreel and website to launch your career. This is your chance to showcase your creativity and technical expertise. Capture our imagination. What world will you create? 

Work placement

Graduate with invaluable work experience alongside your degree and stand out from the crowd.  

This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a work placement sandwich year. It’s a chance to explore career possibilities, make valuable contacts and gain sought after professional skills.  

Our dedicated Careers and Employment team are here to help guide you through the process.

If you take up a work placement between your second and third year of study, at the University of Hertfordshire you’ll pay no tuition fee for this year. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it. 

What's next for my career?

The digital animation programme prepares you for a range of careers within the industry. These include 2D animator, concept artist, 3D animator, 3D generalist, FX technical director, compositor, environment artist, character artist, technical artist, game designer and a huge variety of roles in between. Our graduates have gone on to work at CD Projekt Red to work on The Witcher, to Epic Games to work on Fortnite, and Rare to work on Sea of Thieves.

Our graduates also work in the visualisation industries, using their design skills in the fields of architecture, product design and automotive design. As a result, we have games graduates employed by Foster and Partners, Taylor James and McLaren F1. Many start their own companies, some of who have become leaders in their fields.

The digital animation programme prepares you for a range of careers within the industry. These include 2D animator, concept artist, 3D animator, 3D generalist, FX technical director, compositor, environment artist, character artist, technical artist, game designer and a huge variety of roles in between. Our graduates have gone on to work at CD Projekt Red to work on The Witcher, to Epic Games to work on Fortnite, and Rare to work on Sea of Thieves.

Our graduates also work in the visualisation industries, using their design skills in the fields of architecture, product design and automotive design. As a result, we have games graduates employed by Foster and Partners, Taylor James and McLaren F1. Many start their own companies, some of who have become leaders in their fields.