Games Animation, Modelling and Effects BSc (Hons)
London Metropolitan University

Key Course Facts
Course Description
Why study this course?
The BSc Games Animation, Modelling and Effects (GAME) degree course is an innovative undergraduate degree that will provide creative game artists with a number of core modules as well specific artistic skills to enable you to develop the specialist knowledge and skills needed by the games industry.
As an artist you will develop your computer graphics skills, both artistically and technically. You'll learn about subjects including modelling, rigging, animation, texturing, lights/cameras, visual effects (VFX) and rendering.
A number of core modules are provided as part of the degree to enable game artists and game programmers to work together and achieve common goals: such an approach is fundamental to the workflow within the games industry. In addition both groups will also work with each other using their specialist art/programming skills to design and produce joint collaborative games.
Successful completion of the course will prepare artists for a range of positions from concept, technical, texture and VFX artist to character/model builder, animator and graphic designer.
In the National Student Survey 2020, 91% of students reported finding the course intellectually stimulating and that it challenged them to achieve their best.
More about this course
Designed after research and consultation with computer games professionals and games industry body TIGA - www.tiga.org - this innovative degree will enable artists to develop their computer graphics skills, both artistically and technically - including modelling, rigging, animation, rendering, texturing, lights/cameras and visual effects (VFX).
Key skills covered on the course include
- Visual Effects (VFX) workflow
You’ll learn how to design and implement visual effects (VFX) in Houdini and Maya, how to composite VFX and 3D content in real life footage in NUKE and how to create procedural content in Houdini to be integrated in Unreal Engine.
- Character artist workflow
After studying human anatomy in great detail you’ll go on to design and model characters in Maya and sculpt characters in ZBrush. You’ll also create realistic clothing in Marvellous Designer and texture your character in Substance Painter and Substance Designer. Finally, you’ll learn how to rig your character in Maya to get it ready for animation.
- Environment/ hard-surface modeler workflow
This will see you design and create environmental assets in Maya, Zbrush and Houdini (such as buildings, furniture, weapons, tools etc.) You’ll then learn how to texture your assets in Substance Painter and Substance Designer.
- Animator workflow
You’ll learn the principles of animation on which all classic animation works are based. You will first learn how to design and create animations in 2D with Adobe Creative Cloud software, before progressing on to animating mechanical objects and characters in 3D with Maya. Additionally, you’ll learn how to export your animation and integrate them in Unity and Unreal Engine, and how to utilise them in order to create in-game cut-scenes. Finally, you’ll integrate your 3D animations with real life footage using NUKE.
- Game Designer / Level Designer workflow
You will study the principles of game and level design, and you’ll be working in teams with our Games Programming BSc students in order to design, project plan and implement your own games. You’ll learn how to optimise your game assets and design levels for games built with DirectX, Unity and Unreal Engine.
- Technical Artist workflow
You’ll be given the option to learn scripting in C# for Unity, MEL and Python for Maya. You will also have the opportunity to learn visual programming in Unreal Engine, the Bifrost graph editor in Maya and procedural asset generation in Houdini.
Student Reviews
Below you can see course specific reviews for 39 graduates of Games Animation, Modelling and Effects BSc (Hons) at London Metropolitan University for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Animation.
Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.
All Animation courses of London Metropolitan University
Salary
Salary of Graduates of Games Animation, Modelling and Effects BSc (Hons) at London Metropolitan University
Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Games Animation, Modelling and Effects BSc (Hons) at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.
15 months after graduation | 3 years after graduation | 5 years after graduation | |
---|---|---|---|
Median salary | £24000 | £21000 | £25500 |
25-75 percentile range | £20000 - £29000 | £14000 - £29000 | £16500 - £34500 |
All Animation courses of London Metropolitan University
Salary of all UK Graduates of Animation
15 months after graduation | 3 years after graduation | 5 years after graduation | |
---|---|---|---|
Median salary | £21726 | £18599 | £23105 |
25-75 percentile range | £17815 - £24795 | £13189 - £23829 | £17018 - £30132 |
All Animation courses of UK
What You Will Learn
Programme content: As a student of Games Animation, Modelling and Effects, BSc (Hons) you will study the following course modules.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Jobs & Career Perspectives
15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.
All Animation courses of London Metropolitan University
Current jobs
Job in line with future plans
Utilise skills from studies
Work is meaningful
Required skill level of job after 15 months
% Skilled jobs
Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)
Example below based on all graduates of Games Animation, Modelling and Effects BSc (Hons) at London Metropolitan University
35% | Information Technology Professionals |
15% | Elementary occupations |
10% | Science, engineering and technology associate professionals |
5% | Skilled trades occupations |
5% | Web and Multimedia Design Professionals |
5% | Administrative occupations |
5% | Managers, directors and senior officials |
5% | Process, plant and machine operatives |
0% | Caring personal services |
0% | Business and public service associate professionals |
Grading Distribution
Students of the course received the following grades
Entry Requirements / Admissions
Minimum Required UCAS Tariff
UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course
All Animation courses of London Metropolitan University
Qualification requirements
A minimum of grades CCD in three A levels, one of which must be from a relevant subject (or a minimum of 88 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, e.g. BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma/Diploma; or Advanced Diploma; or Progression Diploma; or Access to HE Diploma of 60 credits)
Applicants with relevant professional qualifications or extensive professional experience will also be considered on a case-by-case basis. All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.
Requirements for international students / English requirements
IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)
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- 6.5
- Graduate Degrees
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- 6.0
- Undergraduate Degrees
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still be able to join Games Animation, Modelling and Effects, BSc (Hons).
Costs
Tuition Fees Games Animation, Modelling and Effects BSc (Hons)
England UK | £2310 | |
---|---|---|
Northern Ireland | £2310 | |
Scotland | £2310 | |
Wales | £2310 | |
EU | £3894 | |
International | £3894 | |
Channel Islands | £3894 | |
Ireland | £3894 |
Additional fee information
Please note, in addition to the tuition fee there may be extra costs for things such as equipment, materials, printing, textbooks, trips or professional body fees. There may also be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course, but that you may find helpful for example, optional field trips. The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above and will be notified when the activity is being arranged.
Average student cost of living in London
Rent | £518 |
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) | £50 |
Supermarket shopping | £81 |
Clothing | £35 |
Eating out | £33 |
Alcohol | £27 |
Takeaways / food deliveries | £30 |
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) | £24 |
Holidays and weekend trips | £78 |
Transport within city | £17 |
Self-care / sports | £20 |
Stationary / books | £13 |
Mobile phone / internet | £13 |
Cable TV / streaming | £7 |
Insurance | £51 |
Other | £95 |
Average student cost of living | £1092 |
London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.
How to apply
Application deadline:
January 1, 2024
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Possible Entry Points:
- year 1 (Default entry point)
University Rankings
Positions of London Metropolitan University in top UK and global rankings.
Rankings of London Metropolitan University in related subject specific rankings.
Arts Visual & Performing
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- #59
- #69
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- Drama, Dance & Cinematics
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CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
[Published 13 June, 2022]
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- #26
- #29
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- Film Production & Photography
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The Guardian UK University League Tables by Subject
[Published ]
See all university rankings of London Metropolitan University
What students say about studying Animation in the UK?
About London Metropolitan University
Founded in 1848, London Metropolitan University is located in the urban setting of North London. LMU is just a 40-minute walk to Camden Town or a 20-minute tube ride from central London. Some of the benefits that students can expect when choosing LMU include a variety of residence halls at distinct price points, reputable career guidance services, and orientation services for recently-arrived international students. This institution has a selective admissions standard, so it’s recommended to prepare for your interview well in advance.
Where is this programme taught



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Ranking publishers
The University League Tables
- Published:
- 13 June, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject:
- Entry Standards 26%
Student Satisfaction 26%
Research Quality 22%
Graduate Prospects 26%
The Guardian News and Media Limited
- Published:
- 24 September, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -The Guardian University League Tables by Subject:
- Student to Staff Ratio 15%
Entry Standards 15%
Expenditure per Student 5%
Continuation 15% (non-medical subjects) OR 5% (medical subjects)
NSS - Teaching 8%
NSS - Assessment & Feedback 8%
NSS - Overall Satisfaction 4%
Career Prospects 15%
Value added 15%