BA/BSc (Hons) Game Art & Animation
Create 3D art and build immersive worlds for games played across multiple platforms.
Available at
Amsterdam
Duration(s)
2 years full-time
BA/BSc (Hons) Game Art & Animation
Course Durations
2 years full-time
Start Date(s)
March and September 2025
BA/BSc (Hons) Game Art & Animation
Start Dates
Amsterdam
March and September 2025
Entry Requirements
BA/BSc (Hons) Game Art & Animation
Domestic & EU Entry Requirements
Domestic students must meet the following criteria:
Degree entry
Minimum age of 18 years
For non-EU students, a valid VISA for the entire duration of the selected course is required prior to enrolment. The registration at SAE Institute cannot grant you a Student Visa in the Netherlands.
Applicants must have achieved an intermediate level of education
English language skills: minimum TOEFL score of 80, or, minimum IELTS score of 6,5 (or equivalent)
* Our courses require that our students are in possession of a laptop (Mac/PC) in order to make notes in class, complete written homework and/or do research. For questions regarding specifications please consult the Study Advisors.
BA/BSc (Hons) Game Art & Animation
International Entry Requirements
Non-EU Applicants
For non-EU students, a valid VISA for the entire duration of the selected course is required prior to enrolment. The registration at SAE Institute cannot grant you a Student Visa in the Netherlands.
Fees
BA/BSc (Hons) Game Art & Animation
Domestic Fees
Students studying higher education courses may be eligible for various forms of funding, including student loans and grants. There may be some differences depending on the region you come from.
YOUR CAREER IN GAME ART & ANIMATION BEGINS NOW
Learn in a collaborative, studio-based environment where your teachers are your mentors.
You will produce real-world projects in small creative teams, meaning you will have a competitive edge and an impressive portfolio when entering the workplace.
Learn advanced-level industry-standard animation tools, such as Autodesk 3DS Max, Maya, and the Adobe Creative Suite.
Develop advanced skills in industry-standard software packages
Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3DS Max, Substance Painter, Pixologic ZBrush and Adobe Creative Suite, Unreal Engine.
Practical, immersive training
Practical skills are vital. Our learning approach is a blend of vocational and academic from day one.
Cross discipline collaboration
Work across film, gaming and audio projects at SAE.
Expand your career
Graduate with a portfolio, work experience, employability and entrepreneurial skills and a network of fellow creatives.
Tools & Software
Animation skills
Character animation (2D/3D)
Visual storytelling
3D modelling & computer graphics
Visual effects & motion graphics
Research for practice
UV mapping
Classic texturing
Topology and Optimisation
Digital Sculpting UI & Core Features
PBR Texturing
Industry-relevant workflows
Production planning
Course Structure
BA/BSc Game Art Animation is broken up into three distinct stages, each designed to develop different skills.
Semester 1
You will begin your learning journey with us by developing fundamental 2D and 3D skills that will underpin your practice and specialisation through your studies and beyond.
The goal of the module is an introduction to the basics of 2D design, general image design, and colour theory. In addition, the creation process from the initial idea to a finished 2D scene will be addressed.
This module introduces you to the basics of 3D modeling, UV workflow, texturing, and texture baking. It is designed to give you the skills and techniques to successfully create 3D content. From the basics of modeling and texturing to complete 3D workflows, this module lays the foundation for further study. By the end of the module, you will be able to turn your ideas into a finished 3D scene.
The module aims to develop a sense of what areas of work you may later take up in the industry and how to market your work within a team to a specific target group. In the beginning, a vision/idea of a fictitious media product in the creative industry is developed as a team.
The group members should then divide themselves into the corresponding roles within the researched positions and define which software they need for this and what salary they would receive for it.
What is the cost of the position you hold in the company, together with the resources you need for it? Which group members are permanent employees and which are freelancers?
In the course of the module, the team develops branding for the product, considers possible distribution channels for the release, and prepares the individual pieces of work of the group members from a marketing point of view so that content can be used for a possible advertising campaign.
By the end of the module, you will have an overview of all job positions within your industry, be able to assess your work financially and market yourself and your portfolio appropriately. You will get an overview of the workflow, how freelance and permanent activities work in the industry, and know how to use basic marketing techniques.
The group members should then divide themselves into the corresponding roles within the researched positions and define which software they need for this and what salary they would receive for it.
What is the cost of the position you hold in the company, together with the resources you need for it? Which group members are permanent employees and which are freelancers?
In the course of the module, the team develops branding for the product, considers possible distribution channels for the release, and prepares the individual pieces of work of the group members from a marketing point of view so that content can be used for a possible advertising campaign.
By the end of the module, you will have an overview of all job positions within your industry, be able to assess your work financially and market yourself and your portfolio appropriately. You will get an overview of the workflow, how freelance and permanent activities work in the industry, and know how to use basic marketing techniques.
Semester 2
Throughout the second semester, you will broaden your skills that underpin key roles within Game Art and Animation industries, including sculpting, texturing, animation, and rendering.
The objective of the module is to provide students with an understanding of the 3D production pipeline. Furthermore, they will gain the skills for creating detailed assets based on concepts that can be used directly in game engines.
In this module, the students go one step further than hard-surface modeling towards the sculpting of organic assets.
In this module, the students go one step further than hard-surface modeling towards the sculpting of organic assets.
The module aims to introduce students to the basics of animation and rendering. Skills and techniques for creating animated content are taught. The module covers the theory and practice of animation and rendering, including the technical processes of lighting and rigging. Students will learn the relevant techniques and then demonstrate these through a simple animation.
Students will receive an insight into the animation process and show standard workflows in 2D and 3D animation. The result is presented in a rendered scene.
Students will receive an insight into the animation process and show standard workflows in 2D and 3D animation. The result is presented in a rendered scene.
This module aims to enable students to undertake a collaborative media project, gaining experience in the production of a dedicated creative media item and having an opportunity to reflect critically on both the production process and their creative practice.
Students will experience teamwork across creative media disciplines, and potentially remotely across various campus locations. The module will also introduce key differences between production strategies for the arts or sciences, preparing students to develop their specialisation.
Students can choose from a range of possible projects, the availability of which is determined by the location of the campus, the needs of the local industry, and/or the student’s learning requirements.
Students will experience teamwork across creative media disciplines, and potentially remotely across various campus locations. The module will also introduce key differences between production strategies for the arts or sciences, preparing students to develop their specialisation.
Students can choose from a range of possible projects, the availability of which is determined by the location of the campus, the needs of the local industry, and/or the student’s learning requirements.
Semester 3
Semester 3 introduces you to a professional working environment where you will undertake several prescribed project briefs using a project-based ‘creative studio’ approach. The Creative Studio provides a practical focused approach to your education, through engagement with authentic assessment activities that reflect industry practices.
This module aims to enable students to utilise complex and industry-relevant workflows for producing media projects in a simulated workplace setting. They will explore best-practice project planning, production techniques, and project execution methods as they complete studio work.
Throughout this module, students will be encouraged to engage in self-reflective processes to improve their creative and collaborative work practices and to build the core skills necessary for a successful career in the creative industries. With the guidance of studio facilitators, students will complete a set of project briefs designed to build on the foundation skills acquired and to further enhance their competencies within their discipline area.
Throughout this module, students will be encouraged to engage in self-reflective processes to improve their creative and collaborative work practices and to build the core skills necessary for a successful career in the creative industries. With the guidance of studio facilitators, students will complete a set of project briefs designed to build on the foundation skills acquired and to further enhance their competencies within their discipline area.
This module is for the students to design the final thesis for their bachelor's degree. To do this, you develop an idea that brings together your personal or professional interests and your creativity.
During the module, you will create a deep and secure understanding of your area of interest. Common procedures, existing publications, technical workflows as well as reference and repertoire knowledge are elements that you research, present, and discuss. During the module, you will develop the proposal for your final thesis piece by piece.
Throughout the module, an initial idea for a media project turns into a well-founded plan that includes concrete objectives and a suitable approach. At the end of the module, you will have a clear idea of what your thesis looks like and how you plan to implement it.
During the module, you will create a deep and secure understanding of your area of interest. Common procedures, existing publications, technical workflows as well as reference and repertoire knowledge are elements that you research, present, and discuss. During the module, you will develop the proposal for your final thesis piece by piece.
Throughout the module, an initial idea for a media project turns into a well-founded plan that includes concrete objectives and a suitable approach. At the end of the module, you will have a clear idea of what your thesis looks like and how you plan to implement it.
Semester 4
As you enter semester 4, students will begin to specialise in their skills within their chosen area of the film industry. This final module enables students pursuing the Game Art and Animation award to demonstrate their skills in a large-scale, advanced-level project.
This module aims to enable students to develop their professional practice through the planning and development of an independent activity, which may have a practical or theoretical focus and may be individual or collaborative. Students will develop a stronger awareness of their professional interests through a focus on an area of specialisation.
This module aims to enable students pursuing the Audio Production award to demonstrate their skills in a large-scale, advanced-level project. There are two options for the Major Project: a practice-based project (realisation of a creative art project), or a research-based project. The module will lead to either the final award of a Bachelor of Arts or the final award of a Bachelor of Science.
University of Hertfordshire
Modules: Research and Professional Development in Creative Media, Advanced Specialised Project and Major Project BA(or BSc)
These programs were developed, delivered and assessed by SAE Institute, awarded by and quality assured by University of Hertfordshire.
Bachelor or Animation Career Outcomes
What jobs will this course lead to?
Character Artist
Environment Artist
Technical Artist
Production Coordinator
Quality Assurance (QA)
Motion Designer
Lighting Artist
Lighting Artist/Lighting TD
Animator
Character Animator
Illustrator
Layout Artist
3D Generalist
Concept Artist
Graphic Designer
2D Artist
Rigging Technical Director (TD)
Compositor
Freelance Artist
Animation/Art Intern
FX Artist
Previs Artist
Texture Artist
Look Development Artist
Pipeline TD
3D modeller
Visualisation Artist
Matte Painter
VFX Supervisor
Art Director
Student Spotlight
Course FAQs
Yes, there is an SAE Student Store with discounts available to students who have fully enrolled.
Our students are encouraged to collaborate with other disciplines as much as they can. There are many opportunities and requirements to work with students from other courses throughout the study path.
