Launch Your Game Art Career
Graduate sooner, save money and train for the industry with our two-year Game Art & Animation degree starting this January.
Become Job-Ready for the Gaming Industry
- Learn in studio-style environments and build a portfolio that shows you can create professional, game-ready assets using industry tools such as Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Photoshop and Unreal Engine.
- Create projects that prove your skills in concept art, 3D modelling, texturing, digital sculpting, animation and real-time implementation, giving you work that reflects real production pipelines.
- Work with industry-active tutors who guide you toward the artistic and technical standards game studios look for, helping you shape a portfolio that meets professional expectations.
- Choose a specialism such as character art, environment art, hard-surface modelling, animation or technical art to align your studies with your career goals.
- Graduate ready for roles like character artist, environment artist, 3D generalist, animator or technical artist, supported by a strong portfolio of production-ready assets.
Graduate Sooner, Save Money, Stand Out More
By choosing our two year accelerated degree you can save £7,000 in tuition fees and graduate a year ahead.
You will train with the same tools and software used in professional game and animation studios, build a portfolio of real game-ready assets and study in London, one of the world’s most dynamic centres for games, VFX and digital art.
Our course mirrors how the gaming industry actually works, giving you production experience, collaborative skills and workflows that make your transition into employment smoother, helping you stand out and get hired faster.
From SAE to the Creative World
Our alumni are already working as character artists, environment artists, animators and 3D specialists at leading game, VFX and animation studios. From major AAA developers to innovative indie teams and global creative companies, they have taken the skills they learned here straight into real production environments and professional roles. Their journeys show exactly where this path can take you.
Inga Teder
Studying Game Art & Animation gave Inga the creative grounding and technical skills she needed to bring her ideas to life. The practical training and industry-focused support helped her develop the confidence to visualise any concept, leading to work on major productions including Avengers: Infinity War and The Witcher. VFX Artist (Avengers: Infinity War, The Witcher)
Ross McIntosh
Studying Game Art & Animation gave Ross the structure, creative focus, and industry-ready skills he needed to step confidently into professional environment art. The hands-on training and support from experienced lecturers helped him build a strong portfolio, leading to contract roles on major franchises including Diablo IV, Assassin’s Creed, Battlefield, and Silent Hill: Townfall, as well as the opportunity to return as a lecturer to mentor new artists. Contract Environment Artist
Joining Is as Easy as 1-2-3
Start your path into gaming. Enquire today.
FAQs for Starting Game Art & Animation in January 2026
The January intake provides an additional opportunity to begin the BA/BSc (Hons) Game Art degree in January rather than waiting for the September start.
The course is an accelerated 2-year programme. It gives you the same qualification as a traditional 3-year degree, but saves you a full year of time, reduces your tuition fees and lowers your living costs. You will follow an intensive, practical schedule that mirrors real studio environments and production workflows, allowing you to build your skills and portfolio faster. By graduating earlier, you will be ready to enter the industry ahead of students who choose the 3-year route.
You will learn the full game art pipeline, beginning with digital drawing and concept art, then progressing into 3D modelling, texturing, digital sculpting, animation and real-time implementation. You will work with industry-standard software such as Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Photoshop and Unreal Engine, and follow professional workflows that mirror real studio production.
You will also gain experience in team-based projects, using tools like Slack and Jira to collaborate with students in Game Design, Programming, VFX and Audio. Throughout the course you will create a wide range of portfolio pieces, including props, characters, modular environments, animations and final polished game-ready assets. As you advance, you can specialise in areas such as character art, environment art, hard-surface modelling, concept art, animation or technical art, allowing you to tailor your portfolio to your career goals.
The degree is delivered in person at SAE London in Haggerston, with access to our industry-standard creative studios, computer labs, digital art workstations and project spaces equipped with the software and tools used across the game art and animation industry.
Lecturers are industry-active professionals working in game art, animation and digital production, bringing real experience into the learning environment.
Graduates pursue roles such as character artist, 3D generalist, environment artist, concept artist, hard surface modeller, animator, rigger, lighting artist and technical artist, with opportunities across games, animation, VFX and immersive media.
Yes, the course is developed, delivered and assessed by SAE Institute and awarded by the University of Hertfordshire, ensuring recognised academic standards.
Yes, eligible UK students can apply for full student finance support for both the 2-year and 3-year versions of the degree.
Yes, the practical structure and accelerated option make it ideal for anyone looking to retrain, gain hands-on experience and enter the industry quickly.
The course starts on Monday 25th January.
Experience is helpful but not essential. If you do not meet the standard entry requirements, you can submit a creative portfolio to demonstrate your potential.
You can apply directly via the Apply Now page or submit an enquiry if you would like more information.
London is one of the most important creative and games hubs in Europe. Studying Game Art at SAE London places you at the centre of a thriving industry filled with opportunities to network, collaborate and connect with real studios.
The city is home to leading companies across games, animation and immersive media, including:
• Rocksteady Studios, creators of the Batman: Arkham series
• King, known for Candy Crush Saga
• Splash Damage, specialists in multiplayer and character-focused action games
• Improbable, innovators in large-scale virtual worlds
• Sports Interactive, creators of Football Manager
• Creative Assembly’s publishing and support teams, connected to Total War
• Mediatonic, known for Fall Guys, with a London presence
• A wide ecosystem of indie developers, mobile studios, VFX companies and creative agencies
Being surrounded by this creative energy gives you direct access to events, meet-ups, game jams, studio talks and hiring opportunities. London is a place where global talent gathers, making it an ideal city to begin your career in game art.
Any questions?
Got more questions or need guidance on applying for the January Game Art & Animation intake? Our admissions team would love to help. Reach us on 03330 112 315 or via email at ukadmissions@sae.edu
