Games Design, Animation & VFX
Bring your ideas to life! Study Games Design, Animation & VFX at London’s biggest creative academy. Download Prospectus
Develop talent.Transform lives.Create careers.
Do you want to learn about the games industry, build storylines and design the characters and visuals for your own video game?
On BCE’s Games Design, Animation & VFX courses, you will bring your ideas to life to create and develop an original game concept in a department equipped with the latest gaming, media and animation software.
Our Games Design and Animation courses will secure you the necessary UCAS points to progress to University and study at a number of prestigious institutions or prepare for a career in the industry
New for September 2022
Interested in fully-funded international work experience placements? All of our courses offer opportunities to work abroad in a variety roles and settings.
What to expect
New Digital Future Campus – Launching 2021
BCE new Digital Future campus will be one of the most advanced for FE game students in the country, offering cutting edge equipment and an industry- led curriculum that will rival some of the UK’s top universities.
Choose your Perfect Course
And begin your learning journey with BCE
- Level 2 Games Design
- Level 3 Games Design
- Level 3 Art & Animation
- Level 3 NextGen Academy
- T-Level in Digital Production, Design and Development - Level 3
Level 2 Games Design
Level 2 Games Design Duration: 1 Year
Studying the course will give you a great introduction to the core principles of game design and development. You will explore concept art and drawing skills to create amazing 2D characters and assets for your own 2D platformer. You will also explore 2D animation and audio production skills.
See games created by our level 2 students.
- Concept Art and Drawing
- 2D Game Production
- 2D Animation
- Audio for Games
| Software Used: Photoshop, Construct 3 Qualification: L2 OCR Technical Diploma in Media (Games Pathway) |
Entry Requirements Level 2:3 GCSEs at grade 3 or above including English (or equivalent)
Level 3 Games Design
Level 3 Games Design Duration: 2 Years
In our L3 3D Game Artist course you will explore the world of 3D game production. You will create original concept art for 3D environments, assets and characters. You will delve into 3D modelling and texturing to create your own FPS and Third Person games. This course will help you develop the technical and creative skills needed to progress into Higher education or apprenticeship opportunities. Completing this course will give you enough UCAS points to progress to Higher Education should you wish to do so.
- Concept Art and Drawing
- 3D Modelling and Level Design
- 3D Game Planning and Production
- 3D Character Design
- FPS Game Game Development
- Third-Person Game Development
- Visual Scripting for 3D Games
| Software Used: Photoshop, Blender, Unity, Substance Painter Qualification: OCR Level 3 Introductory Diploma in Media (Games Pathway) and OCR Level 3 Introductory Diploma in Art and Design |
Entry Requirements Level 3: 5 GCSEs at grade 4-9 or above including English (or equivalent)
Level 3 Art & Animation
Level 3 Art & Animation Duration: 2 Years
This course has been designed for young people who want to start the process of becoming a digital artist, concept artist or animator for film, TV, Games or VFX industries. You will focus on traditional drawing techniques before moving onto digital illustration and animation. This course will give you the opportunity to develop an exciting portfolio of work to progress to higher education or apprenticeship opportunities. Completing this course will give you enough UCAS points to progress to Higher Education should you wish to do so.
- Life Drawing and Traditional Drawing Techniques
- 2D Art and Drawing
- 2D Animation and Storyboarding
- 3D Modelling and Animation
- Digital Illustration
| Software Used: Photoshop, After Effects, Blender, Unity, Substance Painter |
Entry Requirements Level 3: 5 GCSEs at grade 4-9 or above including English (or equivalent)
Level 3 NextGen Academy
Level 3 NextGen Academy Duration: 2 Years
In our L3 Games, Animation and VFX course you will explore a wide range of subjects including concept art production, games development, animation and VFX and coding and programming for 3D games. This course is ideal for anyone who wants to learn C# and coding for games and 3D game development. You also explore 3D animation, rigging characters and creating a vfx shot with green screens and CGI. This course is run in partnership with AIM and NextGen Skills Academy with a huge array of industry partners including Framestore, DNEG, Jagex, Creative Assembly and Ubisoft. Completing this course will give you enough UCAS points to progress to Higher Education should you wish to do so.
- Drawing and 2D Art
- 3D Modelling and Texturing
- 3D Games Development
- Animation and VFX
- C#, Coding and Programming for Games
| Software Used: Photoshop, Blender, Unity, Substance Painter Qualification: AIM Level 3 Extended Diploma in Games, Animation and VFX Skills |
Entry Requirements Level 3: 5 GCSEs at grade 4-9 including Maths and English (or equivalent)
T-Level in Digital Production, Design and Development - Level 3
T-Level in Digital Production, Design and Development – Level 3 Duration: 2 Years
This course is designed for students who want to progress to a career in the Digital sector, with a focus on software design and development. The purpose of the Level 3 Technical Qualification in Digital Production, Design and Development is to ensure students have the knowledge and skills needed to progress into highly skilled employment, an apprenticeship or higher-level study, including university, within the specialist area of software design and development.
Students will learn about the following topics;
- Problem solving
- Programming
- Emerging issues and impact of digital
- Legislation and regulatory requirements
- Business context
- Data
- Digital environments
- Security
The T-Level is delivered across 2 years and supports progression to entry-level job opportunities in software design and development. Job roles could include:
- Software Development Technician
- Junior Developer
- Junior Web Developer
- Junior Application Developer
- Junior Mobile App Developer
- Junior Games Developer
- Junior Software Developer
- Junior Application Support Analyst
Entry Requirements Five GCSEs/ international GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English, Maths and Science and/or Vocational Tech Award qualification(s) at Level 2 at Pass and above in a relevant subject e.g. BTEC Tech Award in Digital Information Technology
All of our courses are free for 16-18 year olds and 19-23 if the funding criteria is met. To discuss this further, email: recruitment@bigcreative.education
Exciting industry partnerships
Developing the best learning environments for students
INTO GAMES
An exciting new partnership with Into Games means that BCE students will have the opportunity to work in partnership with major London games studios. Sports Interactive, veteran studio of over twenty years and developers of the Championship Manager games and Mediatonic, creators of such eclectic hits as Hatoful Boyfriend and Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout will offer Games Design students a bespoke, exclusive partnership that brings our students closer than ever to employers – this includes:
- Providing 2 live briefs for a Classroom Studio
- Industry masterclasses and workshops
- Studio visits
- Judging game jams and student competitions
- Connecting students to the Digital Mentorship Programme
We even have our own student led e-sports team
Our student-led esports team ‘The Blackhorse Knights’ have successfully competed in the British esports Championships and Digital Schoolhouse Super Smash Bros Ultimate Team Battle. In 2021, their new home will be in Big Creative Education’s state-of-the-art esports hub – open to all students in our new Digital Works campus. Offering an area to train, compete, shoutcast, promote and coach – building your professional skills for the esports industry has never been easier.
Why study with us?
Developing the best learning environments for students
Learn from the best Professional tutors with extensive industry experience will teach you everything you need to know
Develop your skills Equip yourself with the skills needed for in-demand jobs in the industry, working to real-world briefs
State-of-the-Art The most up to date industry-standard equipment allows your ability to shine
Proven success Many of our students progress into careers in London’s exciting creative economy or go on to study at top universities
97
Vocational success rate for Academy learners
74
of BCE Level 3 learners progress to University
88
of BCE apprentices progress into careers in London’s creative economy
For Parents & Guardians
Ofsted Report
Big Creative Training Limited (BCT) is an independent training provider based in Walthamstow. BCT opened in 2000 and offers creative industries programmes for 16 to 19, apprenticeships, adult courses and alternative provision. BCT is rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted in all areas.
Big Creative Academy (BCA) is a 16 to 19 academy based in Walthamstow. The academy opened in September 2014 and offers study programmes for students aged 16 to 19 in subjects to prepare them primarily for further study or employment in the creative industries. BCA is rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted
Teachers have very good subject knowledge and industrial experience, as well as strong commercial links with practitioners and employers; they use these effectively to help inspire students and provide a strongly vocational context to their development.
All staff work closely with students to help them overcome any barriers to learning, to assure their health and welfare, to maintain good behaviour and a positive work ethic; as a result, students feel safe and are able to achieve their potential.
