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NZ Game Festival 2021 NZ Game Festival 2021 NZ Game Festival 2021 Chroma Art Awards 2020
Qualification

Three Academic Years

Degree, NZQF Level 7 (420 Credits, 1.2 EFTS per year)

Start Dates
Course Fees (Year 1. See fees information.)
Domestic $11,990.00 NZD
International $33,500.00 NZD
Admission Requirements

NCEA Level 3, CIE or IB University Entrance or Level 4 or higher Qualification from related discipline (not required for students 20+)

Full details including discretionary entrance based on Level 2 Excellence Endorsement can be found here.

Study On Campus or Online

Portfolio Requirements

General Portfolio (3D models or visualisations favoured)

 

Study On Campus or Online

Study Options

Study on campus Study online

Exclusive Industry Partners

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PS First logo

Sony PlayStation

MDS is the only school in New Zealand where students can develop games for the PlayStation platform.
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Unity

MDS is the only Unity Authorised Training and Certification partner in the country.
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GitHub partnership with MDS

GitHub

MDS is now part of the GitHub Education programme.

What is Game Art?

Develop immersive experiences

From 2D platformers to 3D brawlers, you’ll be devising and creating your own interactive stories, digital illustrations, concept art and games that will be viewed by an international audience of game enthusiasts.

Within the first sixteen weeks of your first year, you’ll have created your very own 2D game and, by the time you’ve finished your degree, you’ll have collaborated with other game artists and programmers to develop an industry-quality game. Thanks to our Girls in Games events, we’ll make sure that everyone gets a fair shot at achieving their dreams, with close to 50% of our year 1 cohort identifying as women in 2022!

This programme is available both on campus and online.

Why study Game Art?

You should study Game Art if you are passionate about creating worlds, characters, and interfaces that exist within the context of a video game. By studying Game Art, you will learn how to design beautiful and immersive environments and believable characters, and then combine those elements to deliver a gaming experience that people will cherish. 

Part-time Study

Our part-time study options are designed with flexibility in mind, allowing you to balance your education with other life commitments. With part-time study at Media Design School, you can tailor your learning experience to fit your unique schedule and needs. We’re here to support you in achieving your academic goals while accommodating your busy lifestyle.

Game Art at Media Design School
Why study Game Art at Media Design School?

Develop an industry-level game at Media Design School

10+
years of Game Development degrees
45%
of our Year 1 cohort identified as women in 2022
10%
increase in Game Development jobs in New Zealand in 2022^

NZGDA data

#1
Digital Games are New Zealand’s fastest growing export

1news.co.nz

Course Outline

What you'll cover in this course

The first year delivers a solid grounding, including 3D modelling and creating 2D & 3D visual assets. Creative problem solving is underpinned by the basic theories, philosophies, and the history of technology.

Component Name Credits Toggle
Game Design Principles
20
Art and Design Foundation
30
2D Visual Asset Generation
15
3D Visual Asset Generation
30
Game Production Foundation
15
Creative Technologies: Game Studies I
15
Technical Art I
15

Entry Requirements

General Admission

NCEA University Entrance NCEA Level 3: Three subjects at Level 3, made up of 14 credits each. Literacy 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of: 5 credits in reading 5 credits in writing Numeracy 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of: achievement standards (specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects), or, unit standards, package of three numeracy unit standards: 26623, 26626, 26627. (All three required)

If you are enrolled at a New Zealand secondary school and have not yet completed your NCEA (CIE or equivalent) qualification you can still apply now for admission. When your NCEA results are available in January, we will check them and contact you.

IB and CIE University Entrance More information on alternative eligible qualifications such as IB or CIE, click here.

Special Entry, Discretionary Entry and Cross Credits If you don't have university entry, you may still be able to apply for this course. More information about Special Entry, Discretionary Entry and Cross Credits here.

International Students

To apply for this degree, you'll need a minimum qualification of NCEA University Entrance or CIE (University of Cambridge International Examination) or IB (International Baccalaureate) or equivalent overseas secondary school qualification or have completed one year of tertiary study from recognised institution.

Please Note: Entry requirement may vary based on your country of citizenship. Please refer to our International Page for entry requirements at mediadesignschool.com/international-students. If you country is not on the list, please email international@mediadesignschool.com for further information.

All international students must be 18 years of age when the programme commences (on- campus or online). International applicants can start their application before they turn 18 years of age.

Quotas

Please note, quotas may apply to some programmes. Where demand exceeds the number of available places, applicants who meet entry requirements will be admitted on a first-come-first-served basis.

Language Requirements

As an international student, you'll need to prove you have sufficient English language skills in order to complete this course. We'll be looking for Academic IELTS overall score of 6.0 (minimum) with no band less than 5.5, or equivalent test result.

We accept a range of internationally recognised English Language proficiency test. Find out more on the NZQA website or download the NZQA list HERE.

Portfolio requirements

How to prepare your portfolio

Your portfolio is a selection of work that shows your skills and talents. It introduces you and your ideas, and shows us you have the creativity and imagination to be a student at Media Design School.

There are no strict rules about what you should include in your portfolio. As a guide, it should include a range of 12 - 20 pieces of your best works that represent who you are as a creative person. We recommend including a range of media and styles. It is not imperative you include digitally rendered artworks.

Here are some of the examples you could include:

  • Pencil drawings and illustrations
  • Painting Photography Graphic or Digital design
  • 3D models or visualisations
  • Concept art and characters
  • Video or moving images
Entry & portfolio requirements for the Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art)

BYOD Requirements

BYOD Requirements

Before you begin your study with us, you will need to have a suitable device that has the functionality to run the programmes required for your course.

Follow this link to find course-specific requirements and recommendations, along with links to more information about hardware specifications. We have prepared these recommendations to help our students equip for flexible, blended learning.

Career Opportunities

If you're serious about fast-tracking your way into the games industry, enrol in our dedicated Game Art course that we've specially designed to mirror industry. Over three years, this course will help you develop your artistic style and technical skills through a combination of traditional and digital art practices, and the use of industry-standard software. 

You will collaborate in groups of artists and programmers on multiple game projects while developing a professional portfolio, where you will gain the necessary skills to enter the industry.

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Character Artist

Be responsible for designing and creating highly detailed, visually stunning characters for games. Ensure characters are consistent with the games' style, and push the boundaries of character design and art direction.
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Environment Artist

Be responsible for designing and creating the immersive worlds and settings where gameplay takes place. This role involves building detailed 3D environments, including landscapes, buildings, and props, to bring the game world to life.
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Technical Artist

Bridge the gap between the art and programming teams, ensuring that artistic visions are fully realised within the technical constraints of a game. This role involves optimising assets, developing shaders, and troubleshooting performance issues while also creating tools and workflows that streamline the production pipeline. Technical Artists are crucial in balancing visual quality with game performance, combining creative skills with technical know-how.

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