Concept Art

Develop your career as a concept artist by immersing yourself in the world of professional design and visual storytelling.

This Masters is ideal for graduates with an existing background in the creative industries, such as concept art for games or film. You’ll expand your knowledge and practice, while also gaining a deep understanding of the underpinning theory and philosophies of the subject. We’ll help you to produce a standout portfolio that highlights your unique artistic vision and technical expertise, tailored to impress employers.

You’ll work with other artists, programmers and designers, simulating the collaborative nature of professional studios. There will also be opportunities to grow your network and build on our connections with top international games studios.

Whether crafting epic characters or visionary worlds, you’ll learn how to translate ideas into stunning visuals. It will culminate in a major independent project where you’ll get to explore your chosen area of specialisation.

The course has a strong focus on core design principles, equipping you with versatile skills for careers in concept art, art direction, freelance entrepreneurship and beyond.

You’ll be guided by a team of seasoned professionals with extensive experience in film, television games, animation and VFX production. Our deep connections to industry leaders also ensures the curriculum content is relevant and keeps up-to-date with the latest trends.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MA Concept Art

Course content

You’ll develop a critical understanding of design principles and different visual styles, while also experimenting with abstraction and narrative-driven design. Across the course, we emphasise industry relevance, ensuring you learn how to integrate contemporary methodologies into professional workflows.

It will culminate in your master project, where you will apply everything you’ve learned to a self-directed, high-level piece of concept art. This could range from a fully developed portfolio of character and environment designs through to a dissertation exploring emerging trends in visual storytelling.

Alongside the fundamental skills involved in design, you’ll explore project management, research methods and entrepreneurship. We will also help you to develop the critical thinking, technical expertise and industry knowledge to make a lasting impact.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Year 1 compulsory modules
Abstraction And Exploration In Design	20 credits
Adoption Of A Set Style	20 credits
Experimental Visual Story Telling	20 credits
Game Master Project	60 credits
Pipeline And Technical Development	20 credits
Professional Practice And Entrepreneurship	20 credits
Project Management And Research Methods	20 credits

Entry requirements

You’ll normally need a 2:2 or above undergraduate qualification (or equivalent). Applicants must also submit a portfolio showcasing their artistic skills. For concept artists, we ideally look for evidence of strong foundational art skills, such as drawing, painting, visual storytelling, character or environment design, and an understanding of design iteration. Experience with digital painting software and the ability to visually communicate creative ideas.

We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, so even if your previous degree isn't directly related to games or entertainment design, such as fine art, graphic design, or illustration we're keen to see your portfolio and discuss your potential. Feel free to contact us for advice or more information!

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

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Facilities

Games and Concept Art Labs

Explore your artistic creativity on the latest games development software in our Games and Concept Art Labs. Our industry quality workstations come complete with Wacom Intuos Pro mediums or 13QHD Cintiq tablets.

Virtual Production Studio

The Virtual Production Studio allows the combination of real-time games graphics with traditional film and video production techniques. Read more

Students are able to utilise the Virtual Production studio which comes complete with a 10m x 2.75m curved LED volume made of DigiLED DigiThin XS 2600 panels, Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12k camera with 35mm, 50mm and 85mm lenses, Vanishing Point Vector and Viper camera tracking systems, full RGB lighting system including LED Cloud, 1x Celeb 850, 1x Diva-Lite 41, 5x Diva-Lite 31 and 5x Q5 Color all controllable through a ChamSys MagicQ lighting desk, VR Scouting system using a HTC Vive Pro and audio system with speakers around the screen. HP workstations allow the process to be facilitated end-to-end by Unreal Engine to use photorealistic environments.

Watch video

Motion Capture Studio

Realistically capture multiple human movements simultaneously for the creation of high-quality games, animation and VFX sequences. Our industry standard facility features a 24-camera rig, Vicon hardware and Cara facial performance capture headset. Read more

The Motion Capture Stage is located in the Cadman Building, working alongside The Smart Zone. This facility hosts sessions that show students how to set up and prepare shoots at a high industry level. The sessions provided give in-depth information that covers each stage, from preparation to exporting data for use within a project.

Our MoCap Studio is used by students from a wide range of subjects, including Film and Media, Games Design, Animation, Drama, Sports Therapy and CGI and Visual Effects.

Find out more about our Motion Capture Stage.

Watch video View virtual tour

Careers

A master's degree in concept art opens up a world of career opportunities in the creative industries, particularly in entertainment, design, and advertising. Here are some exciting career paths you can pursue:

Concept Artist: Develop characters, environments, and props for video games, films, TV shows, and animations.
Character Designer: Specialise in creating compelling and unique character designs.
Environment Artist: Focus on designing immersive worlds and settings.
Art Director: Oversee the artistic vision and style for projects in games, animation, and film.
Toy Designer: Create designs for action figures, board games, and collectibles.
Fashion/Costume Designer: Design character outfits for games, films, or even the fashion industry.
Freelance Concept Artist: Work independently with studios, publishers, or private clients.
Entrepreneur: Develop and explore your own intellectual property and pursue your own independent business.

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

As you transition into professional careers, the ability to self-direct your learning and continually refine your artistic output is essential. This course fosters continuous professional development, preparing creatives to adapt to the ever-evolving demands of the industry.

With no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach in creative fields, our feedback emphasises art direction, narrative, and professionalism. This ensures you can tailor your portfolio to industry standards while meeting course requirements. Effectively, you can tailor your submissions to cater to your intended specialism, whether that's creatures, characters, vehicles or environments – or you can build a generalised portfolio as you progress through the course.

Key submissions will include portfolio submissions and assessed reflective elements all designed to encourage self-awareness and an objective approach to artistic growth.

Assessment

Throughout your course, you'll have opportunities to test your understanding of the subject before completing formal assessments that contribute to your final grade. Each module typically includes practice, or ‘formative,’ assessments, where you'll receive feedback from your tutor. At the end of each module, you'll complete a formal, or ‘summative,’ assessment. This may include various coursework components such as essays, reports, portfolios, performances, presentations, final-year projects, or written exams. The grades from these formal assessments determine your module mark.

Learning support

Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

Study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
Written English (including punctuation, grammar)
Academic writing (including how to reference)
Research skills
Critical thinking
Revision, assessment and exam skills (including time management)

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our Student Inclusion Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

Staff

Dr Kieran Hicks

Course Director

Dr Kieran Hicks is a game design lecturer, they are the director of the DEMI research centre. Their research explores games from user-based and design-based lenses, using games as a tool to engage diverse groups in beneficial activity.

Kieran's profile

Anthony Martin

Senior Lecturer

Anthony is a digital artist, animator and VFX technical director with over 20 years of industry experience. His current area of interest is the creation of realistic environments using a combination of 3D and 2D techniques

Anthony's profile

Joseph Gronow

Lecturer

Joe is a concept art lecturer specialising in fundamental drawing and painting skills. He likes to blend traditional expertise with digital media.

Joseph's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 22 September 2025 the tuition fees are:

Tuition fees for MA-Full-time
Study option	UK / Channel Islands	International
Full-time	£9,165 per course	£16,750 per course

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

Alumni discount

If you've previously completed a University of Staffordshire undergraduate degree (excluding HND and foundation degrees) you may be entitled to a discount of up to 25% off your course fees for any subsequent postgraduate taught course (terms apply, see the alumni discount page for details). If you have any questions about how this relates to you, please contact feesandbursaries@staffs.ac.uk.

Not included in tuition fees
Not included in the fees:
The estimated cost of text books over the duration of the course. All essential text books are available from the library, but some students chose to purchase their own copies. Travel, subsistence, entrance fees etc. incurred by optional trips and visits away from the University related to the course. The cost of materials for the development of a student’s individual practice and work. Additional costs vary dependent upon student’s own choice of materials and approach to their practice. Optional personal insurance when borrowing equipment such as cameras, lighting equipment etc. for extended period of use off campus [Approx. £50-£100]. It may be possible to add some items to home contents insurance.

Accommodation and living costs
Accommodation and living costs
Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £11,570 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options; part-time, full-time and distance learning.

For more information and how to apply visit masters loan.

Apply

Location	Award	Study option	Start date	Apply Link
Stoke-on-Trent campus	MA	Full-time	22 September 2025	Apply now

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