Make your dream of a career in the creative sector a reality with the Bachelor of Screen Arts - Game Design major. Breathe life into your ideas and develop your skills to industry level quality. This Degree is a three-year programme that allows you to express your creativity using the latest techniques and technology.
Three years full-time,
Part time study is available.
February - November
This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.
International Fees can be found here.
The Bachelor of Screen Arts is a three-year programme that allows you to express your creativity using the latest techniques and technology.
It will develop your creativity and technical abilities that are well sought after in this rapidly changing and growing industry. You will be encouraged to develop individual projects which have distinctive conceptual, aesthetic and technical outcomes and participate in group collaborative projects which will fine tune your chosen discipline as well as developing your project management, communication and leadership skills.
The Game Design major focuses on developing your creativity and technical skills to develop complex character and story based projects. You will be getting experience using techniques from the 2D, 3D and Visual Effects animation industries.
You will learn:
While technology moves rapidly the skills in critical thinking, research, development, leadership and storytelling are universally transferable and will give students a foundation which will endure the changing technologies.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Screen Arts:
Year 1 Core Papers
BSA503 Cross-Disciplinary Workshops
Students will participate in cross-disciplinary workshops to gain an understanding of real-world screen industry contexts. Students will be introduced to industry specific research and development strategies gaining the knowledge and skills required to execute a project or projects across disciplines. Students will develop basic research skills to identify the significance of historical and theoretical contexts and methodologies and document and analysis their project progression.
BSA542 Studio Digital 1
Students will be introduced to the processes, standards and requirements of the contemporary screen arts industries. Students will complete projects to meet the requirements of specifications implementing various software solutions to develop an understanding of how to read and use imagery. Students will also explore and create digital artworks developing the basic technical ability towards the realisation of ideas and gain knowledge of the field through the investigation and analysis of a diversity of historic and contemporary digital art practices.
BSA 528 Game Design 1
Students will develop the skills and understanding required to produce a small gaming project. Students will apply the principles of animation to a game production pipeline.
BSA 525 Storyboarding
Students will acquire the skills and knowledge required to develop storyboards. Students will produce a visual narrative demonstrating the ability to optimise composition for effective storytelling. Students will also be introduced to non-narrative alternatives to conventional storytelling. Students will gain an understanding of the creative process from idea generation through to completion and what role storyboarding plays in this process.
BSA 526 Principles of Animation
Students will be introduced to the principles of animation. Students will develop an understanding of the origins and purpose of the traditional 12 principles of animation including practical implementation within their animation practices. Students will develop skills and knowledge which will assist them in the creation of appeal and form in animated characters. Students will also demonstrate an understanding of motion studies and how to apply these to various characters to produce realistic movement and the illusion of life.
BSA527 2D Animation
Students will build on knowledge and skills gained in BSA526 including critical evaluation of target audience, communication objectives and technical tools to effectively develop 2D animated narratives with supporting interactive content. Students will prepare and target content for simultaneous launch over multiple platforms.
BSA515 Studio Drawing 1
Students will develop the fundamental drawing skills essential as an analytical, descriptive, and creative tool. Students will gain a range of observational and conceptual skills and be introduced to analytical aspects of drawing as an aid to visualising and interrogating ideas and recording practice using a variety of drawing approaches. Students will also be introduced to the human figure as a source to explore form, tone and composition. Students will be introduced to the history and theory of drawing and discuss and document its relevance and use in contemporary practice.
Year 2 Core Papers
BSA603 Cross-Disciplinary Workshops 2
Students will participate in cross-disciplinary workshops to expand their understanding of real-world screen industry contexts. Students will demonstrate their ability to engage in industry specific research and development to execute a practice-based investigation across disciplines. Students will research and identify relevant historical and theoretical contexts and implement appropriate project methodologies including the use of documentation and analysis as a research tool to drive project decision-making.
BSA642 Studio Digital 2
Students will extend their understanding of practice-based research through screen art practices. Within these fields, students will develop a body of work that reflects an in-depth focused investigation relevant to their research questioning. Students will gain an understanding of the practical and theoretical implications of proposing, developing and resolving a screen arts project. Students will explore relevant lineages of practice and critically analyse their project’s positioning. Students will gain practical experience utilising a range of materials and processes to practically and theoretically engage with site and notions of viewer/audience engagement. Students will also utilise digital documentation as a key research method. Areas of investigation include: Digital.
BSA626 3D Animation Production
Students will develop a critical understanding of studio production pipeline practice and asset management within a 3D animation production environment. Students will also research and identify the aesthetic, technical and narrative requirements of animation within the 3D environment. Students will be engaged in critical analysis during the process of designing, developing and animating an emotionally complex humanoid character within a time intensive deadline.
BSA615 Studio Drawing 2
Students will build on the foundation of the first-year drawing paper to reinforce and expand their observational, analytical and creative skills and knowledge. Students will utilise practical drawing tools in thematic and conceptual projects to explore the use of drawing as an art form. Students will analyse and identify the visual language used in a range of historic and contemporary drawing practices to begin to develop their own ‘voice’ within drawing practice.
BSA 628 Game Design 2
Students will acquire core skills and an understanding of the creative process underpinning a game development pipeline and studio. Students will participate in the design and creation of concepts and artwork for game level one world prototype.
BSA612 World Building
Students will research and analyse world-building practices and their application in the screen entertainment industries. Students will develop a concept for a fictional world based on real-world research and analysis. Students will produce a written outline or proposal including a brief historical timeline that will provide the basis for the development of supporting concept art. Students will evaluate the balance between narrative flow and the need to explain the world’s characteristics and the advantages and disadvantages of one world per story vs one world for many stories. Students will utilize active documentation as a practice-based research method.
Year 3 Core Papers
BSA701 Studio Project 1
Students will build on knowledge gained in earlier papers strengthening skills and knowledge required to operate within a deadline-driven studio production environment. Developing and implementing effective communication and management strategies, students will work on a collaborative group project. Students will receive a brief and form a company to produce, promote and present a major project applicable to the screen industries (as approved by Tutor/PM). Students will explore industry relevant research and development strategies to inform the conceptual, technical and aesthetic aspects of the project to achieve the most effective, efficient production outcomes. Students will investigate target audience and transmedia approaches to brand development. Students will plan and present project as part of a promoted public event.
BSA702 Studio Project 2
Students will build on knowledge gained in BSA701 strengthening skills and knowledge required to operate within a deadline-driven studio production environment. Students will apply their communication and management strategies to work on either a collaborative group or an individual research question driven project applicable to the screen industries (as approved by Tutor/PM). Students may choose to form a company to produce, promote and present a major project or work from a brief provided by an external partner (to be approved by Tutor/PM). Students will employ industry relevant research and development strategies to inform the conceptual, technical and aesthetic aspects of the project to achieve the most effective, efficient production outcomes. Students will identify target audience and apply transmedia approaches to brand development. Students will plan and present project as part of a promoted public event.
When you complete the programme you will have the broad range of skills necessary for an industry that increasingly asks for people with a multidisciplinary approach. Depending on the specialisation chosen, you will be able to look for work in numerous roles within the Game Design, 3D animation, 2D animation and motion graphics industries. The real strength of the programme is that graduates will have had some experience in many of these areas, a quality that will become increasingly important as technologies converge.
School Leavers
University Entrance - NCEA Level 3 - three subjects at Level 3, made up of:
14 credits each, in three NZQA University Entrance approved subjects, and
Literacy – 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of five credits in reading and five credits in writing, and
Numeracy – 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of specified achievement standards through a range of subjects, or a package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627 – all three required)
Mature Applicants
Be at least 20 years of age when the programme begins and provide evidence of aptitude or appropriate work or other experience; or completion of an external or overseas qualification which is considered to be the equivalent of any of the above qualifications, as approved by the Head of Faculty.
Special Admission
Notwithstanding the above admissions categories, in exceptional circumstances, an applicant below the age of 20 who can show evidence of ability to succeed in the programme may be considered for admission, provided the applicant has successfully completed an approved course or programme which is deemed to prepare graduates for the required academic standard for entry.
An applicant who does not meet academic criteria, may be provisionally admitted to enrol in one or more Year One papers, provided he or she meets the requirements above. Upon successful completion of the papers, the student may apply for special admission or admission by mature entry.
Additional Criteria - Portfolio Requirements
Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of their work with their application as follows:
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following:
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English, or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL), or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction, or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction, or
Successful completion of a Bachelors' Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment:
IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE) TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18) Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill. OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic) Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42 Language Cert - C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band
* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current.
In order to be awarded the Bachelor of Screen Arts the student will have been credited with all required papers and electives as specified in the schedule of papers (360 credits).
The overall programme of study for every candidate requires 360 credits for successful completion of the degree.
Individual papers may have specific pre-requisites or other knowledge/skill requirements, which must be satisfied by all students.
Classes are held Monday to Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm at SIT's Downtown Campus (Don St, Invercargill).