OVERALL UNIVERSITY RATING
Tell us about your overall university experience so far.
It's funny, but I think despite all the downsides of the course, you'd be hard pressed to do better. I looked around some of the best...
University rating
Tell us about your overall university experience so far.
It's funny, but I think despite all the downsides of the course, you'd be hard pressed to do better. I looked around some of the best game art courses in the country, many of which ranking significantly higher on league tables etc. but DMU was consistently more professional and better geared to help you actually progress to industry. If you want to actually break into the (very difficult, highly competitive) industry, you should absolutely have DMU on your list. If you've just been playing league of legends and want to draw pictures, you won't have a good time. Be prepared to have very little free time, to struggle with your work/life balance, to cry over it, to feel like everyone's ahead of you. It's the reality and it is hard! I've heard multiple people refer to first year as a "stress test" and they're absolutely right, the lecturers just want to make sure you're gonna stick it out to the end, and ultimately acknowledge they will lose some people along the way. When you come in the start of 1st year with 70-odd people and there's less than 30 of you left by third year, you'll start to understand that it's not about your grades in DMU game art- they're testing your perseverance.
Facilities
How good are your university's facilities?
So well kitted out. Cintiq labs are awesome, pcs get updated all the time. They do their best to keep the course and software used up to date with the latest industry progression, which is really nice.
Student support
How good is the support offered by the uni? Think both academic (tutors/feedback) and personal (counselling, etc).
It's okay, but can be convoluted to navigate if you actually are mentally ill/disabled. Evidently designed without that in mind. Get ready to fill in a lot of forms, answer the same questions over and over, and sit on waiting lists. When you jump through all the necessary hoops, though, the quality of the services is generally pretty good.
Lecturers and teaching quality
What do you like most and least about the way your course(s) are taught?
The number one thing to say is that this course requires you to be independent, have good self-motivation and self-discipline skills and be able to work to tight deadlines. If you struggle with motivating yourself to work, you will not have a good time on this course. The lecturers are good, provided you engage with sessions and respond to feedback, you will stay on their good sides. It's very difficult to succeed and get decent grades without attending all the sessions- you have to want to seek critiques.
Lecturers can be blunt with you when they give you feedback. If you're someone like the majority of us on game art who were high achievers at their previous art classes, receiving a lot of (sometimes quite demoralising) critiques can be difficult to deal with. If you struggle with insecurity, don't take critiques well, or aren't used to being criticised on your technical skill in art class- be prepared for that when you come on to the course.
The lecturers want to see you improve at the end of the day. Listen to them, accept that what they say is gonna be really annoying and harsh sometimes, take it on board, do the feedback. Even if you disagree.
How many contact hours per week do you have?
8
Career prospects
How does your uni make efforts to increase your employability (careers department, work placements, transferable skills)?
Pretty good. We get regular talks from industry and the graduate placement show, etc. The CEM faculty is pretty good at recommending people for roles when they get industry professionals asking for new staff. If you're ranked in the top, make your face well known, volunteer for game art stuff, and be enthusiastic, etc, then the lecturers will remember you and help you.
Do you think your time at university this year has been value for money?
Yes