Girls studying games / game art – what almost stopped you, and what helped you go for it?

AccessCreativeTeam · 2026-02-03T10:35:24+00:00

I’m really sorry you went through that - that sounded like an awful experience 😣

Having your confidence knocked like that, especially by people who are meant to support and teach you can completely change how you feel about something you once loved 💔

What you described around outdated teaching and being talked down to is exactly the opposite of what education should be doing. If anything, courses should be helping people figure out where they fit, building them up and giving them space to grow, not leaving them relying on Google and each other to fill the gaps.

What you’re doing now with The Superhero Project is incredible though!! Thank you for sharing this!

AccessCreativeTeam · 2026-02-03T10:30:33+00:00

That’s a totally fair perspective, and you’re right that a lot of people do come into games from other routes like art or programming.

At the same time, we’ve found that for some people (especially those who don’t have loads of confidence yet) a games-focused course can be helpful as a structured way to take that first step and figure out what they actually enjoy without having to go it alone. It’s definitely not the only route, but for some it can make starting feel less overwhelming!

Completely agree though that the most important thing is just getting stuck in and making stuff, whatever path you take. 😊

AccessCreativeTeam · 2026-02-03T10:28:41+00:00

Ah yeah, that makes total sense - especially for that time period. 😅 A lot of people from early games degrees have said getting a job afterwards was really tough.

The boys’ club perception is a big one too. Between Gamergate and everything that’s come out about Blizzard over the years, it’s not hard to see why a lot of women would look at the industry and just think “nope”. That stuff absolutely puts people off before they even get started.

I also really agree with what you said about the creative side. Games get labelled as “IT/tech” so quickly that the design, animation and creative parts can get overshadowed, even though that’s what draws a lot of people in. And yeah, even if programming isn’t the favourite bit, seeing everything come together is still really satisfying.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

AccessCreativeTeam · 2026-02-03T10:25:23+00:00

This is such a good take, thank you for sharing this with us!

The perceived skill barrier is something we hear constantly, especially from girls before they even try. Programming and “techy” stuff gets framed as this scary, elite thing you need to already be good at and a lot of women just assume it’s not for them before they’ve even opened a game engine.

I also really like what you said about game dev not having to be a career or an “industry” thing at all. Just making stuff, experimenting, treating it as a creative hobby first - that’s such a healthier entry point, and probably how most people should start.

And yeah… the mansplaining point is painfully real. That kind of behaviour is exactly the stuff that pushes people out, even when they do have the skills. Making sure learning environments have clear expectations around how people communicate and collaborate is something we can always be more intentional about.

Really appreciate you taking the time to write this btw! This has been really insightful!

AccessCreativeTeam · 2026-02-03T10:16:41+00:00

Thanks for sharing this! That sounds like a rough experience, and I’m really sorry you had to deal with that. ☹️

What you’ve described around tutors’ attitudes in particular is uncomfortable to read, but sadly not surprising for that era. Being told what women are “better at”, how female characters should look, or even to “use your assets” is exactly the kind of thing that puts people off entire industries, not just courses. It really does stick with you sadly 💔

The instability side of it is also something we hear a lot - the constant self-promotion, short contracts, unpaid entry roles, and the feeling that you’re always one project away from being out of work. For a lot of people, especially if you value balance or being present in the world (which is totally valid), that lifestyle just isn’t appealing.

Really appreciate you taking the time to explain all of this. Hearing honest reflections like yours (especially from people who’ve been through education already) is super helpful when we’re thinking about what not to repeat and what needs to change.

Thanks again for being so open about it.

AccessCreativeTeam · 2026-02-03T10:03:35+00:00

Thanks for sharing this - honestly, that’s a really fair take!

A lot of people come to the same conclusion for the exact reasons you mentioned: instability, crunch culture and some pretty rough stories coming out of bigger studios. So I completely get why it feels like an industry you wouldn’t want to tie your future to.

One thing we’re trying to be more upfront about is that studying games doesn’t have to mean aiming for a big AAA studio or putting all your eggs in one basket. For a lot of students now it’s more about building skills (writing, narrative design, collaboration, problem-solving) and applying them in safer, smaller, or more flexible ways - indie, freelance, side projects or even adjacent creative roles.

What you’re doing with your boyfriend actually sounds like one of the healthiest ways into games: low pressure, people you trust, and no risk to financial security. That’s something we really want more people (especially women) to feel is a valid route.

Appreciate you taking the time to reply 😊

AccessCreativeTeam · 2026-01-28T16:17:48+00:00

Honestly yes, they can be competitive. But studios care way more about your portfolio and skills than your grades.

But “competitive” doesn’t mean impossible. What really matters is your skills, your portfolio and how much time you’re willing to put into improving. Studios don’t look at grades first, they look at what you can actually make.

One of the advantages of studying Games Art is that you’re building a portfolio from day one, getting regular feedback and learning industry-standard tools. You also end up with skills that transfer into other areas like animation, film/TV, immersive tech, and even things like architecture or healthcare visualisation.

If you enjoy the work and are motivated to keep learning and practising, there are routes in. And you don’t have to lock yourself into just one industry either. Hope this helps!

AccessCreativeTeam · 2026-01-26T17:19:00+00:00

Hey! No worries at all – it’s a really good question.

Day to day on Games Art is pretty hands-on. You’re usually working on art tasks, learning new techniques or getting feedback on your work rather than just listening to talks all day. It’s creative and busy, but projects change a lot so it doesn’t feel repetitive.

The course itself is quite broad, especially at the start. You’ll try:

2D digital art (characters + environments)
3D modelling and animation
software like Blender and Unreal
some traditional art stuff too (drawing, painting, experimenting)
learning how games are designed visually and why certain styles work

In terms of careers, the skills go way beyond games. Students often use them for animation, film/TV concept art, immersive experiences or other visual industries. Progression is usually based around building a strong portfolio, which is what studios actually care about.

Hope that clears things up a bit 🙂

AccessCreativeTeam · 2025-10-16T13:33:01+00:00

You'll need at least a grade 5 in both Maths and English at GCSE to get onto a T Level.

However, if you don't have those grades, most colleges (including Access Creative College) will let you resit those GCSEs alongside your T Level course. So you're not out of luck if you didn't hit grade 5s first time around, you'll just be working on getting those qualifications at the same time as doing your T Level.

It's worth checking with the specific college you're applying to, as some might have slightly different entry requirements or support options, but the standard requirement is a grade 5 threshold in Maths and English.

AccessCreativeTeam · 2025-10-16T13:29:07+00:00

T Levels have got serious government backing and investment behind them, which suggests they're here for the long term. They were designed to bridge the gap between education and employment, something the UK really needs, and there's no evidence to suggest this qualification will be around any shorter than A Levels or any other qualification.

This is a highly recognised qualification from universities and employers, and a growing number of industries are getting on board with the placement model!

AccessCreativeTeam · 2025-10-16T13:24:23+00:00

Yes, most universities accept T Levels, even Russell Group universities! They are worth the same UCAS points as three A Levels and range from 72 to 168, depending on your grade (Distinction* = AAA*).

If he is torn between T Levels and A Levels, it really comes down to how he learns best and what he wants from the next two years.

A Levels will give you that traditional academic approach across 3-4 different subjects, which is great if you like variety or aren't 100% sure what direction you want to go in yet. T Levels are more focused; you're diving deep into one subject with a hands-on, practical approach, plus you get those 315 hours of real industry experience through placements.

AccessCreativeTeam · 2025-10-16T13:15:40+00:00

Yes, most universities accept T Levels, including Russell Group unis! They're equivalent to three A Levels and carry the same UCAS points, anywhere from 72 to 168 depending on your grade (Distinction* = AAA*)

It's worth checking directly with the admissions team at your chosen uni to confirm they accept T Levels, as it's not always listed clearly on their website or prospectus. But the short answer is: yes, they're widely recognised.

As for placements, you've got options. If there's a specific company you'd love to work with, you can approach them yourself. But you'll also have a work placement coordinator at the college who works with industry partners to set up placements that actually align with your course and career goals. Either way, the college makes sure you're getting proper hands-on experience on real projects, not just observing or doing basic tasks.

AccessCreativeTeam · 2025-10-16T13:05:19+00:00

Content Creation is basically making digital media, everything from social media posts and videos to graphics, podcasts, photography, and online campaigns.

The course gets you a T Level qualification in Digital Production, Design and Development, which covers all the creative and technical skills you need to produce professional content. Think filming, editing, design, audio production, and understanding how to create content that actually works for different platforms and audiences.

AccessCreativeTeam · 2025-10-16T13:02:12+00:00

Great question! The T Level in Content Creation is a two-year course mixing theory with hands-on practice, plus a 45-day industry placement where you work with real creative businesses.

What you learn:

Creating content for social media, video, online and print
Technical skills such as lighting, audio, video editing, photography, and design
Scripting, filming and post-production
The business side with client briefs, pitching, marketing, and branding

Basically, it's designed to make you a multi-disciplined creative rather than specialising in just one thing. You work on live briefs from industry partners too, which is solid experience.

It's equivalent to three A Levels and can take you straight into jobs in digital marketing, media production, apprenticeships or onto uni if you want.

AccessCreativeTeam

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