Concept Art Program | Bachelor Degree of Digital Art

This course prepares aspiring artists for successful careers in the entertainment industry. Learn to create stunning characters, environments, and props while mastering industry tools and workflows. Alongside technical training, gain vital soft skills like self-promotion, marketing, and communication to navigate the business side of your career. Graduate with a job-ready portfolio and the confidence to thrive in film, games, or publishing.

Learn from working concept artists
Master character, environment & prop design
Build a portfolio that meets studio expectations
Train on real-world briefs and workflows

Start your path to a creative career with CG Spectrum’s Concept Art Degree.

Get Started

Course Information

Everything You Need To Know

Quick Overview

Course Structure

What You'll Learn

Tuition & Payment

Qualification Diploma (AQF 5)
Bachelor's Degree (AQF 7)

No. of Trimesters Diploma - 2 trimesters
Bachelor - 6 trimesters

Program Length

Diploma - 7 months
Bachelor's Degree - 2 years
Part-time study available

Delivery Mode Online live classes
Custom video lectures
Personalised mentor feedback

Course Fees Diploma - $16, 664 USD
Bachelor - $49, 992 USD
Payment options available

Start Dates

February 2nd, 2026 May 11th, 2026 September 14th, 2026

The Bachelor of Digital Art majoring in concept art covers advanced creature, character, props, and environment design using both 2D and 3D techniques. You will also acquire essential interpersonal skills and both practical and conceptual industry knowledge.

Learn the core principles of composition, color theory, and perspective.
Master techniques to create unique, engaging characters with personality and style.
Develop immersive worlds and detailed props that tell a visual story.
Gain expertise in industry-standard tools and workflows to create polished, professional artwork.
Learn to convey narratives through compelling visual elements.
Build a job-ready portfolio that showcases your best work and demonstrates your expertise.
Industry Insights: Understand the concept art pipeline and gain knowledge about studio workflows and expectations.

Develop industry foundations with our 6-month Diploma, or continue into the full Bachelor's Degree to build more comprehensive skills.

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Trimester 1

Developing Visual Concepts: Props and Characters
Film and Games Principles, Concepts and Innovations: Learning from History
Industry Overview: Pipeline and Production Processes

Trimester 2

Rendering Techniques & Character Drawing
Art and Design Concepts and Principles
Communicate! Mode, Purpose and Context

Trimester 3

Layout, Level Design and Composition
Concepts and Principles of Story and Visual Narrative
Identifying and Solving Problems

Trimester 4

Characters, Creatures, and Enhanced Workflows
Concepts and Principles of Lighting and Cinematography
Managing Projects and Creative Assets

Trimester 5

3D Concept Art Workflows
Leading with Integrity
Establishing and Sustaining Your Business

Trimester 6

Concept Art Capstone Portfolio
Stepping Into Industry: Becoming a Proactive Practitioner
Marketing Yourself and Your Work

Student Creations From Along the Way

Build high-calibre work focused on professional portfolio and showreel development to impress prospective employers.

Brandon Reimchen

Brandon brings almost 20 years of experience as a video game concept artist with a long client list that includes EA, Activision, Capcom, Gree, and Disney Interactive.

Known for Resident Evil

Tyler James

Award-winning artist Tyler has worked with major clients like Cryptozoic and Blizzard on titles including Heroes of the Storm, Warhammer, Rift, Star Wars, Hex, Warcraft, and RWBY.

Known for Heroes of the Storm

Brian Huang

Brian is an illustrator and concept artist for video games with expertise in art direction, visual development, and concept art. His credits include World of Warcraft, Diabolo, and Starcraft.

Known for Diablo III

Fang Jing

Possessing a degree in concept art, Fang has produced many concept designs for projects including Minecraft Dungeons and Prison Architect. She currently works at Sony Playstation Studios.

Known for Concord

Humza Khan

Humza has worked for EA, Microsoft, Activision, LucasArts, Wargaming, Ubisoft, Fischer Price, Hasbro, Mattel. Credits include: Call of Duty, The Division 2, and the Sims.

Known for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

Bernie Kang

Now art director at Phoenix One, Bernie created creatures, characters, weapons and FX concepts for cinematic trailers for World of Warcraft and more while at Blizzard.

Known for World of Warcraft

Mike Thompson

Award-winning artist Mike has worked with clients such as Marvel, Hasbro, Dimension Films, HBO, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros, Mattel, DC Comics and Cartoon Network.

Known for Black Panther

Peter Ocampo

Peter is a freelance concept artist and has worked at DNEG as an in-house concept artist on diverse projects for film and TV. He has a particular passion for designing dark horror creatures.

Known for Annihilation

Jonathan Li

Jonathan currently works as a Concept Artist at Square Enix. He has a passion for narrative arts and loves creating worlds, characters, and the stories they can tell.

Known for Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers

Kinman Chan

Known for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Joel Carpenter

Known for Kitti Katz

Catalin Laie

Known for Brother in Arms 3

Dio Lee

Known for Halo Infinite

Student Testimonials

Get The Education You Deserve

"I have nothing but great things to say of CG Spectrum!

I was a bit unsure when I signed up for the concept art course because I had no prior experience, but it changed my life. I had a great mentor, Brandon, who would always push me to do better and I learned valuable things in each class."

erika-horinkova-headshot
Erika H | Concept Art & Illustration

"Thank you CG Spectrum for giving me exactly what I needed to get started in this competitive industry.

I started the Concept Art & Illustration Course to create a stunning portfolio to apply for an internship. Without CG Spectrum I would never have been able to create a portfolio on a level that got me an amazing internship in Beijing."

Victoria-Pascual
Victoria P | Concept Art & Illustration

"Not just for people wanting to break into the industry, it's also for professionals already in it.

I am a concept artist at Paradox Interactive in Sweden, and I wanted to expand my illustration skills, so I decided to take the Digital Illustration Course. I am loving it!! If you're a professional and want to learn a new skill, I would say go ahead! Expand your set of skills!

Ahmed-Albastaki-BW
Ahmed A | Concept Art & Illustration

"I was approached by Skybound North, and after a couple of months freelancing, I was offered an in-house job on a new animation project.

I went to a game art school after I graduated, but it wasn’t really what I was looking for. At the same time, I had started CG Spectrum’s concept art course, which is where I met my mentor Brandon Reimchen. He was an amazing teacher!"

april-prime
April P | Concept Art & Illustration

"I have never experienced such an explosive evolution in my art since attending CG Spectrum.

I have learnt an incredible amount, not only from my amazing mentor Eric Wilkerson but from the entire CGS community. Being part of such an amazing program has opened my eyes to techniques that have streamlined my process and increased my confidence tenfold. I highly recommend the Advanced Illustration Course. Buckle up, and knuckle down – this could be the course that changes everything for you."

oliverh-rounded
Oliver H | Concept Art & Illustration

"Thanks to CG Spectrum, I am a lot closer to my dream of being a concept artist.

The curriculum structure is very reasonable, with both academic basic theories and useful suggestions for career paths. Thanks to my mentors, Brian Huang and Victoria Sarkissian, who not only taught me drawing skills and design techniques, but more importantly, they also gave me the confidence to continue working hard."

xinliu-rounded
Xin L | Concept Art & illustration

"I've never improved as an artist so quickly.

Great course! They teach you what you need to know and don't waste your time with stuff that just fills out a course. It was specific to what I needed to know. The classes are very personable and the mentors are industry professionals that never hesitate to put in the effort to help you out. I definitely would recommend this to people interested in getting into the industry."

tomgarden-rounded
Tom G | Concept Art & Illustration

FAQ's

Questions? We Have Answers

What are the entry requirements?

Details for both domestic and international applicants can be found on our Entry Requirements page.

Basic Drawing Competency Required
For this course, students must demonstrate their drawing competency through a portfolio submission. To read our portfolio submission rules and guidelines please head to our FAQ page.

If you don't have basic drawing competency, we offer a short Beginner Drawing Course, which requires no prior drawing experience and will help prepare you for our more advanced concept art and digital illustration courses.

If you are unsure about your skill level, you can always chat with our team hello@cgspectrum.com.

Is this degree accredited?

CG Spectrum Institute is registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).

All CGSI degrees and diplomas are accredited, providing students with credible and recognized qualifications.

About TEQSA:

TEQSA stands for the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. It is an independent regulatory body in Australia responsible for assuring the quality and standards of higher education institutions.

TEQSA-accredited qualifications are widely recognized, allowing students to pursue further studies or employment opportunities around the world.

What software will I need?

Your studies will require you to download and get acquainted with a variety of software, including:

Core Subjects:

Shotgrid - educational license
Canvas - free license

Concept Art Major:

Adobe Photoshop
Blender - educational license
ZBrush by Maxon

What are the hardware requirements?

Students will require a MAC/PC and a compatible graphics tablet (see digital painting software and equipment). We recommend a minimum of 32GB RAM.

See below for more info on hardware specifications based on the required software.

Core Subjects:

Concept Art Major:

Adobe Photoshop
Blender
Zbrush by Maxon

As the software we use is regularly updated, please check the specs against the latest available version at the time of enrollment.

Please note: Mobile OS tablets can not be used because the software we teach is not available on these devices.

Do you offer financial aid?

CG Spectrum Institute ensures that individuals can access high-quality education and professional development without significant financial barriers, empowering them to achieve their goals and excel in their chosen fields.

Australian Students:

All higher education AQF Award Courses offered at CGSI are supported by the Australian Government’s FEE-HELP program.

Domestic students who meet specific eligibility criteria can access FEE-HELP, which allows them to borrow money for all or part of their tuition fees and repay the loan through the tax system once their income reaches a certain threshold.

For more information, please head to the Financial Aid on our website.

International students:

There is a range of financing options suited to your situation and country. Please contact our friendly admissions team for more information on how we can support your learning journey.

What concept art careers can I explore post-graduation?

On completion of the Bachelor of Digital Art (Concept Art Major), you will have greater confidence in your abilities and a portfolio to show employers.

You will also have personalized career services with our Career Development Manager, which can help when applying for junior concept art jobs such as:

Discover more about these jobs, tips, and salary expectations on our careers page:

EXPLORE CONCEPT ART CAREERS

Will studying for the Bachelor of Digital Art guarantee me a job?

While our past CGS students have a high job success rate, we cannot offer guaranteed employment as the film and game industry is competitive, and there is no way of knowing what the market will demand.

The students who experience the greatest success are those who take responsibility for their career, put in the hard work to get their skills and portfolio up to industry standard, leverage their mentor's invaluable expertise and the networking opportunities provided through the CG Spectrum community, and take advantage of every opportunity to excel.

To help students find employment, we have a range of career services and a dedicated Career Development Manager who regularly hosts exclusive career-focused webinars, Q&As, artist interviews, and workshops for students and alumns and is available to answer career-related questions.

Degree students receive additional 1-on-1 career support, CV/portfolio reviews, and help with application/interview preparation.

If you have any questions about our career services as they relate to your personal career goals, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

How do I apply?

Ready to take the next step toward your future? Head to our application page to get started. Whether you're looking to learn something new, build on your existing skillset, or nurture your creative side, begin your application today to start your creative journey with us!

APPLY NOW

Concept Art Degree

Your Path to Becoming a Professional Concept Artist Starts Here