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Which secondary education will prepare me best for the bachelor programme in DAE?
There is no perfect secondary school programme that can prepare you for DAE. Generally we find that students with a solid foundation in math, ICT-skills and programming have a much higher succes rate.
If you feel like you lack the necessary foundation to start DAE you can first take the preparatory semester/year we created in collaboration with our local secondary school partner Athena: Fundamentele vorming digitale creatie 7de jaar (Dutch only)
What are the admission requirements for DAE?
The prospective student needs to have acquired a Flemish secondary school or HBO5 diploma.
If these requirements are not met, it is still possible to enrol if the applicant has met the following conditions:
- You have acquired a certificate of general education and a certificate of professional education.
- In case you are 21 years or older, you may apply for an alternative admission procedure.
For international students and students with other diplomas, please refer the following link:
Applications for English-taught degree programmes
Is it possible to combine the DAE bachelor programme with a job?
Although the general consensus leans towards “no”, it is not entirely impossible, provided that you opt for an individualized track (4 year programme or longer) and a part-time job. The final-year modules “group projects” and “internship” are not compatible with an office hour job due to your mandatory attendance at the school or the internship company.
Is it possible to attend DAE classes remotely?
Unfortunately, we do not offer remote classes. Our curriculum emphasizes hands-on practical skills that necessitate physical attendance to ensure students receive the highest quality education and experience. This allows for effective collaboration, immediate feedback, and the use of specialized equipment, which are crucial components of our program.
Do DAE graduates have high employment rates?
About 80% of our students are able to find a job within the 2 months following graduation. 60% finds a job in Belgium, the rest settle abroad. We have observed that 2 years after graduating, around 60% of our alumni are working abroad.
Do I need to have certain drawing skills in order to be able to succeed in one of the art-focused majors?
No previous knowledge is required; the courses start at a basic level. However, they will pick up in speed and complexity very quickly, so it is advisable to have at least basic drawing skills before choosing these majors (see further in the FAQ for suggested starting points).
What are the enrolment fees and do they include software?
Please refer to the following link: Tuition fees
Am I eligible for a scholarship or grant?
In order to determine if you are eligible for a scholarship you can refer to the following website:
Alternatively you can contact a STUVO (Student Services) staff member, who can help with the application process or in some cases offer an alternate solution to make the programme more affordable (like paying in installments). Link: Student Services (Stuvo)
Unfortunately the school itself does not offer grants.
When are the exams?
There are 3 exam periods during the academic year:
- In January for your first semester courses.
- In June for your second semester courses.
- In the second half of August for any first- or second semester retakes.
Does the campus feature a student dorm?
Howest offers limited student housing in the vicinity of its campuses, check out the following link for more information: Accommodation
Which software packages are used during the programme?
Depending on your major choice you will learn to operate industry mainstream 3D- and or programming software. To get a complete rundown of the software we currently employ, check out each course individually:
http://www.digitalartsandentertainment.be/page/14/Course+overview
What are the hardware requirements?
Most classes will require a mid to mid-high tier gaming laptop. The minimum requirements are as follows:
- CPU: 12th or 13th gen Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 7 (Zen 3-4) equivalent
- GPU: RTX 4060 or higher
- MEMORY: 16GB of DDR5 RAM
- STORAGE: 1TB (SSD boot drive recommended)
- DISPLAY: 15” FHD (1080p)
A laptop with similar specs will cost you around €1500.
We recommend ASUS hardware (TUF/Zephyrus/ROG series) due to the proximity of its hardware service center (the Netherlands) and overall sturdiness.
A small piece of advice: don’t buy your laptop a year in advance: prices will inevitably drop and/or next gen tech may be introduced. But don’t wait until the last moment to order your device either. Make sure you’re fully equipped before the start of the academic year.
For courses that require a drawing tablet we recommend the Wacom Intuos Pro (Medium) for GGP and 3D ANIM, an Intuos (Small) for IGP, VFX, GD and GSI. These tablets cost around €350 and €100 respectively (*).
(*) prices may fluctuate.
Are there extra costs, besides the laptop and drawing tablet?
All the course material will be available online for the student (free). Depending on the major choice, you may be required to buy a book or extra costs for a company visit, drawing material, audio equipment, etc.
All students are highly advised to purchase an external harddrive for back-up purposed and/or invest in a montly cloud storage subscription (Google Drive, OneDrive, MEGA, etc.).
Which computer language is taught in DAE?
That depends on which major you choose.
- Students in the Game development or Game Sound Integration major will mainly focus on C++.
- Independent Game Production students will learn to code in C#.
- Game Graphics Production and 3D & Visual Effects students learn to script in Python
Can I enrol for the English or Dutch programme?
Students with a Flemish TSO, ASO or KSO secondary school diploma can choose to enrol in the Dutch as well as the English programme. Students with a Flemish BSO diploma or with a secondary school diploma from one of the other Belgian communities, need to provide proof of minimum CEFR level B2 in English if they want to opt for the English programme.
Can I enrol after the start of the academic year?
Although it is technically possible to enrol at any time during the academic year, we strongly advise students to enrol no later than 2 weeks after the academic year has begun. Due to the pace at which new course content is processed, it will be nearly impossible to catch up with the materials and deadlines, while keeping up with the ongoing classes.
Starting at- or during the course in the second semester is not possible, as most of the courses of the second semester build upon the content of the first semester modules. It's much more useful to take the preparatory semester (Februari - June) at our local secondary school partner Athena instead: Fundamentele vorming digitale creatie 7de jaar (Dutch only)
I don’t have 60ECTS left, can I still enroll?
You are allowed to enroll for the amount of ECTS you currently own. You cannot purchase additional study credit unless you have already completed a Masters degree.
Can I switch between the Dutch and English programme?
Yes. If you are not confident enough to take the courses in English, you can choose to start in the Dutch curriculum and later switch to the English curriculum or vice versa. Regardeless you'll receive your degree in both languages.
Can I enroll for some of the courses instead of the default programme (60 ECTS per year)?
Provided that you are eligible for the IOT-status. You can take an additional year to complete the default programme in order to spread the workload (i.e. 4 instead of 3). Only students with an offically recognized learning impairment (ADD, ASS, etc.), special status (e.g. athlete, political mandate, etc.) or who have already completed a Bachelors or Masters degree are eligible for the IOT-status.
Alternatively you can opt for a credit contract which allows you to mix and match courses from all the majors in order to compliment your current skillset. You'll receive a credit certificate for each succesfully completed course, but not the DAE degree.
I’ve already had some form of higher education covering similar topics, can I apply for exemptions?
If your previous higher education’s subject matter sufficiently overlaps with the content of one or more DAE modules, you can consider applying for an exemption. You can apply up to 15 days after the start of the academic year or enrolment date (if you missed the start).
You can submit your application via your student dashboard once you've completed your re-enrolment. Be sure to provide a course overview of the relevant modules from your previous education as well as an official grade sheet or certificate.
The DAE study track counselor will then process your application and will pass on his or her decision to you soon after.
Can I pursue a master’s degree at DAE?
Sadly no. There is currently no DAE master programme. However, we do have a long-standing partnership with Breda University of Applied Science which offers a Master in Game Technology. For more information check out this link:
Can I visit the school to better help me decide which study programme to choose?
We are happy to meet you during one of our info days. Each major showcases its programme and our staff will also assist you with any questions you may have. An overview of the dates can be found on the link below.
Is there an age cap for students to enrol?
No. You are only limited by your dedication to the programme and your willingness to invest the required time.
Is there a limitation on enrollments?
No. Everybody that meets the prerequisites (see above) can enrol.
Is class attendance mandatory?
No, but you will quickly come to realize it is nearly impossible to stay on track and process the subject matter autonomously if you periodically miss class.
What is DAE?
DAE is a degree that aims to educate the best possible, production ready, employees for the international entertainment industry. No matter what major you will choose in DAE, the focus will always be on creating some sort of content for the production pipeline of an entertainment application. Both games and movies are graphical media and both are the result of a complex pipeline that includes a lot of technicalities and the use of lots of different types of software. This means that the DAE profile is that of a Technical Artist, a profile that is a mix of technical and artistic skills. If you only want to be an artist or if you only want to write code and nothing else, then DAE might not be the right choice for you.
I’m an experienced gamer or a cinephile, does this mean I’ll have a higher chance of succeeding?
Making games or movies is something completely different than playing games or watching movies. If you fail to tell the difference, you might be in for a very rough ride. Playing games and watching movies is certainly useful in order to understand the medium, how certain techniques or mechanics interact and how you can implement them in your own designs, but make sure to prioritize your schoolwork.
How do I know that I have the right profile for DAE?
There is only a very limited amount of schools worldwide that offer the same level of education as we do. If you compare DAE with playing soccer, we are not playing on a local level, we are playing in the Champions League. In other words DAE is the digital equivalent of top sport where the bar is set fairly high. You will have to train as hard as you can muster in order to reach the required level of skill. Learning how to push yourself and constantly trying to exceed your boundaries is an essential trait of a DAE student. Accepting feedback and turning it into ways to improve yourself is a crucial attitude for a DAE student.
What is (student)life in DAE like? What is the working regime like in DAE?
Life in DAE can be tough due to the high workload and the high level of expectations. This becomes exceedingly difficult if you choose to isolate yourself. Integrating yourself in our very own DAE student community is an essential element of student life in DAE. Helping others where you can and receiving help from other students where you need help is and essential part of student life in DAE.
Being able to compose a schedule and organize your work accordingly is crucial. Without proper time management, you will likely get overwhelmed. A DAE student plans his/her assignments well in advance in order to make all the deadlines. Working against deadlines is a crucial of your training in DAE. After all, missing your scheduled release date as an (indie) game studio could potentially upset stakeholders and even mean the end of acompany.
How many hours of work am I expected to deliver on a weekly basis?
Full-time students have around 25 hours of class per week. However, since we are a very practically oriented programme, students will have to continue honing their skills outside of class by working on assignments. For each hour that we spend teaching you, we expect you to spend at least one hour at home training your skills. Students can expect to invest around 40-50 hours per week in order to reach the required level of skill to get a passing grade. This amount corresponds with a fulltime working week.
What is the importance of the International Community?
Our International Community gives the campus a great vibe of different cultures and backgrounds. The international students that join DAE have a significant impact on the entire student population. They bring a different and unique perspective to our campus and Global community, as they have made this immense step to leave their home country and follow their passion for the Game/VFX industry.
What non curriculum related activities are there available at DAE?
Our DAE Community Team together with the students organize several weekly activities for students.
- Study Nights, every Thursday evening the campus stays open late for students to study together and help each other in an informal setting. For special events, our Study Night Team (2nd and 3rd year students) organize fun activities as Gaming night, Nerf Gun battles, Ping Pong contests, Global Taste Affair-a food festival where international and local students host food and culture stands and share the delicacies from their countries and more.
- Workshops and Guest Lecturers, we invite companies to give presentations to DAE students and inspire us with their passion and expertise. Our alumni are regularly back on campus to give portfolio feedback and talks about what they are working on. Subjects are diverse: artistic and programming topics, how to get into the industry, a newly released game, a movie breakdown, etc.
- Creativity Week, one week in the Spring semester, there are no regular classes, in order to make room for fun and creative workshops, talks, Game/VFX - Jams, fun evening activities etc. Our campus is packed with creative students and this week is the perfect time to test the boundaries of their creative ‘limits’.
- A plethora of clubs and guilds: board games, movies, light-saber combat, D&D, Programming Guild, Procedural Guild, etc.
- Weekly work-outs and sports
You can also organize your own club with the help of our dedicated community team.
What is the focus of the major Game Graphics Production?
GGP shapes you into a 3D artist for the games industry. You will be able to choose between a more artistic approach which focuses on creating individual objects and characters (Assets), or a more technical approach, which focuses on creating game settings and the automatization of the workflow (Environments). Although both minor tracks focus on the artistic part of game development, Environments has a substantially bigger focus on technical and programming skills.
I want to become a concept artist. Is GGP the right pick?
Although bringing concept artists to the in the industry is not our focus, the GGP STYLE minor will yield the most drawing courses and experience. If you want to completely focus on only becoming a pure concept artist, then maybe DAE is not something for you, as nearly all majors contain technical courses to some degree.
I want to do something with programming but would like to do something more visual than gameplay or back-end. Is GGP a right pick?
The minor TECH is most likely the right choice for you! In this minor we spend a lot of time giving you the tools and skills you need to weave programming-, scripting- and other technical skills into a 3D environment.
What is the focus of the major Game Development?
Although video game production is a hugely collaborative endeavor, it’s fair to say that game developers are at the core of everything. They are responsible for programming all the visual ideas, animations and sounds into the actual game itself.
As a result, they need to understand the wider vision of the game’s creators, as well as possess the technical expertise to implement it.
Where the GGP student can be considered the “artist” on game project, the GD students is the “programmer” on a game project.
How can I prepare myself best for GD?
Before you enrol, make sure that game development is the right choice for you; take a few online tutorials in programming, experiment in Unity or Game Maker, create a mod with the Steam workshop, participate in a jam on itch.io, etc. Do those experiences spark your interest? Welcome to GD.
What kind of math background is required for the major Game Development?
If you’ve seen an average of 6 hours of math during your secondary school education, you should be fine. If you’ve enjoyed more than 6 hours per week, the math courses will be even more accessible. Students that have had less than 6 hours of math in secondary school can still succeed, but will have to put in much more effort.
What is the focus of the major Independent Game Production?
IGP builds upon the technical artists roots of the DAE profile by adding a focus to game design and game production. It contains a broad overview of the entire production- and business process of game development and -design in order to guide students towards founding their own studio, creating their own production or allow them to take up supportive rolls in a production, such as an assistant producer or game play designer and developer.
What is the focus of the major Game Sound Integration?
The major GSI aims at imparting the students with an attuned set of (sound) programming skills. It teaches students a number of necessary skills to properly understand, integrate and communicate demands for an audiovisual or game production’s sound design. The curriculum features insights in 5 areas of game sound creation, namely SFX, Music implementation, Voice recording/acting, Foley recording and Ambient. Moreover, students are taught the fundamentals of recording, mix-down, mastering and audio spatialization.
What is the focus of the major 3D animation Production?
Are you fascinated by the magic of animation? We take you through the production process of a 3D animation film. We start with the visual storytelling in a storyboard: evolving from a 2D animatic to a 3D block-out to the final scene. In this pipeline, *you* are the "puppet master". Let virtual beings jump, run, fly, talk, cry, fight, fall in love... With animation, the boundaries are endless. You'll learn to analyze reference material image by image. Whether the character is an animal, a human being, an object or an alien, the silhouette, the emotion and the key pose you convey must be universal and credible. But it doesn't stop here. You'll also explore the pipeline of 3D modeling and sculpting, texturing, rigging, shading... and you'll get the chance to experiment with motion capture and photogrammetry within our high-tech greenkey studio.
What is the focus of the VFX major?
The secrets of VFX blockbusters are finally revealed! From the start of this study programme, we're going to take a look "behind the scenes" to discover what goes into the creation of all those visual effects. The process of film magic starts with rotoscoping, tracking, matchmoving and compositing. We dive into the greenkey studio or we film on location with a portable green screen. You will be given a solid technical foundation which consists of math and programming at the start of the programme, once the groundwork has been laid, we unleash the full potential of SideFx Houdini in order to give you a thorough understanding of how all the visual effects are made and what's required to bring them all to life. In addition, we see all possible scenarios in terms of simulations: explosions, smoke, particles, fluids, cloth, muscles, hair, ... You literally become *the* CGI creator of a hyperrealistic 3D scene, or you combine recorded material, 2.5D matte paintings and set extensions. Techniques such as compositing and color grading are the final steps in this production process.
How can I prepare myself?
3D:
Blender Download (free 3D package): https://www.blender.org/
Blender start tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Iu88tZ9utE
Blender tutorials:https://www.youtube.com/@blenderguru
The largest portal site for 3D: https://sketchfab.com/
MATH (AMPF):
DAE VAULT video on AMPF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_qnMDRGACI&t=501s
Side FX Interview about AMPF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBUgU5iln5Q
Freya Holmer's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOYiVLEnhrw
3 Blue 1 Brown 's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjBOesZCoqc&list=PL0-GT3co4r2y2YErbmuJw2L5tW4Ew2O5B
PREPRODUCTION
Proko's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProkoTV
The largest portal site for digital art: ARTSTATION: https://www.artstation.com/
Draw as much as possible from observation and keep and fill a sketchbook.
Experimenting in a digital image processing program such as Photoshop, GIMP (https://www.gimp.org/) or Procreate (Tablet)
PROGRAMMING FOR ARTISTS
PYTHON basic course: https://dodona.be/nl/courses/290/
PYTHON tutorials like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfscVS0vtbw or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uQrJ0TkZlc