Games Design and Development BA (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
Student wearing turban looking at screen, tutor leaning over pointing at the screen

This course will prepare you for a range of career options across this vibrant industry. You will develop all-round workflow skills and a clear understanding of the design treatment, preliminary design, development and production pipeline, enabling you to focus on a specialist area in your final year.

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

Course code

W285

Start date

September 2024


Course overview

You will explore the multi-faceted world of games design and development, from storyboarding, concept development and prototyping to creative development, quality assurance and testing, enabling you to translate your ideas into playable games.

  • Industry-led practice across all aspects of games design and development.
  • Collaborative project development to understand the entire games pipeline.
  • Studio-based approach to teaching and learning that emulates industry best practice.
Hand selecting a user icon in a coloured circle.

Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects

Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022

Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

City buildings next to a tree.

Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2023

Why you should study this course

  • This course focuses on games design and development, aiming to equip you with the skills and knowledge to conceptualise, build and test your own playable games.
  • The concept-to-playable prototype approach aims to give you industry applicable skills. The course aims to equip you with the skills for employment with developers of all sizes, working across various technologies and platforms. Alternatively, graduates should be able to design, produce and distribute their own games or to establish their own studio.
  • Integration of logical and visual design elements means you can test graphical content in gaming environments and develop original mechanics, freeing you from the constraints of genre-specific software tools thus aiming to improve your employability.
  • Real-world practices include pitching, prototyping, workable games design documents and testing
  • Industry links embedded in the course, from master classes and guest lectures to field trips2 (subject to availability).
1st

for Overall Satisfaction in Computer Games and Animation Compared to other HEI’s that offer this subject

National Student Survey (NSS) 2022

School of Art and Design Showcase

Engage with and explore the talents and achievements of our art and design Foundation Year course and final-year students.

Find out more
art_design_showcase_banner

What you'll study

This course has a common first year.

The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, so upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements). Once you learn more about your industry, you’ll be more prepared and more clued up on how you may want to progress your education.

Common first year courses:

  • Animation BA (Hons)
  • Digital Media BA (Hons)
  • Games Art BA (Hons)
  • Visual Effects (VFX) BA (Hons)

In the first year, you will develop skills across a range of areas in the creative technologies sector, working collaboratively with students from Animation, Games Art, Digital Media, and Visual Effects (VFX). You will engage with concepts of design in both 2D and 3D, explore narrative and storytelling within the context of creative technologies, and develop experience of the iterative development process.

Modules

In year two, you will continue to develop the skills and knowledge you’ve learnt. We do this by embedding the following four principles into the curriculum and developing your:

  • Technical skills – digital fluency, backed with the right academic knowledge
  • Study skills – to be an adaptive, independent and proactive learner
  • Professional skills – to have the behaviour and abilities to succeed in your career
    Global awareness – the beliefs and abilities to be a resilient, confident and motivated global citizen

You will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with: games design, concept development, prototyping and pitching.

Modules

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Modules

Year three aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from Year one and Two. You could also work on a large final project in an area of your interest, with the support of a mentor.

Modules


How you'll learn

The teaching and learning on the BA (Hons) Games Design and Development course is predicated upon the general core principle of transforming you into innovative, creative, industry-ready, reflexive games designers over the course of study.

The course will be delivered using a variety of methods including face to face workshops and lectures, and some online digital content such as guest speakers from industry.

Teaching methods will include:

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Technical workshops
  • Studio projects
  • Industry talks2

Course resources are stored on the University’s Virtual Learning environment (VLE), currently called AULA, where you will be able to access a range of digital resources such as learning materials, worksheets, talks, module handbooks and assignment briefs. The VLE also has an in-built chat function where you cane message academics directly about your work.


Teaching contact hours

We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions, which can include:

  • On campus lectures, seminars and workshops
  • Group work
  • Self-directed learning
  • Work placement opportunities2.

The number of full-time contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 12 contact hours per week in the first and second year dropping to around 10-12 contact hours per week in the third and final year as you become a more independent learner.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 15 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

Part of university life is undertaking self-directed learning. During a typical week you will have time that allows you to work independently to apply the skills and knowledge you have learnt in taught or facilitated sessions to your projects or assignment briefs. This self-directed learning allows you to use your research skills, consolidate your knowledge or undertake collaborative group work.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

  • Group work
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • Projects
  • Coursework
  • Individual assignments
  • Course-based assessment

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 112
A level BBC
GCSE Minimum 5 GCSEs graded 4 / C or above including English
BTEC DMM
IB Diploma 29 points
Access to HE The Access to HE Diploma. Plus GCSE English at grade 4 / C or above.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with a foundation year. We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Chat with us

Portfolio

You may be required to attend a portfolio showcase, activity session or audition or submit a portfolio via email (as is appropriate to your course), either virtually or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites for these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

Are you eligible for the Fair Access Scheme?

We believe every student should have the opportunity to dream big, reach their potential and succeed, regardless of their background. Find out more about our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Portfolio

You may be required to attend a portfolio showcase, activity session or audition or submit a portfolio via email (as is appropriate to your course), either virtually or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites for these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each component area)

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Chat with us


Fees and funding

2024/25 tuition fees.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £9,250 per year Not available
EU £9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary**
£19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International £19,850 per year Not available

If you choose to do a work placement2, you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee3 of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

You will have access to cutting edge facilities, which features post-production studios, games and animation studios, immersive studios with performance capture facilities, electronic and digital hack labs and much more. The ethos of the building is one of playful, open, collaborative approaches that bring together interesting configurations of people, spaces, technologies, and ideas, and this will provide exciting opportunities for students on the course to collaborate and for staff to develop and adapt approaches to course pedagogy and delivery.

  • The high-end games and animation studios allow you to develop working playable versions of your games using state-of-the-art hardware and software used in industry
  • The immersive studios includes performance capture and audio capabilities allowing you to engage with development methods across the games design and development pipeline
  • The electronic and digital hack labs allow you to experiment with new and emerging technologies in the context of games design and development

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of this course, you may take on roles ranging from community manager, games producer, or games publisher, to gameplay designer, level designer, UX designer, Quality Assurance (QA) tester or games writer.

You should have developed an understanding of the key priorities for the games industry, such as the recent change in working patterns, equality, diversity and inclusion, talent acquisition and retention, and an understanding of cultural and commercial priorities, by engaging in real-world scenarios and collaborative opportunities and embedding theoretical and applied-practical exploration of sustainability, representation, player experience, and emerging areas of practice.

Further study

Graduates may progress into master's study with courses such as:

You can explore all of your options using our postgraduate course search tool. You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

Graduate Immigration Route visa

Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.


How to apply

Full-time students applying to start in September 2024 can apply for this course through UCAS. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

Part-time students should apply directly to the university.


If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

International codes:
AHU099

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.

This course with foundation year is not currently available to international students. If you do not meet the entry requirements to directly join year 1 of the degree, please take a look at our International Pathways Programme for additional options.


Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

You may also like

Coventry University (Coventry) Collage of student-created gaming characters and environments

Games Art BA (Hons)

Coventry University (Coventry) Colourful graphic shot of student holding hands with another student out of shot

Digital Media BA (Hons)

Coventry University (Coventry) Student stood behind a 3D digital animation

Animation BA (Hons)


Discover Uni stats