Computer Games Design - BA (Hons), HND, HNC, Foundation Entry

Our philosophy: For students to design and create interactive projects that showcase their knowledge of game development.
 
We pride ourselves on having a personal approach to student learning and development with smaller tutorial groups and dedicated workspaces exclusively for the CCGD course.
 
With industry links, staff experience in game development, as part of the PlayStation®First Academic Program and as an Unreal Academic Partner we intend on equipping students with industry-relevant knowledge that will help them build a career in game development.

This programme gives priority to the creative exploration of computer games design. You are given all the necessary knowledge to develop new and innovative work in the fields of character creation, 3D graphics, animation, character and environment modelling, texturing, interface design, and concept art. Games mechanics and rule systems ("ludology") are explored often using paper-based concept mock-ups. You are encouraged to explore and develop your ideas in and around the subject area in a series of thought-provoking contextual study modules.

Student learning is primarily through practice: the degree is focussed on you producing working computer games of your own design and culminates in a series of personally directed projects which allow you to direct your studies towards a preferred specialist area. The emphasis is on personal expression!
With UWTSD being a member of the PlayStation®First Academic Program run by Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe (SIEE), both students and staff can now take advantage of developing game ideas directly on the Playstation 4 console platform.

The School has excellent links with games production companies both locally and nationally. Through dialogue with industry and the application of the latest developments in games, graduates from this programme are suitably equipped to enter their industry as practitioners. Areas of employment might include Level Artist, Environmental Modeller, Character Artist, Character Modeller, Texture Artist, and Traditional/Digital Concept Artist.

Year One – Level 4 (HNC, HND & BA)

• Contemporary Challenges: Making a Difference (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Environment Design (20 credits; compulsory)
• Game Design and History (20 credits; compulsory)
• Introduction to Character Animation (20 credits; compulsory)
• Learning in the Digital Era (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Visual Studies (20 credits; compulsory).

Year Two – Level 5 (HND & BA)

• Advanced Character Animation (20 credits; compulsory)
• Changemakers: Building your Personal Brand for Sustainable Employment (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Changemakers: Creativity and Value Creation (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Game Theory and Design (20 credits; compulsory)
• Indie Game Development (20 credits; compulsory)
• Level Design and Development (20 credits; compulsory).

 Year Three – Level 6 (BA)

• Advanced Character Performance (20 credits; compulsory)
• Independent Project (40 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Emerging Trends (20 credits; compulsory)
• Personal Portfolio Development (20 credits; compulsory)
• User Experience Design (20 credits; compulsory).

Assessment is carried out through coursework, both written and practical. There are no exams on this course. Students are formatively assessed throughout a module, summative assessment takes place at the end of a module.
 
In order to maintain academic integrity, a range of strategies are adopted. Most practical work includes formal written elements of some sort: everything from the standard essay format through to things like usability reports, product definition documents, responses to/critiques of seminal academic papers, learning journals, business plans, etc. At Level 6 all students will have to complete a Dissertation.
 
From L4 onwards students are also widely assessed in presentations, culminating at L6 in the Major Project. We have found the viva voce style assessment well-suited to the work we do within the School, which, whilst having a technical underpinning, often has strong similarities to fine art practice.

This Framework aims to develop your professional skills and competence alongside your academic subject knowledge. You’ll study up to 40 credits per level throughout your programme from the Graduate Attributes Framework.

The Graduate Attribute modules are designed to enable you to develop, and evidence, a range of career-focused skills related to your subject area. These skills include digital competency, research and project management, as well as such personal competencies as communication, creativity, self-reflection, resilience and problem-solving. 

• Find out more about the Graduate Attributes Framework

• Richard Morgan
• Nabeel Masih
• Adam Head

We are interested in creative people that demonstrate a strong commitment to art and/or design and therefore we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. To assess student suitability for their chosen course we arrange interviews for all applicants at which your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered as well as your portfolio of work.

Our standard offer for a degree course is 120 UCAS tariff points. We expect applicants to have a grade C or above in English Language (or Welsh) at GCSE level, together with passes in another four subjects. Plus we accept a range of Level 3 qualifications including:

• Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, plus one GCE A-Level in a relevant academic subject
• Three GCE A-Levels or equivalent
• BTEC Extended Diploma in a relevant subject, with minimum grades of Merit
• International Baccalaureate score of 32
• Other relevant qualifications can be considered on an individual basis

Qualifications are important, however, our offers are not solely based on academic results. If you don’t have the required UCAS points then please contact the courses admissions tutor or email artanddesign@uwtsd.ac.uk as we can consider offers to applicants based on individual merit, exceptional work, and/or practical experience.

See our Interview Guide for more information.

Graduates from our Computer Games Design programme could develop specialisms in any of the following industrial contexts:

• Web and Mobile Gaming: designer, 2D artist, 3D artist, project director.
• Console/PC Games Development: level designer, character designer, character modeller, animator, materials artist, lighting artist, storyboard artist, assistant level designer, assistant character modeller, lighting assistant, assistant texture artist, assistant concept artist, trainee game designer, asset modeller, game Q&A.
• Animation Production House: character designer, character modeller, animator, materials artist, lighting artist, storyboard artist, project director.
• Game journalist.

Students from the course have worked on a number of critically acclaimed games over the past few years including Grand Theft Auto 5, Alien: Isolation, and Lego Star Wars 3. The course has links with games companies such as:

• EA
• Rockstar North
• Creative Assembly
• Media Molecule
• Traveller’s Tales
• Fusebox Games
• Blizzard
• Creative Assembly

Our students have access to a diverse range of equipment and resources, which in most cases are sufficient to complete their programme of study. We provide the basic materials necessary for students to develop their practical work within our extensive workshop and studio facilities.

However, it is likely that art and design students will incur some additional costs to extend their investigation of their personal practice. For example, purchasing their own specialised materials and equipment, joining in optional study trips, and printing. 

Students are expected to bring their own personal art and design equipment with them when they commence the course.  We can advise on the correct equipment needed for your programme of studies and signpost appropriate suppliers if you wish to purchase essential items before or during your studies.  

A basic ‘art and design kit’ will cost approximately £100 but you may well already have much of the equipment required so check with us first.  Also, although we have extensive dedicated digital design studios (PC and MAC) for you to undertake your coursework you may wish to bring your own digital devices, again check with us first before making a purchase.

• Art & Design Foundation

Sean Ellis

“Throughout my degree, I made some lifelong, like-minded friends and learned what it truly meant to work as part of a production team. Our lecturers' infectious passion for games and art helped me to surpass my own expectations, and my newly learned skills landed me a job as a 3D artist straight out of Uni”.

James Penhallurick

“Terrific course with plenty of opportunities to create fun games, push creative skills and get a taste of working in the games industry."

Joe Blanchard

"After completing my first year on this degree, I can confidently say I really enjoyed it. I learned a lot of skills with the relevant software, but I found animation the most rewarding. I am looking forward to the next few years of my course.”

Adam Head

"This course is a really fun and rewarding journey through the world of creative games design.  It has, through its fantastic lecturers, taught me the essential skills I'll need to thrive in the games industry."

Connor Furneaux

"Even when I am doing things wrong I am still creating pathways to different means, you are constantly learning new and interesting things on this course."

Ben Long

"The course has helped me improve my communication skills and now I know how to work effectively in a team. Learning to create games has been an incredible learning experience."

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.  To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit our Scholarships and Bursaries section.

Visit Go Global with UWTSD for more information about studying abroad.

Visit our Swansea Accommodation section to find out more.