best uni for game design

Overview
Course structure
Entry requirements
Fees & funding
Future prospects
Next steps

Undergraduate

BA Game Design

Learn from experts who've worked on BAFTA-winning games and led projects across Europe.

Key information

Typical offer

112 points

A Level grades: BBC

Choose an option

Standard course option With a foundation year With a placement year

Course overview

Growth in the UK games industry has been the fastest it has ever been, generating almost £1 billion in revenue in 2020. Our hands-on course aims to prepare you for a career in this exciting industry and beyond with a focus on employability, allowing you to develop a professional-standard portfolio to showcase your abilities and boost your career prospects.

Our relationship with Game Republic – a network of game developers throughout Yorkshire and the North, means you could take part in their annual Student Showcase – presenting final-year projects to industry employers and competing against teams from other universities in the region.

You'll have access to our media labs, home to the latest digital media software and hardware used in the industry today.

Alongside gaining skills required by the games industry, you will develop transferrable skills such as communication, problem solving and collaborating within multi-disciplinary teams – all essential attributes for graduates seeking employment within the creative sector.

Explore the world of games development and enhance your skills across a number of areas including Game Design, Game Art, Game Audio and Narrative Design.

Study under experts who've worked on BAFTA Award-winning games and PlayStation 5 launch titles.

Use the latest immersive technology such as our Virtuix Omni VR treadmill which allows you to physically walk in a virtual environment

Access to Viper – the highest rated computer in the North of England – for lightning fast, high quality 3D rendering.

Work Placement opportunities with Lampada Digital Solutions – working on Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality projects for the private and public sectors.

Take on extra curricular events, including game jams and study trips to the Yorkshire Games Festival.

A number of guest speakers from a range of industry backgrounds. Previous speakers include David Dino from Sumo Digital, Wesley Arthur from Sumo Digital, Simon Barratt CEO Cooperative Innovations, Steve Ince Games Writer, Fee Laming GaMaYo, Jamie Sefton Game Republic, Rebecca Hill National Science & Media Museum, Adam BetaJester, Ian Livingstone CBE Co-founder Games Workshop, Matt Glanville, Andrew Crawshaw.

Opportunities for advice on portfolios and CVs and the option to take part in international game student competitions.

Six reasons to study Game Design at Hull

Exclusive access to the industry standard software and hardware in our media labs
96% graduate employability rating*
The latest tech, like our Virtuix Omni VR platform and our super-computer and render farm, VIPER
Links to top names like Microsoft and Epic Games
Choose to spend a CV-boosting year in industry
Enjoy game jams and study trips to gaming events

What you'll study

The course consists of 120 credits per year. Most modules are 20 credits, meaning you'll study six modules each year. Some longer modules, such as a dissertation, are worth more (e.g. 40 credits). In these cases, you'll study fewer modules - but the number of credits will always add up to 120.

First year Second year Final year

First year modules

Compulsory

Game Design & Prototyping

You probably have a number of ideas for games you'd like to make. It's time you started making them. You will develop your own game concepts by applying game design theories and principles and bring your ideas to life by learning to prototype them within a game engine. This module will build on your scripting skills from the ground up through small simple game prototypes, providing you with the skills to create your first finished game project.

Art & Animation Fundamentals

Any game you work on is going to need artwork. This module will teach you the fundamentals of visual design in order to make suitable and compelling artwork for your games. You'll explore traditional and digital art techniques and apply artistic concepts such as composition, line and shape, colour theory, texture, typography etc. This module will allow you to develop an ongoing digital sketchbook as you experiment with line drawing, perspective drawing, thumbnail sketching, silhouettes, character concepts, environment concepts, graphic design as well as digital tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator and 3D art packages.

Introduction to Game Audio

The creation and implementation of effective audio is central to game design –supporting dramatic story-telling, immersion, interactivity, game mechanics, as well as emotional and physiological engagement. In this module you will explore some of the creative and technical challenges faced when designing and implementing game audio. The knowledge and skills you acquire in this module will help you to use audio more effectively in your own game projects and will inform future collaborative work with audio practitioners and interdisciplinary creative teams.

3D Asset Design

This module is an introduction to the principles and practice of 3D Design. You will develop your creative thinking and problem solving skills; learn the basics of modelling, textures, 3D painting and rendering; and design your own 3D assets and portfolio.

Environment Design

This module will introduce the ideas, techniques and working practices to realise complete game ready video game environments. By creating your own game environment, you will explore game engines from an art perspective, how to create game ready assets, learn about lighting principles, texturing, 3D, and develop an understanding f environment art pipelines as well as enhancing your creative thinking skills and problem solving abilities. At the end of the project you will have a piece of work that you can display in your portfolio which will help you on your journey into the gaming industry

Critical Game Studies

In order to create innovative and original game experiences, it's important to understand where games came from and the current landscape of the games industry. In this module you will explore the historical, social and political contexts of games, play and design. We'll look at how to analyse games, how games get made, the people that make them and games from a consumer perspective. The module will perform analysis on video games and its industry including topics such as gender, representation, misogyny in video games, Law, ethics, regulation and censorship. will consider sustainable game development practices and generate original concepts for game designs that could "change the world".

Second year modules

Compulsory

Post-Production & VFX

This module is designed to introduce the ideas, techniques and working practices to create particle and visual FX for video games. You will explore how to create VFX for environments, animations and gameplay scenarios as well as developing creative thinking skills important for artists who want to break into the gaming industry.

Collaborative Game Project

Choose your own specialism and work with other students from various disciplines as you work together to develop a complete game project. The module presents the opportunity to learn from one another, to develop new skills and apply fresh approaches. Practice important skills such as team work, project management and communication as you work collaboratively to produce a high quality game project that can be used as a portfolio piece upon graduation.
Optional

Level Design

Excessive guidance markers, compasses and mini maps can often feel contrived in video games. A well designed level should be able to guide the player using the landscape and the game environment. Find out how you can do this in your own games as we explore principles and theories of level design and put them into practice by making a 3D version of an imagined game world. In this module you will look at generating suitable level designs and prototyping them in a level blockout. We will explore building 3D environments using geometry and terrain and adding interaction through scripting game logic to enhance the players journey.

3D Character Design

In this module you will create a series of animated action sequences for a 3D character and learn how to apply the 12 principles of animation. You will learn a range of production steps required to design believable realistic animated movement with your character.

Practical Skills for UI/UX

Learn how to create appropriate and professional User Interfaces for games and develop considerations for the user experience.

Scriptwriting for Game Stories

Love the idea of narrative design for games, but not sure where to start? Learn about characterisation, dialogue, structure and adaptation. Develop your skills in giving and receiving feedback on creative work. Learn how to work effectively in a group. Sharing work, encouraging other writers and being encouraged by others to be the best scriptwriter you can be.

Rapid Prototype Design

Make a game a week. That's the essential premise of this module. You will be provided with different themes on a weekly basis and challenged to produce a working game prototype as efficiently as possible, aiming for strict deadlines. By the end of the module you will have accrued a portfolio of functional game prototypes for inclusion in a game design portfolio as well as a library of script, sounds, images and other assets that can be reused in future game design prototypes.

3D Character Animation

In this module you will apply the principle of animation and translate your original 3D character design into a series of animated action sequences. You will learn a range of production steps required to design believable realistic animated movement with your character.

Music & Sound for Media

Music & Sound for Media is a practical project-based module which supports the development of specialised creative and technical skills involved in the production of sound and music for visual media. You can undertake a variety of projects, including; films, games, music videos, interactive installations, and performances with visual projection. As projects are developed, general principles relating to the interaction of sight and sound will be explored, such as functionality, audio-visual correspondence and implementation.

Placement year modules

Your placement is your opportunity to get some real-world work experience under your belt.

Just like in the real world, you'll be responsible for finding and applying for opportunities, with the added benefit of help and support from university services such as the Careers and Employability service based in Student Central.

Students on placement have a dedicated Academic Support Tutor. Your tutor will talk you through potential placement opportunities, help with applications and support you during the year.

Placements can be with multinational organisations employing large teams of design staff (such as Sky or the BBC), through to small to medium enterprises around the UK and beyond. We also work closely with the Centre for Digital Innovation, a £15-million investment in Hull's digital industry. Placements may be possible in this organisation, providing you with opportunities to gain valuable relevant experience in the local area.

Final year modules

Compulsory

Major Project

You will have the opportunity to focus on a specific interest in order to produce a substantial practical design projector prototype. You should aspire to the highest academic and professional standards as this module can act as a gateway toward employment or further study leading to an advanced degree.

Emerging Technologies

In this module you will explore a range of developing design technologies such as artificial intelligence and Immersive design. You will develop your own original designs based on a variety of design approaches and tools. You will also gain an understanding of how to consider the user experience within these technologies in new ways of designing.

Professional Portfolio Design

In this module, you will have the opportunity to refine and develop the portfolio begun at the commencement of your degree into a resource optimised for your preferred role or roles in the creative industries.

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

How you'll study

Throughout your degree, you're expected to study for 1,200 hours per year. That's based on 200 hours per 20 credit module. And it includes scheduled hours, time spent on placement and independent study. How this time's divided among each of these varies each year and depends on the course and modules you study.

First year Second year Final year

Overall workload

240 hours

Scheduled study Scheduled hours typically include lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and supervised laboratory and studio sessions.

960 hours

Independent study Independent study is the time outside your scheduled timetable, where you'll be expected to study independently.

Indicative assessment proportions

Practical

Practical is an assessment of your skills and competencies. This could include presentations, school experience, work experience or laboratory work.
Coursework

Coursework typically includes essays, written assignments, dissertations, research projects or producing a portfolio of your work.

Overall workload

252 hours

Scheduled study Scheduled hours typically include lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and supervised laboratory and studio sessions.

948 hours

Independent study Independent study is the time outside your scheduled timetable, where you'll be expected to study independently.

Indicative assessment proportions

Practical

Practical is an assessment of your skills and competencies. This could include presentations, school experience, work experience or laboratory work.
Coursework

Coursework typically includes essays, written assignments, dissertations, research projects or producing a portfolio of your work.

Overall workload

228 hours

Scheduled study Scheduled hours typically include lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and supervised laboratory and studio sessions.

972 hours

Independent study Independent study is the time outside your scheduled timetable, where you'll be expected to study independently.

Indicative assessment proportions

Examination

Written assessment typically includes exams and multiple choice tests.
Practical

Practical is an assessment of your skills and competencies. This could include presentations, school experience, work experience or laboratory work.
Coursework

Coursework typically includes essays, written assignments, dissertations, research projects or producing a portfolio of your work.

Overall workload

204 hours

Scheduled study Scheduled hours typically include lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and supervised laboratory and studio sessions.

996 hours

Independent study Independent study is the time outside your scheduled timetable, where you'll be expected to study independently.

Indicative assessment proportions

Examination

Written assessment typically includes exams and multiple choice tests.
Practical

Practical is an assessment of your skills and competencies. This could include presentations, school experience, work experience or laboratory work.
Coursework

Coursework typically includes essays, written assignments, dissertations, research projects or producing a portfolio of your work.

Ryan Connor Game and Entertainment Design

Why I chose Game and Entertainment Design at Hull

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Placement year

Spend a year in industry getting real world experience with organisations from small studios to multinationals.

Media Labs

You'll have exclusive access to our media labs, home to the latest digital media software and hardware used in the industry today.

Entry requirements

UK Residents International students

We offer a Foundation Year to boost your skills and knowledge – it's a great way to make your way into higher education.

Switch to the foundation course

Switch to the foundation year

Points can be from any qualifications on the UCAS tariff, but must include at least 80 points from

A levels
BTEC Subsidiary Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma
OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma
CACHE Diploma or Extended Diploma
Irish Leaving Certificate
Scottish Highers
Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma
or a combination of appropriate Level 3 qualifications

Alternative qualifications

IB Diploma: 28 points.
Access to HE Diploma: pass with minimum of 45 credits at merit.

Worried you don't quite meet our entry requirements?

We consider experience and qualifications from the UK and worldwide which may not exactly match the combinations above.

But it's not just about the grades – we'll look at your whole application. We want to know what makes you tick, and about your previous experience, so make sure that you complete your personal statement.

If you have any questions, our admissions team will be happy to help.

Points can be from any qualifications on the UCAS tariff, but must include at least 80 points from

A levels
BTEC Subsidiary Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma
OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma
CACHE Diploma or Extended Diploma
Irish Leaving Certificate
Scottish Highers
Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma
or a combination of appropriate Level 3 qualifications

Alternative qualifications

IB Diploma: 28 points.
Access to HE Diploma: pass with minimum of 45 credits at merit.

Worried you don't quite meet our entry requirements?

We consider experience and qualifications from the UK and worldwide which may not exactly match the combinations above.

If you have any questions, our admissions team will be happy to help.

We offer a Foundation Year to boost your skills and knowledge – it's a great way to make your way into higher education.

Switch to the foundation course

Switch to the foundation year

Our teaching staff

Click and drag

Take a tour of the facilities

Our Game Design students enjoy access to facilities such as our virtual control room.

Fees and funding

Student Fees Additional costs

EU/International

£15,400 per year

*The amount you pay may increase each year, in line with inflation - but capped to the Retail Price Index (RPI).

The fees shown are for 2022 entry. The fees for 2023 have not yet been confirmed and may increase.

UK students can take out a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of their course and a maintenance loan of up to £9,488 to cover living costs.

Substantial discounts are available for International students.

More information on fees can be found in the Money section of our website.

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme (including registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examination).

There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make. The list below has some examples, and any extra costs will vary.

Books (you'll have access to books from your module reading lists in the library, but you may want to buy your own copies)
Optional field trips
Study abroad (including travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
Placement costs (including travel costs and accommodation)
Student visas (international students)
Laptop (you'll have access to laptops and PC's on campus, but you may want to buy your own)
Printing and photocopying
Professional-body membership
Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you'll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel and food – to name just a few.

Your future prospects

Game designer
2D or 3D artist
VFX artist
Environment artist
Texture artist
Character designer

This programme is geared towards creating graduates who are ready to work in the games and entertainment industries.

Our students have gone on to successful careers with companies, including the BBC, in games design, multimedia production and marketing.

Ready to apply?

You can apply for this course through UCAS. As well as providing your academic qualifications, you'll be able to showcase your skills, qualities and passion for the subject.

APPLY NOW VIA UCAS HOW TO APPLY

*Percentage of students from this subject area in work or further study within 15 months of graduating: UK domicile full-time first degree leavers, Graduate Outcomes survey for the academic year 2017/18, published by HESA 2020.