BA (Hons) Computer Games Design

We aim to challenge you right from the outset on this Computer Games Design degree. Youll be involved in group and individual projects, in addition to lectures, talks, seminars, weekly drawing sessions and technical workshops.

You'll study key elements of games design, from concept sketching, games culture and game mechanics, to 3D modelling, game engine and prototyping, as well as pitching, project management and development. Working individually and as part of a team, we'll help you develop examples of working games that you can present to industry in a portfolio of your best work.

In your second year, you'll work on larger industry-focused projects, with a major project in your final year. This will be a professional production you can present to industry and develop into a strong portfolio that will enhance your employability.

Year One: Computer Games Design degree

• Making Games
• Level Design
• Building Worlds
• Game Studies One
• Visual Studies

Year Two: Computer Games Design degree

• Experimental Games
• Professional Practice
• Game Studies Two
• Content Creation Techniques

Year Three: Computer Games Design degree

• Game Prototypes
• Game Production
• Dissertation
• Portfolio

As your thinking develops and your skills improve we push you further by exploring the key ideas that are driving the industry. Longer, group-based, industry focused projects are vital as you develop your own ideas, visual language, technical skills and working methods, as well as meeting industry professionals and presenting your work to them.

In the final year of the Computer Games Design course, we will expect you to deliver a large-scale professional production, supported by advanced workshops, seminars and tutorials. We will want to see you demonstrate your understanding of your work and its context, in your creative design and in your writing.

Enthusiasm for the industry is essential at every stage and throughout the course; professional industry practice will need to be mirrored in attitude and production.

To ensure you have the skills to cope in the industry, we assess you through presentations, group work, development diaries, writing and designing your portfolio, providing feedback as you progress.

The entry criteria below shows the qualification range within which the University will make offers. The University has a Contextual Admissions Policy, therefore, whilst most offers we make are at the top of the range, under the Policy we take certain aspects of an application into consideration and eligible UCAS applicants can receive a personalised offer or have results considered individually when you receive them.Here is a link to our Contextual Admissions Policy Statement. 

Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable. 

Applicants in the UK

Selection for this course is based on a suitable application and attendance at an interview with successful outcome. You may also be required to provide a portfolio of your work prior to attending interview where your course requires this, and full details of what is required will be provided once your application has been processed.

Applicants outside the UK

Selection for this course is based on a suitable application and submission of a portfolio of your work which the Course Leader confirms is suitable for an offer to be made.

Typical A-Level Offer

Typical Welsh BACC Offer

Typical BTEC Offer

Typical IB Offer

Typical Access to HE Offer

Additional Requirements

International Entry Requirements

Computer Games Design graduates find employment in the games industry, primarily in games design, but also developing concept art, animation, level design and play-testing. Our graduates have also found success in contemporary advertising, motion graphics, VR, and illustration.

Graduates of our Computer Games Design course have entered employment with industry notables such as Electronic Arts, Rocksteady, Rare, Creative Assembly and Aardman, amongst others. Many of our students have started their own companies, a few of note are, Bithell Games, Toxic Games and Fiddlesticks.

Our Careers and Employability Service

As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.

This includes: one-to-one appointments from faculty based Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or even on Skype and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, interview simulator and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.

Our Careers service has dedicated teams: A central work experience team to help you find relevant placements; an employability development team which includes an employability programme called Grad Edge; and an Enterprise team focused on new business ideas and entrepreneurship.