GAMES DESIGN available from Sept. 2024
Develop technologies that impact business and society.
GAMES DESIGN OVERVIEW
The Games Design degree course will develop both your creative skills, alongside your understanding of the game design process. Using your theoretical knowledge of modern games design, you will learn how to create original and engaging 2D and 3D game characters, compelling narratives and believable worlds, in order to capture the imagination of the user.
There’s an emphasis on developing your practical skills, with plenty of opportunity to bring your game ideas to life and develop your own game prototypes. Alongside this, you will prepare for your future career by understanding the role of a Game Designer in the context of a Games Studio environment. You will build the essential skills needed to operate as part of a multidisciplinary team and collaborate with others.
Further to this, you will also:
- Develop the ability to describe and interrogate the games design and development process.
- Expand your knowledge of research methods and understand the techniques used to gather informative data.
- Understand human and creature anatomy, personality, physiological aspects and expressions, that bring animated characters to life.
- Reflect on your own gaming history to consider game feel, player motivations and the psychology of gamers.
- Explore the relationship between innovation and technology and experiment with immersive platforms such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR).
- Learn how to design a compelling narrative and believable worlds for deeper player engagement.
- Create a fully animated playable or non-playable character within a game engine.
- Consider how users interact with games in different ways and how games can be designed to maximise inclusion for all.
By studying the Games Design degree course, you will gain a solid foundation for your chosen career path. There’s a strong focus on providing practically applicable skills that employers within the industry need and value. Also, with both academic and practical experience, you will be prepared to unlock your future career aspirations.
- Your theoretical understanding will be enhanced by opportunities to learn, develop and demonstrate a wide range of practical and applied skills and competencies.
- You’ll work closely with our industry partners such as Microsoft in order to gain a full insight into the digital working environment. Microsoft also provide mentorship to students and online sessions, with other partners including TalkTalk and KPMG getting involved too with guest lectures.
No traditional end-of-year exams. Assessments will be practical and competency-based where possible* including individual and group work in a range of formats such as case studies, essays, reports, literature reviews, reflective logs and diaries, self and peer evaluations, audio/visual projects and presentations.
All UA92 degrees are awarded by Lancaster University.
KEY INFORMATION
Duration
- 2 - 4 Years
Intakes
- September
- November†
- January
- February
- April
- June
Location
- Manchester
You can complete your degree in as little as two years, depending on your starting point and study preference. For example:
- Standard degree – three years to complete*
- Accelerated degree – two years to complete*
- Foundation with standard degree – four years to complete
- Foundation with accelerated degree – three years to complete
†Not applicable for two year accelerated degree
*Entry via Integrated Year One or direct entry
UNIQUE LEARNING APPROACH
While engaging with this degree you will gain theoretical understanding of the topics you are exploring, you will also have opportunities to learn, develop and demonstrate a wide range of practical and applied skills and competencies.
Assessments will include individual and group work submissions and could be in the form of case studies, essays, reports, literature reviews, reflective logs and diaries, self and peer evaluations, group and individual presentations along with subject-specific skills and competency assessment.
You will also go on a personal development journey. From leadership to resilience and effective team working – it’s all covered by our Target Talent Curriculum.
- Academic and English Skills
This module is designed to provide students the grounding ready to undertake Level 4 study. It focuses on developing students’ knowledge, communication, analytical, critical thinking and key transferable skills which support undergraduate study. It includes a planned combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars, peer support activities, and blended learning to enable candidates to achieve these essential skills. There is an emphasis on student-driven learning and student engagement and participation in the design and evaluation of the module.
- Introduction to Numerical Techniques
This module will introduce students to basic maths theory and concepts to prepare them for studies in the first year of a degree. It includes a planned combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars, peer support activities, and blended learning to enable candidates to achieve these essential skills. There is an emphasis on student-driven learning and student engagement and participation in the design and evaluation of the module.
- Introduction to Research
This module is designed to provide students with the necessary research skills to be able to succeed at Level 4 study and beyond. It will enable students to understand, generate, analyse and interpret data and to draw valid conclusions from data. It develops students research skills, how to conduct effective research supported by a clear research plan and data analysis techniques. It includes a planned combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars, peer support activities, and blended learning to enable candidates to achieve these essential skills. There is an emphasis on student-driven learning and student engagement and participation in the design and evaluation of the module.
- Principles of IT
This module aims to develop in students from a wide range of cultures and experience with computers a good understanding of and ability to use common applications (Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint) in document creation, data collation and presentation. Students will also be made aware of the benefits of using web-based applications for information presentation and will be expected to use IT to communicate information effectively in a variety of forms. It includes a planned combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars, peer support activities, and blended learning to enable candidates to achieve these essential skills. There is an emphasis on student-driven learning and student engagement and participation in the design and evaluation of the module.
- 2D Game Design and Development
- Games Fundamentals
- Character Design for Games
- The Design of Play
- Innovation and Technology
- Games Studio
- Gamification
- Narrative and World Building
- Professional Portfolio and Research
- Advanced 3D Modelling and Animation Tools
- Animate Player and Creature Production
- Project
To enable you to complete your degree and enter the world of graduate-work much faster, you will study 6 blocks of 6 weeks per year for 2 years. This is instead of studying the three-year standard structure of 4 blocks of 6 weeks per year.
Students choosing the two-year accelerated degree, will study all the modules outlined above but in a more condensed period.
The two-year accelerated degree is only available when commencing in the September, January and April intakes. When applying, please indicate that you wish to apply for this two-year option.
Designed for international students, this entry point will develop a greater understanding of the skills you will need to develop in order to successfully and confidently progress with your UK degree.
The additional module has been designed to help students develop their academic literacy, and research and communication skills in preparation for undergraduate study. The areas of reading, writing, speaking, and listening will be covered. The Integrated Year One will also help students understand the institutional culture, practices and core terminology of UK higher education.
Integrated Year One students will study all academic modules with direct Year One entrants. Additional support and guidance, designed for international students, will also be provided.
The Integrated Year One accepts students with a lower academic level than the standard Year One.
At UA92 the Computer Science degree has been co-designed with industry giant Microsoft, computer services provider Insight, coding bootcamp Code Nation, connectivity providers TalkTalk and the Technology team at KPMG. This truly innovative approach to curriculum development means students develop the practical skills required in the tech industry as determined by the industry itself that is underpinned by learning the theoretical knowledge. Leading experts at these organisations will provide regular guest lectures, masterclasses and mentorship, whilst also inputting into project work and providing regular time off-campus working directly in tech businesses on live projects and client briefs.
Further industry connections are built through the Character and Personal Development modules within the Target Talent Curriculum. Students work on projects set by a range of partners and undertake placements which build on their subject discipline.
Foundation (One Year)
2023/2024 – £14,450
Degree (Per Year)
Integrated Year One: £16,950 (followed by standard degree fee for Year 2 and 3) or £24,450 (followed by accelerated degree fee for Year 2)
Standard three-year degree: £15,344 (per year)
Accelerated two-year degree: £23,001 (per year)