Wolverhampton School of Art

BA (Hons) Game Design

BA (Hons) Part-time 6 years, Full-time 3 years

Dive into the creative and technical aspects of game creation with our BA (Hons) in Game Design. This comprehensive program covers everything from conceptual design and storytelling to user experience and project management, preparing you for a diverse range of careers in the thriving game industry.

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Dive into the creative and technical aspects of game creation with our BA (Hons) in Game Design. This comprehensive program covers everything from conceptual design and storytelling to user experience and project management, preparing you for a diverse range of careers in the thriving game industry.

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BA (Hons)
Start date(s)
15 September 2025
UCAS Code
W284
Course specifications
View course spec
Course length
Part-time (6 years),Full-time (3 years)
Campus location
University: City Campus
School
Wolverhampton School of Art
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Why choose this course?

If like us, you are excited by games and are fascinated by how they are made; and if you want to develop your skills and turn your ideas into games, you will enjoy our course. We will introduce you to all the main processes involved in the design and making of computer games. What makes our course special is that it covers both the artist side as well as the technical side of computer games. You will be involved from the initial idea generation to making the final game while working individually or as part of a team.

The focus of the course is on creativity, innovation, ideas generation, drawing and design as well as critical thinking, problem solving and passion for games. Yes, you will use a variety of specialist and industry-standard software packages; yes, you will do some coding; yes, you will learn about the gaming hardware; but all because you want to bring your creative game ideas to life. In this course, there is a fine balance between theory and practice on the one hand and design and making on the other.

You will study theories of game design, research and ideas generation, concept design, level design & development, character design, 3D modelling & texturing, environmental design, audio design for games, animation and interaction design through visual and nonvisual coding. You will have the opportunity to experiment with Virtual Reality and motion capture technology as part of your projects. Throughout your study, we will encourage you to develop the ability to be reflective and critical about the game industry and about your own work. We will prepare and support you for getting a job in the industry and self-employment.

You will be guided and supported by a friendly and highly experienced professional educators. We have a track record of high student satisfaction rate about their teaching and learning experience on our course. We will treat you with care and respect while giving you the individualised attention and support that you need. We always see you as a student not a ‘customer’.

The industry needs more female game designers. We are therefore actively encouraging and supporting applications from female candidates with suitable art and design and other creative backgrounds.   

 

 

What's unique about this course?

  •  Computer Games Design is part of our new multi-million pound, Screen School.
  • On this course you will use a variety of specialist and industry-standard software packages.
  • Our Animation Base room within Screen School is complete with Cintiq drawing pads as well as six Individual Stop Motion Animation Booths.

What happens on the course?

As a full-time student you will be studying three modules per semester which requires about 12 hours of attendance per week. The rest of the learning will be self-directed outside the formal sessions. You will study in well-equipped studios. The studios are accessible from 8 am to 8 pm. There are no formal exams and all assignments are based on briefs and assessed by coursework. You can always book a session with your tutors for a one to one meeting to discuss your progress and get individualized support.

Students who join our course come from various academic backgrounds. So, in the first year we introduce everyone to the fundamentals of game design and gradually build on that foundation in years two and three.

In Year 1 you will study the theory of game design and are introduced to the process and strategies involved. You will also study digital arts, level design, 3D modelling and interaction design through code.

In Year 2 you will build on the previous year and explore the world of serious games and game ethics and deign and present your own serious game. You will also study game audio which involves recording and editing your own sounds for games; will get involved in team production of a game and take a specific role within that team; improve your level design skills by designing and developing a more indicative game level using visual coding; and study 3D production through animation and modelling.

In Year 3 you have a lot of space and freedom to focus on your chosen areas of game design by negotiating the content of your various projects with your tutors. You will work on your final major project of your choice throughout the year. At the same time, you will be working on a client-based brief for a game and also choose an area to experiment with, this should be an area that you like and want to know more about. You can link your experimentation with your final major project. You will work on designing a game, usually as a member of a team and will be introduced to how to prepare for the world of work, this will include preparing a professional portfolio ready for taking to your interviews.

Modules and Assessment

All assessment on this course is based on coursework. There are no exams. You will be given an assignment brief at the beginning of the module. The assignment brief explains in detail what you are required to do, what you need to submit and when the deadline is. It also explains the criteria used to assess the assignment.

 

New £5m Screen School

Wolverhampton Screen School will be the ambitious epicentre for stimulating screen based culture, education, research and industrial development within the region and beyond.

Read More

 

Additional Information

BA (Hons) Computer Games Design

Wolverhampton School of Art

  • For more information about the Wolverhampton School of Art: visit our home page.
  • Discover more about our outstanding facilities – visit our facilities pages.
  • Learn about the creative industries and everything we do to make your creative career a reality on our Creative Futures page.
  • Check out the work of our 2023 graduating students on our Degree Show and MA Show pages.
  • Find out what our students say – view testimonies from successful graduates on our Case Studies page.
  • Research – learn about the Centre for Art and Design Research and Experimentation (CADRE) and FEINART, our ambitious and innovative pan European training network.
  • Wolverhampton School of Art hosted the prestigious British Art Show 9 in 2022. 
  • Artsfest – our established programme of arts and cultural events continues to bring you the very best this region has to offer.

 Every year our students show their work in the Final Year Show.

Potential Career Paths

You!

Game Designer

Level Designer

Narrative Designer

UI/UX Designer

Game Producer

Concept Artist

Game Animator

Creating the overall concept, mechanics, and rules of games

Designing game environments, challenges, and progression

Crafting storylines, characters, and dialogue for games

Creating intuitive and engaging user interfaces for games

Overseeing the entire game development process

Developing visual concepts for characters, environments, and objects

Creating animations for characters and objects within games

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

  • You will work with a dedicated and experienced professional team of educators who are passionate about games, teaching and learning and supporting their students to achieve their full potential.
  • You will study in a well-equipped studio with access to all the necessary hardware and software you need to complete your work. You will have access to a dedicated game room where you can work, play and socialise with other game design students.
  • You will work in a highly creative environment in close proximity with other areas such as Animation, Film & Video, Illustration, Graphic Design, Photography, Fashion, Print, Glass and Ceramics.
  • You will enjoy a high level of individualised support from the University’s Student Enabling Centre depending on your specialised educational needs.

The people who will teach, guide and support you on this course are highly experienced professional educators. They have been involved in university teaching and research for a long time. They come from diverse backgrounds and all of them are Fellows of Higher Education Academy in the UK.

Dr. Faramarz Amiri: is the course leader and a professional educator with backgrounds is Computer Science, Sociology, Psychology, Linguistics and interactive media. He teaches various modules including those related to coding/programming, serious game design and game ethics. He also supervises the experimentations and final year projects

Brian Cattell: has various backgrounds in fine art and interactive media design. He teaches the areas related to 3D art, video game asset generation, digital sculpting, level design and 3D modelling & texturing. Likes to play Total Snooker and Marble Legends.

Dr. Jim Davis: has worked as an art director and studio manager, multimedia producer, learning materials and communication consultant and freelance filmmaker. He also has substantial experience of designing, managing and delivering corporate training and further and higher education. He teaches sound design for games and the creation of immersive game environments.

Paul Hale: Paul Hale is a professional graphic, multimedia and sound designer. He teaches many subjects including historical and contextual side of games, digital painting, character and interface design, mobile device development and careers planning. He is constantly looking forwards to the next Steam sale.

https://youtu.be/6sum_tn2-Mc

https://youtu.be/zoJE15dt_g4

https://youtu.be/v15poG30m90

http://goo.gl/jgyTbk

www.gamewolves.co.uk 

 

You will develop a full understanding of Games Design as an industry, the practices involved in designing and making games as well as the place of games design within global culture. You will understand your own role within the game design industry and will be able to adapt to new, unfamiliar situations and ways of working. You will have a wide range of software skills which will enable you to bring your game ideas into life.

You will be able to generate new ideas, take creative risks through experimentations with emerging and established technologies. You will communicate successfully with your audience and work effectively with a range of people and external and professional agencies.

You will develop the necessary skills for the professional employment or self-employment. You will be able to set goals, manage your own time and work effectively as a member of a team or individually.

Location Mode Fee Year
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2024-25
Home Full-time £9535 per year 2025-26
Home Part-time £4625 per year# 2024-25
Home Part-time £4768 per year# 2025-26
International Full-time £14950 per year 2024-25
International Full-time £15995 per year 2025-26

The University is committed to a transparent fee structure, with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed

# Undergraduate part-time fees for 50% rate of study

Typical entry requirement: 96 UCAS points including a level 3 qualification in Art and Design.

  • A Levels - grades CCC / BCD
  • BTEC L3 Extended Diploma or OCR Cambridge L3 Technical Extended Diploma - grades MMM
  • BTEC L3 Diploma - grades DD
  • Access to HE Diploma (60 credits) of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3 (96 UCAS point equivalence, minimum 45 credits at merit)
  • UAL L3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design or Creative Media Production & Technology - grade M

Use the UCAS Tariff calculator to check your qualifications and points

Other Requirements

Those meeting the entry requirements may be shortlisted for a Portfolio Review. Further details can be found at https://www.wlv.ac.uk/apply/how-to-apply/4---after-youve-applied/subject-specific-applications/. Applicants will also be required to provide satisfactory reference.

Students must have studied a minimum of two years post GCSE level. However, it is expected that some applicants will be mature students with work experience, who wish to further their career development. These applicants will be processed through standard procedures, which may involve an interview as part of the process. Please see http://wlv.ac.uk/mature for further information.

Graduate Success - Jason Barlow graduated in 2011:

Jason Barlow graduated from the University of Wolverhampton in 2011 and is now using the skills learned on his degree to lead a team of animators and 3D artists at a virtual reality simulation company.

Tuition Fees Loan (Home Fee Status):

Most students will be able to apply for a loans to pay for these subject to eligibility. To find out more information please refer to the government Student Finance website.

Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as having Overseas Fee status. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)


Self-funding:

If you don’t want to take out a loan to pay your fees or if you aren’t eligible to receive a loan, you might want to take advantage of the University’s scheme to pay by instalments: See How to pay.

For more information please contact the Gateway.


Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

If your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund.

for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


Bursaries and Scholarships:

In addition the University also offers a range of Bursaries and Scholarships packages

You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

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