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Games Design at University of Cumbria - UCAS

Course options

2024 - 20252025 - 2026
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University of Cumbria has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

23Apr
London Open Evening 23rd April (for Sept 2025 intake only)
Undergraduate
7Jun
Brampton Road Open Day 7th June 2025
Undergraduate

Course summary

Whether it's Nintendo's Super Mario Bros, Ion Storm's Deus Ex, or Rockstar's GTA V, all successful games throughout each generation are built on good game and level design, story-telling, 2D and 3D modelling and texturing. This is the ideal games design course, tailored to prepare you for a career in the multi-billion pound games industry. Spark your imagination and let that creativity run riot at our dedicated arts campus. Course Overview Turn your ideas into exciting new games. Seventy-five percent of your course is practical – designing, developing and creating new game experiences to create a portfolio for future employers. This games design degree is all about the art and design work related to video games, creating storyboard concepts and turning them into playable prototypes. You’ll gain the skills to compete in this growing industry. Industry-standard 3D and games engine software will help you develop essential skills including drawing, modelling, texturing and using the games engine. Our dedicated arts campus will allow you to mix with other creatives, allowing you to work on joint projects and develop your own network of creative practitioners. On this course you will...

  • Have regular guest lectures with industry professionals.
  • Study game design and development with access to dedicated games design labs and industry-standard software, providing a friendly, collegiate and supportive environment.
  • Learn computer games-specific topics like drawing and concept art, character design, environment design, 3D modelling, texturing, level design, and game theory.
  • Have the opportunity to take trips outside of the lab to gain inspiration and improve creative thinking. In previous years, they have included games expo - EGX and Develop: Brighton.
  • Develop a wide range of transferable digital skills allowing you to take up a number of internships during your studies.
  • Have access to borrow our motion capture software and VR headsets.

Modules

On this programme, you will learn to design, develop, and create new and unique gaming experiences. However, this is not a programming course; it is all about the art and design work related to video games. You will learn all about art and design, developing storyboards and concepts which you will later turn into playable prototypes (both 2D and 3D). Year one

  • Cultural Contexts
Intro to the cultural, historical and social contexts in which creative work from a range of disciplines will be discussed, examined, and analysed.
  • Collaborative Practice
Explore and practice the skills involved in creative collaboration.
  • Drawing, Visualisation and Concept Art
Develop drawing as a fundamental skill in your practice and acquire the knowledge to understand the purpose of concept art as a tool visualising concepts for games.
  • 3D Modelling
Enhance your knowledge of the professional three-dimensional visualisation for video games and digital media productions.
  • Gaming For Game Designers
Introduction to the basic ideas and models in Game Theory. Year two
  • Understanding the Creative Economy
Contextualise the cultural and economic changes giving rise to the emergence of the creative economy as a leading sector in the UK and global economy.
  • Working in the Creative Economy
Introduce to the professional practices associated with the creative industries by means of a series of guest lectures, presentations, tutorials and workshops.
  • Concept To Prototype
Introduction to real-world scenarios in relation to working, in small groups, in the business world, and on client briefs.
  • Concept Art & Visualisation 2
Explore and develop visualisation techniques appropriate to games design.
  • Texturing
Enhance your knowledge of the professional texturing techniques used in the Games industry. Year three
  • Theory and Research Methods in the Arts
Preparation for successfully undertaking your dissertation project.
  • Dissertation
  • Group Game Project
Develop teamwork and communication skills while you work in small groups on a specified brief to produce a working game.
  • Markets, Audiences & Exhibition
Develop the skills necessary to identify, generate and successfully access opportunities in the workplace and/or in continuing education.
  • Major Project
Develop the skills necessary to enable you to produce work for your final project.

Assessment method

Summative and formative assessments will take place throughout each academic year. You will be continually involved in the assessment of your own work and that of your peers, alongside receiving critical feedback from tutors. A wide range of authentic assessment types will be used to help you develop your academic and work-related skills. Specific examples of this:

  • Module Work Book, bespoke ebooks, containing information, formative tasks, self grading exercises, embedded video clips, etc. to assist in specific modules ILO’s but also to enhance a culture of independent learning.
  • Presentations/Pitching, where you are able to show work to Tutors and Peers in advance of Assignment Submission
- Seminars & Project Surgeries, a series of developmental seminars run where you review and comment on each others work, guided by tutors All of these activities promote learning partnerships between you, your peers and the staff.

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W282
Institution code:
C99
Campus name:
Carlisle - Brampton Road
Campus code:
B

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9535 Year 1
England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
International £14900 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/studentfinance for more information about student fees and finance, and for details about our alumni discount.
Games Design at University of Cumbria - UCAS