Course summary

Our foundation year in Art and Design is designed to provide you with an introduction to our range of subject areas, and to prepare you for the discipline of your choice. It will give you the opportunity to explore new ideas, opening up new perspectives on the key debates within the field. It begins in the first semester with the development of fundamental Art and Design skills, as well as practical exploration across all of the disciplines in our Art and Design foundation programme. In the second semester, you are encouraged to specialise in your own discipline and are supported by our experienced staff team as you prepare your work for an end of Foundation year public exhibition. You will also benefit from workshops in our high-end facilities, and from working with leading academics who will encourage you to become a confident and creative thinker. Your practical development is accompanied by modules in both semesters on foundational academic skills – skills that will be essential as you progress to your chosen full degree. On successful completion of the foundation year, you will be able to move on to study for the Games Design BA Honours degree for a further three years. The Games Design BA provides the creative and technical skills needed to design the games of the future. Over the course, you’ll be equipped to craft engaging player experiences for various creative industries and emerging technologies. In the first year, you’ll study alongside our Games Art BA students, focusing on core principles of games art and design, research skills, and the societal role of games. You’ll develop skills in concept design, game mechanics, level design, 2D asset creation, 3D modelling, and game engines. By the end of your first year, you’ll have the choice to continue with the Games Design BA or change your specialism to Games Art BA. The second and third years expand your skills in developing sophisticated 2D/3D games. You can specialise in areas such as storytelling, virtual reality, or user experience design while exploring global audiences, cultural impacts, and inclusivity within gaming. You’ll also investigate industries using games for entertainment and social purposes, such as educational gaming. Collaboration is central to this course, with opportunities to work on inter-disciplinary projects, critiques and game jams alongside students from Animation, Graphic Design, Illustration and Computer Games Development courses. These activities mirror industry practices, ensuring a professional learning experience, where artists and designers work together. Based at our Harrow Campus, you'll work in specialised facilities, including our new Games Hub and Emerging Media Space, as well as in our Design, Film and Digital Media studios. The course fosters independent thinking, preparing graduates for careers in roles such as Level, Gameplay and Narrative Design. With a strong understanding in game mechanics, user experience, and problem-solving, you’ll be ready to excel in both indie and AAA game development.