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Computer Games Design at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

Course options

2024 - 2025
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

University of Portsmouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework.These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

What does this TEF outcome mean?

Course summary

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course. Overview The games and tech industries continue to dominate the globe, and they're always seeking game designers and developers. Become their next rising star on our BA (Hons) Computer Games Design degree course. With help from our teaching team of games industry experts, you'll dive into the theory of game design and development. You can specialise as a programmer or artist, designing, developing, and testing games for different audiences using our advanced game development facilities. For an extra boost to your professional experience, you can complete an optional work placement. Discover what it takes to become an industry-ready games designer at Portsmouth, two-time winner of the TIGA Best Educational Institution Award (2021, 2014). Why study Computer Games Design at Portsmouth? You'll be able to:

  • Explore how games are constructed by learning a variety of theories – including systems, gameplay, psychology, user experience, and narrative
  • Work with next-gen technologies in our impressive facilities including the UK's first ever Centre for Creative Immersive and Extended Reality (CCIXR)
  • Enhance your teamworking skills by collaborating with other Games students on game projects – including or prize-giving annual University GameJam event
  • Learn from an expert teaching team with strong links to local, national and international games companies –including Rare, Codemasters, Jagex, Climax and Stainless
  • Gain valuable professional experience by completing an optional work placement – with a company or self-employed
  • Broaden your cultural experience by studying abroad in Europe
  • Impress your future employers by showcasing your work at our annual Graduate Showcase

Modules

Year 1 Core modules in this year include:

  • 3D Modelling (20 credits)
  • Art Skills for Games (20 credits)
  • Coding and Scripting for Games (20 credits)
  • Design Studio (20 credits)
  • Game Development (20 credits)
  • Games Design and Context (20 credits)
There are no optional modules in this year, although you can take NCTJ examinations in a variety of subject areas. Year 2 Core modules in this year include:
  • Creative Research and Project Initiation (20 credits)
  • Design Games (20 credits)
  • Prototyping and Iterating Game Designs (20 credits)
  • Student Enterprise for Games (20 credits)
Optional modules in this year include:
  • Commercial Asset Production for Real Time (40 credits)
  • Creative Technologies Study Exchange (60 credits)
  • Creative Technologies Study Exchange (60 credits)
  • Design and Visual Research for Cinema and Game (20 credits)
  • Designing for Animation (20 credits)
  • Engaged Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Practice (20 credits)
  • Gameplay Programming (20 credits)
  • Maths for Games (20 credits)
  • Professional Experience (20 credits)
Year 3 Core modules in this year include:
  • Final Year Project (40 credits)
  • Real-Time Interactive Group Project: Stage One (20 credits)
  • Real-Time Interactive Group Project: Stage Two (20 credits)
Optional modules in this year currently include:
  • Advanced Graphics Techniques (20 credits)
  • Create Worlds (20 credits)
  • Designing User Experiences and Interfaces (20 credits)
  • Games Research (20 credits)
  • Implementing Game Audio (20 credits)
  • Motion Capture Applications (20 credits)
  • Programming AI for Games (20 credits)
  • Psychological Theory for Game Designers (20 credits)
  • Targeting Platforms (20 credits)
Placement year (optional) On this course, you can do an optional work placement year after your 2nd or 3rd year to get valuable experience working in industry. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year. We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies. Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment method

You'll be assessed through practical artefacts, presentations (video and in-person), written reports, and exams. You'll be assessed during modules and you'll receive feedback to help improve your learning.

How to apply

31Jan

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

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio

Applicants without a relevant subject or experience will be asked to provide a portfolio to support their application.

Other

A relevant qualification or experience in art/design/creative computing or graphic arts is required.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
PTE Academic54An overall score of 54 with a minimum of 51 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
69%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
89%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9250 Year 1
England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1
International £17900 Year 1

Additional fee information

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad: UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 EU – £1,385 (including Transition Scholarship)| International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. Fees may also go up in later years, in line with inflation. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/ug-tuition-fees
Computer Games Design at University of Portsmouth - UCAS