University of Portsmouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
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)
- Creative Research and Project Initiation (20 credits)
- Design Games (20 credits)
- Prototyping and Iterating Game Designs (20 credits)
- Student Enterprise for Games (20 credits)
- 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)
- Final Year Project (40 credits)
- Real-Time Interactive Group Project: Stage One (20 credits)
- Real-Time Interactive Group Project: Stage Two (20 credits)
- 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)
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
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:
- I620
- Institution code:
- P80
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 120 - 128 points
A level - ABB - BBB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM
Access to HE Diploma
Scottish Higher
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
Scottish Advanced Higher
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 25 points
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H3, H3, H3 - H2, H2, H3, H3, H3
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
GCSE/National 4/National 5
T Level - M
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 subject or experience in art/design/creative computing or graphic arts is required.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5. |
| Cambridge English Advanced | Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162. | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162. | |
| PTE Academic | 62 | An overall score of 62 with a minimum of 59 in each skill. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 79 | 79 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing. |
| Trinity ISE | Pass | Trinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components. |
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
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 | £9535 | Year 1 |
| England | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| International | £17900 | 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
Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship
Placement Year and Year abroad (at the time of publishing for 2025/26):
UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,430
EU – £1,430
International (Non-EU) – £2,875.
Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. Please check the course page on our website for the most up to date fee information.
All fees are subject to annual increase.
For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Provider information
University of Portsmouth
University House
Winston Churchill Avenue
Portsmouth
PO1 2UP