Games Design and Art at University of Southampton - UCAS

University of Southampton

Degree level: Undergraduate

Games Design and Art

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

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Course summary

About this course Study BA Games Design and Art and unlock your creative potential and refine your game-making skills with a combination of hands-on practice and theory. Throughout the course you will be constantly making games. You’ll use a research-led approach to this game making and play with ideas and concepts. We'll encourage you to express your own ideas and work on projects related to your own approaches, background, and areas of interest. You’ll cover design, art, interaction design, play and storytelling, as well as as host of technical skills in both coding and asset production. You’ll also cover the emerging fields of purposeful games and serious games and explore how games can be designed to have social impact and cultural significance. You’ll learn to apply design-thinking to the creation of brand-new games and refine them through research-led creative investigation, making, prototyping, user testing and designing games. A game making-focused curriculum will help you prepare for your future, with opportunities to meet professionals from the industry. Students also have opportunities to undertake a placement in a game’s studio setting them up for a successful career in the field. This is reflected in the Graduate Outcomes where 92% of our graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes 2022/2023, published in 2025) Key features of the course:

BA Games Design and Art is based in Winchester School of Art allowing you to work creatively while gaining essential technical skills.

You’ll work in our dedicated games studios based in our brand new Capital House building in Winchester, the games and creative technology centre at the University of Southampton.

You will have your own dedicated space to work at on campus as part of a vibrant, creative environment designed to mirror the collaborative practices of a game’s studio.

Opportunities to explore the full spectrum of game making, not only video games or AR and VR games but also physical games such as location-based games, tabletop games, and even escape rooms.

As part of your degree you’ll be able to visit games studios and attend conferences, alongside numerous opportunities to pitch and present your ideas and games to industry.

Student Support You’ll become part of a close-knit community of game makers and artists, supported by inspiring tutors who are committed to helping students achieve their creative goals. You will be working closely with your peers in a close-knit studio environment, you’ll collaborate, inspire one another and explore concepts you are passionate about. Further information The BA Games Design and Art is a three-year, full-time course at our Winchester School of Art. You can also add a year abroad or a year in industry, extending your degree to four years. For details, visit our course page.

Modules

Over the three years of this Games Design and Art course, you will explore a broad range of concepts in the field and you'll get the opportunity to create and build your ideas into the next generation of games. Year 1: GET CURIOUS - develop the skills required to generate innovative game ideas through experimentation and exploration. Working both independently and in small teams, you will produce various articles of documentation and reflection on your thinking through making, coupled with various prototypes and outputs. Year 2: PIPELINES, PROCESSES, AND INNOVATION - become increasingly familiar with games documentation, games project management, asset building skills, and the practical knowledge required to develop a game within industry-understood standard conventions. In Year 2, the focus is on digital games and looking for innovative approaches to what a digital game could be, as well as on experimental game ideas and outcomes. Year 3: UNIQUE IMPACT GAMES - develop your games design & art ideas and skills to a higher theoretical and professional level through working competently as an independent learner and practitioner. You will use this year to create a passionate finished game for presentation to the public and games industry. You will also connect directly to the games industry via directed industry events, talks, and engagement. The production of your Major Project will be supported with promotion and exposure to the industry and the public through a directed online campaign, and the ability to show your work at various stages throughout the year at external public and industry-facing events. The year will culminate in the launch of your Major Project, a fully realised game, completed, downloadable and playable as well as featuring in at least two public arcade exhibitions where you will be able to talk passionately about the concepts and the project directly with the games and creative industries. For a full list of modules available please visit the course page.

Assessment method

The learning activities for this course include the following: Lectures Classes and Tutorials Coursework Individual and group projects How we'll assess you: Essays Individual and group projects Oral presentations Portfolios

How to apply

14Jan

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:: 1L6F

Institution code:: S27

Campus name:: Winchester School of Art

Campus code:: W

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

Year 1

International applicants

Find out about equivalent entry requirements and qualifications for your country: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/international/your-country.page

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - BBB

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM

Access to HE Diploma

Scottish Higher

We normally consider applicants who offer at least 1 Advanced Higher. Applicants presenting with only Highers will be considered on a case by case basis. Where Highers are taken over two years it might be expected that higher grades are achieved, particularly in any specific subjects required. For example, S5 – S6 (2 years): AABBB (A in specific subject) or S6 (1 year): ABBBB (A in specific subject). Unless a more advanced level (Higher or Advanced Higher) is specified in the stated entry requirements, all applicants will be required to have achieved a pass in Mathematics and English at Standard Grade, Grade 3 or National 5, Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/ Grade 4" We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DD

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016) - D

Scottish Advanced Higher

Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education. Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact Admissions for more information.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 30 points

Pass, with 30 points overall with 15 points at Higher Level Applications where Higher Level subjects have been studied without the full Diploma, will also be considered on a case by case basis. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP): Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales - B

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H2, H2, H3, H3, H3, H3

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal - M2, M2, M2

GCSE/National 4/National 5

In addition to those qualifications listed, we also accept a pass in an Art & Design foundation programme. We welcome applicants with other qualifications eg. European Baccalaureate. You will be expected to attain an A level equivalent standard. The University of Southampton requires all applicants to achieve at least a Grade 4 in English and Mathematics GCSEs (taken in England) or a Grade C in both subjects (where taken in Northern Ireland or Wales). Some degree subjects stipulate specific additional GCSE minimum grades, which will be specified as part of the individual degree programme entry requirements. For more details on the suitability of your qualifications or foundation programme please contact the Faculty of Arts and Humanities Admissions Team at [email protected]

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio

Applicants who are based outside the UK and whose academic qualifications meet (or are on track to meet) our entry requirements will be required to send us a portfolio of their work. Portfolios will be requested by email after an application has been reviewed. Portfolio guidance sheets can be found at http://www.southampton.ac.uk/wsa/undergraduate/apply.page

English language requirements

Test	Grade	Additional details
IELTS (Academic)	6.5	with no component below 6.0

All programmes at the University of Southampton are taught and assessed in the medium of English (other than those in modern foreign languages). Therefore, all applicants must demonstrate they possess at least a minimum standard of English language proficiency.

Find out more about the University’s English Language requirements

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/admissions/admissions-policies/language.page

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

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
EU	£25500	Year 1
International	£25500	Year 1

*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

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

Please see our website for further details and updates: www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/fees-funding.page

Provider information

Visit our website

University of Southampton
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ

Course contact details

Visit our course page

Undergraduate Admissions - Faculty of Arts and Humanities

[email protected]

023 8059 4732

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Location	Qualification	Study mode	Duration	Start date	Apply
Winchester School of Art	BA (Hons) - Bachelor of Arts (with Honours)	Full-time	3 years	21 September 2026	Available to Apply	Course option 3ff34171-dc3c-4aac-b81f-7ee6b5bed6be