30Nov
UndergraduateSouthampton, Solent University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Open days
Course summary
If you’re looking to study a computer games programming and design or digital arts degree, but don’t have the relevant qualifications or experience, this foundation year will help you develop the core skills and knowledge to progress onto one of our related industry-focused undergraduate degrees. You’ll cover key subject areas such as game art, game design, animation, CGI, VFX and code, and work on exciting practical projects designed to help you learn key digital design skills. You’ll also be supported to develop key transferable skills in preparation for your degree level studies. To aid study, you’ll have full access to Solent’s industry-standard facilities, including specialist labs and high-end dual computers equipped with industry software such as 3ds Max, Maya, Substance, Photoshop, Unreal Editor and Unity. You will be taught by passionate staff who are experts in their fields, with a wealth of real-world experience and knowledge. Learn from staff who are experts in their field and who have vast industry experience. What does this course lead to? This foundation year will help you build the relevant skills and knowledge to enter onto one of our related degree programmes. This can lead to a career in the multi-billion pound games industry in areas such as video game studios and art production, to film and animation studios. Who is this course for? Solent’s Foundation Year in Digital Arts is intended for students without the required UCAS points for direct entry. This could be mature students returning to education, students without the required qualifications, or students looking to change career path after completing further education qualifications.
Modules
FOUNDATION MODULES Digital Art Design Digital Art Industries Digital Art Projects Digital Art Discovery Digital Art Final Project Digital Art Portfolio On successful completion of this foundation year, you will automatically progress onto Year 1 of the BSc (Hons) Computer Games Programming and Design course where you will study the following modules: YEAR 1 - CORE MODULES Collaborative Game Development Gameplay and Game Design Maths for Games Object Oriented Development Programming Fundamentals Scripting for Game Engines YEAR 2 - CORE MODULES Artificial Intelligence for Games Gameplay Programming Gamer Psychology and UX Design Producing Games YEAR 3 - CORE MODULES Computer Games Major Project Indie Game Development Project Research and Professional Development Studio Practice YEAR 2 - OPTIONS (please note that not all options are guaranteed to run) Cinematic and Narrative Design for Games Level Design and Rapid Prototyping Network Game Programming Tools Programming and Engine Architecture YEAR 3 - OPTIONS (please note that not all options are guaranteed to run) Casual and Competitive Game Design Graphics Programming
Assessment method
The course adopts a balanced, student-centred teaching and learning strategy programme of study combining critical thinking and practical skills. Students are encouraged throughout the course to develop their own thinking and creative skills across a range of topics and scenarios as they work towards their degree. Delivered through lectures, labs, seminars, and workshops, learning and teaching is structured to allow a logical, coherent and progressive attainment of knowledge and skills. Lab based teaching enables students, guided by tutors, to develop key concepts and skills to tackle briefs that increase in complexity each year. During lab sessions, students have frequent one-to-one opportunities to interact with tutors and fellow students, and consequently lab sessions are used as an effective tool to develop the sense of community and belonging. As project work is used extensively throughout the Computer Games courses, lab teaching provides the ideal environment for students to explore, develop and formulate responses and present solutions in relation to module learning outcomes and project briefs. Students are expected to engage proactively with their learning. This includes taking responsibility to attend all timetabled sessions and understand that attendance and full participation in the course will impact upon their ability progress and achieve. Level 4 introduces students to fundamental concepts in game design and programming skills, underpinning the knowledge and skills needed to study in this field. Students will also be introduced to essential skills including research, academic writing and referencing, both creative and critical thinking and use of relevant software as well as a first touch with cross-course collaborative modules (studio modules) to improve their team-work skills. Whilst students are encouraged to embrace the challenge of studying at higher education, approaches to teaching and learning at Level Four are designed to provide students with ample opportunities for formative feedback and support such that by the end of this level students become confident learners ready for progression. Level 5 extends the knowledge and skills base to a higher order of intellectual thinking, analysis and synthesis. Level 5 students explore progressive concepts, subjects and, as a consequence, knowledge and understanding in greater depth and breadth. Students have the opportunity at level 5 to explore advanced theories in computer game design as well as software development principles, and gain sophisticated asset development techniques and visualisation skills that can be applied to larger projects and wider contexts. Furthermore, students acquire more in-depth team-based development soft skills that are essentially for projects of much larger scope. On successful completion of Level Five students will have acquired practical, cognitive and transferrable skills manifested in the application of knowledge to complex scenarios and deployed through critical judgement and increased levels of confidence and self-assurance.
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:
- CGP3
- Institution code:
- S30
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Foundation
International applicants
For information about applying to Solent as an International applicant, please visit https://www.solent.ac.uk/how-to-apply/entry-requirements/help-for-international-students
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 48 points
A level - DD
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - PPP
AS
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MP
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - M
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016) - D
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024) - A
Extended Project
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - PPP
OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma - MP
OCR Cambridge Technical Subsidiary Diploma - MM
OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma - MM
OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma - D
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate - D
OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate
AQA Level 3 (Foundation) Technical Level (360 glh) - D
AQA Level 3 Technical Level (540 glh) - MM
AQA Level 3 Technical Level (720 glh) - MP
AQA Level 3 Technical Level (1080 glh) - PPP
T Level - P
IELTS minimum score of 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component of reading, writing, speaking and listening. TOEFL (IBT) minimum score of 71 overall with a minimum of 19 in each component of reading, writing, speaking and listening.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four 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
| 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 |
| EU | £15050 | Year 1 |
| International | £15050 | 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
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Sponsorship information
Solent University offers a number of bursaries, grants and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.solent.ac.uk/finance/grants-bursaries-scholarships/bursaries
Provider information
Southampton, Solent University
East Park Terrace
Southampton
SO14 0YN