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Computer Games Design [with Foundation year] at Anglia Ruskin University - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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Anglia Ruskin University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

23Nov
Anglia Ruskin University - Undergraduate Open Day - Cambridge
Undergraduate
23Nov
Anglia Ruskin University - Undergraduate Open Day - Chelmsford
Undergraduate
23Nov
ARU Peterborough - Undergraduate Open Day
Undergraduate

Course summary

Become a specialist in the field of games design and learn to work as part of a creative project team, with our Computer Games Design degree.

  • Journey through the main areas of computer games development, from idea generation all the way to releasing a playable and polished game.
  • Learn specialist skills in game design, level design, user interface design, and user experience design, and different methods for user and task analysis to help you develop intuitive and accessible interfaces.
  • Develop a deep understanding of the two most popular commercial game engines, Unity and Unreal; knowledge that is highly sought after in the creative industries.
  • Build a professional portfolio to showcase your skills to future employers and clients.
  • Work collaboratively in a development studio environment that reflects the professional workplace.
  • Attend exciting industry events including games jams, industry talks, conferences, and festivals, such as our annual student games fest Gamebridge, where you can show your work to major industry reps.
  • Study in a region renowned for computer games: the East of England has nearly 200 active games companies, and Cambridge is home to 26 games companies including Jagex, Frontier Developments and Ninja Theory (source: Ukie Games Map, January 2024).
If you prefer to work with the technical tools that make computer games run smoothly on a variety of devices, we also offer Computer Games Art, Computer Games Technology and Computer Games Programming degree courses. As a Computer Games Design degree student at ARU, you’ll be based in the east of England, a region with nearly 200 active games companies. You can choose to study in Cambridge or Chelmsford. In Chelmsford, you’ll be based in the heart of Essex with its 25 games companies, while the city of Cambridge is home to 26 games companies, including Frontier Developments, Jagex and Ninja Theory. (Source: ukie.org.uk’s games map January 2024). Skilled games designers are in high demand, with the value of the UK games industry reaching £7.05 billion in 2022. (Source: UKIE) Working as a team is crucial to games development and so you’ll take part in collaborative projects with students from other creative courses, developing your skills in teamwork and project management. Every year, you’ll also tackle live briefs from our industry partners. These might include prototyping game ideas, and even developing teaser games. You’ll have a chance to take part in negotiated briefs too, which may focus more on your particular interests and specialisms. Throughout your Computer Games Design degree course, our expert staff are on hand to offer support and feedback. They’ll help you create an online presence to showcase your work. You’ll also attend games jams, industry talks, conferences and festivals, like our annual gaming-inspired event Gamebridge. At Gamebridge, students from across the country attend industry-led talks and 1-2-1 portfolio reviews, whilst showcasing their work and networking with companies such as Frontier and Jagex, as well as other like-minded students. We recognise that experience is critical when you’re applying for jobs. That’s why we offer a wealth of opportunities to work on projects and network with our partners in the gaming industry, many of them based locally in the ‘Silicon Fen’. The modules and opportunities on your Computer Games Design degree will also help you identify where your interests and strengths lie, and therefore which employers and vacancies to target. For example, you might decide to specialise in overall game design, level design, user interface design, or user experience design.

Modules

Year 1 Core modules: Interactive Learning Skills and Communication; Information and Communication Technology; Creative Workshops 1; Approach to Design; Critical and Contextual Studies; Creative Workshops 2; Specialist Project; Composition and Style. Year 2 Core modules: Game Concepts and Analysis; Video Game Prototyping; Immersive Game Design. Year 3 Core modules: Collaborative Games Development; Technical Development for Games; Player Experiences in Games; Ruskin Module. Year 4 Core modules: Studio Practice for Games; Major Project for Games. Modules are subject to change and availability.

Assessment method

Our assessment methods reflect the practices you will need to work in the modern games industry. These include team project work; working to client/employer requirements; researching and producing designs; creating artefacts; understanding game design issues and design techniques; and demonstrating a knowledge of world-building. At each level of the course you will also be assessed on a written reflection of your own skillsets and your plan for professional development over the following year and into graduation.

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:
I622
Institution code:
A60
Campus name:
Cambridge Campus
Campus code:
C

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

5 GCSEs at grade D, or grade 3, or above and evidence of two years post-GCSE study at Level 3. If you have achieved at least grade E in one A level, or equivalent, you are exempt from the two years post-GCSE study requirement, but you still must meet the GCSE requirements. Applicants who do not meet the two years post GCSE study at level 3 may be considered based on their satisfactory employment history, which must be a minimum of two years full time employment supported by employer evidence and deemed appropriate by the University for meeting the course of study applied for.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://aru.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/computer-games-design

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)5.5With minimum 5.5 in each component

Equivalent English Language qualifications, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University, are also accepted.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
70%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
95%
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

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

https://www.aru.ac.uk/student-life/preparing-for-university/help-with-finances
Computer Games Design [with Foundation year] at Anglia Ruskin University - UCAS