Games Design BA Honours
DURATION
3 up to 4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 17,000 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
The Games Design BA provides the creative and technical skills needed to design the games of the future. Over the course, you’ll be equipped to craft engaging player experiences for various creative industries and emerging technologies.
In the first year, you’ll study alongside our Games Art BA students, focusing on core principles of games art and design, research skills, and the societal role of games. You’ll develop skills in concept design, game mechanics, level design, 2D asset creation, 3D modelling, and game engines. By the end of your first year, you’ll have the choice to continue with the Games Design BA or change your specialism to Games Art BA.
The second and third years expand your skills in developing sophisticated 2D/3D games. You can specialise in areas such as storytelling, virtual reality, or user experience design while exploring global audiences, cultural impacts, and inclusivity within gaming. You’ll also investigate industries using games for entertainment and social purposes, such as educational gaming.
Collaboration is central to this course, with opportunities to work on inter-disciplinary projects, critiques and game jams alongside students from Animation, Graphic Design, Illustration and Computer Games Development courses. These activities mirror industry practices, ensuring a professional learning experience, where artists and designers work together.
Based at our Harrow Campus, you'll work in specialised facilities, including our new Games Hub and Emerging Media Space, as well as in our Design, Film and Digital Media studios.
The course fosters independent thinking, preparing graduates for careers in roles such as Level, Gameplay and Narrative Design. With a strong understanding of game mechanics, user experience, and problem-solving, you’ll be ready to excel in both indie and AAA game development.
Top reasons to study with us
- Study in London – the heart of the UK Game development industry. With hundreds of game developers and publishers based in the UK, you’ll have many opportunities to hear from industry guest speakers and access internships, professional experience and graduate employment
- Multidisciplinary collaboration – You'll have the opportunity to take part in industry projects and competitions, such as game jams. You'll engage with learning that is directly industry-related and will collaborate with game artists working on projects
- Outstanding facilities – You'll benefit from a brand-new Games Hub and Emerging Media Space, which includes our upgraded Motion Capture lab
- Work experience before graduation – As part of the course, you'll have the option to undertake a placement year, gaining valuable work experience and boosting your employability.
Admissions
Curriculum
The Games Design BA and Games Art BA begin with a shared first year before branching into specialised pathways. These pathways, along with a variety of optional modules, provide you with the opportunity to customise your degree and expertise according to your interests and career objectives.
You’ll have the opportunity to learn from industry professionals throughout the course. You can also benefit from our industry links by opting to complete a work placement year or expand your educational experience by studying abroad between Years 2 and 3.
The following subjects are indicative of what you'll study in this course.
Year 1
Subjects of study include:
- 2D Computer Animation
- 2D Game Art & Design
- 3D Asset Creation
- Creative Industry Skills
- Drawing Explorations
- Environment Art and Design
- Game Engines and Mechanics
- Typographic Explorations
Year 2
Subjects of study include:
- Branding and Identity
- Collaborative Game Development
- Concepting for Games
- Extended Reality for Creative
- Interactive Texts and Narratives
- Level and Experience Design
- Stop-motion animation
- System and Mechanic Design
- UX/UI Design
- VFX for Film and Games
- Visual Storytelling
- Web Design
Year 3
- Critical Enquiry for Creatives
- Designing Narrative Experiences
- Digital Arts Experimentation
- Entrepreneurship for Creatives
- Game Production and Enterprise
- Major Project (Game Design)
- Professional Practice
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
- Industry engagement: Industry speakers and guest lecturers give students insight into working in the industry, provide mentorship as part of their group project work and offer specialised feedback on their portfolios and CVs.
- One-to-one advice: Our Careers and Employability Service can provide you with industry mentoring, one-to-one guidance, mock interviews, employer presentations and workshops.
- 3,000 Employers around the world: The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.
Industry links and work experience
Based just a 20-minute tube ride from the heart of the city, you'll have easy access to the wealth of media, creative and gaming industries in London.
You can experience cultural life in London, while also gaining work experience and building your professional networks, which is crucial for success in the industry.
We sustain a range of formal and informal partnerships with industry through visiting professionals, work experience, staff exchange and consultation. Industry engagement is an essential part of the course as students will hear from industry speakers as part of their course.
Graduate employers
Students studying games at the University of Westminster have found positions in games companies after graduation that have included Sega, KING, Microsoft, TT Games, Sumo Digital, Bossa Studios, Game Realms, and NaturalMotion.
Job roles
This course will prepare you for a variety of roles in a range of present and future industries, including:
- Game Developer
- Gameplay Designer
- Level Designer
- Monetisation Designer
- Narrative Designer
- QA Game Tester
- System Designer
- Technical Game Designer
- User Experience Designer
- User Interface Designer