B.sc Game Design Colleges

Overview

Part of Screen Yorkshire's Connected Campus group, our four-year Games Design and Development degree programme has been carefully designed to meet the demands of the contemporary gaming industry.

With a particular emphasis on the blend between the technical and creative aspects of games design, you'll be taught the core theories that underpin the discipline and use these to guide your practical work and, in turn, gain the vocational experience needed to embark on a career in this fast-growing industry.

Through the course you'll gain a robust understanding of areas such as:

game play
technical computer animation
game programming
script programming

You'll be taught by an industry experienced team of academics including Carlton Reeve, a consultant for commercial AR games and Peter Chapman, who runs his own digital agency. And you'll benefit from talks and workshops delivered by industry experts like Michael Ogden, Iki Ikram and Ben Smith. The high level of industry knowledge and insight gained here will provide you with the knowledge base you need to emerge as a confident and competent graduate.

You'll have regular access to state-of-the-art facilities like the six camera Motion Capture Suite and technical equipment which you can use to put theory into practice and enhance your skillset. You can borrow equipment for you own personal projects too.

In your final year you will undertake a bespoke studio project, where you can collaborate with other disciplines and put theory into practice, whilst showcasing the skills you've developed throughout the course.

The department has close links with a number of prominent organisations. This includes the resident Working Academy placement agency and Game Republic (the Yorkshire games industry association), of which we are member. With access to such prestigious partners you'll have plenty of opportunities to gain extracurricular experience that will enable you to emerge as a highly desired and capable graduate.

Showcase

See examples of work produced by our Games, Animation and Visual Effects students.

Entry requirements

Typical offer - 112 UCAS tariff points.

We take into consideration a number of factors when assessing your application. It's not just about your grades; we take the time to understand your personal circumstances and make decisions based on your potential to thrive at university and beyond.

A levels

BBC - there are no subject specific requirements.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DMM - there are no subject specific requirements.

Applicants on Access Programmes

Meet UCAS tariff of 112. There are no specific subject requirements.

International Baccalaureate Requirements

112 UCAS tariff points to include at least 80 points from 2 HL subjects. Plus HL 3 or SL 4 in Maths and English Language and Literature A or English B.

Plus minimum of

GCSE English and Mathematics at grade C or 4 (equivalents accepted).

English language requirements

CIFS entry requirement

If you are an International student and do not meet the entry requirements for direct entry onto this course you may be interested in our Certificate of International Foundation Studies (CIFS)

80 UCAS points or equivalent (see individual country pages for details) plus a Maths qualification equivalent to GCSE Grade C. UKVI approved IELTS of 5.0 overall with no sub-test less than 5.0.

CIFS modules to be taken

Students study the four core modules plus TWO of the following modules:

Foundation in Human Biology
Foundation in Chemistry
Introduction to the Social Sciences
Global Business Environment
Foundation Mathematics 2

Progression requirements for degree programme

An overall average of at least 50%

Advanced entry

If you are currently studying at another university and would like to transfer to the University of Bradford, this course accepts students into the second or third year. This is called advanced entry

Applications for advanced entry will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must include an official transcript (not a screenshot of a portal), all module descriptors, and relevant qualifications. Module descriptors must include learning outcomes.

Applications must be submitted through UCAS and the required documents emailed along with your UCAS Personal ID no later than 31 August prior to the course starting in September. Relevant documents should be emailed to admissions@bradford.ac.uk

What you will study

All module information is for 2021 entry, and is subject to change.

Second year

Core

Game Appreciation and Industry Analysis

Script Programming and Technical Animation

Game Design Programming and Development

Option

Look Development, Environment Creation, Lighting and Rendering

Advanced Game Technology and Development

Storytelling, Narrative and Experience

Application Programming and Development

Motion Capture and Digital Scanning

Third year

Placement

Study Abroad

Final year

Individual Project

Major Project Preproduction

Major Project Production

Simulation Effects for Animation and Games

Learning and assessment

Students will experience a wide range of teaching and learning environments. Concepts, principles and theories are generally explored in formal lectures, discussed and debated in associated tutorials and seminars, and demonstrated in laboratory classes. Practical skills are developed in studio, laboratory, and workshop sessions, taking advantage of the University's, and its partners', extensive software and hardware provision.

Professional, personal, and presentational skills are developed through discussion and small-scale project work which involves problem solving and design exercises. These are often tackled through collaborative learning in small groups supported by members of academic staff. Larger–scale project work is used to bring various aspects of your programme together. A particular strength of this programme is the contribution made to the teaching programme by successful practising animation professionals.

Each 20-credit module on the programme requires students to commit 200 hours of study. Some of these hours will be formally timetabled - lectures, laboratories, seminars, tutorials and workshops – and others will involve students in carrying out private study. The balance between these forms of study changes as students pass through the three years of the programme.

Basic principles and concepts are addressed in the first year (Stage One) of the studies. In the second year (Stage Two) a more analytical approach is taken, and in the final year (Stage Three) students will have the opportunity to synthesise and critically review the knowledge, understanding, and skills they have gained throughout the programme. They will also have the opportunity to shape elements of their own learning experience, by selecting optional and elective modules, and defining their own project briefs.

Facilities

Production facilities include HD video and broadcast TV cameras, broadcast TV studio, Outside Broadcast Truck, lighting rigs, track and dolly, jib arm crane, Steadicam, audio recording studio, photography studio, digital stills cameras, digital printers, Macs and PCs with Adobe Creative Suite and industry standard editing software. Equipment is free for students to use and small budgets are provided for project work.

All course books, journals and online resources are provided in the library.

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee 2022

Home: £9,250 (sandwich year: £925)

International: £21,124 (sandwich year: £2,112)

Additional costs

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

See our fees and financial support section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Career prospects

Our graduates are highly sought-after by companies at the forefront of the creative industries. Some of the roles our recent graduates have secured include:

Concept artist/illustrator
Game designer
Marketing executive
Software developer
UX designer

Study abroad

This programme provides the option for students to undertake a work placement or period of study abroad between Stages 2 and 3.

Students wishing to take this option will be registered for the 4 year programme.

Study support

Our comprehensive support services will help you to achieve your full potential – both academically and personally.

We provide all you need to make the very best of your time with us, and successfully progress through your studies and on into the world of graduate employment.

Our support services include:

Personal tutors
Disability services
Counselling services
MyBradford student support centres
The Students' Union
Chaplaincy and faith advisers
An on-campus nursery
Halls wardens

We have well-stocked libraries and excellent IT facilities across campus. These facilities are open 24 hours a day during term time, meaning you'll always find a place to get things done on campus.

Our Academic Skills Advice Service will work with you to develop your academic, interpersonal and transferable skills.

Research

There is a healthy and growing programme of collaborative work with industry, much of it research based.

This is managed through the dedicated Digital Media Working Academy, which has also generated its own funding and is notable for housing a state-of-the-art motion capture system.

This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.