Communication and Media and Game Design Studies

Communication and media studies examines the systems, industries, and practices through which information and culture are produced, distributed, and consumed in the modern world. It asks how media represent reality, who controls the means of communication, how audiences make sense of what they consume, and what social and political consequences flow from the way that public discourse is organised. Game design studies, studied alongside it, addresses one of the fastest-growing creative industries: the design of interactive digital experiences, asking what makes games engaging, how they generate meaning, and how the mechanics of play intersect with narrative, art, and technology.

This three-year full-time degree at the University of Liverpool combines both, and includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and embedded work placement experience.

You will develop a grounding in fundamental concepts of communication and media theory in your first year, before moving into a more specialised and optional curriculum in your second and third years that allows you to tailor the degree to your interests. The game design strand introduces you to the principles of interactive design, the history and theory of games as a medium, and the creative and technical skills involved in developing digital experiences. Together the two disciplines develop critical thinking, creative practice, and the ability to understand and work within the industries that shape contemporary culture.

A typical entry tariff of 136 UCAS points reflects an accessible admissions standard for a combined creative and analytical programme. Graduates move into careers in media production, journalism, games development and design, digital marketing, content creation, public relations, advertising, UX design, education, and the creative industries more broadly. Many continue to postgraduate study in media, communication, or interactive design.