Computer Games Design with Foundation

Computer games design is a creative and technical discipline that sits at the heart of one of the most economically significant and culturally influential entertainment industries in the world. Designing games requires an understanding of player psychology and motivation, of how rules and systems create engaging challenges, of how visual design, narrative and audio contribute to the overall experience, and of how the technical constraints of different platforms shape what is possible. It is a field where creativity and rigour are both essential, and where the ability to prototype, test and iterate is as important as the initial idea.

At the University of Gloucestershire, this four-year full-time programme, which includes a foundation year that builds the creative and academic foundations you need before the main degree begins, gives you the opportunity to develop your design skills within a programme that is closely connected to the games industry. The sandwich year provides a year-long work placement within the games industry, immersing you in the fast-paced and dynamic environment of professional game studios. This level of industry exposure is exceptional within an undergraduate degree and gives you the professional experience and portfolio content that employers consistently prioritise when recruiting graduates.

A work placement is also available, giving you additional direct exposure to professional practice.

A typical entry tariff of 88 points makes the programme accessible to students from a range of creative backgrounds, and the combination of a foundation year, strong academic content and an extended industry placement makes this a particularly thorough preparation for a games design career.

Graduates pursue careers as games designers, level designers, narrative designers, user experience designers and game developers across studios of every size. Some move into related roles in interactive media, virtual reality, simulation and educational games, while others use their design skills in broader digital creative roles. Postgraduate study in games design or a related field is an option for those who wish to deepen their specialism or move into research and teaching.