BSc (Hons) Games Design

Core units

• Art & Design in Creative Industries: This unit is intended to give you the drawing and design skills required in order to maximise your potential on your chosen undergraduate degree. You will be introduced to the concepts of critical feedback and continuous improvement within a visual arts context. 
• Algorithmic Thinking: During this unit you will develop your understanding of mathematical and logical concepts that are the foundation of computer animation, games and visual effects.
• Digital Tools: You will gain the fundamental knowledge and understanding of computers and the digital tools available in order to maximise your potential on your chosen undergraduate degree. As such, it will provide a platform between prior and future learning and enable you to gain an understanding of digital tools in the context of your career aspirations.
• Study Skills for Creative Industries: You will develop practical skills in the production, manipulation and editing of visual media and be able to demonstrate an ability to search, locate, read and understand literature and techniques relevant to the creative industries.
• Foundation Project: This unit allows you to develop a personally defined project, you can choose to focus on either a specialist area of practice, a generalist project or a complementary skill/technique that will benefit your ongoing development.You will gain essential knowledge and experience in scheduling and identification of clear milestones within your personal projects and you will benefit from communicating with an assigned supervisor throughout.

Core units

• Games Design Principles: You will discover the basic principles of game design, as well as gain experience in collaborative working and sharing ideas.
• Game Art Fundamentals: Develop your design thinking skills as part of understanding Game Art and tuning into your observation skills and ability to adopt a conceptual approach. 
• Scripting for Games: This unit provides the opportunity to discover the ability to develop algorithmic and procedural solutions to creating models, levels and produce animations through the use of modelling/animation software as well as game engines. This is not a programming unit, but allows to demystify the technical barriers
• Level Design Fundamentals: You will explore the theoretical underpinning and good practice of creating functional, visually believable and convincing 3D game levels using an industry standard game engine.
• Game Modelling Fundamentals: You will explore the theory and practice of 3D modelling with an emphasis on creating assets for real-time rendering, as used in the computer games industry.
• Game Development Pipeline: You will discover the set of techniques and concepts related to the creation of a modern computer game using leading, industry-standard middleware products.

Core units

• Game Audio Techniques: The unit will introduce you to the key concepts in sound and audio manipulation. You will develop skills and techniques in digital audio editing and apply these to real-world problems in game audio creation. The study of game audio will develop editing and production techniques and provide a voice for individual expression.
• Materials Creation and Lighting: Understand the concept of material creation as part of the game development pipeline. Work with light concepts, and the use of light as part of a mood setting visualization.
• Interface Design: You will explore interaction techniques as involved in the current and near future computer games, through the principles of human-computer interaction.
• Game Studio Project: You will experience the practicalities of working in a team, simulating a real world games studio, in order to plan, design and implement a computer game from concept ideas and all the way to release stage.
• Modelling for Animation: You will develop 3D modelling skills by appropriately applying different techniques to the concepts of 3D modelling for games animation (e.g. interpret 2D concepts and create the corresponding 3D models ready for rigging).
• Storytelling and Narrative Development: You will develop skills in the development of narratives as a fundamental part of game design, and also discover the systems and theories that underpin interactive storytelling systems.

You have the option to complete either an optional 4-week placement or a minimum 30-week work placement year which can be carried out anywhere in the world. The placement year offers a chance to gain experience and make contacts for the future.

Core units

• Usability & Games Analytics: You will discover the essential user experience principles allowing one to draw firm conclusions on the game players' experience for future game design by effectively evaluating a variety of game-derived data.
• Games Futures: Learn to produce professional skills in computer games with a particular emphasis on developing knowledge of current and emerging gaming technologies for various types of games by exploration of their supporting platforms and contexts.
• Game Animation: Learn about theory and practice related to character animation and its fundamental contribution to games production. You will develop animation skills that allow you to animate a character expressing convincing attitudes. You will also learn about the key stages of the 3D animation process and experience a critical overview of the state of contemporary animation for games.
• Contemporary Innovations in Games: Understand contemporary games research and professional practice innovations, including the skills to research a given field, and appraise academic publications, games, and contemporary creative technologies for their contributions to innovations in games. This unit will provide the opportunity to further develop and refine a range of relevant transferable skills.
• Individual Development Project: You will apply the methods and techniques to develop your major individual project, through surveying research literature to identify suitable topics for investigation, developing of a formal specification; and critically evaluating the project.

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

With practical learning being integral to your degree, we provide industry standard specialist facilities. 
 
We continue to invest in our campuses so all our students can maximise their talents today and into the future. 
 
Visit our virtual tour to find out more and get a feel for where you’ll be studying while you’re based on our Talbot Campus. 

A placement should be a highly rewarding experience for you and your employer and we do our best to ensure that everyone involved feels that they have got the most that they can from the experience.

Placements provide a great opportunity to make your first career steps and enhance your employability while you’re completing your studies. You’ll get the opportunity to:

•     Put the theory learnt throughout the course into professional practice
•     Enhance your study and help you decide on subject options (where appropriate)
•     Learn a wide range of skills such as time management, problem solving and team work (all of these are important to succeed in any career)
•     Make contacts, as it is not uncommon for our students to be offered permanent positions to return to after graduating
•     Gain a real insight into the discipline in roles that would be almost impossible to achieve for an outsider.

Many of our students, during their placement, are given responsibilities normally associated with graduate trainees.

The faculty running your course will offer the support of a Placement Co-ordinator.   

Through timetabled sessions and one-to-one appointments, they’ll help support you in your placement search including advice on finding a placement, information and advice on all aspects of job searching and job applications, as well as ensuring your proposed placement meets the requirements of your course.    

Our CareersBU service is also available throughout your time at BU, offering services like CV checking and careers fairs to meet employers.  

Placement Development Advisors will support you once you have started your sandwich placement – so you will be able to maintain contact with the university throughout.  

We have regular contact with games developers across the UK and overseas, including Jagex, Lionhead, Marmalade, Goodgame Studios and Climax Studios.

In 2018, students from the Department of Creative Technology are on placement in Luxembourg, Holland, Denmark, Bulgaria and Italy.

Many of our placement employers act as industry advisers, offering guidance on course content. They also host guest talks and Q&A sessions for our students. 

AccessBU

AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships

We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry

We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website. 

Direct entry

We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants

​We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application

We select candidates for this course by looking at your application; there are usually no interviews or selection activities needed. For that reason, make sure your application really stands out from the crowd, and leave us in no doubt as to why you should be joining BU. You can find some handy hints about filling in your UCAS form on our how to apply web pages.

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview or a portfolio review. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

If you are unable to meet the entry requirements, we may be able to make you an offer through AccessBU if you meet certain criteria e.g. you have been in care or live in an area where fewer people typically progress to Higher Education. If you don't meet our published tariff, we will accept you at least 8 points below if your personal circumstances match our AccessBU criteria. 

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

You will be in a position to apply for a range of jobs once you graduate, including:

• Games Programmer
• Games Developer
• Media Designer

As you progress through the course, option units and setting up your placement will help you establish the exact career path you want to follow, and the roles that most excite you.

In addition to the games industry, you will develop skills and knowledge during the course that could open up opportunities in a variety of other sectors, including:

• Digital technology
• Architectural visualisation
• Mixed and virtual realities, as well as the wider digital creative industries

Once you have completed an undergraduate Honours degree, you can further develop your education by studying for a postgraduate degree. Please visit our postgraduate section for further details about our range of Master’s degrees.

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course, including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Materials for laboratory and field-based teaching activity
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Free software download to your personal device of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus while you are studying, as well as access to applications provided on AppsAnywhere, subject to licensing and compatibility restrictions
• Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies.
• Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website. 
• Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable). 
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas). Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website.
• You will need to meet the cost of any Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if required by your placement setting, including any Post Office verification changes. 
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study.
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full-time fee.

Alain Simons is a lecture in Games Technology more specific creating game assets focusing on 3D Modelling, texturing, lighting and animation. Alain has a degree in education and computer Animation/Games Technology and has mor than 30 years of experience in 3D Modelling and Imaging. 

Dr Charles' main research interests focus on Computational Intelligence applied to Computer Games including Artificial Intelligence combined with Human-Computer Interaction. He has been involved in research on Interactive Storytelling which led to the development of several interactive systems which have won several awards. He has a BSc in Computer Science, followed by a Master’s degree in Computer Aided Graphical Technology Applications.

Dr Vedad Hulusic worked as a post-doctoral researcher at Télécom ParisTech in Paris, France and as an Assistant Professor at the University Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has a PhD in Engineering from the University of Warwick, UK and a first degree in Computer Science from the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has a long-standing interest in computer graphics, serious games, cultural heritage, virtual museums, high dynamic range imaging, image and video quality assessment, visual perception and attention, image processing, and cross-modal interaction in which he has been a published author. He participated in two large-scale EU projects and a number of small- and medium-scale research projects.