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Computer Games Design (Full-time) (HND)

Swansea
2 Years Full-time
80 UCAS Points

Are you passionate about creating games? Our Computer Games Design Higher National Diploma is tailored to help you turn that passion into a career. Designed for those eager to become 3D artists, animators, or game designers, this course offers an in-depth exploration of the gaming industry, supported by strong industry partnerships.

Throughout the programme, you will use powerful game development tools like Unreal Engine and Unity, widely recognised in the industry. You will learn from professionals with real-world experience, who will help you develop a portfolio that showcases your skills to future employers.

The curriculum covers a broad range of topics essential for game development. You will study game design theory, level and environment design, and programming. Our state-of-the-art facilities include the latest Adobe Creative Cloud (Adobe CC) software, providing all the necessary tools for your studies. With small class sizes, our staff, who have extensive industry experience, can offer personalised guidance and support.

Additionally, you will gain hands-on experience with AR/VR development and animation, learning about the latest technologies in game design. This course will not only teach you technical skills but also help you develop creative, critical, analytical, and interpretive abilities essential for crafting compelling games. The programme encourages both individual growth and teamwork, preparing you to thrive in a collaborative environment.

Upon completion of the course you will be well prepared and ready to progress to the final year of our 3 year degree programme, which will prepare you for a career in the gaming industry.

Course details

Start date:
Study modes:
  • On-campus
  • Full-time
Language:
  • English
  • Bilingual
Institution code:
T80
UCAS code:
CGD8
Course length:
2 Years Full-time
Entry requirements:
80 UCAS Points

Tuition Fees 24/25
Home (Full-time): £9,000 per year
Overseas (Full-time): £13,500 per year

Why choose this course?

01
Passionate teaching team with industry experience at indie and AAA level production.
02
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø 1st University in Wales for Learning Opportunities (NSS, 2023).
03
Dedicated studio space exclusively for Games Students.

What you will learn

We believe in empowering you to design and create interactive projects that truly showcase your game development knowledge. Our course is all about encouraging your creative exploration while ensuring you develop the technical skills needed to succeed in the competitive world of computer games design.

In your first year of the Computer Games Design course, you’ll begin to explore the world of game development. You’ll start with learning the basics of character creation, 3D graphics, and animation. In seminars and workshops, you will explore game mechanics and rule systems through fun, hands-on projects, often using paper-based concept mock-ups to get a real feel for how games are made. Our small tutorial groups mean you get plenty of personalised support from your lecturers, helping you to build your skills and confidence right from the start.

Environment Design

(20 credits)

Game Design and History

(20 credits)

Introduction to Character Animation

(20 credits)

Introduction to 3D Modelling

(10 Credits)

Visual Studies

(20 credits)

Academic and Professional Development

(10 Credits)

Games for Positive Impact

(20 Credits)

As you move into the second year, you’ll build on what you’ve learned, tackling more advanced topics like character and environment modelling, texturing, and interface design. This is when your projects start to get more complex and innovative. You’ll also look at the bigger picture with contextual studies, understanding the social and cultural sides of game design. 

Advanced Character Animation

(20 credits)

Indie Game Development

(20 credits)

Game Theory and Design

(20 credits)

Evolving your Creative Craft

(20 Credits)

Level Design and Development

(20 Credits)

Narrative and World-Building

(10 Credits)

Sound Design

(10 Credits)

Course Page Disclaimer

  • We listen to student feedback and insights from industry and from professionals to ensure that course content is high-quality and up-to-date, and that it offers the best possible preparation for your future career or study goals. 

    For this reason, there might be modifications to the content of your course over time, to keep up to date with changes in the subject area or in the sector. If a module is no longer running, we’ll make sure to keep you informed, and work with you to choose a different suitable module.

testimonial

Staff

Our People

You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses. 

Further information

  • We are interested in creative people that demonstrate a strong commitment to art and/or design and therefore we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. To assess student suitability for their chosen course we arrange interviews for all applicants at which your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered as well as your portfolio of work.

    Our standard offer for a degree course is 120 UCAS tariff points. We expect applicants to have a grade C or above in English Language (or Welsh) at GCSE level, together with passes in another four subjects. Plus we accept a range of Level 3 qualifications including:

    • Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, plus one GCE A-Level in a relevant academic subject
    • Three GCE A-Levels or equivalent
    • BTEC Extended Diploma in a relevant subject, with minimum grades of Merit
    • International Baccalaureate score of 32
    • Other relevant qualifications can be considered on an individual basis

    Qualifications are important, however, our offers are not solely based on academic results. If you don’t have the required UCAS points then please contact the courses admissions tutor or email artanddesign@uwtsd.ac.uk as we can consider offers to applicants based on individual merit, exceptional work, and/or practical experience.

  • Assessment is carried out through coursework, both written and practical. There are no exams on this course. Students are formatively assessed throughout a module, summative assessment takes place at the end of a module.

    In order to maintain academic integrity, a range of strategies are adopted. Most practical work includes formal written elements of some sort: everything from the standard essay format through to things like usability reports, product definition documents, responses to/critiques of seminal academic papers, learning journals, business plans, etc. At Level 6 all students will have to complete a Dissertation.

    From L4 onwards students are also widely assessed in presentations, culminating at L6 in the Major Project. We have found the viva voce style assessment well-suited to the work we do within the School, which, whilst having a technical underpinning, often has strong similarities to fine art practice.

  • Our students have access to a diverse range of equipment and resources, which in most cases are sufficient to complete their programme of study. We provide the basic materials necessary for students to develop their practical work within our extensive workshop and studio facilities.

    However, it is likely that art and design students will incur some additional costs to extend their investigation of their personal practice. For example, purchasing their own specialised materials and equipment, joining in optional study trips, and printing.

    Students are expected to bring their own personal art and design equipment with them when they commence the course.  We can advise on the correct equipment needed for your programme of studies and signpost appropriate suppliers if you wish to purchase essential items before or during your studies.  

    A basic ‘art and design kit’ will cost approximately £100 but you may well already have much of the equipment required so check with us first.  Also, although we have extensive dedicated digital design studios (PC and MAC) for you to undertake your coursework you may wish to bring your own digital devices, again check with us first before making a purchase.

  • You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.

  • Visit Go Global with ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø for more information about studying abroad.

  • Graduates from our Computer Games Design programme could develop specialisms in any of the following industrial contexts:

    • Web and Mobile Gaming: designer, 2D artist, 3D artist, project director.
    • Console/PC Games Development: level designer, character designer, character modeller, animator, materials artist, lighting artist, storyboard artist, assistant level designer, assistant character modeller, lighting assistant, assistant texture artist, assistant concept artist, trainee game designer, asset modeller, game Q&A.
    • Animation Production House: character designer, character modeller, animator, materials artist, lighting artist, storyboard artist, project director.
    • Game journalist.

    Students from the course have worked on a number of critically acclaimed games over the past few years including Grand Theft Auto 5, Alien: Isolation, and Lego Star Wars 3. The course has links with games companies such as:

    • EA
    • Rockstar North
    • Creative Assembly
    • Media Molecule
    • °Õ°ù²¹±¹±ð±ô±ô±ð°ù’s&²Ô²ú²õ±è;°Õ²¹±ô±ð²õ
    • Fusebox Games
    • Blizzard
    • Creative Assembly