Program Overview
Games Design BA (Hons) at UCA Farnham
Overview
The Games Design BA (Hons) course at UCA Farnham is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in the computer games industry. The course focuses on the development of games design skills, including game design theory, design documentation, and 3D game asset development.
What You'll Study
The course covers a range of topics, including:
- Fundamentals of Game Design
- Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Board Game Design
- Opportunity Week
- Introduction to Games Production
- Client Brief
- Interactive Narratives
- ATOM Activities
- PLE Digital Outcome 1
In the second year, students will study:
- Rapid Games Prototyping
- The Conscious Practitioner
- Opportunity Week
- Games Studio
- Industry Brief
- Elective units (choose two from: Conceptual Interdisciplinary, Immersive Media, Digital Storytelling, Hardware Projects using Arduino, Virtual Production Studio, Pervasive Game Studio, Creature Animation, Motion Capture Technologies, Life Drawing, Environmental Storytelling)
In the final year, students will study:
- Final Major Project: Pre-Production
- Final Major Project: Critical and Conceptual Influences
- Professional Practice
- Final Major Project: Production
Entry Requirements
The standard entry requirements for the course are:
- 112 UCAS tariff points
- Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4)
- Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma / BTEC National Extended Diploma
- Merit at UAL Extended Diploma
- 112 UCAS tariff points from an accredited Access to Higher Education Diploma in appropriate subject
- 27-30 total points in the International Baccalaureate Diploma with at least 15 IB points at Higher level
- Four GCSE passes at grade 9-4/A*-C including English (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2)
Fees and Funding
The tuition fees for the course are:
- Integrated Foundation Year: £9,535
- BA course: £9,535
- Professional Practice Year: £1,900 (reduced tuition fee)
Facilities and Equipment
The course has access to a range of facilities and equipment, including:
- PC & VR Studio
- Creative Lab
- Prototype Lab
- VR and Motion Capture Studio
- UCA Farnham library
- CGA Incubator Studio
- PC & Cintiq Studio
- Large Sound Recording Studio
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the course can pursue a range of career opportunities in the computer games industry, including:
- Level designer
- Cinematic games designer
- Character designer
- Games design and development
- VR games designer
- Rendering programmer
- AI designer
Staff
The course is taught by a team of experienced lecturers, including:
- Neil Brewis, Programme Director of Games
- Andy Bossom, Industry Engagement Lead
- Dr Ewan Kirkland, Senior Lecturer in Critical Studies: Digital and Interactive Art
- Dr Maggie Li, Lecturer in Games Theory
- Dr Digdem Sezen, Senior Lecturer in Games
- Dr Tonguc Sezen, Senior Lecturer in Games
- Dr Darren C Fisher, Senior Lecturer: Games, Comic and Concept Art
Student Testimonials
- "UCA definitely helped prepare me for the real world, and I don't think I would be where I am now without it. It gave me the confidence in the software that we use, in the ability to present my ideas/changes in a professional manner and more just to trust the process." - Lydia Beharrell, BA (Hons) Games Design
Entry Requirements by Country
The course has specific entry requirements for students from different countries. These requirements can be found on the UCA website.
English Language Requirements
The course requires students to have a good understanding of English. The English language requirements for the course can be found on the UCA website.
Apply Now
Students can apply for the course through the UCA website. The application process typically involves submitting a portfolio of work and attending an interview.