BA (Hons) Game Design with Foundation Year
Program start date | Application deadline |
2025-09-15 | - |
Program Overview
BA (Hons) Game Design with Foundation Year
Overview
Begin your journey into the exciting world of game design with our BA (Hons) Game Design with Foundation Year. This program provides a solid grounding in creative and technical skills, preparing you for success in the full Game Design degree and ultimately, the dynamic game industry.
Award
BA (Hons)
Start date(s)
15 September 2025
UCAS Code
I621
Course specifications
View course spec
Course length
Full-time (4 years), Part-time (6 years)
Campus location
University: City Campus
School
Wolverhampton School of Art
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Why choose this course?
- 100% of part-time students were satisfied overall with their course.
- Tailored foundation year to build core creative and technical skills
- Smooth transition into full degree program
- Supportive learning environment for those new to game design
- Opportunity to explore various aspects of game creation before specializing
What happens on the course?
As a full-time student, you will be studying three modules per semester, which requires about 12 hours of attendance per week. The rest of the learning will be self-directed outside the formal sessions. You will study in well-equipped studios with access to all the necessary hardware and software you need to complete your work.
Modules and Assessment
All assessment on this course is based on coursework. There are no exams. You will be given an assignment brief at the beginning of the module. The assignment brief explains in detail what you are required to do, what you need to submit, and when the deadline is. It also explains the criteria used to assess the assignment.
New £5m Screen School
Wolverhampton Screen School will be the ambitious epicentre for stimulating screen-based culture, education, research, and industrial development within the region and beyond.
What skills will you gain?
You will develop a full understanding of Games Design as an industry, the practices involved in designing and making games, as well as the place of games design within global culture. You will understand your own role within the game design industry and will be able to adapt to new, unfamiliar situations and ways of working. You will have a wide range of software skills that will enable you to bring your game ideas into life.
Course Fees and Finance
Location | Mode | Fee | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Home | Full-time | £9250 per year | |
Home | Part-time | £4625 per year# | |
International | Full-time | £14950 per year |
Entry Requirements
Key Entry Requirements
Either:
- A-levels: Grade profile of DD
- Access to HE Diploma (60 credits) of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3 (48 UCAS point equivalence, minimum 45 credits at pass)
- BTEC: Grade profile of PPP
- T-Level: Pass grade with a core component profile less than C.
- Tariff: Other Level 3 qualifications are accepted for entry. A minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points will be required.
- UAL L3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design or Creative Media Production & Technology- grade P
- Other: We also consider applicants who have not achieved 48 UCAS points from prior level 3 qualifications. If you have a keen interest in this subject area or hold relevant experience, please make sure you outline this experience within your personal statement. This can be assessed through an alternative assessment route such as an academic essay.
Funding
Tuition Fees Loan(Home Fee Status):
Most students will be able to apply for loans to pay for these subject to eligibility. To find out more information, please refer to the government Student Finance website.
Changes for EU students:
The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as having Overseas Fee status. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:
What our students say
Graduate Success - Jason Barlow graduated in 2011:
Jason Barlow graduated from the University of Wolverhampton in 2011 and is now using the skills learned on his degree to lead a team of animators and 3D artists at a virtual reality simulation company.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Program:
BA (Hons) Game Design with Foundation Year
Institution:
University of Wolverhampton
Duration:
- Full-time: 3 years
- Part-time: 6 years
Start date:
16 September 2024
Location:
City Campus
Objectives:
- To develop students' understanding of the games design industry, the practices involved in designing and making games, and the place of games design within global culture.
- To equip students with the skills to generate new ideas, take creative risks, and experiment with emerging and established technologies.
- To enable students to communicate successfully with their audience and work effectively with a range of people and external and professional agencies.
- To prepare students for professional employment or self-employment in the game design industry.
Description:
- This program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the game design industry and the skills necessary to create their own games.
- Students will learn about the various aspects of game design, including concept development, level design, character design, 3D modeling, animation, programming, and sound design.
- They will also have the opportunity to experiment with emerging technologies and develop their own games.
- The program is taught by experienced professionals in the game design industry, and students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities.
- Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to pursue a career in the game design industry or to continue their studies at the postgraduate level.
Outline:
Content:
- Game design theory and practice
- Programming
- 3D modeling and animation
- 3D production
- Character design
- Level design
- Audio for games
- Game design for specific audiences (e.g., serious games)
- Portfolio development
Structure:
- The program is divided into three years of full-time study, or six years of part-time study.
- Each year is divided into two semesters.
- Students will take three modules per semester, for a total of twelve modules per year.
- There are no exams, and all assessment is based on coursework.
- Each module has a specific brief that outlines the assignment requirements and due dates.
- Students are expected to attend all classes and participate in group work.
- They are also expected to complete assignments on time and to a high standard.
- The program culminates in a final year project, in which students will design and develop their own game.
Course Schedule:
- Year 1: Introduction to Art and Design: Core Skills; Introduction to Specialist Art and Design: Contexts and Practices; 3D Level Design; Games Design in Context; Games Design Strategy and Process; Interactivity for Games; Introduction to 3D Modeling; Visual Development
- Year 2: 3D Production; Advanced Level Design; Audio for Games Design; Immersion and Atmosphere in Games; Serious Game Design; Team Production
- Year 3: Creative Media Practice; Interactive Media Experimentation; Major Project: Computer Games Design; Product, Pitch and Presentation; Professional Development
Modules:
- Introduction to Art and Design: Core Skills: This module introduces students to the core art and design skills that will support their development as artists or designers at degree level and beyond. Students will explore a range of approaches to drawing as a fundamental art and design tool for thinking through and communicating their ideas, exploring 2d, 3d, and media solutions to art and design problems. They will also begin to explore how research, reflection, and documentation can inform their ideas and support studio practice.
- Introduction to Specialist Art and Design: Contexts and Practices: This module introduces students to the range of art and design subject specialisms taught in the School of Art. Academic and technical teams from across the school will introduce students to specialist workshops and provide a range of short project briefs to enable them to explore and test their ideas out in different mediums and contexts. Students will also engage with contextual visits, lectures, and seminars that will explore how different artists and designers address genres and issues pertinent to their practice.
- 3D Level Design: This module builds upon game design practice and planning in prior study and allows students to realize a dynamic level design. The coursework will also guide students in the practice of integrating surfaces and models with interactive features and gameplay elements.
- Games Design in Context: This module introduces students to key themes within the area of Computer Games Design within relevant historical and cultural contexts. Students will engage with a variety of research methods in order to investigate questions set by module staff. They will present these findings in the form of an online blog where they will engage with feedback and questions from their peer group.
- Games Design Strategy and Process: This module aims to introduce students to an elementary knowledge base and skill set that will enable them to develop as a games design practitioner. Building upon issues developed in both the contextual and practical strands of the course, assignments in this module will encourage considered and knowledgeable approaches to computer games design.
- Interactivity for Games: This module aims to introduce students to an elementary knowledge base and skill set in the field of interactivity for games. Students will be introduced to the concepts and techniques in rapid prototyping and designing casual games that will enable them to develop as a games design practitioner. Building upon issues developed in both the contextual and practical strands of the course, students will develop considered and knowledgeable approaches to designing and creating interactivity for computer games with a strong focus on the iterative design cycle and core game mechanics.
- Introduction to 3D Modeling: Through class demonstration and instruction, students will learn a combination of 2d and 3d art processes to create fully surfaced 3d model game assets. They will demonstrate organizational skills by building a log which documents this process. By applying individualized and appropriate processes, students will aim to balance constraints of gameplay, framerates, and design specification.
- Visual Development: This research and practice module introduces design and its use within games and animation production. Students will study and practice various design principles through digital drawing and image creation, resulting in a well-researched and contextualized creative portfolio of work.
- 3D Production: This module provides the opportunity to explore and practice various aspects of 3D production; it aims to improve knowledge and ability in a supportive practice-based environment. Specialist subject topics will be explored. Practicing 3D character motion gives students the basis to explore 3D further in Level 6.
- Advanced Level Design: Initially, students will propose a game level design on the basis of reference to published media and critical texts on game analysis and design principles. They will create a prototype game level or interactive 3D environment. They will demonstrate organizational skills by building a log which documents this process. Finally, they will reflect by comparing the proposal and the artefact, and by contextualizing the skillsets they acquired with role definitions from the industry.
- Audio for Games Design: The module aims to introduce students to the elementary techniques and concepts in audio creation, manipulation, and editing for computer games. Students will be introduced to fundamental theory in audio physics, digital audio theory, and practical techniques in sound recording, post-production, and mastering.
- Immersion and Atmosphere in Games: Through seminar sessions and workshops, students will deconstruct and critically evaluate the techniques employed to create immersive atmospheric game experiences. Building upon issues developed in both the contextual and practical strands of the course, students will develop considered and knowledgeable approaches to designing immersive content for current generation computer games and will work towards developing creative solutions for a specific project brief.
- Serious Game Design: In this module, students will critically examine various theories, ideas, and claims about the role of games and the influences and impacts games may have on people, society, and culture. They will engage with controversial aspects of games and games design, e.g., game ethics, values in games, character stereotypes, violence in games, social and political aspects of games. They will also design their own ‘serious game’ that will have a purposeful impact on the player. This can be game that promotes certain ‘values’ or raise the player’s awareness about a social, political or cultural issue. There will be weekly readings outside the sessions followed by discussions and presentations and feedback in class.
- Team Production: Students will collaboratively generate visual designs, project production timelines, and organize project management networks. They will formalise and record team communication in game design contexts. They will also gain a clearer idea of the role specialisms in which they will base their future practice and an individually configured skillset to give character and focus to their portfolio work in the final year of study.
- Creative Media Practice: This module provides a framework and opportunity for students to expand and fine-tune their existing knowledge and skills through sustained practice by working on ‘live’ client-driven design briefs. This is a hands-on practical module that helps students to experience the issues that are involved in working with clients and the demands of a ‘live’ project.
- Interactive Media Experimentation: This module offers students the opportunity to consolidate and enhance their existing knowledge and skills by experimenting with new ideas and processes in designing and developing an interactive artefact.
- Major Project: Computer Games Design: This module provides students with an opportunity to work on a year-long practical project. In semester one, students will identify and explore their game ideas and concepts. They will then produce a portfolio of work that includes their proposed game idea, your research, concept designs, and a detailed design specification document. In semester two, students will concentrate on making and refining their proposed game. They will also write a short reflective report about their final game and the process of making it.
- Product, Pitch and Presentation: This module aims to give students the experience of a creative, collaborative, detailed and specific game design process. Through group working, students will conceptualise, identify key characteristics and pitch-present to given audiences a game design iterated via pre-production techniques.
- Professional Development: Professional Development is an opportunity to investigate the creative future; this module enables students to investigate various roles within creative industries and develop a research portfolio and action plan that strengthens their knowledge and confidence when making career choices. The practical element of this module is to produce a showreel, and a professional online presence. Students will investigate and practice self-promotion and branding through presentations, CV development, business cards, and mock interviews.
Assessment:
- All assessment on this course is based on coursework.
- There are no exams.
- Students will be given an assignment brief at the beginning of the module.
- The assignment brief explains in detail what is required, what needs to be submitted, and when the deadline is.
- It also explains the criteria used to assess the assignment.
- Students will be required to produce a variety of different work, including essays, reports, presentations, and design projects.
- All work is assessed by academic staff, who provide feedback to help students improve.
Teaching:
- The course is taught by a team of experienced professionals in the game design industry.
- The team includes lecturers, associate lecturers, and visiting tutors.
- Lecturers have a wealth of experience in teaching and research in game design.
- Associate lecturers are typically industry professionals who bring their real-world experience into the classroom.
- Visiting tutors are experts in their field who provide students with a fresh perspective.
- The course is taught using a variety of methods, including lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials.
- Lectures are used to introduce new concepts and theories.
- Seminars are used to discuss these concepts and theories in more detail.
- Workshops are used to give students hands-on experience in using game design tools and techniques.
- Tutorials are used to provide students with one-to-one feedback on their work.
- The course also makes use of a variety of resources, including the University's library, the Games Lab, and the Motion Capture Studio.
- The library provides students with access to a wide range of books, journals, and other resources on game design.
- The Games Lab is a dedicated space where students can work on their games projects.
- The Motion Capture Studio is used to create 3D animations for games.
Careers:
- This course prepares students for a variety of career paths within the game design industry.
- For example, graduates could work as game designers, 3D modelers, level designers, digital artists, art directors, and project managers.
- They could also use their skills in other related areas such as digital entertainment, broadcasting, media, advertising, and education.
- The course also prepares students for further study at the postgraduate level.
- Graduates could go on to study for an MA in Game Design, an MSc in Computer Science, or a PhD in a related field.
- The course provides students with a range of skills that are highly valued by employers.
- These skills include creativity, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and technical expertise.
- The course also helps students to develop a portfolio of work that they can use to apply for jobs or further study.
Other:
Potential Career Paths:
- Game designer
- 3D modeler
- Level designer
- Digital artist
- Art director
- Project manager
Skills Gained:
- Understanding of the game design industry
- Ability to generate new ideas
- Ability to take creative risks
- Ability to experiment with emerging and established technologies
- Ability to communicate successfully with audience
- Ability to work effectively with a range of people and external and professional agencies
Resources:
- The University's library
- The Games Lab
- The Motion Capture Studio
Student Support:
- Dedicated and experienced professional team of educators
- Well-equipped studios with access to necessary hardware and software
- Access to a dedicated game room
- High level of individualised support from the University’s Student Enabling Centre
- Opportunity to work with other art and design students in close proximity.
Tuition Fees and Payment Information:
- Home: £9250 per year
- International: £14450 per year
University of Wolverhampton
Overview:
The University of Wolverhampton is a public university located in Wolverhampton, England. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as degree apprenticeships and CPD short courses. The university is known for its strong focus on student support and its commitment to providing a high-quality learning experience.
Services Offered:
The University of Wolverhampton offers a variety of services to its students, including:
Academic Support:
The university provides academic support services such as tutoring, writing workshops, and study skills development.Student Support:
Students have access to a range of support services, including disability support, mature student support, and career guidance.Accommodation:
The university offers a variety of on-campus accommodation options, as well as information and support for finding off-campus housing.IT Services:
Students have access to a range of IT services, including computer labs, Wi-Fi, and online learning platforms.Library:
The university library provides access to a wide range of resources, including books, journals, and databases.Gym:
The university has a gym with a variety of facilities, including a fitness center, swimming pool, and sports courts.Students' Union:
The Students' Union provides a range of services and activities for students, including social events, clubs, and societies.Student Life and Campus Experience:
Students at the University of Wolverhampton can expect a vibrant and supportive campus environment. The university has a strong sense of community, with a variety of clubs, societies, and events to get involved in. The university also has a number of facilities and services to support student life, including a gym, a Students' Union, and a library.
Key Reasons to Study There:
Strong Student Support:
The university is known for its strong focus on student support, with a range of services available to help students succeed.Affordable Living:
The university offers a variety of affordable accommodation options, as well as information and support for finding off-campus housing.High-Quality Learning Experience:
The university is committed to providing a high-quality learning experience, with experienced lecturers and modern facilities.Strong Graduate Outcomes:
A high percentage of the university's graduates are employed or in further education within 15 months of graduation.Academic Programs:
The University of Wolverhampton offers a wide range of academic programs, including:
Arts, Business, and Social Sciences:
The university has a strong reputation in these fields, with programs in areas such as creative industries, social science, humanities, business, and law.Education, Health, and Wellbeing:
The university offers a variety of programs in these fields, including education, nursing, midwifery, psychology, health and society, and sport.Science and Engineering:
The university has a strong reputation in these fields, with programs in areas such as architecture, built environment, engineering, computing, mathematical sciences, life sciences, and pharmacy.Other:
The university has a strong commitment to research, with a number of research centers and institutes. The university also has a strong international focus, with a number of programs and services for international students.
Entry Requirements:
UK/EU Applicants:
- Typical offer:
- A Level: DD
- Access to HE Diploma: 60 credits (minimum of 45 at Level 3)
- BTEC: PPP
- T-Level: Pass grade with a core component profile less than C
- Other Level 3 qualifications: Minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points (including 45 credits at pass)
- UAL L3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design or Creative Media Production & Technology: Grade P
- Alternative Assessment: Applicants without 48 UCAS points may be considered based on relevant experience and a written academic essay.
International Applicants:
- Qualification requirements: Equivalent to UK qualifications (details available on the University website).
- English language proficiency: IELTS 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any component, or equivalent.
Additional requirements:
- Portfolio review: Shortlisted applicants will be required to submit a portfolio for review.
- Reference: A satisfactory reference is required.
Progression from Foundation Year:
- Successful completion of the Foundation Year allows progression to Level 4 of the Game Design degree without reapplication.
- To change to a different degree subject, a new UCAS application and interview process are required.
Please note:
- Entry requirements may vary depending on your individual circumstances and the year of entry.
- It is essential to check the University website for the most up-to-date information and specific details.
Language Proficiency Requirements:
- For international applicants: IELTS 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any component, or equivalent.
Additional Information:
- The University accepts applications via UCAS for full-time and directly for part-time study.
- International students can find detailed information and application guidance on the University website.