BA (Hons) Games Design with Integrated Foundation Year

Program Overview

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BA (Hons) Games Design with Integrated Foundation Year

Course Overview

The BA (Hons) Games Design with Integrated Foundation Year is a four-year undergraduate degree that provides students with a comprehensive education in games design. The course is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in the games industry.

Ideal for...

Aspiring games designers who wish to build up foundational knowledge prior to entering an undergraduate degree.

Course Structure

The course consists of four years, with the first year being a preparatory year (Year 0) that provides students with a basic grounding in their subject and a smooth transition into their chosen degree.

Key Study Topics

• Game engine technologies
• Scripting
• Production methodologies (Scrum, Lean, Waterfall)
• Development cycles
• Concepting and ideation
• Prototyping
• Documentation
• 2D/3D art pipelines
• Character design
• Environment design
• Games culture and studies
• Game design fundamentals
• Team working

Year 0

Year 0 is a preparatory year as part of the four-year BA (Hons) Games Design course. It is an ideal opportunity for students to further develop their portfolio skills ahead of degree studies.

Year 1

In year one, students will build the key skills required for games design and engage in debate around the cultural and political nature of games and development.

Key modules include:

• Introduction to game studies and an exploration of games culture
• Introduction to basic design skills
• Introduction to key software pipelines
• Using acquired skills to design levels
• Exploring narrative

Year 2

In year two, students will start their journey into the design and creation of design assets for the games industry; from research to concepts to building for AAA game, independent games or tabletop.

Key modules include:

• Importance of research in concepting and building art assets
• Introduction to key design assets and documentation
• Introduction of technologies for prototype design
• Introduce theory and practice of writing games narratives
• Learn about the numerous design roles in the gaming industries

Year 3

Year three is designed to sharpen the skills learnt in year two and to develop students' unique skillset to enable them to produce a considered final submission.

Assessment

Students will be continually assessed through various tasks such as blogs, reports, presentations and evidence of experimentation and research.

Each module has a formative and a summative assessment point, where feedback and advice are provided to develop and complete projects and a final grade is awarded.

Progression

Games Design Year 0 is not a standalone course; it is the first stage of a full four-year undergraduate degree. When students successfully complete their prep year, they will be able to progress smoothly into the first year of our BA (Hons) Games Design course in London.

Career Pathways

Graduates will be able to pursue work in a number of roles and fields including but not limited to the game industries, the TV and Film industries and the VR and digital industries.

Selection Criteria

We will use a number of methods to assess an applicant's suitability for their course of choice.

Primarily applicants are selected on the basis of:

• An applicant's prior academic achievement/qualifications and/or previous employment/life experience;
• Assessment of the applicant's ability and aptitude to succeed on the course for which s/he has applied.

Entry Requirements

At Ravensbourne we accept a wide range of qualifications for entry onto our courses, whilst also considering the context in which they were achieved. For this course, we would usually require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English in addition to any of the below;

• Two A Levels at grade CC or above
• BTEC Extended Diploma at grade MPP
• UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma
• T Level (pass or above)
• Access to Higher Education Diploma
• International Baccalaureate at grade 24 or above
• Other/Mixed qualifications equivalent to 64 UCAS Tariff points

Interview and Portfolio

Admission onto this course is also subject to successful completion of an interview and portfolio (or showreel).

If you wish to study our BA (Hons) Animation with Year 0 degree course, we will need to see examples of previous art, new media and/or design work that showcases your suitability for the course.

Fees and Funding

Find out more about our tuition fees and whether you qualify for financial support during your studies.

Industry Connections

At Ravensbourne University London, industry connection is ingrained into everything we do. We will equip you for success in the creative and digital industries, ensuring you are truly industry ready upon graduation. Our tutors are respected academics and practitioners with substantial experience and industry links.

You will be part of a diverse community of creatives, working collaboratively to explore new professional practices. Ravensbourne have strong industry links with a range of high-profile companies, including: Apple, Barclays, the BBC, European Space Agency, Marks & Spencer, Museum of London, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Samsung and many more.

Lecturers

• Bradley O'Neill, BA PGCert Unity Certified Associate
• Annette Richardson, MA BA PGCE MPhil/ PHD candidate

Learn about the full degree

BA (Hons) Games Design

Unistats Details

• 90% say staff value students views and opinions about the course
• 98% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.
• 80% in work or doing further study 15 months after the course.

Data for courses in Computer games and animation at Ravensbourne University London

For more official course information visit Discover Uni

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