BA (Honours) Game Design and Development with Foundation Year

Program Overview

BA (Honours) Game Design and Development with Foundation Year

Course Summary

This foundation year has been designed to enhance your knowledge in advance of undergraduate study. You'll study a range of business-related topics, and apply your skills on rewarding projects and assignments. After completing your foundation, you'll have everything you need for full honours degree study, and progress directly onto the BSc Games Design and Development course.

How You Learn

The course is suitable if you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) Games Design and Development course, or you want extra preparation before starting degree-level study. You share the first year with other Sheffield Business School foundation year students, then move on to the degree.

You will learn in a supportive, challenging and exciting environment. You will be based in Sheffield Business School — a vibrant, dynamic setting with excellent facilities located in the heart of the city.

You learn through:

• Lectures and seminars
• Case studies
• Presentations
• Self-directed study
• Work placements
• Activities and events

Modules

Year 1

• Creative Synergies In Media Production (40 credits)
  • The aim of this module is to introduce and encourage you to make imaginative and inventive use of skills appropriate to a diverse range of media project work.
• Media In Context (20 credits)
  • The aim of this module is to introduce students to the academic study of creative media practice.
• Media Project (40 credits)
  • This module supports students in the development and production of self-directed creative media or communication project work.
• Preparing For Independent Practice And Study (20 credits)
  • This module aims to support students in the development of independent learning, key study skills and attributes required for effective engagement with degree level study.

Year 2

• Digital Prototyping 1 (40 credits)
  • This module introduces you to the fundamental skills necessary for creating digital prototypes for games or game mechanics.
• Game Design Practice (40 credits)
  • In this module you will widen your understanding of games design principles, exploring experimental techniques through a variety of techniques.
• Game Design Theory (20 credits)
  • This module provides the theoretical underpinnings for future practical work by introducing fundamental principles of game design and critical analysis of existing digital games.
• Game Project (20 credits)
  • This module will equip you with the skills you need to work in multidisciplinary project teams.

Year 3

• Advanced Game Design Theory (20 credits)
  • This module will enable you to prepare game concepts for development through application of advanced design theory and applied practical research methods.
• Digital Prototyping 2 (40 credits)
  • This module aims to further develop prototyping skills, from concept to development and testing.
• Interactive Realities (20 credits)
  • This module introduces new methods and tools for creating interactive work outside the bounds of traditional screen media.
• Specialist Pathways 1 (40 credits)
  • This module will introduce you to a range of specialised routes into industry, by asking you to identify an area that aligns with your interests and capabilities.

Year 4

• Alternate Realities (20 credits)
  • In this module you will focus on storytelling across mixed reality platforms.
• Final Game Project (40 credits)
  • This module will enable you to undertake a design and development major project to produce a game or a set of game assets for a defined audience and to a high standard.
• Research And Development Proposal (20 credits)
  • This module will enable you to prepare and plan strategies for your work in your ‘Final Game Project’.
• Specialist Pathways 2 (40 credits)
  • This module focuses on professional roles in the games industry and beyond, supporting you to build a professional portfolio that meets the standard required for a junior design role in the games and allied creative industries.

Future Careers

The full degree prepares you for a career in:

• Game designer
• Game artist
• Game producer

Equipment and Facilities

On the full degree course you work with:

• Games engines such as Unity 3D and Unreal
• 3D modelling software
• Emerging game technologies such as VR headsets
• Playstation development kits

Entry Requirements

• UCAS points: 80
• GCSE: English Language or Literature at grade C or 4
• Portfolio review: We may also accept you, if you have limited qualifications but can show evidence of ability and a genuine commitment to studying Media Arts and Communication.

Fees and Funding

• Home students: £9,535 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year)
• International students: £17,155 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year)