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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Games Design

Close up shot of moulded shapes in a variety of pastel colours
Portfolio by Craig Green. BA (Hons) Games Design, London College of Communication, UAL. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson
College
London College of Communication UCAS code
I600 Start date
September 2023 Course length
3 years

BA (Hons) Games Design will teach you skills sought by industry, such as coding and programming, enabling you to take software tools and create new playable games from your ideas.

Open Days

The next Open Day for this course will be on Saturday 10 December. Book your place.

Explore life at LCC with our interactive Virtual Open Day.

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@GamesDesLCC

Course overview

BA (Hons) Games Design will teach you how to take the software tools of games design and create new gaming experiences. Explore skills sought by industry, such as storyboarding, coding and play testing which will enable you to translate your ideas into playable games.

Working from original concepts, you will develop ideas and test them to evaluate their experience of play. You'll not only design the players interaction with the game mechanics but also the visual feedback needed to communicate the player’s progress, the various gamestates and the behaviours of individual game objects and characters.

This concept-to-game approach is supported by the growing theoretical area of games studies.

What to expect

  • You’ll be taught to regularly generate new concepts and to be innovative in your practice.
  • You'll learn the design and development skills necessary sought after by leading design and software companies worldwide such as interactive design, the psychology of games, designing the experience of play, computer programming and 3D modelling.
  • You'll learn how to write game design documents starting from the initial concept, before mastering the various stages of development.
  • Put your skills into practice as you continually build playable games throughout the course. During this process, you'll demonstrate storyboarding and visualisation techniques to communicate ideas with linear or non-linear content.
  • You will also be expected to analyse gaming trends and identify unique selling points to build into the game's hooks and features; to create your own animated content, adding functionality with scripting before testing for performance and usability.
  • The final major project gives you the opportunity to research an aspect of games design that is of particular interest to you and to present your findings in a dissertation.

Industry experience and opportunities

You’ll have the opportunity to undertake the Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) or the UAL Diploma in Creative Computing between Years 2 and 3 to enhance your learning experience and employability skills.

Mode of Study

BA (Hons) Games Design runs for 93 weeks in full time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage lasts 31 weeks.

Course units

In common with all courses at University of the Arts London, this course is credit rated. The course is 3 years, levels 4-6. Each year requires you to achieve 120 credit points. To be awarded the BA (Hons) Games Design qualification, you need to accumulate a total of 360 credits.

Year 1

Introduction to Games Design (20 credits)
Concept and Design 1 (40 credits)
Prototype Development 1 (40 credits)
Theory of Interaction Design (20 credits)

The units in the first year will define computer games, their history and the subjective nature of play. You will be introduced to practical game design theories and how it effects the design of game hooks and features. You’ll develop an awareness of design documents used to communicate game concepts, and the programming skills needed to implement design documents and build game prototypes.

Year 2

Concept and Design 2 (40 credits)
Prototype Development 2 (20 credits)
Understanding Player Experience (20 credits)
Introduction to Professional Practice (20 credits)

In year 2 you will explore the importance of characters and game environments to aid immersion and enrich the player experience. You’ll examine the importance of genres in specifying potential target audiences. You will be introduced to 3D modelling and how to construct and texture game elements. Develop your programming skills to control multiple autonomous and dynamic objects.

Year 3

Major Project Practical (60 credits)
Professional Practice (Progression) (20 credits)
Thesis (40 credits)

In your third year you will build on existing 3D knowledge by introducing rigging, and the preparation and creation of animation and the use within a games engine. You will be introduced to the integrated development environment: the use of the content pipeline to import graphical images and 3D models, as well as testing and evaluating concepts.

The final year gives students the opportunity to specialise in an area of games design which they are particularly interested in. It supports the acquisition of specialist knowledge for their Major Project dissertation and aids in the development of specialist skills for the Major Project practical, via personal study and supervision.

Optional Diploma between Years 2 and 3

Between Years 2 and 3 of your course, you’ll also have the opportunity to undertake one of the following qualifications:

Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) (Optional)

An optional, year-long learning opportunity which enables you to develop your professional skills by undertaking time out for industry experience. Supported throughout the year by academics, you’ll build on the knowledge gained on your course in a range of national or international locations, and graduate with an additional qualification of Diploma in Professional Studies.

UAL Diploma in Creative Computing (Optional)

Between Years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Creative Computing. This will develop your skills in creative computing alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Games Design (with Creative Computing).

Learning and teaching methods

  • Supervision
  • Tutorials
  • Peer review
  • Lectures
  • Seminar
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops supporting individual and group needs
  • Guest lectures

Online Open Day

Graduate showcase

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Graduate Showcase

Student work

  • Screenshot of game showing cartoon player surrounded by dead characters.
    Arthur Audren de Kerdrel. 2020, BA (Hons) Games Design, London College of Communication, UAL.
    Wrath  

    Game by: Arthur Audren de Kerdrel

  • Screenshot of game showing lit up garden in a night time setting.
    Jack McPherson, Arthur Audren de Kerdel, and Jack Roper. 2020, BA (Hons) Games Design, London College of Communication, UAL.
    Nightlight  

    Game by: Jack McPherson, Arthur Audren de Kerdel, and Jack Roper

  • Screenshot of game with players inside a white H arena
    Anthony McCarthy. 2020, BA (Hons) Games Design, London College of Communication, UAL.
    Mono Shift  

    Game by Anthony McCarthy

  • Image from a student-made video game showing a character in purple armour standing without a dimly lit space with lights and chains.
    Alexander Menez, Arcanea
  • Design for a computer game. Upward view in a subterranean environment with green foliage and mushroom-like structures.
    Work by Nicola Zamboni and Zhan Gurskis
  • screenshot of game with spooky character attempting to jump through different levels to catch gems.
    Foraise by David McAlle
  • screenshot of game with coloured blocks eating each other.
    Mother by T.F. Fleming
  • screenshot of game with 3 house with characters mood impacting on the colours they see.
    Trippy Hippy by Matthew Sutton and David McAlle
  • screenshot of game where character has to escape from the titanic in 37 seconds. screenshot displays the time in a large gold clock with the ship on the right hand side.
    37 seconds by Nichola Humphreys and Oliver Pope
  • grid of 4 images showing development from paper to digital. the game shows a bird removing a tooth from a woodpeckers mouth.
    Woodpecker by Luca Cavozzi.
  • grid of 4 images showing development from paper to digital. screenshot displays the battle between a small David and a large Goliath.
    David vs. Golitath by Lucas Casas
  • 4 images showing the development from paper to digital. the work shows a series of battle ships with coloured rings around the characters ships.
    Lorelei by Thomas Lam
  • grid of 4 images showing development from paper to digital. Screenshot shows dark spooky image with ghost like characters
    The Reign of King Jante by Amalie Kaeseler
  • screenshot of game showing character moving through a grid setting
    Droid C by Anna Poliakova
  • screenshot of game showing fight between two characters in a basement setting
    Dirty Wagon by Lije Guo and Kexin Zhou
  • screenshot of game showing birds eye view of an office with the date and time in the left corner.
    Project Madison by Pauline Martyn and Taylor Adams Jasmin Harriott

Student voices

Henry Threadwell

Graduate Henry talks about his time and experience on the course, as well as his game 'Too Many Cooks' which he took to one of the biggest gaming conventions in Los Angeles.

Anna Poliakova

Anna is a graduate from the course who created a puzzle game where you can only use each movement once. Here Anna talks about her time on the course.

Facilities

  • Student reading a book in between two bookshelves in the Library
    Students in the Digital Space. London College of Communication, UAL. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson
    The Digital Space

    The Digital Space is an open-plan, creative hub with computers set up with specialist software.

  • A 3D model of a wolf produced by an animation student.
    Image © Lewis Bush
    Animation and Games Design

    Discover the range of resources on offer to students studying Animation and Games Design.

  • Students using the computers in the Digital Space
    Student in Creative Technology Lab, 2020. London College of Communication, UAL. Photograph: Tim Boddy
    Creative Technology Lab

    A multi-purpose space that supports students with: Creative Coding, Physical Computing, Projection Mapping, Games, and Virtual Reality.

Course stories

Staff

Fees and funding

Home fee

£9,250 per year

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£25,970 per year

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 entry.

Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

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Entry requirements

The course team welcomes applicants from a broad range of backgrounds from all over the world. The course attracts students who apply direct from A-level (or equivalent) or from Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, or other art or design courses, as well as mature students who may have previously worked in industry.

The standard entry requirements for this course are as follows:

104 UCAS tariff points which can be made up of one or a combination of the following accepted full level 3 qualifications:

  • A Levels at grade C or above (preferred subjects include: English; History; Media; Business; Art and Design, or other subjects within Social Sciences).
  • Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4).
  • Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma (preferred subjects: Art and Design, IT & Computing).
  • Merit at UAL Extended Diploma.
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma (preferred subject: Science, Digital and Creative Media, Computing).
  • OR equivalent EU/International qualifications, such as International Baccalaureate Diploma at 24 points minimum

And 3 GCSE passes at grade 4 or above (grade A*-C).

APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • A combination of these factors.

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English language requirements

  • IELTS level 6.0 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language you will be asked to provide evidence of your English language ability when you enrol. Please check our English language requirements page for more information.

Selection criteria

The details on your UCAS application (including the academic reference and your personal statement) will be assessed against the following criteria:

  • Demonstration of a clear interest in games design and an awareness of the business and technology of games.
  • An understanding of the need for a critical and analytical approach (through research and practice) to this area of study.
  • An ability and desire to think creatively and respond to briefs with originality.
  • Quality of ideas and thought processes in the approach to and production of your finished work.

Apply now

Home International

Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), where you’ll need the following information

  • University code: U65
  • Course code: I600

London College of Communication courses are listed under University of the Arts London.

Application deadline

We recommend you apply by 18:00 GMT on 25 January 2023 for equal consideration. However this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.

Personal statement advice

This is an important part of your application and should demonstrate to the team that you are interested in games design, and that you have thought carefully about why you want to study on this course. 

You can demonstrate this through your previous work experience or study, personal experience and your ambitions for personal development as a student at LCC.

You should ensure it is written clearly, and free of any spelling mistakes. It is your chance to impress the team by demonstrating your appreciation of what the course can offer you and how you feel it will help you in the future.

State what you personally would bring to the course, and explain what motivates you to learn, explore and experiment.

Please note: This course does not require a portfolio as part of the application.

Deferring your place

This course accepts requests from offer holders to defer their place for one academic year. Deferral requests are granted on a first-come, first served basis until all deferral places are filled, or a deadline has been reached, whichever is sooner.

Read our Admissions Policy for details, and request your deferral by contacting us through the UAL Portal using the Contact Us button in your My Application(s) tab.

Transfers

If you are currently studying somewhere else on a course in an equivalent subject area and would like to transfer to this course, you can transfer to:

  • Year 2, if you’ve completed 120 credits in Year 1
  • Year 3, if you’ve completely 240 credits in Years 1 and 2

Apply via UCAS and choose Year 2 or 3 for your POE (Point of Entry)

Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information and be ready to provide us with your current course handbook and Year 1/Year 2 unit transcripts.

Referral to alternative UAL courses

The University operates a cross-referral system, where applicants can be considered for and offered a place on an alternative course, if the admissions tutor feels they are more suited to that course. If you wish to opt out of the cross-referral process you can do so at the application form stage.

There are 2 ways international students can apply to an undergraduate course:

You must apply through UCAS, where you will need the following information:

  • University code – U65
  • UCAS course code – I600

London College of Communication courses are listed under University of the Arts London.

Further information on applying via UCAS is provided on the University Applying through UCAS page.

For full details on the application process, visit the Undergraduate Application page, and for further advice for international applicants, please visit the UAL International Application page.

Application deadline

We recommend you apply by 18:00 GMT on 25 January 2023 for equal consideration. However this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.

Personal statement advice

This is an important part of your application and should demonstrate to the team that you are interested in games design, and that you have thought carefully about why you want to study on this course. 

You can demonstrate this through your previous work experience or study, personal experience and your ambitions for personal development as a student at LCC.

You should ensure it is written clearly, and free of any spelling mistakes. It is your chance to impress the team by demonstrating your appreciation of what the course can offer you and how you feel it will help you in the future.

State what you personally would bring to the course, and explain what motivates you to learn, explore and experiment.

Please note: This course does not require a portfolio as part of the application.

Immigration history check

You will be asked to complete an immigration history check to establish whether you are eligible to study at UAL. We will not be able to proceed with your application until you have submitted your completed Immigration History Form.

Deferring your place

This course accepts requests from offer holders to defer their place for one academic year. Deferral requests are granted on a first-come, first served basis until all deferral places are filled, or a deadline has been reached, whichever is sooner.

Read our Admissions Policy for details, and request your deferral by contacting us through the UAL Portal using the Contact Us button in your My Application(s) tab.

Transfers

If you are currently studying somewhere else on a course in an equivalent subject area and would like to transfer to this course, you can transfer to:

  • Year 2, if you’ve completed 120 credits in Year 1
  • Year 3, if you’ve completely 240 credits in Years 1 and 2

Apply via UCAS and choose Year 2 or 3 for your POE (Point of Entry)

Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information and be ready to provide us with your current course handbook and Year 1/Year 2 unit transcripts.

If you are an International applicant and studying outside the UK, please complete your Direct application and then contact us via your UAL Portal to ask to be considered for Year 2/Year 3.

Please be ready to provide an official document (translated into English) from your current university, explaining the learning outcomes of the units you have completed.

Referral to alternative UAL courses

The University operates a cross-referral system, where applicants can be considered for and offered a place on an alternative course, if the admissions tutor feels they are more suited to that course. If you wish to opt out of the cross-referral process you can do so at the application form stage.

London College of Communication courses are listed under University of the Arts London.

Further information on applying via UCAS is provided on the University Applying through UCAS page.

For full details on the application process, visit the Undergraduate application page.

Study abroad applicants

International undergraduate students can apply to join BA (Hons) Games Design for a period of up to three terms as a Study Abroad student.

Visit the Study Abroad page for details of how to apply.

After you apply

Communicating with you

After you have successfully submitted your application, you will receive an email confirming we have successfully received your application and providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We will request any additional information from you, including inviting you to upload documents through the portal. You should check your UAL Portal regularly for any important updates and requests.

If you have achieved or expect to achieve the standard entry requirements we will consider you for a place on the course.

We make our offers based on the strength of the whole application, and therefore don’t routinely invite applicants to interview.

International applicants may be invited to an online interview. Interview details will be sent via the UAL Portal.

Please add @arts.ac.uk to your contacts to ensure that you do not miss any important updates re: your application to UAL.

What happens next?

We will advise you of your application outcome through UCAS Hub. If you are an International applicant and have applied directly or through an agent, we will notify you through the UAL Portal.

We invite all offer holders to attend one of our online Offer Holder events. This is your opportunity to meet the academic team and fellow offer holders, find out more about the course, and get a taste of what it will be like to study here.

Requesting feedback

This course receives a high number of applications. Unfortunately, we can’t provide feedback to everyone who is unsuccessful. We can only provide feedback after you’ve had an interview. We are only able to provide feedback to you directly, or to someone you have told us in writing can receive it on your behalf. If you would like to request feedback  please contact us through the UAL Portal using the Contact Us button in your My Application(s) tab.

Successful applicants will be guided through the rest of our admissions stages and towards enrolment on the course.

Careers

Career paths

The aim of the course is to develop graduates who combine an experimental and innovative approach to design with an understanding of the player experience with critical and analytical skills to be able to develop for a chosen platform.

The career opportunities for graduates include games design, level design, content creation, project management, quality management and localisation.

Alumni

BA (Hons) Games Design graduates have gone on to work within the games industry as designers, producers, developers, 3D/2D content creators, localisation and quality assurance managers. They also excel in roles outside of the games industries as flash developers, web developers and 3D modellers.

Alumni

London College of Communication

Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 6500
Address
Elephant & Castle

London
SE1 6SB