Computer Games DesignBA Hons

The games and tech industries continue to dominate the globe, and they're always seeking game designers and developers. Become their next rising star on our BA (Hons) Computer Games Design degree course.

With help from our teaching team of games industry experts, you'll dive into the theory of game design and development. You can specialise as a programmer or artist, designing, developing, and testing games for different audiences using our advanced game development facilities. For an extra boost to your professional experience, you can complete an optional work placement.

Discover what it takes to become an industry-ready games designer at Portsmouth, two-time winner of the TIGA Best Educational Institution Award (2021, 2014).

Accreditation

This course is accredited by TIGA (The Independent Game Developers' Association). This means it has been examined by a panel of industry and academic experts to make sure you develop relevant and up-to-date skills needed by the games and related industries.

In 2021, the University of Portsmouth was awarded Best Educational Institution at the TIGA Games Industry Awards.

Skills and qualities you need for this degree course

To get the most out of this course, you'll need to be passionate about creating, testing, modding, and tweaking games; and dissecting them and their impact on players.

You should enjoy critically analysing games – such as identifying their systems – in order to understand, implement, and potentially improve them.

You should also be:

• comfortable discussing games and ideas in games industry and culture
• enthusiastic about developing your understanding of the applications of game design
• eager to translate your knowledge into well-developed games

With an estimated global value of $184.4 billion (£147.4 billion) as of 2022 (Newzoo, 2023) the computer games industry is a force to be reckoned with. In the UK, it contributed £2.9 billion to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020/21, and the number of workers in the field grew to 20,975 (TIGA, 2022).

As the game industry and its workforce continue to expand – especially across sectors adopting its technologies and systems – multi-skilled and specialist graduates are more in demand than ever before.

Continuing your studies

If you wish to continue your education, our course provides a natural path to a Master's degree. You can study Game Design at an MSc or MA level, or you can study MA Art or MSc Computing courses based on your specialisation.

Placement year (optional)

Between your second and third year, you can complete an optional work placement to gain professional experience and enhance your skills. It's also a great incentive for employers once you graduate.

You can work for a company, organisation or agency, or you can go self-employed and start your own business with fellow students or by yourself.

Whatever you decide – or even if you just want some employability advice – our exclusive Creative Careers team can support you every step of the way.

Creative Careers

Our in-faculty Creative Careers team has extensive recruitment experience and knows the creative sector well, making it easier for students to find placements within the creative industries.

They can guide you through every step of the application process, including:

• Searching for the ideal job through their database of vacancies
• Giving tips on how to write an interesting CV that will catch employers' attention, no matter the role
• Organising mock interviews, so you can hone your technique and familiarise yourself with the recruitment environment
• Writing your startup business proposal – if you're going down the self-employment route

The team will continue to give you support throughout your placement year.

Ongoing careers support

Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.

Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.

In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, four modules worth 20 credits and one module worth 40 credits.

Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, course content is revised and regularly reviewed.  This may result in changes being made in order to reflect developments in research, learning from practice and changes in policy at both national and local levels.

Teaching

Teaching on this course includes:

• lectures
• seminars
• practical problem-solving and experimentation (individual and in group)

During your final year, as part of your specialisation, you'll have one-to-one tuition with a project supervisor and work on briefs from real industry clients.

Our teaching staff are published, practice-based games researchers that have worked on commercial games with various studios, including:

• The Chinese Room (Dear Esther)
• Rebellion (Sniper Elite series)
• Jagex (Runescape)
• Stainless Games (Carmageddon)

Many of our staff members hold PhDs in game-related fields, attend conferences regularly, and are active in the University's Advanced Games Research Group.

You can access all teaching resources on Moodle, our virtual learning environment, from anywhere with a Web connection. 

How you're assessed

You'll be assessed through:

• practical artefacts
• presentations (video and in-person)
• written reports
• exams

You'll be assessed during modules and you'll receive feedback to help improve your learning.

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies.  As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

A typical week

We recommend you spend at least 30 hours a week studying for your degree.

In your first year, you’ll be in timetabled teaching activities for about 10 hours a week. These activities include:

• lectures
• seminars
• group work

The rest of the time you’ll do independent study, either tutor-directed or alone, such as:

• practice
• reading
• research
• revision
• coursework

You may also participate in external events, like GameJam, to develop your portfolio and challenge your skills.

You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose.

Most timetabled teaching takes place during the day, from Monday to Friday. You may occasionally need to go to University and course events in the evenings. There’s usually no teaching on Wednesday afternoons.

Term dates

The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.

See term dates

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Tuition fees (2023 start)

• UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU students – £9,250 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
• International students – £17,900 a year (subject to annual increase)

Tuition fees (2024 start)

• UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU students – £9,250 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
• International students – £18,800 a year (subject to annual increase)

Funding your studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Additional course costs

These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.