Games Design (Top-Up) BA (Hons)

• Overview

  Games Design Top-Up  BA (Hons) is structured to prepare students to become Game Designers with practical application taking precedence over theoretical work. You will be expected to already have a good working knowledge of Game Engines, Art packages and design theory.

  You will join current third year Games Design BA students to work on a number of portfolio-based projects and a substantive personal project. You will be able to share your experiences with current students and collaborate on team projects.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  Course

  Highlights

  • Up-to-date workstation hardware and software in dedicated laboratories, including Wacom Cintiqs and Wacom Intuos
  • Dedicated Games Labs and Out of Hours Access Labs
  • Guest lectures from industry specialists, previous talks include Rare, Splash Damage, Codemasters, Ubisoft, Lockwood Publishing, Sony and FreeStyle Games
  • Yearly group projects, which allow for a real-life games development experience
  • Industry experienced tutors

  HP Laptop and software included with this course.*

  *Terms and Conditions apply

  Apply Now Open Days

  
• Course Details

  What you’ll learn on Games Design (Top-Up)

  We will give you creative skills, technical software skills and industry knowledge, which are all required by leading games developers. You will produce a personal portfolio of your work to reflect industry and professional practice needs, informed by historical and contemporary references, cultural and social contexts.

  The life cycle of Game production

  You will focus on the design side of the Game Art industry, but you will be exposed to the whole life cycle of game production from the initial ideas process to final release stage. You will work with programmers from the BA Games Programming and artists from the BA Games Art course so that you understand games development for specific markets in 2D and 3D formats.

  Methods of Learning

  We aim to make learning an engaging and enjoyable experience from our extensive online resources and face to face teaching. We will enrich your experiences of Game Design principles, help you to further develop analytical skills, and encourage you to evaluate and recommend solutions required to create engaging gaming experiences.

  Games Design (Top-Up) – Teaching & Learning support

  Teaching and learning occurs through a variety of methods, with practical’s, workshops and learning how to use new techniques and software. Learners will have around 12 hours contact time per week, with the expectation of matching this with their own time. Sessions can be longer or shortened depending on the activity e.g. attending industry events.

  All of the module tutors use our virtual learning environment (NILE) to provide additional resources to facilitate your independent learning.

  Assessments

  Assessment methods include writing specific reports, blogs, articles, giving presentations, and submission of portfolios. All modules are assessed through 100% coursework.

  Read more

  Additional

  Information

  Games industry events

  Game Design students often have opportunity to work with students from across the programmes at Game Jam events such as Brains Eden, where this year we had two winning teams!

• Careers and Events
  • Open Days

    See for yourself

    Our Open Days offer you a fantastic opportunity to get a real taste of university life at Northampton and discover how studying here will be a life-changing experience.

    Each Open Day has a packed programme of subjects talks, advice sessions and activities designed to give you all the information you need about studying at The University of Northampton.

    To find out more about the day, please feel free to have a look at our Open Day Guide.

    
• Requirements

  Standard entry requirements apply. Applicants are expected to have completed a HND, DipHE or FdA in traditional art and design, computing, graphics or a related subject area.

  All selected applicants will be invited for a portfolio review and discussion. International students may submit their portfolio electronically.

  For more more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

  If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands for study at undergraduate level

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  Contacts

  Course Enquiries

  Application status enquiries
  admissions2020@northampton.ac.uk

  Current student enquiries
  SID@northampton.ac.uk

  International student enquiries
  international@northampton.ac.uk

  Applying for 2020
  Facebook Applicant Group

  Office hours:
  Mon – Thu: 9am – 5pm
  Fri: 9am – 4.30pm

  Phone Call

  0300 303 2772

  +44 (0)1604 892134

  +44 (0)1604 892546

• Course Content
  • Stage 3

  In order to achieve the named award above students must meet all requirements of this award map.

  This Award is only available as a stage 3 course. For students entering this award, general credit for the pre-requisite modules is covered by completion of a relevant Diploma award or equivalent.

  • Art Director Portfolio, Final Major Project (60 Credits)
    Module code: 3DD4009

    Core Module Y
  • Design Innovation (20 Credits)
    Module code: CSY3044

    Core Module Y
  • Professional Practice in Games (20 Credits)
    Module code: 3DD3038

    Core Module Y
  • Group Project 3 (Games) (20 Credits)
    Module code: CSY3031

    Core Module Y

  Facilities &

  Special Features

  • Up-to-date workstation hardware and software in dedicated laboratories, including Wacom Cintiqs and Wacom Intuos
  • Dedicated Games Labs and Out of Hours Access Labs
  • Guest lectures, providing the opportunity to meet with industry specialists. Recent visitors have included: Rare, Splash Damage, Codemasters, Ubisoft, Lockwood Publishing, Sony and FreeStyle Games.
  • Yearly group projects, which allow for a real-life games development experience
  • Industry experienced staff.
• Further Studies
  • Research

    Research at the University of Northampton

    We are committed to delivering outstanding research that makes a difference to society. Our Research Institutes and Centres work closely with external partner organisations, locally, nationally and internationally. We produce internationally renowned and relevant research and disseminate knowledge on an international scale.

    Visit our Research Hub page for more information.

    
• Fees & Funding
  • UK & EU
  • International

  2020/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £9,250

  2019/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £9,250

  2020/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £13,750

  2019/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £12,750

  Scholarships

  EU and International Scholarships

  We’re committed to offering the opportunity to study in the UK to the best and brightest students from around the world.

  Sir Thomas White Scholarship

  The Sir Thomas White scholarship will support and acknowledge an academically gifted student, with the proviso that the selection panel is confident that there is…

  The Chancellor's Fund

  The Chancellor’s Fund is a bi-annual fund providing students with awards of between £100 and £1,000. You must be a current student to apply.  The…

*Course data provided by Unistats