Course content
In your first year, you’ll cover four modules that will introduce core elements of games design. This year focuses on general principles of rapid research and development as well as how to deep dive into some more complex areas. You’ll gain experience of how and why design decisions are made as well as covering how to communicate them.
In the second year, you’ll work with more advanced areas in mechanic development and system design as well as choosing one of the many optional modules allowing you to focus skills in your chosen area. You’ll also take part in a cross-department game development module which mirrors working in a real game studio.
In your third year you’ll complete a Final Year Project, which allows you to follow your own path in design as well as choose options modules in your chosen area of design giving you a highly tailored final year.
Representatives from games companies come to the University for development and training, providing you with excellent opportunities to network with industry professionals and potential employers.
Professional body accreditation
Accredited by TIGA (The Independent Game Developers' Association) as delivering skills relevant to the games industry. TIGA accreditation is applicable to courses meeting any of a wide range of games industry needs, such as programming, art, design and entrepreneurship.
Modules
The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module where available.
Year 3 compulsory modules
| Year 3 compulsory modules |
| There are no compulsory modules for this year. |
Show 9 optional modules
Game Designers' Toolkit
As a game designer, you will use a variety of software and methodological approaches when conceptualising your game design ideas. In this module, you will develop skills in various Games Design tools, including fundamental 3D modelling to assist level prototyping and image manipulation to create informative and clear design documentation.
Module code: GDEV40038
Introduction To Games Design
This module introduces you to games design through the analysis, design and implementation of game levels and mechanics.Using a games engine, you will learn how to create various gameplay using scripting, and embedding this in a level of your own design.
Module code: GDEV40042
Game Audio And Vfx
Explore the ways we make games feel more exciting and immersive. This module will give you the skills and understanding of audio and VFX creation and application for game. You will use the theory of sound and game feel to create real-time audio and VFX for a game and see the effect of these elements on the experience for a gamer. This innovative module brings together the technical and creative skills which help bring games to life, implementing industry approaches to workflow, pipeline and iteration to create the finishing touches to a game.
Module code: GDEV40037
Mechanics Prototyping
In this module, you will identify, design and implement core game mechanics in order to create fun, compelling gameplay experiences, whilst also further enhancing your use of game engines. You will also produce clear documentation that supports your design choices and the testing strategies used to refine your work. By the end of the module, you will have strengthened both your technical abilities and your understanding of how gameplay elements shape the player experience.
Module code: GDEV40045
Systems Design For Games
This module develops your understanding of game engines, scripting techniques and gameplay systems design. By deconstructing existing game mechanics and learning systems-based approaches, you will design your own gameplay systems, implementing them as a game framework.
Module code: GDEV50079
User Interface Design
This module will explore the key principles of User Interface design as you research existing Interfaces in games and then design your own. You will explore a range of User Experience principles and use these skills and knowledge to implement your own User Interface into a game engine.
Module code: GDEV50081
Rational Level Design
This module centres around the creation of a level through the implementation of an industry standard pipeline. You will utilise tools to ideate, construct, test, and iterate your level, applying level design principles and theory, strengthening rationale, and expanding tool proficiency.
Module code: GDEV50072
Game Production Studio
You will work in a group consisting of peers from across the suite of games development courses, forming a multidisciplinary team that mirrors a real development studio. Together, you will plan, prototype and deliver a vertical slice of a game.The module places strong emphasis on collaboration, communication and professional conduct. You will learn how to work effectively within a team, manage workflows across different disciplines, give and receive constructive feedback, and adapt to the challenges of shared production pipelines. Alongside their technical development, you will build key soft skills such as leadership, organisation, problem solving and time management, all of which are essential for a successful career in the games industry.
Module code: GDEV50060
Realtime Vfx
This module is an opportunity to apply VFX skills within games use advanced VFX skills and abilities to create a skillset for a character within a pre-established project. This is a chance to build a working approach that simulates how a VFX artist would work within the industry, with the additional support of lecturers operating as senior FX artists, guiding and building the process.
Module code: GDEV50078
Audio Design For Games
Audio is one of the main pillars of game development. During this module, you will learn and explore a multitude of different audio system algorithms that comprise sound synthesis, audio file manipulation, audio effects and audio mixing strategies to be used in a game world. You will then create an audio mechanic system to further integrate your audio system algorithm into the wider gaming world.
Module code: GDEV50054
Cinematics For Game Designers
Explore how games merge with film as you learn to create inventive and immersive cinematics for game. Develop your storytelling skills as you consider cinematography, audio, editing and directing to create engaging and meaningful scenes that make your player want to learn more and dive deeper into the game. Using cutting edge technology to design and develop your understanding of how game and cinema meet, this module asks you to create visuals and audio that take your game to the next level.
Module code: GDEV50056
Mission And Ux Design
This module focuses on working with game prototypes and industry standard documentation. You will develop skills in the field of games design, level design and game engines, resulting in games design documentation, playable projects and demo videos.
Module code: GDEV50067
Final Year Project: Collaborative Project
Game development is an inherently collaborative discipline. Modern studios rely on teams of designers, programmers, technical artists and production specialists working together to create complex interactive systems. This module gives you the opportunity to experience this collaborative environment by working as part of a team to produce a technical artefact.You will define a shared technical challenge and work with your group to create a playable game, interactive experience or applied games technology prototype. As a team, you will investigate relevant technologies, plan your development workflow, build and refine your artefact and document your progress through shared and individual evidence.Alongside team responsibilities, each student will take ownership of a defined area of contribution and produce a development document that records their personal workflow and technical decision making. The module concludes with a viva in which you will present the collaborative artefact and demonstrate both team understanding and individual accountability.This module is designed for students who want to strengthen their technical skills while developing the collaborative and communicative abilities that are essential for professional game development and wider creative technology industries.
Module code: GDEV60051
Prototyping For Technical Design
Prototyping for Tech Design will help you launch your Technical Games Design portfolio. In this module you’ll produce Technical Games Design projects within leading Game Engines. Your projects will be supported by excellent Technical Design Documentation and presented by demo reels.
Module code: GDEV60062
Advanced Level Design
This module focuses on the research and experimentation of game mechanics in order to develop an understanding of them in the context of level design. You will further your knowledge of level design and underlying principles to develop a portfolio of professional work.
Module code: GDEV60038
Games Design Live Brief - Levels
In this module, you will demonstrate, apply and further your level design skills by responding to an industry provided brief. You will interpret requirements, develop ideas and create exciting, innovative levels, whilst also learning how to best present your work via an eye-catching and polished portfolio.
Module code: GDEV60045
Rapid Games Design
If you’re passionate about designing games that feel satisfying and intuitive, this module is built for you! This module will challenge you to design, refine, and polish short gameplay experiences to a professional standard. You’ll learn how to analyse game feel, craft satisfying feedback, and explore what makes gameplay feel satisfying and engaging to play. By the end, you’ll have a polished piece that demonstrates your technical ability, design thinking, and readiness for industry production environments.
Module code: GDEV60063
Games Design Live Brief - Technical Design
In this module, you will demonstrate, apply and further your technical design skills by responding to an industry provided brief. You will interpret requirements, develop ideas and build innovative and creative technical design artefacts, whilst also learning how to best present your work via an eye-catching and polished portfolio.
Module code: GDEV60046
Programming For Game Designers
Intended for students who are confident with Blueprints and want to take their first steps into C++. You will be introduced to C++ terminology, basic programming techniques, and how to seamlessly integrate Blueprints and C++ together. The aim of the module is to create simple gameplay features in C++ and build your own designer-friendly Blueprint nodes. The module provides a starting point for C++ development and encourages further learning into programming techniques, enhancing your portfolio with new skills and enabling you to work alongside programmers and technical designers more effectively.
Module code: GDEV60061
Final Year Project: Technical Artefact
Modern game technologies continue to advance rapidly, shaping the way developers design, prototype and deliver interactive content. New engines, frameworks and production techniques are transforming what is possible across gameplay systems, simulation, interaction design, tooling and real-time rendering. This module gives you the opportunity to explore this evolving landscape by creating an independent technical artefact. You will define a technical challenge of your choice and develop a playable game, interactive experience or applied games technology prototype that responds directly to it. Working under supervision, you will investigate the techniques, tools and theories relevant to your chosen problem, plan and implement a substantial technical project, document your development process and evaluate your outcomes through structured reflection.This module is suited to students who want to push their technical abilities further and produce a portfolio-quality artefact that demonstrates readiness for roles in game development, technical design, programming, research and development, or further study in advanced games technologies.
Module code: GDEV60053
Final Year Project: Dissertation
This module allows you to investigate an emerging area of game development through an independent technical research project. Working with a supervisor, you will define a research question, explore it through academic and technical investigation, create a practical artefact, and evaluate your findings in a written dissertation. The module is ideal for students seeking to deepen their technical expertise and produce a substantial portfolio piece that supports progression into industry, postgraduate study or research and development roles.
Module code: GDEV60052