BA in Video Game Design
Birmingham City University
Key Information
Campus location
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 11,100 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* UK students: £11,100 per year | international students: £16,870 per year
Scholarships
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Introduction
Our BA (Hons) Video Game Design undergraduate course responds to the growing and innovative sector by developing skilled, team-orientated, reflexive graduates ready to succeed in the field. Interactive Entertainment and Video Games development are key sectors for contemporary culture, economic growth and employment locally in the Midlands, nationally and globally.
This accelerated two-year course gives you a guaranteed video game development placement in our in-house studio. The workplace simulation approach of our department has been championed by the influential 2009 Livingstone, Hope Next Gen Report which cited us as a national best practice example for developing new talent for the games industry.
What's covered in this course?
The course focuses on digital media asset production and communication. You will gain a grounding within the industry’s design and production principles while developing your creative and teamwork skills.
Building upon your design and production skills, in the first year you will be tasked with a specific role within our in-house game development studio over the summer term. This work experience gives you the opportunity to apply the knowledge and professional practices you’ve learned on the course in a safe and supportive environment.
Throughout the two years, you will be provided with a structured programme of learning, in line with your chosen specialism of video game design. The course culminates with a project you define yourself which targets a specific subsector of the video games industry.
So, by the time you graduate, a whole year before most students, you’ll have two years of tangible, games development studio experience under your belt, ready to launch your dream career as a games developer.
Why choose us?
- This fast-track programme provides a rare opportunity to secure a BA (Hons) degree in only two years.
- Top 5 for Animation and Game Design (Guardian League Tables 2023).
- Teaching is delivered by our team of industry practitioners, who collectively have over 100 years of video game industry experience, having worked on franchises such as EA’s ‘Battlefield’, Codemaster’s ‘Formula 1’ and Sega’s ‘Sonic’. They have also taught, trained and mentored students, graduates and practitioners, who are now successful industry developers, working at studios and publishers which include Ubisoft, Microsoft and Rockstar North.
- During the two-year course, you’ll work on numerous projects with periodic input from industry partners. Previous partners and mentors have included Codemasters, Pixel Toys, Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe, Microsoft’s Rare Studio and Rockstar North.
- On the course, you’ll learn a range of skills relevant and appropriate for careers in video game development specialising in design and production within fields such as component game design, level design, business development and project management.
- This course will develop you to be able to move into employment, or further study, for example on our Industry-recognised Master’s Course, Gamer Camp, which is a finishing school for game developers (coders, artists, designers and producers) based in Birmingham City University.
Curriculum
Year one
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 180 credits):
- Historical Game Analysis
- Game Design Fundamentals
- Contextual Game Design
- 2D Game Spaces
- Collaborative Project
Year two
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 180 credits):
- Advanced Game Design
- 3D Games Spaces
- Strategic Game Design
- Professional Practice
- Major Project
Career Opportunities
Experience on the Course
Workplace simulation and giving students indicative or real industry-standard work to complete while on their course is a core pillar of the approach and success for courses at the School of Games, Film and Animation.
On top of the course-specific experiences, the University has introduced the BCU Graduate+ programme, which is an extra-curricular awards framework that is designed to augment the subject-based skills that you develop through your programme with broader employability skills and techniques that will enhance your employment options.
Leading up to and upon graduation
At the end of your studies, you’ll complete a final major project, which may lead you to work directly with a client. This direct contact will give you the experience, confidence and freedom to put into action all you’ve learned in your studies. Allied with this course-specific experience you will also have access to a range of support staff and services from the University’s careers service, who can help with:
- Reviewing CVs, covering letters and application forms
- Career planning and decision making
- Preparing for interviews and assessment centres
- Developing portfolios
- Networking with employers
- Advice about self-employment and entrepreneurship
Placements
During the summer term of your first year, you will have the opportunity to work in a video game development team as part of the in-house placement element of the course.