BSc (Hons) Game Audio Bachelor's degree at Futureworks
BSc (Hons) Game Audio at Futureworks covers core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills.
About this course
--> Game Audio Degree in Manchester - Futureworks Game Audio BSc (Hons) Undergraduate Degree UCAS Code G2A5 Start Date 14/09/2026 Duration 3 Years full time UCAS Points 104-120 Places for September 2026. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Game Audio is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Futureworks, based in Main Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Computer games and animation graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 50% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £25,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Stronger evidence Published sample: 1,220. Cohort 2021-22. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 80% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year One 4 modules
- Game Engines20 credits
Module details
This module provides you with the essential skills to work with game engines, focusing on implementing and managing audio assets. Using professional game engine software, you will develop your ability to create audio content while learning how to integrate it into interactive environments, setting a strong foundation for a future in game audio production.
- Game Audio Analysis20 credits
Module details
This module explores the evolution of audio within a classic video game franchise, examining the impact of technological advancements and changing consumer demands. Through research and analysis, you will gain greater insight into the role of sound in gaming and how it has shaped the work of Game Audio Designers over time.
- Sound Recording40 credits
Module details
This module develops essential studio and location recording skills, equipping you with the knowledge to capture high-quality sound for a range of projects. By exploring analogue and digital recording concepts, industry-standard workflows, and modern studio technologies, you will gain the technical expertise needed to manage a recording project from pre-production to final delivery.
- Digital Audio Workstations20 credits
Module details
This module introduces the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) as the foundation of modern recording, editing, and mixing. You will develop essential skills in non-linear and non-destructive editing while mastering key techniques for efficient workflow management. Applying theory to practice will enhance your technical proficiency and elevate the standard of your practical work throughout the course.
Year Two 4 modules
- Game Design20 credits
Module details
This module introduces you to core game design concepts. Through collaboration with your colleagues, you will explore game structure, meaningful play, and the iterative development process, gaining practical experience in designing, building and testing a playable physical game prototype.
- Sound Design40 credits
Module details
This module equips you with the technical and creative skills to craft high-quality game audio assets, to form part of your sound effects library and contribute to designing sound for full cinematic soundscapes. You will learn how to produce immersive sound that can enhance gameplay and promotional content, as well as providing content to promote your skills and creative development through showreels and portfolios.
- Engines & Middleware40 credits
Module details
This module takes your game engine work and scripting to the next level. You will gain practical experience of working with middleware to create dynamic and interactive soundscapes, introducing more advanced sound manipulation and real-time audio control beyond the built-in capabilities of a game engine.
- Adaptive Music20 credits
Module details
Focuses on adaptive music as a way to mirror or drive gameplay. This module explores adaptive music as a key component in video games, developing your composition and arrangement skills to create dynamic soundtracks designed to respond to player interaction. Exposing you to horizontal and vertical scoring concepts, building upon your knowledge of these dedicated, career specific tools and techniques.
Year Three 6 modules
- Career Research Project20 credits
Module details
This module promotes an independent, student-led approach to learning, where you'll design and execute a research project on a negotiated topic. You'll enhance your research and academic writing skills, under the guidance and support of your tutors, to produce a final submission that reflects your career interests and strengthens your academic portfolio.
- Creative Sound Design20 credits
Module details
This module provides you with a platform to test your creativity, inspired by our industry partners. You will be challenged to find interesting and creative media, images and concept art to design sound to, providing alternative versions across different genres and styles. Through experimentation, practice and repetition you will develop strategies to unlock and develop your creativity – attributes in demand by industry.
- Technical Sound Design20 credits
Module details
Expanding your knowledge and experience of alternative middleware applications and design tools, this module lays the foundation for a career as a Technical Audio Designer. Building on existing workflow and techniques by exploring other applications widely used in industry, enhances your adaptability and employability.
- Engines & Middleware Integration20 credits
Module details
This module equips you with the advanced skills needed to integrate middleware with game engines, design dynamic audio systems, and script interactive events. By blending creative and technical expertise, you will develop comprehensive audio solutions, in preparation for careers in game audio.
- Professional Portfolio20 credits
Module details
Designed to support career growth, this module provides a platform to refine and present your professional portfolio, showcasing work as part of a strategic plan to maximise networking and attract future employment opportunities.
- Major Project40 credits
Module details
This module provides a platform for you to specialise, to showcase your best work focused on your chosen career path, and in turn your readiness for employment or further study. You will engage in tutorial discussions to support you as an individual, in developing content, consolidating skills and knowledge gained throughout the programme.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This BSc (Hons) Game Audio degree focuses on audio design and sound for interactive media. A course like this typically moves from foundational visual and design principles in Year 1, covering colour, composition and form across media, plus workshops in materials and processes, before progressing to studio-based practice in Year 2. You'll usually develop sustained project work, engage with digital and emerging media tools relevant to audio and interaction, and undertake live briefs. In Year 3, you'll specialise within game audio, work on professional practice and portfolio development, and complete a final major project displayed at a degree show. Throughout, you'll build a visual and technical language alongside contextual knowledge that informs contemporary practice.
Who it's for
This course suits those interested in audio production, game development, and sound design. Most accepted students arrived with A-levels or equivalent qualifications; the typical UCAS tariff band among recent entrants was less than 48 points. You'll need to be comfortable with both technical and creative work, and prepared to engage with industry-standard tools and collaborative project environments. Check the university's funding pages for details on bursaries and scholarships available to you.
Careers & job market
Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates were in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 55% were in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National earnings data shows starting salaries (15 months post-graduation) typically range from £22,000 to £27,000, rising to £20,825–£29,400 after five years. Game audio specialists work in studios, indie teams, and larger production houses. Earnings and labour-market figures reflect national Graduate Outcomes and LEO data, not university-specific guarantees.
University & format
This degree is studied full-time at Futureworks University, a recognised UK degree-awarding body located at its Main Campus. The course runs for 3 years and is taught in English. Instruction meets Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. The course code is G2A5.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 90% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 10% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code G2A5). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Futureworks →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £25,000 | £22,000 – £29,000 | 1220 |
| 3 years after | £18,500 | £13,500 – £21,500 | 15 |
| 5 years after | £24,500 | £20,500 – £27,500 | 20 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 1,220. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in art & design · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Art & Design nationally
National figures for Art & Design graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 1,220. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Art & Design courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,698 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 50% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Web and Multimedia Design ProfessionalsSOC 2020 214 · 50% of published destinations · ASHE median £32,574
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Skilled trades occupationsSOC 2020 5 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,241
- Caring personal servicesSOC 2020 613 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £23,668
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 70; response rate: 50%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Art & Design graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Design studios & agencies
- In-house brand teams
- Games & media companies
- Freelance & self-employed
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Art & Design graduates.
Fine Art TechnicianFirst Choice StaffPharmacy Technician – Brand New State-of-the-Art HospitalCompass AssociatesArtificial Intelligence Engineering ManagerMBN SolutionsArtificial Intelligence EngineerExperis UKDelivery Driver (Part Time 24 hours) - AndoverOcado LogisticsCompliance Business PartnerNashrock Insurance RecruitmentIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £25,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.8 out of 10: NSS 90% · in work or study 95% · continued 80%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Futureworks
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Main Campus
14 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Art & Design right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Futureworks from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Futureworks; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Futureworks’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Futureworks and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Futureworks
Common questions
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