FDA Games Design Foundation degree at Hugh Baird College
FDA Games Design at Hugh Baird College. You'll study across core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills.
About this course
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FDA Games Design is a Foundation degree (FDA) at Hugh Baird College, based in Hugh Baird University Centre. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
A typical UK Art & Design degree builds from foundations to specialist options and a final project. An indicative structure:
| Stage | Module |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Visual Studies & Design Principles Colour, composition and form across media, building your visual language. |
| Year 1 | Materials, Processes & Making Workshops from print and textiles to digital fabrication. |
| Year 1 | Contextual Studies Art and design history that informs contemporary practice. |
| Year 2 | Studio Practice Sustained project work developing a personal direction. |
| Year 2 | Digital & Emerging Media Creative software, motion, 3D or interaction, course-dependent. |
| Year 2 | Live briefs & collaboration Client projects and competitions with real deadlines. |
| Year 3 | Specialist studio pathway Deep focus in your discipline, graphics, illustration, fashion, fine art… |
| Year 3 | Professional Practice & Portfolio Positioning your work for industry or self-employment. |
| Year 3 | Final major project & degree show A self-directed body of work, publicly exhibited. |
Typical structure for this subject (indicative). Modules vary by university. Check the provider's course page for the exact curriculum.
Specialisations & pathways
Tip: click a specialisation → current jobs in that area.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This Foundation degree in Games Design develops your visual and conceptual skills from core foundations through to a self-directed final project. You'll usually begin with Visual Studies & Design Principles, Materials and Processes, and Contextual Studies to build a strong visual language and understanding of design history. In the middle stages, you'll undertake sustained studio practice, explore Digital & Emerging Media, and work on live briefs that connect you to real industry demands. Towards the end, you'll pursue specialist study and professional practice, culminating in a major project and degree show. Throughout, you can develop specialisations such as Graphic Design, Illustration, Fine Art, Fashion & Textiles, and UX & Digital, depending on your interests and the course's offerings.
Who it's for
This course suits those seeking part-time study in games design at foundation degree level. Hugh Baird College also offers bursaries and scholarships. Check the university's funding pages for details.
Careers & job market
Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled work or 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. These figures reflect national outcomes rather than guarantees specific to this course.
University & format
This Foundation degree is studied part-time at Hugh Baird College, a higher education college located at the Hugh Baird University Centre. The course is taught in English and leads to an FDA award, recognised as a nationally recognised UK degree. Hugh Baird College holds Bronze status in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023). For the specific course duration and detailed study arrangements, the College's Course Enquiry Team can be contacted on 0151 353 4444 ext.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
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. 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 Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. 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
Provider-sourced figure; academic year not supplied. The 2026/27 England cap is up to £9,790. Verify this course.
Check fees at Hugh Baird College →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.
- 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.
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 RecruitmentWho studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
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 Hugh Baird University Centre
1,735 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 Hugh Baird College from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Hugh Baird College; 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 Hugh Baird College’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 Hugh Baird College and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Hugh Baird College
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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