BA (Hons) Computer Games Design (4 year) Bachelor's degree at London College of Contemporary Arts Ltd
BA (Hons) Computer Games Design (4 year) at LCCAL. Computer games design demands both creative vision and technical rigour. This four-year degree trains you to bridge those two worlds.
About this course
BA (Hons) Computer Games Design (4 year) is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at LCCAL, based in London College of Contemporary Arts. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 (Level 4) 4 modules
- Games Design Concepts and Visual StorytellingCore
Module details
Explore the building blocks of game design, from rules, goals and challenges to balancing and pacing. Using UEFN, you'll design and test new game islands while studying visual storytelling and how it shapes player emotions, motivations and engagement.
- Games Studio Practice 1Core
Module details
Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to design, plan and prototype an original game. Through paper and digital prototyping, you'll gain hands-on experience of collaboration, teamwork and the early stages of professional game development.
- Introduction to 3D Asset Creation for GamesCore
Module details
Introduction to the fundamentals of 3D modelling for games using industry-standard software. Develop skills in modelling, texturing, shading and basic rigging while learning workflows that prepare you for more advanced asset creation.
- Introduction to Gameplay MechanicsCore
Module details
Use Unreal Engine to explore the core principles of gameplay mechanics. Learn to design player inputs, controls, AI, UI and interactive elements, building a strong foundation in the technical and creative aspects of game development.
Year 2 (Level 5) 4 modules
- Level Design: Player Experience and UsabilityCore
Module details
Learn how to create immersive and intuitive game environments using UEFN. Study flow, pacing and landmark placement, as well as zoning and verticality, to guide players effectively and enhance their overall experience.
- Games Studio Practice 2Core
Module details
Collaborate in a multidisciplinary team to design, prototype and test an original game. Through rapid and iterative prototyping, you'll take a concept through to a more advanced stage of development, mirroring industry practice.
- Games Project ManagementCore
Module details
Develop the leadership and organisational skills needed to manage complex game projects. Apply frameworks such as Scrum and Lean, explore risk management and budgeting, and learn how to adapt agile practices to the unique challenges of the games industry.
- Advanced Mechanics and Quest DesignCore
Module details
Build your expertise in Unreal Engine through advanced mechanics and quest design. Develop Blueprint scripting skills, design branching quest systems with dynamic elements, and integrate AI and progression systems to create more complex and engaging gameplay experiences.
Year 3 (Level 6) 4 modules
- Games Studio Practice 3Core
Module details
Work in a multidisciplinary team to design, develop and test a game during the production phase of the development cycle. You may create a new game or refine a previous project, focusing on technical prototyping and delivering a vertical slice to demonstrate quality and features to potential stakeholders.
- Final Year Project and Professional Portfolio CurationCore
Module details
Define and complete a major piece of work that reflects your academic and professional interests. Curate a professional portfolio that highlights your abilities in game design and presents you confidently to future employers.
- Audio and Soundscapes for GamesOptional
Module details
Explore how audio shapes storytelling and player immersion in virtual environments. Using UEFN, you'll experiment with recording, editing and foley techniques to design interactive soundscapes, learning how music and sound enhance emotion and narrative in games.
- Advanced Games Feature Design and Emerging TechnologiesOptional
Module details
Investigate cutting-edge developments in game design, including Metaverse gaming, VR and AR. Analyse innovative titles and apply design principles to create immersive, next-generation experiences that push the boundaries of gameplay.
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
You'll study the practice and theory of games design within a broader art and design context. A course like this typically begins with foundations in visual studies, design principles and materials, alongside contextual studies in art and design history. From Year 2, you'll move into sustained studio practice and live briefs with real clients, working with digital and emerging media tools. In Year 3, you'll usually specialise in a focused pathway, such as graphic design, illustration, UX & digital or fine art, before developing a major self-directed final project for exhibition. Throughout, you'll build a professional portfolio and develop skills in positioning your work for industry or independent practice.
Who it's for
You're drawn to games, their narrative, visual systems, mechanics, psychology, and want to understand how to build them. You're comfortable with both creative problem-solving and structured thinking. You'll have the temperament to iterate, to seek feedback, and to finish projects. Studying this will involve prototyping, playtesting, collaborating with peers from other disciplines, and making work that doesn't always succeed on the first attempt. If you thrive in that cycle, and you're serious about a career in games, this course is for you.
Careers & job market
Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months. Among those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles. National Graduate Outcomes data shows starting salaries of £22,000–£27,000; after five years, graduates earn £20,825–£29,400. These figures reflect the broader sector, not this course alone. Careers span game studios, design agencies, education and independent practice; many graduates pursue further study or specialist training.
University & format
This is a 4-year full-time BA (Hons) degree taught in English at London College of Contemporary Arts, a recognised UK degree-awarding body. Your degree is nationally recognised.
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.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
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 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
The cap depends on the UK nation the provider sits in; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at LCCAL →Check the finance route that applies to you
Support depends on ordinary residence, assessed fee status, course and provider nation. The provider nation is unresolved here, so no national cap or loan amount is being guessed.
Find your official student-finance route →Paying for it
- Tuition fee loan: applied for through the student-finance body for the UK nation you live in.
- Living-cost support: means-tested on household income, from your nation's student-finance body.
- Repayment: only above the income threshold set by your nation's student-finance system.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Each UK nation runs its own student-finance system; check gov.uk for the rates that apply to you.
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 London College of Contemporary Arts
6,739 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 LCCAL from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by LCCAL; 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 LCCAL’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 LCCAL and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at LCCAL
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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