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The University of Cumbria · Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Games Design (with integrated foundation year) Bachelor's degree at the University of Cumbria
BA (Hons) Games Design (with integrated foundation year) at University of Cumbria. Games design draws on visual creativity, technical understanding and narrative thinking. This course integrates a foundation year at the start, which means you'll build essential skills in design theory, digital tools and creative…
BA (Hons)
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
75%
in work/study (15m)
About this course
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BA (Hons) Games Design (with integrated foundation year) is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Cumbria, based in In Carlisle. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Design studies graduates from this provider, 75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 40% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (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.
7.4
/ 10
Strong
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Strong72
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)
Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Strong75
Limited evidence Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 75% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Strong75
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 75% (2022-23; 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 6 modules
- Introducing Creative Research Practice
Module details
Begin to build the knowledge, skills and ways of working to become a creative practitioner.
- Seeing, Thinking, Making Meaning
Module details
Learn more about the history and theory of the creative arts and work with others to discuss why context is so important.
- Ideas, Images and Objects
Module details
Begin to apply your skills and develop your own individual creative projects.
- Innovation Lab
Module details
Work with others to test out ideas through making and breaking to explore innovative ways of working.
- Creative Industries Toolkit
Module details
Learn more about the industries you will work in and acquire the professional skills and attributes you will need to succeed.
- Creative Playbook
Module details
Have the opportunity to negotiate your own brief with support from your tutors and apply all the knowledge and skills you have gathered throughout the year.
Year two 5 modules
- Cultural Contexts
Module details
Intro to the cultural, historical and social contexts in which creative work from a range of disciplines will be discussed, examined, and analysed.
- Collaborative Practice
Module details
Explore and practice the skills involved in creative collaboration.
- Drawing, Visualisation and Concept Art
Module details
Develop drawing as a fundamental skill in your practice and acquire the knowledge to understand the purpose of concept art as a tool visualising concepts for games.
- 3D Modelling
Module details
Enhance your knowledge of the professional three-dimensional visualisation for video games and digital media productions.
- Gaming For Game Designers
Module details
Introduction to the basic ideas and models in Game Theory.
Year three 9 modules
- Working in the Creative Industries (Media Arts)
Module details
Introduce to the professional practices associated with the creative industries by means of a series of guest lectures, presentations, tutorials and workshops.
- Cultural and Ethical Awareness in Games
- Concept To Prototype
Module details
Introduction to real-world scenarios in relation to working, in small groups, in the business world, and on client briefs.
- Concept Art & Visualisation 2
Module details
Explore and develop visualisation techniques appropriate to games design.
- Texturing
Module details
Enhance your knowledge of the professional texturing techniques used in the Games industry.
- UI and UX for games
- Digital SculptingOptional
Module details
Develop skills in the more advanced techniques and concepts used within the games industry, with a specific focus on digital sculpting within the production processes.
- Motion Capture and Animation for GamesOptional
Module details
Develop and produce a computer-based animation in groups or individually.
- Digital Painting TechniquesOptional
Module details
Explore and develop digital painting techniques with emphasis to games design.
Year four 5 modules
- Theory and Research Methods in the Arts
Module details
Preparation for successfully undertaking your dissertation project.
- Dissertation
- Group Game Project
Module details
Develop teamwork and communication skills while you work in small groups on a specified brief to produce a working game.
- Markets, Audiences & Exhibition
Module details
Develop the skills necessary to identify, generate and successfully access opportunities in the workplace and/or in continuing education.
- Major Project
Module details
Develop the skills necessary to enable you to produce work for your final project.
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 course integrates a foundation year with honours study in games design. You'll typically begin with visual studies and design principles, exploring colour, composition and form across media, alongside materials, processes and making in workshops covering print, textiles and digital fabrication. Contextual studies ground your practice in art and design history. As you progress, you'll undertake sustained studio practice, develop work in digital and emerging media, and engage with live briefs and real client projects. In your final years, you'll pursue specialist studio pathways, such as graphic design, illustration, fine art, fashion and textiles, or UX and digital work, while building professional practice skills and preparing a portfolio. Your studies culminate in a self-directed major project and degree show.
Who it's for
You're drawn to interactive media and want to understand how games are made, from concept to player experience. You're comfortable with both creative thinking and technical detail, you enjoy visual design but also want to grasp the systems and code beneath the surface. Studying games design feels like a balance between artistic expression and problem-solving. You may not have formal qualifications yet (the foundation year is designed for this), or you may have A-levels or equivalent and want structured progression into specialist work. You're ready to spend four years developing a portfolio and learning industry-standard tools alongside theory.
Careers & job market
Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after finishing. Among those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (15 months post-graduation) typically fall between £22,000 and £27,000, rising to £20,825–£29,400 after five years. Your actual earnings will depend on the role, employer and your own experience.
University & format
The University of Cumbria, a publicly recognised degree-awarding body in Carlisle, offers this BA (Hons) Games Design as a full-time, 4-year programme taught in English. The university holds Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
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.
Application timelineWhat happens next
- 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.
Entry & how to get in
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent65% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 144 - 159 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check the University of Cumbria's official course page for the current offer.
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 | 65% |
| another higher-education qualification | 20% |
| Other | 10% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Competitive entry
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
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.
Your UCAS points0
▾
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Add your grades to see where you land
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.
Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesA*AAA-level equivalent admitted students held
- 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.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask University of Cumbria whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Homeup to £9,790 / yr
International£25,000 / yr
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Cumbria →For students who normally live in England
illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 4 years
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.
Funding matched to this course
All University of Cumbria funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
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 | £24,000 | £21,000 – £25,000 | 10 |
| 3 years after | £17,000 | £13,000 – £21,000 | 80 |
| 5 years after | £22,000 | £18,000 – £25,000 | 80 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
75%
in work or further study 15 months on
40%
in highly skilled work or study
75%
continue past their first year
60%
find their work meaningful
50%
say work fits their future plans
- 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
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£24,000
£22,000 – £27,000After 3 years LEO
£17,000
£17,000 – £24,000After 5 years LEO
£22,000
£20,825 – £29,400national rangethis course’s medianaxis £16,000 – £30,500
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.
75 of 100
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
70% working10% working and studying0% in further study40% in highly skilled work or study
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. 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.
This course £22,000Peer median £24,500Middle 50% £22,125–£26,500
23rd percentile
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.
- Web and Multimedia Design ProfessionalsSOC 2020 214 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £32,574
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 15% 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: 30; response rate: 70%. 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.
87%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Art & Design courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow 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 RecruitmentLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Is 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
75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. 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 7.4 out of 10: NSS 71.7% · in work or study 75% · continued 75%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Cumbria
All students9,065
International2.6%
Aged 25+63.7%
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
Students178,755
Aged 25+15.7%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around In Carlisle - Brampton Road
775 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Violent Crime 288Shoplifting 128Public Order 120Drugs 54Other Theft 44
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 University of Cumbria from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £25,000 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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 University of Cumbria’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 University of Cumbria and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Cumbria
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
Entry is competitive. Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 144 - 159 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
What are the entry requirements?
Set by the University of Cumbria. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates go on to do?
For Design studies graduates from this provider, 75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 40% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
What will it cost me?
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. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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