Gillian Stead Scholarshipup to £6,300 over three years
students with good A level results or equivalent
Check eligibility →
University of Hull · Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Game Design Bachelor's degree at the University of Hull
BA (Hons) Game Design at University of Hull covers core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills.
BA (Hons)
Award
3
Years
Full-time
Study mode
95%
in work/study (15m)
About this course
BA (Hons) Game Design is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Hull, 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, 75% 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.
8.4
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Excellent82
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
Exceptional95
Limited evidence Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (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 2021-23. Continuation 75% (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.
- Game Design & Prototypingcompulsory20 credits
Module details
Ready to start turning your game ideas into reality and build the foundation for a career in game design? Then this is the module for you. You'll cover key principles like game objects, rules, mechanics, goals and conflict. You'll learn to apply these concepts by developing your own game ideas and bringing them to life in engines like Unity and Unreal. With hands-on experience you'll build environments, prototype mechanics, and learn essential scripting skills. You'll also dive into production t
- 2D Visual Designcompulsory20 credits
Module details
Develop your 2D design skills to help you develop and produce media projects from lens-based to videogames. Explore the use of concept art in pre-production and develop practical experience of generating 2D video game assets.
- Introduction to Game Audiocompulsory20 credits
Module details
The creation and implementation of effective audio is central to game design –supporting dramatic story-telling, immersion, interactivity, game mechanics, as well as emotional and physiological engagement. In this module you will explore some of the creative and technical challenges faced when designing and implementing game audio. The knowledge and skills you acquire in this module will help you to use audio more effectively in your own game projects and will inform future collaborative work wi
- 3D Asset Designcompulsory20 credits
Module details
As media students, you will develop your creative thinking and problem-solving skills through learning the principles and practice of 3D Design. You will learn the basics of modelling, textures, 3D painting and rendering, and design your own 3D animation and portfolio.
- Environment Designcompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module will introduce the ideas, techniques and working practices to realise complete game ready video game environments. By creating your own game environment, you will explore game engines from an art perspective, how to create game ready assets, learn about lighting principles, texturing, 3D, and develop an understanding f environment art pipelines as well as enhancing your creative thinking skills and problem solving abilities. At the end of the project you will have a piece of work tha
- Critical Studies Projectcompulsory20 credits
Module details
In order to create innovative and original game experiences, it's important to understand where games came from and the current landscape of the games industry. In this module you will explore the historical, social and political contexts of games, play and design. We'll look at how to analyse games, how games get made, the people that make them and games from a consumer perspective. The module will perform analysis on video games and its industry including topics such as gender, representation,
- Collaborative Game Projectcompulsory40 credits
Module details
Choose your own specialism and work with other students from various disciplines as you work together to develop a complete game project. The module presents the opportunity to learn from one another, to develop new skills and apply fresh approaches. Practice important skills such as team work, project management and communication as you work collaboratively to produce a high quality game project that can be used as a portfolio piece upon graduation.
- Rapid Prototypingcompulsory20 credits
Module details
Make a game a week. That's the essential premise of this module. You will be provided with different themes on a weekly basis and challenged to produce a working game prototype as efficiently as possible, aiming for strict deadlines. By the end of the module you will have accrued a portfolio of functional game prototypes for inclusion in a game design portfolio as well as a library of scripts, sounds, images and other assets that can be reused in future game design prototypes.
- Level Designoptional20 credits
Module details
Excessive guidance markers, compasses and mini maps can often feel contrived in video games. A well designed level should be able to guide the player using the landscape and the game environment. Find out how you can do this in your own games as we explore principles and theories of level design and put them into practice by making a 3D version of an imagined game world. In this module you will look at generating suitable level designs and prototyping them in a level blockout. We will explore bu
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 degree combines visual and conceptual foundations with specialist practice in game design. A course like this typically opens with Visual Studies & Design Principles and Materials, Processes & Making, grounding you in colour, composition and digital tools. Contextual Studies sits alongside, connecting art and design history to your work. In Year 2, you'll move into sustained Studio Practice, exploring Digital & Emerging Media and taking on Live Briefs with real-world clients and deadlines. Year 3 focuses on deeper specialism, such as graphic design, illustration, UX & digital, or fine art, supported by Professional Practice and Portfolio work to prepare you for industry. You'll complete a self-directed Final Major Project, exhibited in a degree show.
Who it's for
This course suits students interested in game design and the creative industries. Most accepted students arrived with A-levels or equivalent qualifications; the typical UCAS tariff band among entrants was 160–175 points. Full-time study is delivered in English at the Main Campus.
Careers & job market
Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those working, 55% were in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (15 months post-graduation) typically ranged from £22,000 to £27,000, rising to £20,825–£29,400 after five years. These figures reflect national outcomes; individual results vary. Check the university's funding pages for bursaries and scholarships.
University & format
The BA (Hons) Game Design is studied full-time over 3 years at the University of Hull, a public university founded in 1927 and located on the Main Campus. Teaching is delivered in English. The degree is a nationally recognised UK qualification. The university holds Gold for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 and is.
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.
AccreditationBCS
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
PlacementPublished placement option
Year in industry. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Open daysBook an Open Day upload
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent95% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 160 - 175 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 Hull'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 | 95% |
| another higher-education qualification | 5% |
| Other | 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*A*A*A-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 Hull 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
Internationalset by the university
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at University of Hull →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 3 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 Hull funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
social work students
Check eligibility →Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
StudyKit · free
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.
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 | £25,000 | £22,000 – £28,000 | 10 |
| 3 years after | £29,500 | £24,500 – £35,000 | 20 |
| 5 years after | £38,000 | £31,000 – £44,000 | 25 |
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
95%
in work or further study 15 months on
75%
in highly skilled work or study
75%
continue past their first year
75%
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
£25,000
£22,000 – £27,000After 3 years LEO
£29,500
£17,000 – £24,000After 5 years LEO
£38,000
£20,825 – £29,400national rangethis course’s medianaxis £15,500 – £39,500
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.
95 of 100
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
85% working15% working and studying0% in further study75% 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 £38,000Peer median £24,500Middle 50% £22,125–£26,500
100th 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.
- Information Technology ProfessionalsSOC 2020 213 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
- Web and Multimedia Design ProfessionalsSOC 2020 214 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £32,574
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
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: 35; 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
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 8.4 out of 10: NSS 81.7% · in work or study 95% · continued 75%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Hull
All students14,715
International29.9%
Aged 25+41.6%
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 Main Campus
1,385 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Violent Crime 521Criminal Damage Arson 127Shoplifting 119Public Order 111Burglary 104
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 Hull from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Hull; 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 University of Hull’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 Hull and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Hull
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 160 - 175 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 Hull. 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 Computer games and animation graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 75% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £25,000. (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.
No obligation
Request information about BA (Hons) Game Design
Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.