BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design Bachelor's degree at Staffordshire
BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design at Staffordshire. The University of Staffordshire, founded in 1971, is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and this qualification is nationally recognised.
About this course
BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Staffordshire, based in Stoke on Trent Campus. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Computing graduates from this provider, 96% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 80% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £48,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Computer Science, 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)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 96% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 86% (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 1 6 modules
- 3D Game Props: Pipeline And ProductionCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module provides students with a grounding of 3D Modelling and texturing. Students will learn about the fundamentals modelling and texturing process used in the production of Game Art assets and Concept design workflows. The module allows students to produce a variety of models in different artistic stylisations and photo realistic game props. The focus of the module is on good modelling techniques and on producing visual accuracy in proportions, forms and smoothing.
- Introduction To Asset CreationCompulsory20 credits
Module details
3D Models populate the games we love to play. Start your journey by learning key 3D Modelling creation skills and implement your assets into a fully working framework. You will build a series of assets and develop a reflective journal as you bring to life a games visuals.
- Introduction To Games AnimationCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module introduces students to game animation through planning, application, and problem solving of animations that are finalised and taken into a game engine context. Using a game engine, students will learn how animations are set up and technically implemented into the core mechanics of the game.
- Introduction To Games DesignCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module introduces students to games design through the analysis, design and implementation of game levels and mechanics. Using a games engine, students will learn how to create game mechanics using scripting, and then implement these mechanics into levels of their own design.
- Mechanics PrototypingCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module develops further students understanding of game mechanic creation using a game engine. Students will learn how to plan, communicate and implement core game concepts, such as characters, enemies and game loops in order to create fun, playable prototypes of their own design.
- Project Management For Games DesignCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module lets you improve on a chosen route to create your first independent project. You'll be looking at production methodology and project planning as well as putting together a project of your choice.
Year 2 9 modules
- 2D Games CreationCompulsory20 credits
Module details
2D Games Creation looks at both the artistic side of games design as well as the mechanical side. This module looks to create gameplay experiences using 2d art integration into 3d engines, mixing classic art styles with new engine techniques.
- Gameplay And Quest DesignCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module focuses on working with game prototypes and industry standard documentation. You'll develop skills in the field of games design, level design and game engines resulting in games design documentation, playable projects and demo videos.
- Junior Collaborative Games DevelopmentCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Students will work in a junior role in a group comprised of students from across the suite of games development courses to mimic a games development studio. They will work with other juniors and level 6 students who take the role of seniors, to make a vertical slice of a game.
- Systems Design For GamesCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module develops student knowledge of scripting techniques and the design of complex systems for games. Deconstructing existing mechanics in games, we will design our own gameplay systems before learning how to implement them into a game engine to create our own game framework.
- Arcade Games DevelopmentOptional20 credits
Module details
This module follows on from the C# For Games Designers module and continues to develop scripting skills and points them towards creation of arcade games. This module will focus on the practicalities of scripting as well as the documentation required.
- Art Of LightingOptional20 credits
Module details
This module will prepare you for lighting multiple mediums of work based on various styles of cinematography, video game lighting, and general lighting theory such as exposure, composition, and mood. You will apply these skills to content inside a game engine using a mixture of metahumans, megascans and free marketplace assets.
- C# For Games DesignersOptional20 credits
Module details
This module considers an introduction to the fundamentals of scripting in C#. Scripting is an important tool in developing interactive and fun experiences for players. You will learn how to leverage the power of C# scripting to technically design and build interactive gameplay solutions.
- Cinematics For Games DesignersOptional20 credits
Module details
You will hand craft and design real time cinematics in a chosen game engine, this will be taught over a collection of face-to-face lectures which will cover the theory and practical elements of working with real time cinematic solutions as well as motion capture to create immersive sequences.
- User Interface Design And ImplementationOptional20 credits
Module details
This module will explore the key principles of User Interface design as you research existing Interfaces in games and then design your own. You will explore a range of User Experience principles and use these skills and knowledge to implement your own User Interface into a game engine.
Year 3 9 modules
- Games Development ProjectCompulsory40 credits
- Senior Collaborative Games DevelopmentCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Students will work in a senior role in a group comprised of students from across the suite of games development courses to mimic a games development studio. They will work with other seniors to effectively support and lead a team including level 5 students, to make a vertical slice of a game.
- C++ For Game DesignersOptional20 credits
- Emergent Games TechnologiesOptional20 credits
Module details
Innovation often comes from experimentation, and innovations within the game space are no different. With the constant evolution of game technologies, engines and physical devices
- Experimental Level DesignOptional20 credits
- Interactive StorytellingOptional20 credits
- Multiplayer Level DesignOptional20 credits
Module details
In multiplayer level design you will design, evaluate, and improve a multiplayer map over several rounds of iterations. Through this process you will develop knowledge of multiplayer design and the methods and tools used in the industry to design balanced and engaging levels. You will complete the module with a portfolio ready multiplayer level.
- Prototyping For Technical DesignersOptional20 credits
- Tool Development For Technical DesignersOptional20 credits
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 design and development of interactive games and software systems. A course like this typically progresses from programming fundamentals, usually in languages such as Python and Java, through computer architecture, discrete mathematics, and algorithms. In the second stage, you'll usually move to data structures, databases, software engineering practices and artificial intelligence. Towards completion, you'll choose specialist options such as cybersecurity, systems and networks, human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence, data science and software engineering, alongside core modules in security and networks. You'll normally undertake a substantial individual project in your final year, applying what you've learned to a substantial supervised build.
Who it's for
Most entrants to this programme hold another higher-education qualification: 98% of accepted students came in with prior higher-education experience. The part-time structure suits those balancing study with work or other commitments.
Careers & job market
Across Computer Science courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with 75% of working graduates in highly skilled work or further study. National earnings data shows starting salaries (15 months post-graduation) typically range from £25,000 to £35,000, rising to £29,750–£42,000 after five years. These figures reflect broader graduate outcomes rather than university-specific guarantees. First-year retention stands at 85% across the cohort.
University & format
This BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design is taught at the University of Staffordshire, a university based at Stoke on Trent Campus. The course is offered on a part-time basis and is taught in English. The University of Staffordshire is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; your degree will be nationally recognised. The university holds a Silver award 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.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
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
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| another higher-education qualification | 98% |
| A-levels or equivalent | 2% |
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 (code I632). 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
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Staffordshire →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 Computer Science 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 | £48,000 | £38,000 – £55,000 | 35 |
| 3 years after | £39,000 | £24,000 – £44,500 | 60 |
| 5 years after | £44,000 | £27,500 – £51,500 | 55 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate / Junior DeveloperFirst engineering role · 0–2 yrs
- 2Software EngineerShipping features end-to-end · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / Lead EngineerOwning systems and mentoring · 5–9 yrs
- 4Principal / Engineering ManagerArchitecture or leading teams · 9+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Computer Science nationally
National figures for Computer Science 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: 2021-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. 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 Computer Science courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,820 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 · 50% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
- Protective service occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
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: 100; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Computer Science 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
- Boilerplate and scaffolding code
- First-pass tests and docs
- Routine debugging and refactors
- Standard data wrangling
More human than ever
- System design and architecture trade-offs
- Reviewing and owning correctness & security
- Translating fuzzy problems into software
- Leading delivery and mentoring
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Computer Science 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
- Tech companies
- Banks & fintech
- Consultancies
- Government (GDS) & startups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Computer Science graduates.
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
96% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £48,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.0 out of 10: NSS 88% · in work or study 96% · continued 86%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Staffordshire
Computing across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Stoke on Trent Campus
1,636 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 Computer Science right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Staffordshire from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Staffordshire; 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 Staffordshire’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 Staffordshire and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Staffordshire
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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