BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design (with a placement year) · StaffordshireBachelor's degree · 4 years
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University of Staffordshire · Undergraduate

BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design (with a placement year) Bachelor's degree at Staffordshire

BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design (with a placement year) at Staffordshire. You'll move beyond conventional art and design practice to tackle game systems, user interaction, and the full pipeline from concept to playable prototype.

BSc (Hons)
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
87%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design (with a placement year) is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Staffordshire, based in Stoke on Trent Campus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.

For Computer games and animation graduates from this provider, 87% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 63% 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.

8.6
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Strong77

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
Excellent87

Moderate evidence Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 87% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Exceptional95

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 95% (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 usually begin with the foundations of visual communication, colour, composition and form across media, alongside practical workshops in print, textiles and digital fabrication. Contextual studies ground your learning in art and design history. Over the following years, a course like this normally moves from general studio practice and live client briefs to deeper specialism. You can focus on areas such as graphic design, illustration, fine art, fashion and textiles, or UX and digital practice. Throughout, you develop a personal creative direction through sustained project work. In your final year, you'll typically undertake a self-directed major project, culminating in a degree show where your work is publicly exhibited, alongside professional practice training to prepare for industry or self-employment.

Who it's for

You are analytically minded yet visually fluent, comfortable working with both code concepts and spatial design. You'll thrive if you enjoy problem-solving within constraints (game mechanics, performance budgets, user expectations), and you're drawn to iterative development: making, testing, refining. This programme suits people who want to understand *why* a game feels the way it does, not just use off-the-shelf tools passively. You'll spend time in small-group critique, hands-on workshops, and solitary deep work on projects. If you're curious about how design decisions shape player experience, and you're willing to learn technical skills alongside creative thinking, this is a natural fit.

Careers & job market

Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. Starting salaries for graduates nationally in this field average £22,000–£27,000; after five years, the range is £20,825–£29,400. These figures come from national Graduate Outcomes and LEO data and do not represent a guaranteed salary or employment rate specific to this university or programme.

University & format

This is a 4-year full-time bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) with an integrated placement year, delivered by the University of Staffordshire at the Stoke-on-Trent Campus. Teaching is conducted in English. The University of Staffordshire is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and degrees are nationally recognised. The course is accredited 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.

The teaching on my course
83%
Learning opportunities
78%
Assessment and feedback
80%
Academic Support
86%
Organisation and management
56%
Learning resources
84%
Student voice
70%

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
  1. 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted

    Your application needs a reference before you can send it.

  2. 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  3. 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

  4. 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline

    18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.

Show 5 later dates
  1. 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens

    Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.

  2. 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers

    Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.

  3. 2027 entryClearing opens

    Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.

  4. 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  5. 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

PlacementBuilt into the named course route

With a placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.

Open daysBook Open Day

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: 48 - 63 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 Staffordshire'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

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent95%
an Access course5%

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Accessible entry

Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.

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.

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

Your points will drop onto the distribution above, with an honest above / within / below read.

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 gradesBBBA-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeI632quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code I632). One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write 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.

  3. 3
    Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results 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 Staffordshire 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 Staffordshire →

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

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All Staffordshire funding →
No verified named award is shown for this provider yet.

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.

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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

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£24,000£22,000 – £30,00035
3 years after£22,500£17,000 – £28,500295
5 years after£29,000£22,000 – £36,500300

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

87%
in work or further study 15 months on
63%
in highly skilled work or study
95%
continue past their first year
60%
find their work meaningful
60%
say work fits their future plans
  1. 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in art & design · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
  4. 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 – £27,000
After 3 years LEO
£22,500
£17,000 – £24,000
After 5 years LEO
£29,000
£20,825 – £29,400
national 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.

87 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

72% working10% working and studying4% in further study63% in highly skilled work or study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. 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 £29,000Peer median £24,500Middle 50% £22,125–£26,500
90th 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 · 27% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
  • Web and Multimedia Design ProfessionalsSOC 2020 214 · 18% of published destinations · ASHE median £32,574
  • Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087

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: 210; response rate: 61%. 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 Outcomes
55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

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.

Where they work

  • Design studios & agencies
  • In-house brand teams
  • Games & media companies
  • Freelance & self-employed

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

87% 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 8.6 out of 10: NSS 76.7% · in work or study 87% · continued 95%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

University of Staffordshire

All students17,085
International4.1%
Aged 25+52.9%

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 Stoke on Trent Campus

1,636 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Violent Crime 499Anti Social Behaviour 311Public Order 150Shoplifting 140Criminal Damage Arson 139

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 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.

Common questions

Entry is historically accessible, accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 112 - 127 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
Set by Staffordshire. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For Computer games and animation graduates from this provider, 87% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 63% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
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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