BA (Hons) Games Development

From designing characters and environments to pitching ideas to industry, you will leave this reputable multidisciplinary gaming degree with an enviable portfolio of work. Thrive in the world of games development and discover your niche by focusing on one of three key gaming areas: games art, technical design or design and production. Aspiring game makers who wish to create imaginative games and gaming stories through a variety of mediums.

Why study this games development degree?

• Games-first approach, putting making at the centre of teaching
• Prepares you for a career as a computer games maker
• Truly understand the needs and desires of computer games players 
• Flexibility to specialise in your favourite games development discipline 
• Build a critical language and understanding of games development
• Develop a diverse understanding of games technologies.

The booming games industry is at the forefront of innovation, with gaming technologies finding their way into a myriad of industries, including architecture, filmmaking and medicine. The sector inspires innovation by continually pushing the boundaries and driving companies to create new technologies. 

There is no better time to be a part of the thrilling computer games industry.

• This games development degree in London, UK, gives you the fundamental skills you need to successfully design and develop games of all kinds. You will work with a broad range of briefs across table top, mobile, console and computer to engage with the wider elements of games culture and practice.
• With access to cutting-edge technology and deep industry contacts, you’ll create exciting and imaginative games that tell stories and explore how games have changed the way we think and interact. You will explore different roles within the industry as well as the visual side of development, learning how gaming stories are told and delivered. 
• Game making is central to this course, pushing students to develop their own practice in a supportive and critical environment. Working both independently and collaboratively, you will learn industry level skillsets in game engine technologies, games culture and game design fundamentals.
• The course reflects forward thinking industry practice in its approach to technical design as a growing discipline within games development, alongside more established avenues such as technical art and games design.

Follow a pathway tailored to your passions

• From the get go, you’ll be able to build your game design thinking alongside your technical skills and encourage you to engage with industry. 

From your second year you’ll be able to specialise in one of our discipline pathways:

• Game design and production
• Game art
• Technical design. 

Key study topics

• Game engine technologies
• Games culture and practice
• Game design fundamentals.

Year 1

• Students are introduced to the fundamentals of games programming, architecture and the relevant media skills essential for games development. 
• Throughout the year, students learn the practices and conventions of industry protocols alongside personal development attributes required for success while at university and in the world of work.

Modules may include:

• Programming 1
• Design of Play
• Engines and Pipelines
• Environments and Levels
• Professional Life Practice: "Developing your Practice"
• Professional Life Practice: "Exploring your Practice".

Year 2

• Progressing from the essential foundations of games development, the focus in Year 2 moves towards the specific technical skills necessary for game development across the range of creative possibilities.
• Here, students will begin growing into their desired specialism that will see collaboration with students and professionals from related and other academic disciplines.

Modules may include:

• Narrative and World Building
• Character Design for Games
• Games Studio
• Professional Life Practice: "Applying your Practice"
• Work-based learning.

Year 3

• Students in their final year are given the opportunity to undertake a significant and sustained individual development project.
• This will pull together all the previous experience strands of their study, and provide the tailoring of a portfolio of work that will act as your professional calling card into the industry.

Modules may include:

• Pre-production
• Production
• Professional Life Practice: "Situating your Practice"
• Post-production.

Entry requirements

• At Ravensbourne we accept a wide range of qualifications for entry onto our courses, whilst also considering the context in which they were achieved. For this course, we would usually require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English in addition to any of the below;
• Three A Levels at grade CCC or above
• BTEC Extended Diploma at grade MMM
• UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma
• T Level (pass or above)
• Access to Higher Education Diploma
• International Baccalaureate at grade 24 or above
• Other/Mixed qualifications equivalent to 96 UCAS Tariff points

Career pathways

• You will graduate with strong concept skills and technical expertise. Graduates work in areas such as typography, editorial design, packaging, information design, wayfinding, exhibition design, user experience and user interface (UX/UI) design, art direction and design strategy.