Study a course with a distinctive, practice-based approach to games design – gaining a diverse skill set and useful experience within the field.
Learn the key techniques and skills required to create a wide variety of games.
Attain a deep understanding of game play.
Create prototypes and game concept pitches for external clients and experts.
Collaborate with students from other gaming disciplines to understand game production in a team context.
Gain the visual communication and creative problem-solving skills industry employers are looking for.

On this course, you'll explore the artistry and industry of games design. You’ll complete real game development projects and develop your own creative approach, with access to cutting-edge facilities and resources supported by the likes of Sony Playstation. Upon graduation, you'll have the portfolio, experience and qualifications you need to land an exciting position.

Live projects

The course includes a range of professional development and work-based learning opportunities, including producing game concept and prototype pitches for commercial and other external clients, guest lectures from industry professionals and networking events. You will get opportunities to develop your own future strategy as a game professional whether that be freelancing, working as an independent game developer or working in a specific sector in the game or interactive media industries.

Field trips

Industry visits, field trips, game jams, and live projects will be a key aspect of your preparation for employment, facilitate contextual knowledge and understanding and provide opportunities for networking and cementing relationships with industry and fellow aspiring game designers, artists, and programmers.

Networking opportunities

At every level of the course, through the networks of the course staff, you will have the opportunity to engage with specialist visiting lecturers from the industry to show your work. A wide range of professional development and networking opportunities are supported by the Media Arts and Communications Department, such as the yearly Pathways event. We always seek to support and enable any student who obtains a placement to be able to take such opportunities.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

This course employs a creative, practice-based approach set within the context of group project activity. This emulates the collaborative nature of professional practice within the creative industries, and is underpinned by analysis, iteration of ideas and concepts, and reflection on creative processes.

As you progress through the course you will be able to choose your own focus and develop your understanding of specific roles within game development and game design.

You will design and create prototypes, organise playtesting sessions with potential audience members, work as a member in an agile game development team and produce and maintain a professional portfolio of own game design work.

You learn through:

• lectures and tutorials
• supervision sessions
• design workshops
• group projects
• self-directed study
• field trips

This course prepares you for a career as a:

• game designer
• game artist
• game producer

Previous graduates of previous courses like this have gone on to work for:

• Sumo Digital
• Rebelliion

 

UCAS points

• 112

This must include at least 32 points from 2 A Levels or equivalent BTEC qualifications. For example:

• BBC at A Level
• DMM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
• A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies

GCSE

• English Language at grade C or 4
• Maths at grade C or 4

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

• Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 18 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, in a media-related programme, from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum score of 5.5 in each skill, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.5 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre- sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score. As part of our selection process, we may request a portfolio or other evidence of your ability.

If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend a selection event with a portfolio of work to demonstrate your ability. Find out about the selection process and how to produce a strong portfolio.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

 

 

Year 1 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
3D Modelling	20	Coursework
Game Design Theory	20	Coursework
Game World Mechanics	20	Coursework
Level 4 Game Project	20	Coursework
Online Gaming Cultures	20	Coursework
Visual Concepts For Games 1	20	Practical

 

 

Year 2 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Advanced Game Design Theory	20	Coursework
Experimental Game Practice	20	Coursework
Narrative Design	20	Coursework
Physical Games	20	Coursework
Professional Development Project	20	Coursework

 

Elective modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Creative Sound Practice	20	Coursework
Introduction To Concept Art	20	Coursework
Virtual Reality Design	20	Coursework

 

Year 3 Optional modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Placement Year

 

Final Year Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Creative Direction For Games	20	Practical
Final Game Project	40	Coursework
Game Professional Practice	20	Practical
User Interface Design For Games	20	Coursework

 

Elective modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Game Studio Project	20	Coursework
Life Drawing	20	Coursework
Sound Design And Sonic Arts Practice	20	Coursework
Visual Effects Project	20	Coursework