BA (Hons)

Computer Games Design

Create and produce games from day one. Enjoy hands-on experiences at gaming events,  submit your work to national competitions such as Tranzfuser, and connect with industry experts. Use top-quality labs with Unreal Engine and Adobe Suite and build your network within the games industry .

How to apply Apply Through UCAS Book an Open Day Chat to Us

Key Course Details

  • UCAS Code

    WGF4

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Cardiff

  • Campus Code

    B

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,535*

  • International students

    £15,850*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

Launch your game design career with a BA (Hons) in Computer Games Design. Build your creative and technical skills to design, develop and take your own games to market.

DESIGNED FOR

If you're passionate about games and ready to join the industry, this course is made for you. Channel your creativity and entrepreneurial drive while adopting professional practices in both your attitude and projects. Let your enthusiasm guide you as you transform your gaming visions into reality.

Career Paths

  • Game Designer
  • Level designer
  • Programmer
  • User interface (UI) / user experience (UX)
  • Writer/producer
  • Tester

Skills taught

  • Game design
  • Programming
  • Project planning
  • Project management
  • Pitching techniques
  • Teamwork

still from Computer Animation course video - students working at computers in a classroom

Course Highlights

Real-world exposure 

Attend major gaming events with the opportunity to showcase your games with Tranzfuser and Game Talent Wales.

Cutting-edge labs 

Access industry-standard tools, including Unreal Engine, Unity, Version Control, Autodesk Suite, and Adobe Suite.

Industry Connections 

Build networks and gain opportunities through strong ties to the games industry. (with our alumni working at international studios worldwide)

Top in the UK 

Animation and Game Design at USW is top for Teaching Quality and Assessment in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2025). 

Module Overview

Juggle your creative and technical skills from day one. Master design through hands-on projects and studio work, explore gaming culture and learn industry standards. Build essential technical skills, understand ethical issues, and develop your research and communication for a successful career. 

Year One

Building Worlds 
Making Games 
Level Design 
Games Studios One 
Design Challenges 

Year Two

Experimental Games 
Professional Practice
Content Creation Techniques
Game Studies Two 

Year Three

Games Prototypes 
Games Production 
Dissertation
Portfolio

Start by exploring the essentials and creating games immediately. In your first six weeks, you'll craft your debut game and build at least three by year’s end. With practical modules on Level Design, Game Mechanics and World Building, you’ll blend creativity with technical skills from the start.

Building Worlds 
Create digital prototypes and explore game structures, mechanics and narratives. Experiment with rules and aesthetics while developing, pitching and producing games through projects.  

Making Games 
Develop and produce a game in groups, focusing on mechanics and iterative design. Use research, experimentation and feedback. Boost skills through studio work and an immersive project.  

Level Design 
Explore game design theory with hands-on engine work. Create levels by focusing on planning,
playtesting and iterative design. Develop and showcase through independent and joint learning. 
 

Games Studios One 
Explore theory and practice in Game Studies. Research, debate and analyse games to understand development and culture. Develop critical skills for academic and practical insights.  

Design Challenges 
Develop skills in evaluating and solving design problems with a focus on player-centric design. Communicate game concepts through practical exercises and real-world challenges.  

It’s time to tackle sophisticated projects with live briefs, creating polished, pitch-ready games for industry pros. Explore areas like Systems and Mechanics or Game Asset Production, and deepen your understanding of design theories. Specialise in your areas of interest to prepare for your final year.

Experimental Games 
Push the boundaries of game design by exploring innovative gameplay, new tech and unique themes. Create a playable demo from a brief, focusing on originality and practical execution.  

Professional Practice
Create a game based on a client brief, working in teams and collaborating with other courses. Develop professionalism and industry-relevant skills by learning how to  pitch and present to industry veterans. 

Content Creation Techniques
Master game content production with a focus on workflows and engine pipelines. Balance aesthetics, creativity and technical limits through hands-on exercises.  

Game Studies Two 
Explore advanced game studies through research and debate. Engage in critical discussions, develop intellectual arguments, and refine your research skills with peer and staff guidance.  

The final year is your time to shine! You'll prototype and produce a professional-level game, creating standout work for your portfolio. Learn how to showcase your skills, apply for jobs, and nail interviews. Your dissertation will let you deep dive into a game design topic you're passionate about.

Games Prototypes 
Explore and experiment to develop a functional game prototype, focusing on core mechanics, player experience and style. Develop prototypes and design docs, using your skills and self-directed learning to prepare for your career.  

Games Production 
Complete and publish your game, focusing on your production strengths. Document design choices, manage project scope and create a portfolio-ready game with promotional materials for public display.  

Dissertation
Research a game design topic of interest, exploring key issues and debates. Present a well-reasoned, original argument, using evidence or practice-based insights.

Portfolio
Reflect on your achievements and career goals. Build your CV, portfolio and LinkedIn profile. Attend career events, seek advice and prepare for job interviews in the industry.  

Course Highlights

How you’ll learn

You’ll jump straight into hands-on learning with group projects, practical workshops and presentations. Expect a mix of lectures, tutorials, and studio time to sharpen your skills. You’ll also work on your portfolio, complete real-world projects and go on field trips. Assessments will include group work, essays and presentations, with regular feedback to guide your growth.  

Teaching staff

The teaching staff on the BA Computer Games Design course will help you grow your skills through hands-on, industry-focused projects. They will guide you in developing your creative and technical abilities and connect you with industry professionals. In your final year, you'll work on a major project with their support through workshops and seminars. The staff focus on real-world experience and industry connections, ensuring you understand your work in the wider context. Your course leader, experienced with tools like Unreal Engine, provides valuable expertise to support your learning.  

Placements and work experience

At USW, you'll get real-world experience through collaborative, team-based projects. You’re encouraged to find placements during vacations or term time. The Professional Project module supports these placements with live briefs, and the Grad Edge scheme offers extra support and recognition. In your second year, the Professional Practice module features live-brief projects. By your third year, the Tranzfuser scheme allows the opportunity to develop work for the UK Games Fund competition. 

Facilities

At USW’s Cardiff campus, you’ll find cutting-edge facilities and a passionate team ready to help you bring your creative ideas to life. As a computer games design student, youll have access to industry-standard labs with tools like Unreal Engine, Unity, Autodesk Suite, and Adobe Suite. Youll work with cutting-edge technology, including Nvidia RTX graphics cards, ultra-wide monitors, and VR kits. Plus, our cloud-based source control system ensures you can easily collaborate with peers, whether you’re in the lab or working from home.

Equipment

At our Cardiff Campus we have a vast range of equipment that you will be trained to use as part of your course. To help support your studies we have a Media Loans facility that allows you to hire the equipment, at no cost, for you to then use for your assignments and practical work.  We have both basic and high-end film and photography cameras, portable lighting and sound equipment as well as a range of professional studio recording microphones, instruments and associated equipment to use in our music studios or on location. The team of technical officers and instructors are also available to help you with any queries and technical issues.

Careers and Employability

Graduate careers

As a Computer Games Design graduate, youll be ready for a range of exciting roles in the games industry, from game designer and programmer to level designer, writer, UI/UX designer, and tester. Our alumni also make their mark in film, TV, and VR training and simulation. Youll have the chance to join leading companies like Rockstar, Super Massive, Frontier, Codemasters, and more. Plus, many of our graduates go on to start their own successful studios, such as Bithell Games and Toxic Games.  

Career support

To support your dream career, the Careers and Employability Team offers a package of development sessions alongside your studies. This includes one-to-one appointments with faculty-based career advisers, in person, over the phone, on Teams, or via email through the Ask a Question service. We provide extensive online resources to help you consider career options and present yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, an interview simulator, and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, with weekly email job alerts.  

Industry partners

You’ll also benefit from strong ties with local and national employers, thanks to our regular engagement with industry professionals. The Faculty of Creative Industries hosts an employer forum that helps shape your learning experience, while our partnership with Games Talent Wales offers even more chances to network and engage with the industry. These opportunities are designed to enhance your career prospects and industry connections.

In partnership with

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

UCAS points: 96 (or above)

Typical qualification requirements:

  • A Level: CCC to include a relevant art and design subject
  • Welsh BACC: Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales Grade C and CC at A Level with a relevant art and design subject 
  • BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma Merit Merit Merit in a relevant subject
  • Access to HE: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 96 UCAS tariff points
  • T Level: Pass (C and above)

 

Additional requirements include:

The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.

International applications welcomed:

We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.

English language requirements

International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing or equivalent.

Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.

If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.

If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.

Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

 

We're here to help

Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.

 

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Fee

£9,535

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£15,850

per year*

Further Information

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.  We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

 

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Bursaries Cost of Living Support

Additional Costs

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.  

* Obligatory 

Cost: £50 - £100

Cost: £50 - £100

Cost: £1500 - £2000

Cost: £100 - £150

Cost: £50 - £100

Cost: £0 - £100

Media Loans

You can hire a range of equipment, for your assignments and practical work, for free from our Media Loans facility.

Media Loans

University Quality Assurance

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

Top in UK

Animation and Game Design at USW is top for Teaching Quality and Assessment in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2025).

100%

of our BA (Hons) Computer Games Design students were satisfied with their course (NSS 2023).


How to apply

All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS. You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time.)

Advanced entry

If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.

International admissions

International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
 

Life at USW

Halls are a big part of your student experience and there’s accommodation at all three of our locations. If you don’t want to live near the campus, there are great transport links to keep you connected.