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HomeStudyUndergraduate StudyGame Development BA(Hons)

Game Development BA(Hons)

Join a community of people who live and breathe games. From day one, you’ll work as you would within a team in the industry, developing your own games. You’ll replicate professional practice, learning in a range of environments to discover your specialism and prepare for the career you want.  

Students working on laptops in a game studio with screens

Key details

LocationPenryn Campus
Course Duration3 years
AttendanceFull-time
Contact01326 254350

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Introduction

You'll learn how different specialisms work together, how to work effectively in a team and the role you play in it. This course simulates how the industry operates, in a studio environment that's built to mirror a real games development studio.

You will:

  • Build your own games from day one and have the opportunity to establish your own company in your third year.
  • Work in one of largest and best equipped dedicated game making spaces of any university in the UK.
  • Change the games industry by making original games for new markets.
  • Work in a department dedicated to gaming and be surrounded by people working in all aspects of the industry.
  • Develop a multi-disciplinary approach, using Unity and Unreal to touch upon all aspects of game creation.
  • Have the flexibility to change your area of specialism based on your skills and interests.

 

Covid-19 update

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and made changes to our courses to provide flexible, blended delivery that offers high-quality digital engagement and access to face-to-face teaching in our facilities. You can see how your course may be adjusted by viewing the changes for the current academic year by visiting our welcome letters & latest course updates pages

Specialisms

Art

Suitable if you have art or game art qualifications, and want to develop your skills as a game artist on the studio floor in team projects.

UCAS code: W281

Programming

Develop programming skills from the very basics. A background doing some IT, computing or maths will prove helpful in this specialism.

UCAS code: W285

Audio

Build your skills as a game audio designer. Previous music qualifications will provide a good foundation.

UCAS code: W283

Design

Design the systems, levels and content of games. Suitable if you have a deep passion for games and gameplay, and can interpret game mechanics.

UCAS code: W284

Writing

Continue your writing as a game designer and narrative specialist. Previous English qualifications or writing work will give you a good foundation.

UCAS code: W286

Production 

Learn to manage the production of game projects, identifying and solving problems while making the development process run smoother and helping to deliver the project on schedule. 

UCAS code: I608

  • Students
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    What our students do

    Article
    Article

    Building believable worlds

    15 May 2020
    On the Game Development BA(Hons) course, students start building their own games from day one and...
    Article
    Article

    Games Academy in Top 50 Worldwide

    27 March 2020
    Falmouth University's Games Academy has once again been featured as one of the top 50 games schools...
    Article
    Article

    Global Jam at the Games Academy

    13 February 2020
    Students, staff and other 'jammers' took part in the Global Game Jam® 2020 recently. The jam was...
    Article
    Article

    Student Hired by Supermassive Games

    10 June 2019
    Landing a role at a leading games company is an accomplishment regardless of where you are in your...
    Article
    Article

    Games Students Impress Mediatonic's Marketing Director

    25 April 2019
    Being able to hear the expert advice of industry practitioners is just one of the benefits of...
    Article
    Article

    Games Graduate Hired to Design Sea of Thieves

    21 February 2019
    Conall Blake only graduated from BA(Hons) Game Development in 2018 but he’s already forging a...
    Article
    Article

    Gamers Go Global

    30 January 2019
    Falmouth's gaming community got creative this weekend (25-27 Jan) when they took part in the 2019...
    Article
    Article

    Games Student Secures Conference Award

    8 October 2018
    Arabella Collins, a third year Game Development student, has been announced as a winner of the...
    Article
    Article

    Conference Call for Games Student

    30 May 2018
    An All Access Pass to the leading game industry event in San Francisco would be a thrilling...
    Digital illustration underground tunnel with computers and plant growth. Girl holding baseball bat with spikes.
    Street scene digital illustration of alleyway at night time, stars in sky.
    Woodland scene shown in three different lights.
    Derelict building scene, dragon skeleton and unusual bones.
    Games student working at computer, sketch book open to show hand drawn character designs.
    Close up of student hands sketching character design.
    Character silhouettes made with heavy black brushstrokes.
    Student at computer desk drawing with pencil into sketchbook.
    Screenshot of working illustration with cameras placed to show viewpoints during game.
    Digital illustration of mountain scene with cloud made with various hues of blue.
    Sketched drawings of lanterns.
    Digital artwork and components of lantern with pink flowers on the top.
    Digital illustration of woodland fantasy land, curved tree trunk, shelter made from twisted trees and greenery.
    Night scene of sky and buildings in an alleyway.
    Collage of various environment artworks.
    Rural digital illustration concept, a gathering of people surrounded by stacked up rocks.
    Warmonger sword design.
    Digital female character with red hair and scar across eye and fire in backrgound.

    What our graduates do

    Graduates from this course have started their own game development studios, and gone on to careers as artists and designers at major game studios like Creative Assembly, Supermassive Games, Rare, King and TT Games.

    Article
    Article

    Graduate Completes First Game

    2 March 2020
    It's all go for Game Development graduate Isobel Ackrill, not only has she recently started working...
    Article
    Article

    Graduate Games Studio Wins National Prize

    17 December 2019
    Studio Mutiny, a team of Falmouth graduates, has won a major competition and scooped £25,000 from...
    Article
    Article

    Propelled in to the Real World

    13 November 2019
    Former BA(Hons) Games Development: Writing student, Arah Collins has made quick progress since...
    Article
    Article

    Student Hired by Supermassive Games

    10 June 2019
    Landing a role at a leading games company is an accomplishment regardless of where you are in your...
    Article
    Article

    Jade Ostle's Industry Insights

    30 October 2018
    After graduating from the Game Development course, Jade Ostle has secured a position as a Graduate...
    Article
    Article

    Further Success for RoBoats

    12 October 2018
    Following their initial success on the Tranzfuser programme, Game Development team Animal Puree...
    Article
    Article

    RoBoats Reaps Reward for Game Developers

    5 July 2018
    Game Development graduates from the Games Academy have won the opportunity to take part in the...

    Course details

    What you'll learn

    You'll get a feel for all the skills and disciplines in game development, before specialising in one of six routes – but you'll have the flexibility to change your route at any point during your first year. You'll then progress from small tasks to games with a more challenging scope as you take on team-led projects.

    Specialisms

    • BA(Hons) Game Development: Art
    • BA(Hons) Game Development: Audio
    • BA(Hons) Game Development: Design
    • BA(Hons) Game Development: Programming
    • BA(Hons) Game Development: Writing
    • BA(Hons) Game Development: Production
    BA(Hons) Game Development: Art

    Learn core game art abilities, like character and environment modelling, using industry-standard packages, processes and pipelines.

    From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details

    BA(Hons) Game Development: Audio

    Create sound effects, sonic environments and scores that electrify players, and then work in-engine to integrate them into games in an immersive way.

    From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details

    BA(Hons) Game Development: Design

    Prototype and implement the rules, systems, puzzles and levels that challenge players and shape their experience, iteratively testing and refining them.

    From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details

    BA(Hons) Game Development: Programming

    Become a gameplay programmer who implements and tests the core mechanics of the game and evaluates how players interact with them.

    From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details

    BA(Hons) Game Development: Writing

    Create backstories, dialogue, quests and player journeys as you learn foundational creative writing skills and translate them into narrative design for games.

    From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details

    BA(Hons) Game Development: Production

    Learn game development pipelines, techniques and processes and get practical experience of managing the production of games and other creative applications. 

    Course structure

    • Year one
    • Year two
    • Year three
    Year one

    You'll learn what it takes to make a game, including asset creation, project management and pipelines, pitching ideas, and considering theories about what games are and how they engage players. Developing your skills and aligning them to your chosen route, you'll enhance cross-disciplinary groups as you pitch a game to tutors and build it together.

    Modules

    Development Principles

    You'll immerse yourself in our studio culture and learn the basics of making games.

    Theory 1: Reading Experiences

    You'll study and write about games and VR in the same way as you might write about books on an English course, or films in Film Studies.

    Multidisciplinary Development Practice

    You'll pitch your first full game and build it as a team using Agile methodologies.

    Specialist modules depending on your route

    Art

    Environment Art 1
    Environment Art 2

    Audio

    Designing Sound
    Music Technologies

    Design

    Game Design 1
    Game Design 2

    Programming

    Principles of Computing
    Creative Computing
    Individual Creative Computing Project

    Writing

    Craft of Writing
    Audiences & Contexts

    Production

    Design Thinking
    Art of Strategy

    Year two

    With greater confidence in your skills, you'll mirror professional game development as you tackle a larger game project in a multi-skilled group. Over the course of the year, you'll research and experiment with various approaches and create innovative features. You'll investigate strategies to enhance the player experience, and learn what drives industry trends and developments from visiting professionals, all the while developing the specialist skills that will inform your practice.

    Modules

    World Creation Project: Pre-Production

    You'll devise the concept for a world and take it forward into a fuller game title.

    World Creation Project: Production

    During this module, you'll develop your world creation project into a pitchable game, showcased to the rest of the Academy.

    Theory 2: Form & Player Experience

    Aligning your production with game studies theory, you’ll write your manifesto as a games developer, discussing the ethical and industrial debates around game production.

    Specialist modules depending on your route

    Art

    Developing Specialist Game Art Practice
    Developing Concept Art Vocabularies
    Developing Character Art Vocabularies
    Developing Environment Art Vocabularies

    Audio

    Supersonic
    Developing Specialist Game Development Practice

    Design

    Game Design 3
    Developing Specialist Game Development Practice

    Programming

    Specialisms in Creative Computing
    Individual Specialist Computing Project: Interfaces & Interaction
    Individual Specialist Computing Project: Artificial Intelligence

    Writing

    Games and Digital Writing Workshop
    Developing Specialist Game Development Practice

    Production

    Game Production Management

    Year three

    During the final year of your game development course, you'll produce a complete and potentially publishable game as part of a team. By pitching it to industry professionals, you'll receive reliable and insightful feedback. You'll also research a topic relevant to your project and build an online portfolio with a clear centrepiece, sharpening your real-world insights and building valuable career contacts.

    Modules

    Professional Practice and enterprise

    With your career in mind, you'll produce a professional online presence for your work and learn how to network and get a job in games.

    Major Game Development Project: Pre-Production

    The vast majority of your third year is spent making a game in a team, which may result in forming your own games company.

    Preparing for the Future

    You'll research and investigate topics important to your route and practice, exploring how the rapidly evolving games industry could change as you look towards entering it.

    Major Game Development Project: Production

    Completing your third-year game, you'll showcase it to the rest of the academy and pitch it to invited industry guests

    The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.

    How you'll learn

    You'll create original games through group work, professional practice and Game Jams. You'll also develop practical skills through practice-based workshops, and learn to evaluate and improve your work through group tutorials, crits, and individual tutorials. Regular learning will come from lectures, seminars and our Virtual Learning Environment.

    If you enrol in Design, Programming, Art or Animation, you'll share specialist first-year modules with other Games Academy courses. As the course progresses, you'll move from 2D to 3D and shift your focus to project teamwork.

    How you'll spend your time

    • BA(Hons) Game Development: Art
    • BA(Hons) Game Development: Audio
    • BA(Hons) Game Development: Design
    • BA(Hons) Game Development: Programming
    • BA(Hons) Game Development: Writing
    • BA(Hons) Game Development: Production
    BA(Hons) Game Development: Art

    Year

    Timetabled teaching

    and learning activity

    Guided

    independent study

    1

    38%

    62%

    2

    36%

    64%

    3

    32%

    68%

     The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.

    BA(Hons) Game Development: Audio

    Year

    Timetabled teaching

    and learning activity

    Guided

    independent study

    1

    25%

    75%

    2

    30%

    70%

    3

    39%

    61%

     The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.

    BA(Hons) Game Development: Design

    Year

    Timetabled teaching

    and learning activity

    Guided

    independent study

    1

    34%

    66%

    2

    33%

    67%

    3

    32%

    68%

     The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.

    BA(Hons) Game Development: Programming

    Year

    Timetabled teaching

    and learning activity

    Guided

    independent study

    1

    34%

    66%

    2

    33%

    67%

    3

    32%

    68%

     The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.

    BA(Hons) Game Development: Writing

    Year

    Timetabled teaching

    and learning activity

    Guided

    independent study

    1

    30%

    70%

    2

    31%

    69%

    3

    32%

    68%

     The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.

    BA(Hons) Game Development: Production

    Year

    Timetabled teaching

    and learning activity

    Guided

    independent study

    1

    44%

    56%

    2

    33%

    67%

    3

    22%

    78%

    How you'll be assessed

    Assessment across all specialisms

    Year

    Written exams

    Practical exams

    Coursework

    1

    0%

    0%

    100%

    2

    0%

    0%

    100%

    3

    0%

    0%

    100%

      The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.

    Assessment methods

    • Teamwork features heavily to reflect the industry.
    • Game making is the primary form of assessment.
    • Continuous assessment with no formal examinations.
    • Visual, verbal and written assignments.
    • Portfolio of project work.

    Staff

    Coming from companies like Square-Enix and Octopus 8 Studios, you’ll benefit from your tutors’ experience working on titles like Hitman, League of Legends, World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XII.

    Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every member shown here.

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Professor Tanya Krzywinska

    Professor of Digital Games

    Tanya started playing computer-based games on Usenet when working at the Digital Equipment...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Brian McDonald

    Senior Lecturer Digital Games

    Brian McDonald is a senior lecturer on the BA(Hons) Game Development and BSc(Hons) Computing for...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Che Wilbraham

    Research Student Teaching Associate

    As a self-taught, independent game developer, Ché’s background is in the arts. He sees himself as a...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dr Douglas Brown

    Head of Games

    Formerly employed by international games developer and publisher Square-Enix and credited on...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Phoebe Herring

    Senior Lecturer

    Phoebe Herring joined Falmouth University as a lecturer in BA(Hons) Game Art after freelancing on a...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Jon Pledger

    Senior Lecturer

    Following my masters I worked as a Senior Artist for two games companies: Evolution Studios and...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Andy Smith

    Technical Manager/Technical Tutor

    Andy joined Falmouth University in 2013 after completing his undergraduate studies in Communication...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Pete Shepherd

    Associate Lecturer (Audio)

    Having been involved in the music industry for the last 30 years, initially as a player/performer...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Richard Milligan

    Lecturer

    Richard is an animator and 3D artist with ten years of professional experience. Children's TV...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Roman Dlapa

    Lecturer, BA(Hons) Game Art

    Roman Dlapa joined Falmouth University in September 2017, joining the Games Academy as a lecturer...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Rory Summerley

    Lecturer

    Rory is a games studies researcher who has written and lectured on a diverse range of games-related...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Terry Greer

    Senior Lecturer in Game Design

    After starting out life as a zoo keeper at London Zoo, Terry has worked for over thirty years in...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dr Jeff Howard

    Senior Lecturer (Games)

    Dr. Jeff Howard is Senior Lecturer in the Games Academy at Falmouth University in Cornwall, where...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Kate Bergel

    Lecturer: Games Programming

    The majority of Kate's career has been spent in VFX, where she started as a junior systems...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Ady Smith

    Lecturer Game Art

    I have been working in the Games Industry since 1992.  I have worked on a variety of game platforms...

    Facilities

    • Large studio equipped with regularly updated, state-of-the-art game development machines.
    • XSens Motion Capture suites.
    • Life drawing studio for artists and weekly life sessions.
    • Specialised computing hardware for game development, deep learning projects, motion capture and immersive experiences.
    • Standard packages used in software development for the games and visual effects industries, including Adobe and Autodesk suites.
    • Attached lab committed to staying at the cutting edge - featuring augmented reality, virtual reality AR/VR/MR (XR) equipment including HoloLens, Vive Pro and Oculus Rift.
    • Attached lab with access to PS4 development and testing kits.
    • Access to a variety of game engines including Unity and Unreal.
    • Studios open late during term time.
    • Access to free software via Microsoft Imagine.

    Take a virtual tour

    How to apply

    Apply via UCAS

    Ready to join us? If you're applying through UCAS Apply and Track, you'll need to reference the university and course codes below.

    University code: F33
    UCAS codes

    Art: W281
    Audio: W283
    Design: W284
    Programming: W285
    Writing: W286
    Production: I608


    Apply now

    Applying as an international student? 

    International students can apply for a course through UCAS, via an agent or directly with the university. For more information about how to apply as an international student, visit our International applications page.

     

    International applications

    Application advice & interview information

    Go to Toolkit
    • Entry requirements
    • Language requirements
    • Deadlines
    Entry requirements

    We consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We invite all applicants to an interview day or audition to give them the opportunity to demonstrate this along with what inspires and motivates them in their field. Applicants will also be able to show their portfolio or give a performance depending on the course. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.  

    As a guide our typical offer at undergraduate level is 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points, primarily from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma. 

    Check how many points your qualifications are worth

    Language requirements

    For applicants whose first language is English we require you to have or be working towards GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent. 

    If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of in country equivalencies and approved tests.  

    If you need a student visa to study in the UK, you'll need to take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the University. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.

    Deadlines

    UK/EU applications: 29 January 2021 (for equal consideration) 

    Late applications will be considered if there are places available. 

    International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.

    What we're looking for

    We want someone who:

    • Is passionate about creating games.
    • Wants to work as a specialist game developer in either the AAA or indie area of the industry.
    • Wants to develop real games in multidisciplinary teams in a studio mirroring the industry.
    • Enthusiastically follows current video game technologies.
    • Shows communication skills and understands their specialism (Art, Animation, Design, Audio, Programming or Writing).

    Fees, costs & funding

    Tuition fees

    • Tuition fees 2020-21
    • Tuition fees 2021-22
    Tuition fees 2020-21

    £9,250 per year - full-time UK/EU

    £16,000 per year - full-time international

    Tuition fees 2021-22

    £9,250 per year - full-time UK

    £16,950 - full-time EU

    £16,950 - full-time international

    Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

    Typical course costs

    • £100 - Recurring annual costs
    • £1500 - Optional laptop or desktop capable of running 3D Modelling software (recommended for artists and animators)
    • £300 - Optional study visits and placements for the course duration

    If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter.

    The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs

     

    Funding

    For information about funding available, please visit our undergraduate funding page

    Ask a student

    What better way to find out about life at Falmouth University than by asking our current students? 

    From course details, our facilities and the local area to the social scene and settling in, our students are ready and available to answer any questions you might have. Simply set up your account, send them a question and they'll get back to you within 24 hours.

    Open Days and Campus Tours

    See how we turn real industry experience into real careers.

    Visit us

     

     

     

     

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