Game Development BA(Hons)
Join a community of people who have a passion for games.
Course overview
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.
You’ll learn how different specialisms work together, how to work effectively in a team and to develop the role you play in it. These courses simulate how 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 the largest and best-equipped dedicated game-making spaces of any university in the UK
- Learn in a department dedicated to gaming and be surrounded by people working in all aspects of the industry
- Develop a multidisciplinary 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
The Integrated Foundation Year pathway for this course is new for entry year 2022 and subject to validation.
Specialisms
Art
Learn core game art abilities, like character and environment modelling, using industry-standard packages, processes and pipelines.
- BA(Hons) 3 year: W281
- Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) 4 year: FY01
Programming
Become a gameplay programmer who implements and tests the core mechanics of the game and evaluates how players interact with them.
- BA(Hons) 3 year: W285
- Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) 4 year: FY30
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.
- BA(Hons) 3 year: W283
- Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) 4 year: FY27
Design
Prototype and implement the rules, systems, puzzles and levels that challenge players and shape their experience, iteratively testing and refining them.
- BA(Hons) 3 year: W284
- Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) 4 year: FY28
Writing
Create backstories, dialogue, quests and player journeys as you learn foundational creative writing skills and translate them into narrative design for games.
- BA(Hons) 3 year: W286
- Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) 4 year: FY31
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.
- BA(Hons) 3 year: I608
- Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) 4 year: FY29
Course details
On this Game Development degree, you'll have the opportunity to gain a BA(Hons) degree over three years or the option to study Game Development BA(Hons) with an Integrated Foundation Year.
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) three year degree
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
Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) four year degree
In your foundation year, you'll study five core modules. These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of your chosen specialism before progressing onto the full degree.
BA(Hons) three year degree
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
Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) four year degree
In your foundation year, you'll study five core modules. These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of your chosen specialism before progressing onto the full degree.
BA(Hons) three year degree
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
Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) four year degree
In your foundation year, you'll study five core modules. These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of your chosen specialism before progressing onto the full degree.
BA(Hons) three year degree
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
Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) four year degree
In your foundation year, you'll study five core modules. These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of your chosen specialism before progressing onto the full degree.
BA(Hons) three year degree
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
Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) four year degree
In your foundation year, you'll study five core modules. These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of your chosen specialism before progressing onto the full degree.
BA(Hons) three year degree
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.
From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details
Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) four year degree
In your foundation year, you'll study five core modules. These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of your chosen specialism before progressing onto the full degree.
Course structure
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
Writing – Craft & Context
Breaking the Rules: Remix and Writing Back
Production
Design Thinking
Art of Strategy
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 (Writing Workshop)
Developing Specialist Game Development Practice
Production
Game Production Management
During the final year of your Game Development degree, 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
Why study an Integrated Foundation Year route?
If you’re taking on a new subject that you haven’t studied in depth before, have been out of education for a while or have a non-standard educational background then an Integrated Foundation Year degree may be the right choice for you. It is a four-year degree with an Integrated Foundation Year to start, which allows you to explore the primary elements of your subject before progressing on to the remaining three years of the BA(Hons) degree.
What you'll study in your Foundation year
If you choose this pathway, you'll study five core modules in your Foundation year. These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of your subject. You'll gain relevant technical skills, learn to experiment and take risks, develop an understanding of professional practice, have opportunities to work across disciplines and collaborate with other students on live project briefs.
Modules
Explore
You'll begin your foundation year by working collaboratively with others to explore themes of the future. You'll take risks, experiment through play and be supported to break through barriers.
Technique
You'll take subject-specific workshops and develop essential technical and practical skills in your area of study. You'll also enhance your analytical and organisational abilities.
Apply
You'll work with your peer group to think beyond discipline by addressing a societal or global issue. You'll then showcase your work to your peers and deliver and accompanying evaluation of your process.
Industry
You'll enhance your creative and practical skills in your subject specialism by responding to typical industry briefs, underpinned by focused research and experiments. You'll also gain industry insights through guest lectures and workshops.
Launch
You'll develop your unique identity in your specialism through the production of a self-initiated body of work. Your final project will be the bridge to your next year, fully supported by evaluative reviews and critical analysis of the work you have created.
After the Foundation year, you progress into Year One of the full three-year degree, equipped with a deeper knowledge of your subject, a clear understanding of your strengths, and develop a practical and technical skillset and the confidence to excel in your chosen subject.
The Integrated Foundation Year pathway for this course is new for entry year 2022 and subject to validation.
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.
We are making changes to our curriculum framework for courses starting in 2022. Modest amendments to our course module structure will provide you with new opportunities to collaborate and co-create with students from across disciplines during your studies.
This course page will be updated when these changes have been finalised and applicants will be notified.
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.
At Falmouth, we use a 'digitally enhanced learning & teaching' approach. Your experience will always be predominantly in-person, including seminars, tutorials and studio teaching, with some, more targeted elements, being online either live (synchronous) or pre-recorded (asynchronous). You can read more here.
How you'll spend your time
Year | Timetabled teaching and learning activity | Guided independent study |
|---|---|---|
Integrated Foundation Year (optional) | ||
1 | 38% | 62% |
2 | 36% | 64% |
3 | 32% | 68% |
The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.
Year | Timetabled teaching and learning activity | Guided independent study |
|---|---|---|
Integrated Foundation Year (optional) | ||
1 | 25% | 75% |
2 | 30% | 70% |
3 | 39% | 61% |
The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.
Year | Timetabled teaching and learning activity | Guided independent study |
|---|---|---|
Integrated Foundation Year (optional) | ||
1 | 34% | 66% |
2 | 33% | 67% |
3 | 32% | 68% |
The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.
Year | Timetabled teaching and learning activity | Guided independent study |
|---|---|---|
Integrated Foundation Year (optional) | ||
1 | 34% | 66% |
2 | 33% | 67% |
3 | 32% | 68% |
The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.
Year | Timetabled teaching and learning activity | Guided independent study |
|---|---|---|
Integrated Foundation Year (optional) | ||
1 | 30% | 70% |
2 | 31% | 69% |
3 | 32% | 68% |
The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.
Year | Timetabled teaching and learning activity | Guided independent study |
|---|---|---|
Integrated Foundation Year (optional) | ||
1 | 44% | 56% |
2 | 33% | 67% |
3 | 22% | 78% |
*These percentages are indicative and may vary
How you'll be assessed
Assessment across all specialisms
Year | Written exams | Practical exams | Coursework |
|---|---|---|---|
Integrated Foundation Year (optional) | 0% | 0% | 100% |
1 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
2 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
3 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.
Assessment methods
- Foundation year assessments are 100% coursework based.
- 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 staff member who teaches on the course.
Professor Tanya Krzywinska
Professor of Digital Games
Tanya started playing computer-based games on Usenet when working at the Digital Equipment Corporati...
Dr Douglas Brown
Head of Games
Formerly employed by international games developer and publisher Square-Enix and credited on several...
Rory Summerley
Lecturer
Rory is a games studies researcher who has written and lectured on a diverse range of games-related ...
Brian McDonald
Senior Lecturer Digital Games
Brian McDonald is a senior lecturer on the BA(Hons) Game Development and BSc(Hons) Computing fo...
Che Wilbraham
Lecturer: Games
As a self-taught, independent game developer, Ché’s background is in the arts. He sees himself as...
Phoebe Herring
Senior Lecturer
Phoebe Herring joined Falmouth University as a lecturer in BA(Hons) Game Art after freelancing on a ...
Andy Smith
Technical Manager/Technical Tutor
Andy joined Falmouth University in 2013 after completing his undergraduate studies in Communication ...
Pete Shepherd
Associate Lecturer (Audio)
Having been involved in the music industry for the last 30 years, initially as a player/performer bu...
Richard Milligan
Lecturer
Richard is an animator and 3D artist with ten years of professional experience. Children's TV featur...
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 the...
Dr Jeff Howard
Senior Lecturer (Games)
Dr. Jeff Howard is Senior Lecturer in the Games Academy at Falmouth University in Cornwall, whe...
Ady Smith
Lecturer Game Art
I have been working in the Games Industry since 1992. I have worked on a variety of game platf...
Niall MacDonald
Associate Lecturer, Game Development BA(Hons)
I'm an Associate Lecturer at the Games Academy, focusing mostly on games writing and narrative desig...
Jeremy West
Associate Lecturer, Game Development BA(Hons)
A graduate from Falmouth's Games Academy, Jeremy has spent the last six years both studying and maki...
Joseph Walton-Rivers
Lecturer
Joseph Walton-Rivers is a lecturer in the Games Academy. He joined the university in 2020 to lecture...
Tim Phillips
Lecturer
Tim joined Falmouth University in 2018 as a game designer in the computational creativity research g...
Facilities
- Large studio equipped with regularly updated, state-of-the-art game development machines.
- XSens MVN Awinda Motion Capture suits.
- 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, HoloLens 2 and Oculus Quest 2.
- 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.
What our students do
Mission Possible: Falmouth students unveil VR rocket launch experience
11 August 2022
A group of students in Cornwall have launched the first iteration of a brand-new educational VR expe...
Support the Falmouth students shortlisted at the 2022 Rookie Awards
21 July 2022
Three Games Academy student teams have secured positions as finalists in the 2022 Rookies Award...
Student projects celebrated at 2022 Games Expo
06 June 2022
The Falmouth Games Academy have celebrated the end of the academic year in style with the latest ite...
Student secures internship with gaming giant Roblox
19 April 2022
First year Game Development student James Cox has been accepted onto the accelerator programme for R...
Games Academy ranked alongside the best in the world
29 March 2022
Falmouth University’s Games Academy has once again secured a place on the Princeton Review’s lis...
Widening participation in Esports: in conversation with Elise Dennis
08 December 2021
Elise Dennis is a final year Game Development student and a professional esports player. Here, she d...
Falmouth is one of the world’s best universities for Creative Media and Entertainment
12 October 2021
The Rookies ranks Falmouth as one of the top universities for creative media & entertainment, ga...
Student work celebrated at Falmouth Games Expo
30 June 2021
The Games Academy has brought the curtain down on a productive academic year with their annual celeb...
Games Academy student spots gap in the market
15 February 2021
Third year Game Development student Richard has launched an innovative new game on Steam: Stream Que...
Building believable worlds
15 May 2020
On the Game Development BA(Hons) course, students start building their own games from day one and ar...
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 ...
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 ho...
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 c...
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 attend...
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 care...
Gamers Go Global
30 January 2019
Falmouth's gaming community got creative this weekend (25-27 Jan) when they took part in the 2019 Gl...
Games Student Secures Conference Award
08 October 2018
Arabella Collins, a third year Game Development student, has been announced as a winner of the Women...
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 opportun...
Explore the games our students have created
Our Game Development students are doing-it-for-real, whether that's game art, audio, programming, writing, design or production. Check out our students' showreels, game trailers and artwork below for a taste of what they get up to. Visit Our Games page to find out more.
Careers
Our graduates have worked as:
-
Level Designers at Supermassive Games, Mediatonic and King
-
Animator at Creative Assembly
-
Game Designer at Rare
-
Games Writers at Hangar 13 and Playground Games
-
Producer at Rocksteady Studios
Graduate Completes First Game
02 March 2020
It's all go for Game Development graduate Isobel Ackrill, not only has she recently started working ...
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 t...
Propelled in to the Real World
13 November 2019
Former BA(Hons) Games Development: Writing student, Arah Collins has made quick progress since gradu...
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 c...
Jade Ostle's Industry Insights
30 October 2018
After graduating from the Game Development course, Jade Ostle has secured a position as a Graduate L...
Further Success for RoBoats
12 October 2018
Following their initial success on the Tranzfuser programme, Game Development team Animal Puree have...
RoBoats Reaps Reward for Game Developers
05 July 2018
Game Development graduates from the Games Academy have won the opportunity to take part in the Tranz...
How to apply
Apply via UCAS
Ready to join us? You can apply for September 2022 through Clearing or for September 2023 through UCAS Apply and Track. You'll need to reference the University and relevant course codes below.
University code: F33
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.
BA(Hons) three year degree
UCAS code: W281
Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) four year degree
UCAS code: FY01
BA(Hons) three year degree
UCAS code: W283
Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) four year degree
UCAS code: FY27
BA(Hons) three year degree
UCAS code: W284
Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) four year degree
UCAS code: FY28
BA(Hons) three year degree
UCAS code: W285
Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) four year degree
UCAS code: FY30
BA(Hons) three year degree
UCAS code: W286
Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) four year degree
UCAS code: FY31
BA(Hons) three year degree
UCAS code: I608
Integrated Foundation Year BA(Hons) four year degree
UCAS code: FY29
Application advice & interview information
Go to ToolkitWe 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.
| Course route | Entry requirements |
|---|---|
| BA/BSc(Hons) three year degree | 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points |
| BA/BSc(Hons) four year degree with Integrated Foundation Year | 80 – 120 UCAS Tariff points |
UCAS Tariff points will primarily be from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, T Levels, a BTEC/UAL Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma.
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 may need to take a recognised language test. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.
For starting your studies in 2023
UK applications: 25 January 2023 (for equal consideration)
Applications after the 25 January will be considered on a first-come, first-served as long as there are places available. Apply for this course now.
International fee payers
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).
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