Overview

Mode	Duration	Start date	Application code	Application method
ModeFull-time	Duration3 years	Start dateSeptember	Application codeW212	Application method UCAS

International students

The course is not currently open to international students.

International (non Home) applicants should follow our international how to apply guide.

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Mode	Duration	Start date	Application code	Application method
Mode Full-time	Duration 3 years	Start date September	Application code W212	Application method UCAS

All full-time undergraduate students apply to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) using the University's Institution Code L75. Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply webpage for undergraduate students.

All part-time students should apply directly to London South Bank University and full details of how to do this are given on our undergraduate How to apply webpage.

Accommodation

Students should apply for accommodation at London South Bank University (LSBU) as soon as possible, once we have made an offer of a place on one of our academic courses. Read more about applying for accommodation at LSBU.

Finance

It's a good idea to think about how you'll pay university tuition and maintenance costs while you're still applying for a place to study. Remember – you don't need to wait for a confirmed place on a course to start applying for student finance. Read how to pay your fees as an undergraduate student.

In this course, you’ll learn the essential skills required to work in the games industry, as well as develop your creativity under the guidance of passionate games industry experts.

You’ll learn the technical side of making games and about the gaming industry too – acquiring the creative and organisational skills specific to game production and leadership roles. You can expect to create games for a wide range of gaming platforms: computer games, arcade games, gaming consoles, mobile games and online multiplayer gaming. We’ll cover game and level design, life drawing and anatomy, character design, animation, sound design, scriptwriting, 3d modelling, and motion capture – all culminating in a major independent project.

Methods of assessment for course overall: 100% coursework

Year 1

• Remix. Remake. Recycle.
  This module introduces you to a range of approaches to contextual research and academic critique in relation to contemporary practice in the Creative Industries. By exploring key themes across a range of creative disciplines, you will gain perspective and insight into current debates within the creative sector. By extending your frame of reference, you will gain a better understanding of how to contextualise your own creative practice through the lens of history.
• Sound and Vision
  One half of this module will focus on developing your visual literacy, so that you can better interpret the meaning or intent behind images. In the other half of this module, you will focus on developing an understanding of the impact sound has on how we perceive events and experiences. Taken together, these explorations will provide you with critical knowledge and understanding that you can apply to the production of your own audio-visual projects, using cameras, recording devices, and audio-visual editing software.
• Creative Agency
  A creative agency consists of a team of experts with different areas of expertise working together to deliver a project in response to a design brief. In this module, students will work together to deliver creative solutions to a range of creative design briefs. In so doing, you will get a taste of how effective collaboration happens between specialist disciplines within the Creative Industries.
• 3D Modelling
  3D Modelling introduces the process of creating models in 3D. You will explore the connections between 2D art and 3D modelling, examining issues such as perspective, texturing, rendering and lighting. Skills acquired in the 3D Modelling module will prove invaluable for your second and third year production work.
• Game Production
  Understanding Games Industry practice in relation to the production process is core to producing high quality game content on time and to budget. In the Game Production module you are introduced to these core concepts via a mobile phone game brief, which you must complete to a full, polished publishable standard to an online platform. Integral to the module is a focus on the production pipelines and processes used in industry to formulate successful projects, which can meet delivery deadlines in a completed and bug free state.
• Game Specialism 1
  To succeed in Games, students need to be able to identify and build on their specific talents and to understand how these talents align to standard game industry specialisms, such as: game production, game design, game programming, game art, game research, game audio, and game narrative. The emphasis of the module is on seeing a shared game development project through from initial idea to final production, whilst demonstrating specific competency in a specialist discipline.

Year 2

• Organic Modelling and Animation
  Organic Modelling and Animation extends the core art concepts, skills and techniques covered in the first-year. In Organic Modelling and Animation you will embark on an essential game art task: creating an animated story. You will learn advanced organic modelling techniques and get to grips with the animation pipeline. The module gives you a greater understanding of the role of the 3D artist in game production and will also give you substantial material for your portfolio.
• Re:Creation
  Re:Creation marks the halfway point of the degree by building upon and expanding ideas discussed in the Game Design and Development production modules, in core theory modules and in the first year video game theory modules. To this effect, you will identify a potential area of interest for your final year dissertation and also explore options for your final year major project.
• Game Specialism 2
  In Game Development Specialism 2, students build on the specialist skills acquired in the year one module Game Specialism 1 module. Each student embarks on a 12-week program of study dedicated to his or her chosen specialism. Each program is taught by a game industry specialist who will set a series of mini briefs based around current industry practice and trends and that will challenge you to progress your specialist skills. Upon completion of the module you will have in your portfolio a selection of game development work that demonstrates advanced skills in your area of specialisation.
• Game Programming
  In Game Programming you will explore computer programming within the context of game development. This module will better familiarise you with the Unity development environment, a game engine commonly used within the game industry; and GitHub, an industry standard source control service. Within this module, you will develop your understanding of game programming and the game production processes learned in year 1. By the end of the module, you will have created a game prototype.
• Professional Development and Employability
  This module offers you an opportunity to engage with your professional practice and career expectations in a variety of ways, by offering a flexible approach to exploring the multitude of routes into employment or self-employment within the Creative Industries. You will have the opportunity to further your career ambitions through identifiable activities such as work placements, entrepreneurial activity, business planning, creative collaboration, self-promotion, and industry engagement through organised events such as conferences, festivals or design competitions.
• Interdisciplinary Practice
  In this module you are encouraged to diversify your core skillset by engaging in either collaborative or independent investigation within the broader Creative Industries. You will be offered the opportunity to choose from a selection of topics for practical exploration that intersect with your own specialist discipline. In this sense the teaching, learning and investigation is geared towards the production of an interdisciplinary practical output, either independently or as a collaborative endeavour, dependant on the nature of the topic being explored.

Year 3

• Pilot Major Project
  This module develops your individual practice within your specialist area. Research into historic and contemporary theory and practice will enable you to develop a critical framework in which to consider your final year project. The emphasis will be on developing working methods to curate and complete a self-directed project within a specialist area of practice, and to communicate this through a fully formed proposal.
• Major Project
  This module will provide you with the platform to showcase your abilities and skills through a sustained, self-directed body of work in your chosen discipline. The first part of the module focuses on the development of research and practical skills as a foundation for your final major project. You will then manage your own learning under the guidance of your supervisor. The module is designed to allow you to immerse yourself into a particular area of interest, allowing you the chance to shape your future career through a major piece of authentic work.
• Research Project
  The final year Research Project module gives you the opportunity to conduct original research in an area of particular interest. It allows you to engage more critically with theories, topics and methods encountered on your course. You will manage your own learning under the guidance of an academic supervisor. The module is organized around lectures, seminars, and one-to-one supervisions. The Research Project form and structure is developed in consultation with your supervisor, who you will meet regularly for 1:1 tutorials.
• Professional Practice and Portfolio
  The module has been designed to assist you with the transition from university to employment. The focus will be on identifying current opportunities in your sector, through a combination of research, guest lecturers and visits to production facilities. By the end of this module, you are expected to have completed a portfolio of work that you can show to potential employers.

Modules are assessed through individual and group projects, development work related to industry roles (e.g. 3D model or game script), critiques, oral presentations and pitches, written reports and essays.

Facilities

A dedicated Games lab, sound studio, and specialist library resources.

The Game Design and Development modules are predominantly taught in a specialist Games Studio which features custom-built high-spec PCs and game consoles. Students have access to the Game Studio outside of teaching hours for playing games and working on game projects. You'll spend much of your production time planning, designing and prototyping games using applications such as:

• The Unity Game Engine
• Cubase, Logic, Audacity, Audition and FMod.
• Visual Studio Code and 2022
• Maya 2023 and Blender
• Adobe Audition, Illustrator, Media Encoder, and Photoshop
• Substance 3D Designer and Painter