Games Design (top-up)

Games Design Top-Up BA (Hons) is structured to prepare students to become Game Designers with practical application taking precedence over theoretical work. You will be expected to already have a good working knowledge of Game Engines, Art packages and design theory.

You will join current third year Games Design BA students to work on a number of portfolio-based projects and a substantive personal project. You will be able to share your experiences with current students and collaborate on team projects.
What you’ll learn on Games Design (Top-Up)
We will give you creative skills, technical software skills and industry knowledge, which are all required by leading games developers. You will produce a personal portfolio of your work to reflect industry and professional practice needs, informed by historical and contemporary references, cultural and social contexts.

The life cycle of Game production
You will focus on the design side of the Game Art industry, but you will be exposed to the whole life cycle of game production from the initial ideas process to final release stage. You will work with programmers from the BA Games Programming and artists from the BA Games Art course so that you understand games development for specific markets in 2D and 3D formats.

Methods of Learning
We aim to make learning an engaging and enjoyable experience from our extensive online resources and face to face teaching. We will enrich your experiences of Game Design principles, help you to further develop analytical skills, and encourage you to evaluate and recommend solutions required to create engaging gaming experiences.

Games Design (Top-Up) – Teaching & Learning support
Teaching and learning occurs through a variety of methods, with practical’s, workshops and learning how to use new techniques and software. Learners will have around 12 hours contact time per week, with the expectation of matching this with their own time. Sessions can be longer or shortened depending on the activity e.g. attending industry events.

All of the module tutors use our virtual learning environment (NILE) to provide additional resources to facilitate your independent learning.

By studying at the University of Northampton, you can be sure that:

• You will experience student life at the University’s £330 million Waterside Campus. Come along to an Open Day and find out more.

• Our expert academics teach in small groups supported with one to one assistance. Our academics and students form a tight bond, providing individualised support and guidance whilst challenging students academically.

• We invest more money into your education than 90% of Universities in the UK*

• Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd.

All study trips subject to national and local Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions. See our situation updates page for more on the University’s response to Covid-19: northampton.ac.uk/about-us/situation-updates/

See Eligibility criteria and Terms and Conditions: northampton.ac.uk/student-life/university-living-laptops-trips-and-internships/

✱ source: Guardian University League Table 2020

Stage 3
• Art Director Portfolio, Final Major Project (compulsory)
• Design Innovation (compulsory)
• Professional Practice in Games (compulsory)
• Group Project 3 (Games) (compulsory)

Module information is quoted for 2025 entry. Please note that modules run subject to student numbers and staff availability, any changes will be communicated to applicants accordingly.