Computer Games Design

Are you passionate about creating computer games? Our Higher National Certificate in Computer Games Design could be your first step towards an exciting career in the gaming industry. This course is tailored for aspiring 3D artists, animators, and game designers, providing a solid foundation in the skills needed to succeed in this dynamic field.

Throughout the course, you’ll work with industry-standard tools such as Unreal Engine and Unity. These powerful game engines are essential for modern game development and will give you practical experience in creating immersive digital worlds. Our curriculum includes game design theory, and environment design, ensuring you gain a grounding of the game creation process.

You’ll be learning from professionals with real-world experience. We have excellent facilities, including access to the latest Adobe Creative Cloud software, enabling you to explore various aspects of game design and development. Small class sizes allow for personalised guidance from our expert staff, ensuring you receive the support needed to excel.

Upon completing the course, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and experience to progress onto our 3 year degree.

We believe in empowering you to design and create interactive projects that truly showcase your game development knowledge. Our course is all about encouraging your creative exploration while ensuring you develop the technical skills needed to succeed in the competitive world of computer games design.

Year 1:
In your first year of the Computer Games Design course, you’ll begin to explore the world of game development. You’ll start with learning the basics of character creation, 3D graphics, and animation. In seminars and workshops, you will explore game mechanics and rule systems through fun, hands-on projects, often using paper-based concept mock-ups to get a real feel for how games are made. Our small tutorial groups mean you get plenty of personalised support from your lecturers, helping you to build your skills and confidence right from the start.

Visual Studies (20 credits)
Game Design and History (20 credits)
Introduction to Character Animation (20 credits)
Environment Design (20 credits)
Academic and Professional Development (10 Credits)
Introduction to 3D Modelling (10 Credits)
Games for Positive Impact (20 Credits)

Assessment is carried out through coursework, both written and practical. There are no exams on this course. Students are formatively assessed throughout a module, summative assessment takes place at the end of a module.

In order to maintain academic integrity, a range of strategies are adopted. Most practical work includes formal written elements of some sort: everything from the standard essay format through to things like usability reports, product definition documents, responses to/critiques of seminal academic papers, learning journals, business plans, etc. At Level 6 all students will have to complete a Dissertation.

From L4 onwards students are also widely assessed in presentations, culminating at L6 in the Major Project. We have found the viva voce style assessment well-suited to the work we do within the School, which, whilst having a technical underpinning, often has strong similarities to fine art practice.

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS