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Games Design (3 year)

  • 1 Study option
  • Undergraduate
5 Campuses
Awarded by:
University of Hertfordshire
More about SAE Institute

Course options

2025-20262026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

The gaming industry has exploded in recent years thanks to exciting technological advances that have opened the door to dynamic, immersive experiences like never before. With gaming companies on the lookout for talented game designers, programmers and testers, now’s the perfect time to study a games design degree course.

At SAE, you’ll learn how to design and develop next-level video games while advancing your game development and programming skills in 2 years rather than 3. Beat the competition by graduating industry-ready more quickly than at a traditional university – while saving money on course and accommodation fees too.

Across your 2 years at SAE, you’ll explore level design and narrative construction by completing real-world project briefs in a simulated games studio environment. You’ll gain advanced skills in industry-standard software packages, such as Unreal Engine 5, Unity 3D, Adobe Creative Suite, Autodesk Suite (Maya) and Visual Studio, plus expert proficiency in programming languages C# and C++.

SAE’s highly experienced Experts will introduce you to the professional world of game design, showing you the ropes in object-oriented programming (OOP), UI/UX design and industry workflows. As you explore common game engines and core mathematical principles, you’ll complete group projects and test the games you’ve developed, validating your understanding of game design theory and frameworks.

As you progress your studies, you’ll get ready to embrace real-world success thanks to SAE’s focus on practical learning, business planning skills and games industry knowledge. In your final trimester, you’ll complete a Major Project in a chosen area of specialism – a perfect opportunity to connect with industry experts with a view to future game design employment.
At the end of your time with us, you’ll graduate equipped with the skills of a professional game developer and ready to launch into the industry as a game designer, game developer, concept artist, multimedia specialist or software engineer. Simply put, SAE’s accelerated Games Design degree really puts you ahead of the game.

Modules

Course Modules

Three year standard degree

Year 1:
Trimester 1 - Game Programming Basics, Games Development Basics
Trimester 2 – Applied Game Design, Games and Culture

Year 2:
Trimester 3 - Creative Studio 1: Industry Workflows
Trimester 4 - Creative Studio 2: Collaboration and Business

Year 3:
Trimester 5 - Creative Studio 3: Research and Practice
Trimester 6 - Major project

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • SAE Leeds
  • SAE Glasgow
  • SAE Royal Leamington Spa
  • SAE Liverpool
  • SAE London Stratford

Study options

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) or Bachelor of Science (with Honours) • Full-Time • 3 Years

Start dates

Application codes

Institution code:
S05

SAE Institute has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

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How to apply

Application codes

Institution code:
S05

This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available.

Course options

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
A*-D

To understand what combination of grades you need to achieve 72 UCAS tariff points please visit ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator

UCAS Tariff
Offer: 72

Scottish Higher
A-C

Access to HE Diploma
Distinction: 45 Merit: 42 Pass: 3

GCSE/National 4/National 5

All subjects require A*-C in English (4-9)
Audio Production and Games Programming also require A*-C in Mathematics (4-9)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
D*D*D*-MMP

English language requirements

English Language Requirements All students are required to show proficiency in English. We recommend getting in touch with our team for advice and to confirm what evidence is accepted. If English is not your first language, do not worry, all you need is evidence that you meet the appropriate level of English proficiency for your level of study. Requirements vary depending on the level of study you are applying for (e.g. undergraduate or postgraduate) and whether you require a student visa. If you require a student visa, please refer to the acceptable test information below. Equivalent qualifications can be accepted, where these qualifications have been verified by ENIC and are adopted widely within the UK Higher Education sector. If your qualification does not meet these requirements, we’ll ask for one of the following: IELTS (UKVI or Academic) – minimum 5.5 in all components and an overall band score of 5.5 IELTS One Skill Retake – minimum score of 5.5 in skill retake IELTS Online – minimum 5.5 in all components and an overall band score of 5.5 Pearson Test of English – 59 or above overall with a minimum of 59 in each component PSI Skills for English B2 SELT – Pass Trinity College London SELT– Pass with Merit Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) – 169 overall with no less than 160 in each component minimum grade C Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) – 169 overall with no less than 160 in each component minimum grade B TOEFL (IBT or IBT Home Edition online) – 72 overall with no less than Listening – 17 Writing – 17 Speaking – 20 Reading – 18 LanguageCert Academic – 60 pass with minimum score of 60 in each skill LanguageCert International ESOL C1 Expert – pass in all four components LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) – Pass with a minimum 33 in all components LanguageCert ESOL Integrated Skills in English II – pass in all components Duolingo English Test – Overall score of 100 with no less than 95 in Speaking, Writing and Listening. Minimum 100 in Reading. SAE accepts various high school level English Qualification, please contact our Admissions team at ukenquiries@sae.edu to discuss this. English language tests are valid for a maximum of two years.

International entry requirements

International Entry Requirements at SAE

SAE aims to ensure that all students have the necessary language skills to succeed in their academic studies and to easily integrate into the institution’s friendly community.

International students must demonstrate that their qualifications are equivalent to the standard entry requirement of 72 UCAS tariff points, as well as competency in English. For degree courses in Audio Production and Games Programming, an equivalent qualification to GCSE Maths at grade 4 or above is also required. https://www.sae.edu/gbr/international-entry-requirements/

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

This course may have Historical entry grades data available, please select a course option to view.

Course options

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Republic of Ireland & EU£10050
International£16750

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For all SAE UK campuses, applicants who are residents of the EU will be applicable for a bursary towards the cost of the tuition fees. The value of bursary is already represented in the tuition fees shown and is £4,000 per year for those on the 3-year degree.

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