Games Development BSc (Hons)
Length:
3 or 4 year options
UCAS Code:
I610 (3 Year)
I611 (4 Year)
Institution Code:
N39
Optional Diploma Years:
Creative Professional Development (1 year, Level 5 diploma), or Creative Computing (1 year, Level 5 diploma), available between years 2 & 3
Love working with code and see yourself as a technical problem solver with a passion for games?
Our TIGA-accredited BSc (Hons) Games Development course has an industry reputation for its technical game development content, providing knowledge and experience to support graduates being hired into ever-increasing and sought-after programming roles within the industry.
You will explore the mechanics of playful interaction and develop skills in prototyping and user testing across different technologies and platforms, including console, web, mobile, PC and cutting-edge technologies like augmented and virtual reality.
How you think, make decisions, and develop ideas will evolve as you learn to code games that give users an exceptional experience by applying computer science principles and staying attuned to emerging technologies. You’ll create different types of games for different audiences based on evidence gathered through research, observation and practical experimentation.
Beyond technical proficiency, the BSc Games Development course places a strong emphasis on fostering creativity and innovation. You will acquire and develop the creative tools necessary to develop unique and innovative games, with a parallel focus on understanding how to make these creations commercially successful. You’ll get a thorough grounding in the business aspect of games development, learning how to distribute and licence games products as an independent producer.
Accredited by:
- This course is accredited by TIGA (Independent Game Developers’ Association) as delivering skills relevant to the games industry.
- The course is a member of the Sony PlayStation First Academic Partnership Programme.
Why study with us
- The Rookies, a global panel of games industry experts, ranked Norwich University of the Arts in the world’s top 30 in 2023 and also placed us 29th for Game Design and Development in their global rankings.
- Study the fundamentals of game development, with Unreal Engine at the core.
- Collaborate with students on BA (Hons) Games Art and Design to make games that bring your technical abilities together with their artistry using content creation software for a range of platforms.
- Be introduced to formative theoretical concepts while developing your critical thinking, analysis and communications skills.
- Develop prototyping, user testing skills and gain an understanding of workflows and project management.
- Workshops, technical demonstrations and live briefs will help prepare you for a career in the games industry.
- Be involved in games jams, and live briefs both within Norwich and internationally to enhance your graduate portfolio.
Course Content
Integrated Foundation Year (optional)
Our Integrated Foundation Year is designed to equip students with the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to thrive in their chosen degree subject. The course provides a comprehensive introduction to various disciplines, blending critical thinking and creative problem-solving with practical hands-on experience. This year serves as a bridge to undergraduate studies, allowing students to explore their interests within a supportive and inspiring environment, while familiarising themselves with the campus, workshops, and tutors.
Year 1
This unit will introduce you to the fundamentals that underpin all areas of game development. You’ll be introduced to the core programming knowledge a game developer needs, allowing you to create robust and efficient games. You’ll explore methods and practices around concept development and generating ideas for games. You will develop your understanding of game concepts, rules and mechanics, and rapid prototyping through the development of analogue games. Emphasising research, communication, and critical thinking skills important to a creative and scientific practice, seminar discussions and lectures will invite you to interrogate and understand the wider contexts within which games sit and introduce you to the critical and creative debate.
40 credits
In this unit, you’ll investigate the development and key milestones in the lifecycle of games, with a particular focus on understanding the ways game developers shape unique player experiences, through experimenting with techniques, materials, and media. This unit will also introduce you to the fundamental concepts of object-oriented programming (OOP) and programming in Unreal Engine. A clear focus is on practical programming and problem-solving skills, using industry-standard practices, frameworks, and pipeline processes. You’ll be introduced to group discussions and concept pitches, learning to present your ideas and information to a range of audiences through presentations and other visual mediums, to effectively communicate complex ideas succinctly.
80 credits
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Year 2
This unit will enable you to expand your specialist knowledge and skills, taking you to the next level in your personal development. Workshops introduce you to a range of advanced computer programming techniques, game design principles, and game development pipeline processes, all which underpin modern games. You’ll be encouraged to work quickly, think creatively, work collaboratively, and experiment with ideas – providing a safe space for failure as a natural part of the creative process. You will be exposed to an exploration of typical algorithms and data structures to solve several computational challenges. You’ll consider your work within the context of different audiences and a variety of platforms, including console, web, mobile, computer, and augmented and virtual reality. You’ll research into historical, cultural and broader creative influences, and how they can be used to promote equality, diversity and inclusion, to add depth and complexity to your ideas.
80 credits
This unit will introduce you to how collaborative working can help you focus and enhance your creative strengths by working with fellow students and our creative community. This unit will allow you to build upon your knowledge of working to live briefs, while exploring specialist techniques and tools used within the game development pipeline to develop full technical and professional prototypes, with a strong focus on team and communication skills. You will consider group and client liaison roles, taking on group roles in the ‘simulated’ production environment of the classroom, and be introduced to specialised working practice methodologies such as Lean, Waterfall, and Agile in a disciplined development cycle.
40 credits
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Diploma Year (optional)
Students have the opportunity to spend a year after the second of their degree (or the third year if studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year) enhancing their employability options through a Level 5 Diploma. They can choose from courses designed to provide:
- opportunities to gain industry insight, developing employability skills through a series of supported experiences, expanding professional networks and building confidence in the workplace, or
- an introduction to creative computing, building an understanding of how coding skills can be used to advance and complement creative practice.
Final year
This is the first and shorter of the two units that make up your final year of study. This unit offers you the opportunity to take a deeper dive under the surface of game engines, exploring the inner workings of industry-standard tools and furthering your proficiency in how to develop games. You’ll develop an individual research project that addresses a question related to your interests and practice. Group and individual tutorials will provide stimulating and supportive sessions to help you advance your research ideas and those of others. Focusing on employability, you’ll explore career options, including researching the skills required to set up your own business, establish yourself as a freelancer, or use as an employee in a business or organisation.
40 credits
This unit will allow you to consolidate your learning from your degree programme into a final project, bringing together ideas and techniques from throughout your study. You will be supported to research, evaluate information, and develop innovative solutions to address a self-negotiated brief. You’ll use the technological knowledge you’ve gained to build significant portfolio pieces, demonstrating your ability to create professional-quality work. You’ll have the opportunity to display your final year project as part of our degree show, Grad Fest, which allows you to showcase your work to our network of industry professionals and prospective employers.
80 credits
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Careers Information
Games at Norwich has received international recognition celebrating our innovative teaching methods and approaches. Our students have also seen success in their careers and pursuits while studying and beyond. Graduate employers include Rebellion North, Creative Assembly and Free Radical Design.
Typical career paths include
- Game Programmer
- AI Programmer
- Games Developer
- Software Developer
- Audio Programmer
- Technical Artist
- Tools Development
- Systems Development
- Pipeline Development
- Engineer
- Producer
You’ll also get specialist creative careers advice from our Business and Employability Team to help support you as you plan your career.
Oli Paul – Dog Walking Simulator
Tabbed Section
Typical UK offers
A / AS Levels – GCE
GCE A/AS Levels 3 A-level qualifications at grades BCC (104 UCAS Tariff points) or above. Where candidates are not taking 3 A-levels, Norwich University of the Arts will consider combinations of A-level/AS-level and other Level 3 qualifications.
BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction, Merit, Merit in an art, design or media related subject
BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction*, Distinction* in an art, design or media related subject
T Levels
A T Level in any subject with overall grade Merit or above
UAL Extended Diploma
Merit
UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
UAL Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design)
Pass
International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 26 points
Norwich University of the Arts welcomes applicants of all ages from all backgrounds. Your application will be primarily assessed through your portfolio (if required), responses to questions asked and personal statement, so even if you have no formal qualifications or do not meet our typical offers it can still be worth applying.
If you are studying at the time of your application and your application is successful it is likely that you will receive a conditional offer.
If the qualification that you are studying is not shown, do not worry as we are able to accept other pre-entry qualifications as well as combinations of different qualifications. Please do contact our Student Recruitment Team if you have any queries.
International applications
We accept qualifications from all over the world. To find our entry requirements from a specific country, please check our dedicated international pages.
Most international students are required to hold an English language qualification. Applicants are required to have a minimum UKVI approved IELTS exam score of 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each section. Equivalent English language qualifications are acceptable such as, IB English language syllabus A or B/English Literature (Grade 4).
We also accept some alternative English qualifications. Learn more about our English entry requirements.
You can email us on international@norwichuni.ac.uk if you’d like to discuss your application individually.
2024/25 University fees for new entrants
Norwich University of the Arts will assess students’ tuition fee status using the guidance provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs
Students from the UK or Ireland and EU students with ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status will be charged ‘Home’ fees if they meet the relevant residency requirements. They will usually be eligible for a tuition fee loan from the UK government, meaning that they won’t have to pay Norwich University of the Arts’ tuition fees upfront.
Students who do not meet the necessary residency requirements will usually be charged ‘Overseas’ fees and will not be eligible for the UK government tuition fee loan. Since 2021/22, this includes new entrants from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland who do not have ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status, because the UK has now formally left the EU.
| Fee status | Course | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Undergraduate degree (full-time three and four year degree) | £9,250 |
| Overseas | Undergraduate degree (full-time three and four year degree) | £18,000 |
Inflation in subsequent years
The rules for inflation on fees in subsequent years depend on the type of fee status and level.
- For Home undergraduate students starting in 2024, inflation may be applied to your fees in later years, if the UK government were to increase the fee cap beyond the current limit of £9,250 per year. If such an increase were to apply, we would confirm this in advance to you of each academic year, and we would limit the increase to the maximum allowed by the Office for Students.
- For Overseas undergraduate students starting in 2024, inflation will be applied to your fees in later years. We will confirm this in advance to you of each academic year, and we will limit the increase to no more than the Office for Students’ recommended inflationary measure, which is RPI-X. RPI-X is calculated by the Office for Budget Responsibility. In setting fees for the following year, we will use the Office for Budget Responsibility’s RPI-X forecast for quarter 3 of the relevant year.
For Home and overseas postgraduate degree students starting in 2024, fees will remain the same for each year of your course.
Financial support for UK students in 2024
Tuition fee loans and loans for living costs are usually available to UK and some EU students, as well as non-repayable Norwich University of the Arts bursaries based on family income. Find out more about applying for funding.
International students
We offer a range of scholarships for international students to support your studies with us.
- Group briefings
- Academic tutorials
- Group tutorials
- Lectures
- Workshops
- Critiques (crits)
- Seminars
- Finished pieces of work
- Presentations
- Written work
- Your research
- A reflective journal
Work-based Learning Opportunities
Between Years 2 and 3 of this course, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake one of the following additional qualifications:
Creative Professional Development (1 year, Level 5 Diploma)
Our Creative Professional Development Diploma gives you the chance to spend a year exploring your post-uni job options through a structured programme of input sessions and work-based learning. This year offers two much-sought-after industry placements – the first lasting six weeks, the second 12 weeks, and a group project or ‘hackathon’ exploring freelancing and business start-up.
Creative Computing (1 year, Level 5 Diploma)
Our Creative Computing Diploma introduces you to coding and computational skills that will advance and complement your creative practice. No prior experience of coding is needed, just a curiosity about creative computing and a desire to push your own practice into new realms. You’ll also develop a wider knowledge of the creative tech industries, available roles and opportunities.
Integrated Foundation Year – BSc (Hons) Games Development
An Integrated Foundation Year offers students a chance to build on their experience within their undergraduate course of choice.
An Integrated Foundation Year will help to build confidence and develop subject specific practical, creative and conceptual skills – making full use of University studios and workshops.
Typical UK offers and entry requirements for Integrated Foundation Year entry
GCE A/AS Levels
2 A-level qualifications at grades CC or higher.
BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Merit, Merit, Pass in an art, design or media related subject
BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction, Merit in an art, design or media related subject
T Levels
Pass (D or E on the core)
UAL Extended Diploma
An overall Pass
UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
An overall Pass
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design)
Pass
International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 24 points
Norwich University of the Arts welcomes applicants of all ages from all backgrounds. Your application will be primarily assessed through your portfolio, responses to questions asked and personal statement, so even if you have no formal qualifications or do not meet our typical offers it can still be worth applying.
If you are studying at the time of your application and your application is successful it is likely that you will receive a conditional offer.
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