About Computer Games Design, BA (Hons) - at University of Portsmouth

Overview

The games and tech industries continue to dominate the globe, and they're always seeking game designers and developers. Become their next rising star on our BA (Hons) Computer Games Design degree course.

With help from our teaching team of games industry experts, you'll dive into the theory of game design and development. You can specialise as a programmer or artist, designing, developing, and testing games for different audiences using our advanced game development facilities. For an extra boost to your professional experience, you can complete an optional work placement.

Discover what it takes to become an industry-ready games designer at Portsmouth, two-time winner of the TIGA Best Educational Institution Award (2021, 2014).

Course highlights

• Explore how games are constructed by learning a variety of theories—including systems, gameplay, psychology, user experience, and narrative
• Work with next-gen technologies in our impressive facilities, including the UK's first ever Centre for Creative Immersive and Extended Reality (CCIXR)
• Enhance your teamworking skills by collaborating with other Games students on game projects – including our annual University GameJam
• Learn from an expert teaching team with strong links to local, national and international games companies—including Rare, Codemasters, Jagex, Creative Assembly, Rebellion, and Climax
• Gain valuable professional experience by completing an optional work placement—with a company or self-employed
• Broaden your cultural experience by studying abroad in Europe
• Impress your future employers by showcasing your work at our annual Graduate Showcase

Accreditation

This course is accredited by TIGA (The Independent Game Developers' Association) as delivering skills relevant to the games industry. TIGA accreditation is applicable to courses meeting any of a range of games industry needs, such as programming, art, design and entrepreneurship.

In 2024, several University of Portsmouth graduates won at the TIGA UK Games Education Awards, including  ‘Outstanding TIGA Graduate of the Year: Programmer’.

The University was also rated Gold Tier for social opportunities for gamers by Uswitch broadband experts, who assessed factors including the number of Esports players from National Students Esports (NSE), and followers on Discord and Twitch. 

Careers and opportunities

With an estimated global value of $184.4 billion (£147.4 billion) as of 2022 (Newzoo, 2023) the computer games industry is a force to be reckoned with. In the UK, it contributed £2.9 billion to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020/21, and the number of workers in the field grew to 20,975 (TIGA, 2022).

As the game industry and its workforce continue to expand – especially across sectors adopting its technologies and systems – multi-skilled and specialist graduates are more in demand than ever before.

Areas you can work in with a Computer Games Design degree

Game design positions in industry tend to be segmented into various responsibilities, including:

• gameplay
• narrative
• level
• concept design

Your theoretical, programming, and art skills from completing this course will allow you to pursue a career in any of those fields – with a graduate level design role as a starting point.

Jobs you can do with a Computer Games Design degree

You can work in various design roles, such as:

• Level Designer
• Narrative Designer
• Gameplay Designer
• Games testing (Quality Assurance)
• Game Audio

As you further your career, you can advance to senior management positions like Creative Director.

Continuing your studies

If you wish to continue your education, our course provides a natural path to a Master's degree. You can study Game Design at an MSc or MA level, or you can study MA Art or MSc Computing courses based on your specialisation.

Placement year (optional)

After your second or third year, you can complete an optional work placement to gain professional experience and enhance your skills. It's also a great incentive for employers once you graduate.

You can work for a company, organisation or agency, or you can go self-employed and start your own business with fellow students or by yourself.

Whatever you decide – or even if you just want some employability advice – our Careers and Employability team can support you every step of the way.

Supporting your creative career

Our dedicated Careers and Employability team have extensive recruitment experience across a multitude of areas including the creative sector.

They can provide you with supporting and advice, including:

• Searching for the ideal job through their database of vacancies
• Giving tips on how to write an interesting CV that will catch employers' attention, no matter the role
• Organising mock interviews, so you can hone your technique and familiarise yourself with the recruitment environment
• Writing your startup business proposal – if you're going down the self-employment route
• Researching placement opportunities and applying for creative opportunities 

The team will continue to support you throughout your placement year and beyond, providing you with help for up to 5 years after your graduate.

Placement roles

You can work in various junior positions in designing, programming and artistry, such as:

• Game Designer
• Level Designer
• Narrative Designer
• Gameplay Designer/Programmer
• Game Artist

Placement destinations

You can intern at games studios and technology companies like:

• Rare
• Sumo Digital
• Sega
• Criterion Games
• IBM
• Amazon
• Babcock

Alternatively, you can work as an independent or freelance game designer and developer.

Ongoing careers support

Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.

Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Careers and Employability Service to help you find your perfect role.

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Entry requirements for this course

Contact University of Portsmouth to find course entry requirements.

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