Game Design with Foundation Year

The Foundation year prepares students for university level study. Successful completion of our Foundation course permits access to any of our Art or Digital Media BA (Hons) or BDes (Hons) degree courses, which include Computer Games Design, Animation and Film and Television Production. The Foundation year begins with modules aimed at providing transferable study skills and then, in the second semester, gives students the opportunity to study more specialist modules, with a focus on various aspects of Art and Digital Media.

If like us, you are excited by games and are fascinated by how they are made; and if you want to develop your skills and turn your ideas into games, you will enjoy our course. We will introduce you to all the main processes involved in the design and making of computer games. What makes our course special is that it covers both the artist side as well as the technical side of computer games. You will be involved from the initial idea generation to making the final game while working individually or as part of a team

The focus of the course is on creativity, innovation, ideas generation, drawing and design as well as critical thinking, problem solving and passion for games. Yes, you will use a variety of specialist and industry-standard software packages; yes, you will do some coding; yes, you will learn about the gaming hardware; but all because you want to bring your creative game ideas to life. In this course, there is a fine balance between theory and practice on the one hand and design and making on the other.

You will study theories of game design, research and ideas generation, concept design, level design & development, character design, 3D modelling & texturing, environmental design, audio design for games, animation and interaction design through visual and nonvisual coding. You will have the opportunity to experiment with Virtual Reality and motion capture technology as part of your projects. Throughout your study, we will encourage you to develop the ability to be reflective and critical about the game industry and about your own work. We will prepare and support you for getting a job in the industry and self-employment.

You will be guided and supported by a friendly and highly experienced professional educators. We have a track record of high student satisfaction rate about their teaching and learning experience on our course. We will treat you with care and respect while giving you the individualised attention and support that you need. We always see you as a student not a ‘customer’.

The industry needs more female game designers. We are therefore actively encouraging and supporting applications from female candidates with suitable art and design and other creative backgrounds.