Games Design

SAE Institute
Undergraduate BA/BSc (H) Full-time 2 Years Computer games and animation

A-Level Entry

A* - D

UCAS Points

72 points

About this course

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.

Entry Requirements

A-Level Grades A* - D
UCAS Tariff Points 72 points
Scottish Higher A - C
BTEC D*D*D* - MMP

Study Options

This course is available in 5 study options:

Full-time Shown above

Duration: 2 Years

Qualification: BA/BSc (H)

Location: Hackney

Full-time Shown above

Duration: 2 Years

Qualification: BA/BSc (H)

Location: Liverpool

Full-time Shown above

Duration: 2 Years

Qualification: BA/BSc (H)

Location: Glasgow

Full-time Shown above

Duration: 2 Years

Qualification: BA/BSc (H)

Location: Royal Leamington Spa

Full-time Shown above

Duration: 2 Years

Qualification: BA/BSc (H)

Location: Leeds

Career Prospects

Graduates from this course typically go into the following occupations:

2139 Information technology professionals
2134 Programmers and software development professionals
2141 Web design professionals
3131 IT operations technicians
3132 IT user support technicians
2136 IT quality and testing professionals

Course Details

Qualification
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) or Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BA/BSc (H)
Study Mode
Full-time
Duration
2 Years
Start Date
2025
Academic Year
2025
Campus / Location
Hackney
Scheme
Undergraduate
Subjects
Computer games and animation