Games Design (Top-Up) BA (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  What you’ll learn on Games Design Top Up Degree

  We will give you creative skills, technical software skills and industry knowledge, which are all required by leading games developers. You will produce a personal portfolio of your work to reflect industry and professional practice needs, informed by historical and contemporary references, cultural and social contexts.

  The life cycle of Game production

  You will focus on the game design sides of the Games Art industry, but you will be exposed to the whole life cycle of game production from the initial ideas process to final release stage. You will work with programmers from the Games Programming BA (Hons) and artists from the Games Art BA (Hons) so that you understand games development for specific markets in 2D and 3D formats.

  Methods of Learning

  We aim to make learning an engaging and enjoyable experience from our extensive online resources and face to face teaching on this Game Design University Top Up. We will enrich your experiences of Games Design principles, help you to further develop analytical skills, and encourage you to evaluate and recommend solutions required to create engaging gaming experiences.

  Games Design (Top-Up) – Teaching & Learning support

  Teaching and learning occurs through a variety of methods, with practical’s, workshops and learning how to use new techniques and software. Learners will have around 12 hours contact time per week, with the expectation of matching this with their own time. Sessions can be longer or shortened depending on the activity e.g. attending industry events.

  All of the module tutors use our virtual learning environment (NILE) to provide additional resources to facilitate your independent learning.

  Assessments

  Assessment methods include writing specific reports, blogs, articles, giving presentations, and submission of portfolios. All modules are assessed through 100% coursework.

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

  • Stage 1
    • Group Project 3 (Games) (20 Credits)
      Module code: CSY3031

      Status: Compulsory
      As the final module of the Group Project series this module aims to place significant emphasis on independent learning, development and responsibility, through the creation of a social game following industry practices.The production process and design of the groups games, are student-directed and supported through a module supervisor in conjunction with some, tutor lead lectures.The games should demonstrate the understanding of the complete development life cycle (design through to publication), where the final submission should be aimed at appearing in the public domain.This game ought to be seen by the students as a ?marque product? worthy of appearing in their professional portfolio, to assist with gaining employment.
    • Design Innovation (20 Credits)
      Module code: CSY3044

      Status: Compulsory
      The objective of the module is to encourage students to explore the potential of innovative or unconventional technology to construct genuinely new, interactive experiences.
    • Professional Practice in Games (20 Credits)
      Module code: CSY3051

      Status: Compulsory
      The main aim of the module is to ensure students are fully aware of the needs and expectations of the contemporary digital industry through an understanding of its social, economic and cultural climate. The module aims to enable students to pitch projects in terms of concept and business models; establishing and maintaining a personal website; identifying trends and market possibilities; encouraging participation in competitions; developing presentation and self-promotional skills; making job applications and preparing for interview.
    • Art Director Portfolio, Final Major Project (60 Credits)
      Module code: CSY4021

      Status: Compulsory
      The module integrates and draws together the various aspects of the programme gained during study at levels 4, 5 and 6.The main aim of the module is to ensure students are prepared for their first steps towards the industry, by allowing them opportunity to develop a body of highly polished work demonstrated and refined via regular critiques of work in progress.This module gives them opportunity to specialize on developing content for their portfolio. The work developed will be as close to industry standard and expectations, as feasible, and will be tailored towards the specific areas of the individuals interest such as; Concept Art, Environment Art, Animation, UI design etc.This module is to support through mentoring the individual students on their professional journey.

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• Student Perks

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your Game and Design course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page.

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