Have you ever played a video game and wished that the gameplay was less frustrating or the level design more challenging? This course will take your technical skills to the next level as you design game scenarios and work out the gameplay and playability, programming and designing levels with the respective degrees of difficulty and fun. Working with games art and visual effects art students to add visual appeal, you’ll programme Blueprint games. Working alone, in teams or in industry focused workshops, you’ll develop the digital toolset, technical invention and contextual knowledge to create stimulating and fun games. You’ll graduate with an industry-ready reel demonstrating your invention and technical prowess.

Gain hands-on industry experience

You’ll have the opportunity to complete a work experience placement of up to a year in length. Dependent on the duration of your placement, you could gain an additional Diploma or Certificate in Professional Practice.

Develop your professional skills

through self-initiated work experience placements, industry competitions, collaborations with organisations and guest lectures.

Personalise your studies

You’ll be able to personalise your studies by choosing from a range of up to eight optional modules. Your course also includes our School-wide, sector-leading CoLab module.

Equip yourself with the necessary skills in game production, programming, and design with this degree program, and prepare yourself for a successful career in the ever-changing gaming industry.

The course will focus on students designing game scenarios, working out the gameplay and playability and designing the levels with the respective degrees of difficulty, working with Games Art, Visual Effects Art, and Animation students.

Course accreditations

In the UK for Animation and Games Design in Guardian University Guide 2025

Module information

A standard full-time BSc (Hons) course is made up of 120 credits studied each year. Some courses may vary, however, and you can find information on the total number of credits achieved per module below.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the

Year OneYear TwoOptional placement yearFinal Year

Core ModulesExpand all +

Games Studies

Explore the captivating and fascinating history of game playing and associated game theory, and delve into the present-day impact of electronic gaming on commercial, ethical, and societal factors. Research and interrogate the wider social, ethical and global context of games production and consumption.

20 credits

Introducing Gameplay

40 credits

Introducing 3D Digital Art

Gain the skills and knowledge needed to create digital models and designs. You will learn about polygonal modelling, surfacing, and lighting techniques. In addition, workshops on life drawing will strengthen your understanding of the human form, combined with research into traditional visual art forms like painting.

Programming Gameplay

You will study one 20-credit Optional Module. There are a range of optional 20-credit modules - these options add personalisation to your course and cover content related to your course subject area. The Optional modules may change year on year and we purposely update these regularly to allow for industry input and innovations in the subject.

System and Level Design

Building on the design knowledge you developed in Year One, you will further apply your knowledge and understanding of the fundamental theories and concepts required for system and level design. Throughout the module, you'll have the opportunity to specialise in either system or level design through different project briefs.

Games Design Studio

The aim of this module is to bring together like-minded game development students from Games Art and Games Design. Together, you'll work on projects to bring game ideas to life. Each project will be unique and challenge your collaborative skills and technical abilities, including one set by an industry partner.

Co Lab: Research, Exploration and Risk-taking

Through active participation with team-based problem solving, you will work together in mixed teams on a project where you will use your creative ideas to generate solutions to the challenge or brief. Your project will allow you to explore how creativity can make an impact in society, as you choose a theme of sustainability, social justice, enterprise and innovation or community. This collaborative learning experience will expose you to a range of new processes and approaches that will develop your creative thinking.

Optional ModulesExpand all +

Storyboarding: Visualising the Story, Enhancing the Narrative

Explore the creative potential of storyboarding in this optional module. Learn how to plan visual narratives for film, TV, and media using filmic language, script breakdown, and pre-production techniques. Taught in mixed-course groups, the module supports collaboration and personalisation. You'll develop storyboards from concept to final visuals, gaining practical skills and industry insight.

Performance for Motion Capture

On this module you will learn key performance techniques associated with acting, dance and puppetry, incorporating Laban theory of movement and applying motion capture to a digital avatar for a range disciplines.

3D Materials and Exploration

Develop your 3D design skills through CAD software and fabrication techniques such as 3D printing. You'll explore materials like resin, plastic, metal, and ceramics while designing and prototyping 3D products. Taught in mixed-course groups, this module encourages collaboration and supports personalised learning.

Sound Art & Design

In Sound Art & Design we explore sound as an artistic medium with various applications in the creative industries. Drawing from a wide range of sound practitioners and critical analyses, this module offers a platform for sound research and experimentation, allowing you to create innovative, research-informed listening experiences. Through a set of practical tasks, you will develop a personal portfolio of sound artefacts and research, enhancing your creative practice.

Tabletop Game Development

This optional module introduces the principles of tabletop game design, including board and card games. You'll analyse existing games, develop and test your own concept, and produce a working prototype with final artwork. It offers the chance to personalise your learning and collaborate with students from other courses, while building creative, communication and problem-solving skills.

Interactive Narrative

‘Interactive narrative’ is a form of digital storytelling that blends visuals, text, and user choices, where decisions impact the story’s direction and outcome. You will complete the entire interactive narrative workflow, from pre-visualisation and production to distribution. Your project could be an interactive game, storyboard or book, fashion story, dialogue-based training simulation, or more.

You will analyse existing interactive narratives through play, identifying what makes them meaningful and engaging through group activities and discussion. This will inform your own written and visual concepts, which you will pitch during a formative assessment, developing your project management, time management, and communication skills.

Exploring Creative Coding

Explore the expressive potential of Creative Coding in this optional module, where you'll learn to write code using Processing to create interactive and data-driven visual work. Designed to complement your course, it offers the opportunity to personalise your learning and work alongside students from other disciplines, building new skills in an increasingly relevant area for artists and designers.

Placement year routesExpand all +

Optional Placement Year (Sandwich)*

We have an option for all of our students to undertake a placement year and allow you to decide whether this is right for you once you have completed years 1 and 2 of your course. This time spent working in industry provides our students with crucial work experience, which is highly prized and much sought after by employers upon graduation. If you are successful in securing a placement you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration.

The additional placement year incurs a fee. For international students considering the transfer to the 4-yr SW route it's important to seek advice from the International Student Support team and the Home Office regarding any potential visa implications and costs. For UK students, advice should also be sought regarding SLC eligibility, if applicable.

* If you choose to take the sandwich route option, you will need to apply for this course by using the full-time UCAS code.

0 credits

Study Abroad

If you're studying on our sandwich route you can also opt to study abroad for a full academic year, or for a semester, during Year Three. This is an optional and additional period of study that complements your degree at NTU as an alternative to taking a work placement.

This is an exciting opportunity to experience a different national culture, teaching and learning styles and subjects in an international environment. The destination university must be a year abroad / exchange partner of NTU or member of a formally recognised scheme such as the International Student Exchange Programme (ISEP).

Our NTU Global and student mobility team will support you in finding the right opportunity from one of the many international partners available around the world.

Successful completion of a period of international study will earn you a standalone award an International Study Certificate (minimum six weeks) or the International Study Diploma (minimum 36 weeks).

Games Entrepreneurship

Assess your previous learning and specialised direction to focus your final year effort towards building your graduate profile. Throughout the module, you will identify and evidence the required professional knowledge and skills aligning with your future goals in your final showcase and reflect upon the progression of your creative and technical processes and outcomes.

Screen Arts Collaboration

Building on the collaborative skills you have developed in Year Two, you'll have the opportunity to work with other screen arts students to fully develop a group project with a negotiated outcome or with an industry partner. You'll explore audio and visual storytelling as a group, working as a multi-disciplinary team to effectively respond to a brief.

Games Design Project

Define yourself as a games designer through personal projects. Develop your projects and reflect upon their degree of success either as individual self-directed project/s or as a primary creative on other students' projects. You'll be challenged to display your mastery of industry-standard digital tools to create stunning visual aesthetics and your ability to critically evaluate technological research to shape your game design and decision-making.

60 credits

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

How you're taught

Studio practice is a key element of this course, and you’ll spend a lot of time in a creative studio environment. Teaching and learning experiences will include:

studio activities

peer groups

lectures

workshops

seminars

group tutorials

one-to-one surgeries

portfolio reviews

self-initiated work experience.

Collaboration across courses

This course offers our new innovative collaboration module. This gives you the opportunity to work collaboratively with your contemporaries from a range of different art and design subjects and beyond. You’ll be working alongside artists, designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, and filmmakers on daring and creative projects that prepare you for a rewarding career in your chosen industry. Your project will allow you to explore how creativity can make an impact in society, as you choose a theme of sustainability, social justice, enterprise and innovation or community.

Exchange opportunities

If you’re thinking about studying part of your degree abroad, the course has exchange agreements with a number of institutions around the world.

Exchanges take place in Year Two of the course. You’ll receive guidance from the University about where you can study, and help in completing your application and arranging your exchange.

Showcase

You will be given the opportunity to exhibit your work during your time at NTU to members of the creative industries. Visit our ‘We Are Creatives’ showcase to take a look at the work of graduating students from across our courses.

Artificial Intelligence and Innovation in Games Design & Games Technology

The course builds students’ understanding of the growing role of AI across the UK and global games industries, especially how it is reshaping design, production and optimisation workflows. Many development tools already automate time‑consuming tasks, freeing students to focus on higher‑value creative work such as concept development, asset creation, systems design and prototyping.

Students are encouraged to explore emerging technologies and critically assess the ethical implications of generative AI for labour, authorship and future careers. They are also expected to discuss any AI‑enabled tools they use with academic staff, ensuring clarity on how these technologies inform their ideas, production methods and problem‑solving.

Find out more about AI, Creativity and Innovation at the Nottingham School of Art & Design

Contact hours

For each 20-credit module, you’ll spend about 200 hours learning overall. Around 40 of those hours will be taught in lectures or seminars. The rest of the time is for independent study, reading, research, or working on assignments.

Who will teach you?

Shiloh Ragins

Senior Lecturer

Shiloh Ragins is a Lecturer in 3D Digital Art with over five years’ experience in games art production and more than four years teaching in higher education.

Visit Shiloh Ragins's staff profile

Amelia Roberts

Amelia is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Games Art programme at Nottingham Trent University.

Visit Amelia Roberts's staff profile

Andrew Jones

Andrew is Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for BSc Games Design in the Nottingham School of Art & Design at NTU.

Visit Andrew Jones's staff profile

Kim Western

Kim Western is a Senior Lecturer in Design and Digital Arts, part of Nottingham School of Art & Design.

Visit Kim Western's staff profile

Caitlin Harper

Lecturer

Caitlin Harper is a Lecturer in the Department of Design and Digital Arts in the Nottingham School of Art & Design.

Visit Caitlin Harper's staff profile

Yven Powell

Yven Powell is a Lecturer specialising in Games Technology

Visit Yven Powell's staff profile

Joe Dickens

Hourly Paid Lecturer (Design and Digital Arts)

Joe Dickens is a Lecturer in Game Design who supports students in developing strong presentation and communication skills. With hands-on industry experience and a deep knowledge of game mechanics, he encourages creative thinking while helping students build confidence in sharing their ideas.

Visit Joe Dickens's staff profile

David Downes

David teaches scripting for animators, procedural animation, and motion capture, supporting students across animation and related courses. He also supervises postgraduate research in his areas of expertise.

Visit David Downes's staff profile

Entry requirements

UK students

Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications

Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications

To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.

Additional requirements

Additional requirements for UK students

There are no additional requirements for this course.

Contextual offers

We consider every application in the context of your individual circumstances and educational background. This may include information about where you live, the school or college you attended, or experiences that may have shaped your educational journey. This is known as a contextual offer, and we use information provided through UCAS to help inform our decisions. By considering achievement in context, we can better recognise academic potential and ensure applicants are assessed as fairly and fully as possible.

Meeting our entry requirements

Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.

Other qualifications and experience

NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.

We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.

Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.

International students

Academic entry requirements: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.

English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Additional international requirements

Additional requirements for international students

If you need help achieving the academic entry requirements, we offer a Foundation preparation course for this degree. The course is offered through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC) based on our City campus.

English language requirements

View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.

If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.

If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.

You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.

Sign up for emails

Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.

If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students - see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

£10,050 per year

Year abroad - £1,507

Placement year - £2,010

If you choose to do a placement year or year abroad, you'll pay a reduced fee for that year. Please be aware that you will be charged the fee set for the year this takes place, rather than being fixed at the rate applicable when you start your course, and any increases are subject to Government approval. As a guide, the fees above are for the 2027/28 academic year.

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including NTU bursaries and scholarships.

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees, including the placement year and study abroad options are subject to government policy and may change in future years of study.

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but we don’t want you to feel anxious or confused about it. Visit our fees and funding pages if you have any concerns.

International students - see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

£19,150 per year

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees might increase from the second year of your undergraduate course, in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.

Scholarships

We offer international scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for a scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money and the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment as part of your offer conditions. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, in order to enrol on the course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about your advance payment, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.

Material Costs - Games Design

Depending on the materials you choose to work with, you should budget around £100 per year (minimum) for production costs associated to your course, including things like your final year project.

Graduate Festival

In your final year, the Nottingham School of Art & Design will provide infrastructure costs for the Graduate Festival Showcase.

Year abroad

If you choose to study abroad for a year, you may need to consider additional costs such as visas, vaccinations, accommodation and travel expenses.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

Cost of living in Nottingham

Our student benefits and free services

Money advice for international students

Careers and employability

Graduates from this course will be able to go into a range of roles. Examples include:

Gameplay designer

Games writer

Level Designer

AR/VR designer

Technical artist

Technical animator

UX/UI designer

AI programmer

Gameplay programmer

Generalist programmer

Network programmer

Digital tools engineer

Connecting with industry and work placement opportunities

Industry professionals will visit the course to guest lecture and share their experiences. Live projects and competitions will help you to gain real experience of the industry, make contacts, and build your portfolio and CV.

You’ll be encouraged to undertake short periods of work experience alongside your studies. You will normally complete these placements during holiday periods, but you will have the option of taking up to two weeks out of term time, which you can negotiate with your tutor.

In addition, you’ll also have the opportunity to complete a longer work experience or placement, with the chance to gain an additional Diploma or Certificate in Professional Practice, dependent on duration. Course tutors and our Employability team are on hand to support you in applying for placement and professional practice opportunities.

Creative Industries Federation

We are members of the Creative Industries Federation (CIF), which means students in the Nottingham School of Art & Design have the opportunity to sign up to free student membership. Creative Industries Federation are an organisation that represents, champions and supports the UK’s creative industries and membership grants students exclusive access to their selection of resources and events to help advance your career and connect with industry.

Employability Promise

Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).

Assessed work-like experience

We’ve embedded at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience into all of our courses. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in real-world scenarios, build your confidence, and develop the experience employers are looking for.

NTU Enterprise

If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Campus and facilities

You’ll be based in our new Design & Digital Arts Building. Our new Design & Digital Arts Building will place Nottingham as a UK hub for film, television, animation, UX design, games design, graphic design and more.

You'll have access to industry-standard facilities which include a virtual production studio, an in-camera Visual Effects studio and a black box studio, as well as collaborative studio spaces, future technology suites and exhibition spaces.

Studio 4 360

Visit the Design and Digital Arts building Foyer in 360°

Media, Communications, Film and Television Facilities

For more information visit the Media, Communications, Film and Television Facilities page.

Boots Library

For more information visit the Boots Library page.

Design & Digital Arts Building

For more information visit the Design & Digital Arts Building page.

Take a virtual tour

Applying

Please be aware that all enrolments onto the Course will initially be for the full time 3-year route. There is however an opportunity for you to internally transfer to the 4-year SW route if you secure a placement. The placement would need to be confirmed and transfer agreed during your 2nd year to enable you to commence the placement in year 3. It is important that you seek advice regarding any funding and financial implications before making any changes to your course structure.

Apply through UCAS

Writing your personal statement

Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:

Advice on writing a good personal statement

Please be aware that you will need to apply for the three-year full-time course. There is however an opportunity for you to internally transfer to the 4-year SW route if you secure a placement. The placement would need to be confirmed and transfer agreed during your 2nd year to enable you to commence the placement in year 3. It is critical to consult with the NTU International Student Support Team and the Home Office for updated visa regulations and requirements before making any changes to your course structure.

The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.

Please read our application guidance before you start your application.

We advise you to prepare and apply as early as you can as Student visa processing time can vary.

We'll send you important emails throughout the application process. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam mail folder.

Apply through NTU portal

Personal statement guidance

You’ll submit a personal statement with your UCAS application – here are our tips on what to include and how to structure your personal statement.

Application support

If you have any questions about applying, get in touch through our online form or call us on 44 (0)115 848 4200.

Related courses

Animation BA (Hons)

BA (Hons)

Filmmaking

Visual Effects Art BA (Hons)

Games Art BA (Hons)

Design for Theatre and Live Performance

Design for Film and Television

Film Technology

BSc (Hons)

More from this subject

View more courses on the Games, Animation and VFX subject page

Further study

View Games, Animation and VFX postgraduate courses

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