Push the boundaries of games making by studying a Game Design and Production degree in the city that spawned Grand Theft Auto. This course is top 5 in the UK for course satisfaction (Computer Science and Information Systems, The Guardian Guide 2022)
Programme Overview
Learn to harness your creativity and get set to push the boundaries of games making by studying in the UK’s first UNESCO City of Design. Get your degree from one of the most prestigious game design schools in the world.
Developed for creative and technically minded people with a desire to become a key part of the games industry, this degree is designed to make you work-ready, teaching you game concept and asset creation, game prototyping, and production and leadership skills.
Why study Game Design and Production at Abertay?
Study your Game Design and Production degree at one of the most prestigious game design schools in the world. Learn to push the boundaries of games making using your outstanding creative and technical skills.
Gain a complete understanding of what it means to work in the modern games business, taught by people who’ve worked there. You’ll create concepts and prototypes, design levels, audio and systems to craft powerful and emotive experiences. You’ll be supported by staff with real-world technical, theoretical and practical experience. Building confidence and experience in inclusive multi-discipline teams, you’ll collaborate with professional game studio clients.
You'll learn to communicate through prototypes, asset creation, documentation and presentations, covering topics such as:
- Game concept development.
- Level design.
- Testing and user experience.
- Communication and leadership skills.
As a student on this programme, you will:
- Work alongside artists, programmers and audio specialists in small development teams to design and develop computer games
- Study the historical context and fundamentals of game design, interaction and narrative theory
- Develop professional skills in level design, concept development, project management and entrepreneurship
- Learn how interactive entertainment products are designed, developed and marketed
You’ll be encouraged to work creatively and professionally as a game designer, communicating concepts through prototypes, game assets, documentation and presentations, in addition to honing your communication and management skills through multidisciplinary projects.
How the Course Works
Learning and Assessment
A large part of the course revolves around making games and building a portfolio that demonstrates your skills and specific area of creative practice.
You’ll spend around 15 hours per week in lectures, tutorials and practical activities, with the remainder of your time spent in self-directed learning.
Lectures, tutorials and practical activities increase your understanding of game design and production, and allow you to develop competencies in technological, theoretical and collaborative work.
During first and second year, your work will mostly be assessed through practical coursework, presentations and reflective essays.
In later years, taught module assessment is by a mixture of critical essays and coursework. Project modules are assessed through the submission of conceptual work, design solutions, interactive media products and project reports.
The final year dissertation and project allows you to focus on a specific topic within design and production, and develop a specialist area of expertise.
Accreditation
Partnerships
Play a key part in the games industry
You’ll focus on your specialisms in individual projects and lead teams with your new skills in production, quality assurance and user experience (UX). This means you will:
Work with artists and programmers in small teams to design and develop prototypes and games.
Study the historical context and fundamentals of game design, interaction and narrative theory.
Develop professional skills in areas like concept development and user experience (UX).
Learn how games are designed, developed and marketed.
Intern and mentorship opportunities
We offer internship/placement opportunities which you can apply for in third year. Successful candidates work with games studios, getting professional hands-on experience. Alternatively, you’ll work directly with industry mentors, developing a prototype project as part of an interdisciplinary team.
These hands-on experiences enrich your learning and enhance your CV by showcasing your ability to tackle real-world projects.
Work creatively as a game designer or producer
Job prospects in this area have never been better for game design graduates. You’ll graduate with a portfolio of work, and broad contemporary skills that perfectly match the expectations of this fast-changing industry’s biggest studios.
Abertay is the top European School for video games design (Princeton Review 2024).
My name is Kavisha Prince Anthony, and I always had a dream of studying abroad. Thankfully, that dream came to life since I applied to the Study Advisor. I was able to receive my visa within four days. I also had some visa refusals in the past; I had about six UK visa refusals in the past, but thankfully, it was not an issue since the Study Advisor was able to make things work this time. I highly recommend Study Advisor for your dreams of going abroad, whether it be the UK or any other European country there is.