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Games design offers a route into a form of entertainment that’s not only one of the world’s most popular but is also constantly evolving, innovating and redefining its own boundaries. In short, the games industry is an exciting place to be and our BSc (Hons) Games Design course could be your first step towards becoming an industry-ready game designer.
Throughout the course, you’ll find an activity-led approach focused on the practical processes of making games. So, with our support you’ll build up a strong portfolio of games and game-like artefacts. As you progress, you’ll have the chance to pursue the specialist areas of the discipline that interest you most, and with cutting-edge assessments like our ‘Game a Week’, you’ll also build u...
3 years full-time
4 years full-time with placement
4 years full-time with Foundation
This course is designed to equip you with the core skills vital for a range of different roles in the industry. While that means you’ll gain experience in areas like game asset creation and level design, together with essential skills in game programming and scripting, you’ll also look at the business side of gaming. As such, you’ll learn how to make your mark in the industry, including the essentials of how to start up and run your own ‘Indie’ game development studio.
Teaching Excellence Framework 2023-2027
National Student Survey 2024 (NSS)
Year 1 is aimed at honing, research, technical skills and techniques. You will be encouraged to undertake a series of experimental projects and you’ll be introduced to the fundamentals of gameplay.
NOTE - This module is shared with BSc (Hons) Computer Animation & Visual Effects
This module builds your fundamental skills in 3D modelling techniques. It introduces techniques for adding materials, shaders, and lighting to a scene, and the fundamentals of animation and rendering.
NOTE - This module is shared with BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development
This module explores the craft of game making, recognising the importance of the tools and techniques for game development for digital games.
This module will encourage you to think ‘outside of the box’ with regards to game creation. The intention is to produce, over the course of the module, an experimental game – one which is exploratory in nature, and which pushes the boundaries of the theories and concepts of what is, and isn’t a game. You will also have the opportunity to collaborate with others in SODA during this module.
NOTE - This module is shared with BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development.
This module explores the art of game design, recognising the importance of the various theories and frameworks of fun in the creation and development of gameplay for both analogue and digital games.
This module provides the space where the four SODA research themes of Body, Machine, Society and Storytelling are introduced and explored. The module initiates transdisciplinary thinking and collaborating with others. It forms the beginning of developing your hybrid skills set.
Within each thematic of this module, you will choose a Co-Lab project that best suits your interests. The module will introduce you to research methodologies, creative thinking, technical languages and problem-solving techniques and ideas. It also constitutes the beginning of developing your employability skills.
The Body thematic will introduce and enable you to explore the changing role of our bodies within digital technologies and environments, researching the interaction between what we call a user and the machine through concepts of embodiment, the senses, movement and cognition. The module will establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation.
The Machine thematic will introduce and enable you to explore disruptive systems, researching what machine learning is and how it operates. The module will establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation. Machine encompasses a range of different approaches to thinking about creative automation.
The Society thematic will introduce and enable you to explore the relationship between digital culture and society, researching the ways in which technology is developed within and in response to our societies. The module will provide an opportunity to explore how technology can be used for social good.
The Storytelling thematic introduces you to new narrative dynamics, researching the new forms and/or functions of stories in the digital age. You will learn how innovation in storytelling is key to both the production of new digital creative forms and our understanding of them in culture and society. You will also recognise the powerful effects of storytelling in the way we understand ourselves and the world.
This module provides the space where the four SODA research themes of Body, Machine, Society and Storytelling are introduced and explored. The module initiates transdisciplinary thinking and collaborating with others. It forms the beginning of developing your hybrid skills set.
Within each thematic of this module, you will choose a Co-Lab project that best suits your interests. The module will introduce you to research methodologies, creative thinking, technical languages and problem-solving techniques and ideas. It also constitutes the beginning of developing your employability skills.
The Body thematic will introduce and enable you to explore the changing role of our bodies within digital technologies and environments, researching the interaction between what we call a user and the machine through concepts of embodiment, the senses, movement and cognition. The module will establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation.
The Machine thematic will introduce and enable you to explore disruptive systems, researching what machine learning is and how it operates. The module will establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation. Machine encompasses a range of different approaches to thinking about creative automation.
The Society thematic will introduce and enable you to explore the relationship between digital culture and society, researching the ways in which technology is developed within and in response to our societies. The module will provide an opportunity to explore how technology can be used for social good.
The Storytelling thematic introduces you to new narrative dynamics, researching the new forms and/or functions of stories in the digital age. You will learn how innovation in storytelling is key to both the production of new digital creative forms and our understanding of them in culture and society. You will also recognise the powerful effects of storytelling in the way we understand ourselves and the world.
Study
Assessment
SODA Placement Year
As part of your studies with SODA, you may have the chance to take a year working on placement within the industry. During your year, you may spend at least 36 weeks working within an organisation in the industry, developing workplace skills, practical understanding and genuine industry experience.
SODA Study Year Abroad
You can choose to spend an academic year studying with an approved partner university overseas, developing your core skills while demonstrating your initiative by engaging with a challenging curriculum at a foreign institution. This offers practice credits from the host university, after you’ve completed Level 5 of your SODA programme.
If you take the four-year placement route, Year 3 will be spent on placement.
In Year 2 you will develop new approaches to creating environments for games through prototyping. The emphasis is on gaining an in-depth understanding of the data generated through games. By working collaboratively, you will improve your production skills and further develop your knowledge of the business of games design.
This module focuses on the use of environment, architecture and gameplay mechanics as a vehicle for narrative and storytelling in games, and the mechanisms by which these mechanics can be introduced to players.
This module explores the relationship between games, their players, and the data that is generated by interactions with games. The wealth of data generated by interactions is often harvested by games companies and their marketing teams to help refine and improve game systems – for example, how can we use telemetry in games to analyse whether a level is of an appropriate difficulty? How do we know when we make a design change, whether it was (or was not) effective?
NOTE - This module is shared with BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development.
This module challenges students to respond to regular prompts to develop small prototype games. This rapid prototyping-style approach encourages students to work quickly, to think creatively, to work collaboratively (both practically, but also in giving and receiving feedback and taking part in playtesting), and to experiment with ideas – providing a safe space for failure as a natural part of the creative process.
This module focuses on the common practices of large and small games businesses. You will be challenged to explore the ethical dilemmas facing the games industry, and reflect on – and form – your personal stances on the pressing issues facing the games industry.
This module provides the space where the four SODA research themes of Body, Machine, Society and Storytelling are further explored. You will further develop and enhance your transdisciplinary thinking, collaboration with others and development of your hybrid skill set.
Within this module you will again choose a Co-Lab theme that best suits your interests. Through this you will expand your knowledge of critical research methodologies, conceptual thinking, technical languages, including problem solving and problem posing skills.
The Body thematic further investigates the role of our bodies within digital technologies and environments, researching the interaction between user and machine through concepts of embodiment, the senses, movement and cognition. The module will further establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation, making us reconsider what body means in a technological space.
The Machine thematic further investigates disruptive systems, researching and learning how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable innovative methods of production. Machine encompasses a range of different approaches to thinking about creative automation.
The Society thematic further investigates the relationship between digital culture and society, researching the ways in which technology is developed within and in response to our societies. Students will further explore how technology can be used for social good and to enhance and improve people’s lives.
The Storytelling thematic further investigates new narrative dynamics, researching the new forms and/or functions of stories in the digital age. You will learn how innovation in storytelling is key to both the production of new digital creative forms and our understanding of them in culture and society. You will further explore the powerful effects of storytelling on how we understand the world and ourselves.
This module provides the space where the four SODA research themes of Body, Machine, Society and Storytelling are introduced and explored. The module initiates transdisciplinary thinking and collaborating with others. It forms the beginning of developing your hybrid skills set.
Within each thematic of this module, you will choose a Co-Lab project that best suits your interests. The module will introduce you to research methodologies, creative thinking, technical languages and problem-solving techniques and ideas. It also constitutes the beginning of developing your employability skills.
The Body thematic will introduce and enable you to explore the changing role of our bodies within digital technologies and environments, researching the interaction between what we call a user and the machine through concepts of embodiment, the senses, movement and cognition. The module will establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation.
The Machine thematic will introduce and enable you to explore disruptive systems, researching what machine learning is and how it operates. The module will establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation. Machine encompasses a range of different approaches to thinking about creative automation.
The Society thematic will introduce and enable you to explore the relationship between digital culture and society, researching the ways in which technology is developed within and in response to our societies. The module will provide an opportunity to explore how technology can be used for social good.
The Storytelling thematic introduces you to new narrative dynamics, researching the new forms and/or functions of stories in the digital age. You will learn how innovation in storytelling is key to both the production of new digital creative forms and our understanding of them in culture and society. You will also recognise the powerful effects of storytelling in the way we understand ourselves and the world.
Study
Assessment
SODA Placement Year
As part of your studies with SODA, you may have the chance to take a year working on placement within the industry. During your year, you may spend at least 36 weeks working within an organisation in the industry, developing workplace skills, practical understanding and genuine industry experience.
SODA Study Year Abroad
You can choose to spend an academic year studying with an approved partner university overseas, developing your core skills while demonstrating your initiative by engaging with a challenging curriculum at a foreign institution. This offers practice credits from the host university, after you’ve completed Level 5 of your SODA programme.
If you take the four-year placement route, Year 3 will be spent on placement.
In Year 3 you will focus on realising your creative potential by honing your knowledge and understanding of working in the games design industry. You will also produce two practical bodies of work in collaboration with students from related disciplines within SODA.
This course offers you the opportunity to apply for a placement year option which can be taken in Year 3. During the placement year, you will be supervised directly by the company you are employed by, and you will also be allocated an Academic/Placement Tutor. They will provide support and guidance, and assess your progress during the time you are away from the University.
Where a placement is not undertaken, you will study the following final year units. If you have completed a placement in Year 3, you will study the modules outlined in Year 3 in a fourth year.
NOTE - This module is shared with BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development and BSc (Hons) Computer Animation & Visual Effects.
Students will take part in a simulated studio environment, working collaboratively towards, and across, a range of projects. Students will need to engage with industry-standard tools and techniques for both production and project management and will need to liaise and partner with studio managers to deliver professional-standard projects.
This module examines the relationship between computer and human, and how we can use theoretically frameworks and usability practices to enhance the player experience of our games. By thinking of our players, and identifying appropriate testing techniques through the development process, we can introduce ‘player-first’ design strategies.
This module will enable you to consolidate your conceptual and theoretical knowledge, conceptual and technical skills acquire and developed during the programme into a final project. You will work collaboratively within the other within the SODA community a brief negotiated with academic staff.
NOTE - This module is shared with BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development.
This module offers students the opportunity to explore the world of indie game development – engaging with the process of setting up, and running, a business, and considering and reflecting on the advantages, and challenges, of working in very small game development teams.
The Creative Methodologies (Games Design) module offers students an opportunity to consolidate their experiences from across the degree programme in the form of an online portfolio. Students will be challenged to analyse and evaluate their own work, with a view to identifying their career readiness when considering a job in the games industry.
This module provides the space where the four SODA research themes are investigated, explored. and applied. You will apply your advanced skills of transdisciplinary thinking, collaboration with others and synthesis of your hybrid skill set. Within this module, you will critically select a Co-Lab theme that best suits your interests. Through this you will consolidate your knowledge of research methodologies, creative thinking, technical languages, problem solving and problem posing techniques and ideas.
Body will further explore the role of our bodies within digital technologies and environments, researching the interaction between user and machine through concepts of embodiment, the senses, movement and cognition. The module will further establish how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new and exciting methods of production and innovation, making us reconsider what body means in a technological space.
Machine will further explore disruptive systems, researching and learning how creativity and computational practices, when combined, enable new methods of production and innovation. Machine encompasses a range of different approaches to thinking about creative automation and how this has become embedded in the technology we use and rely upon.
Society will further investigate the relationship between digital culture and society, researching the ways in which technology is developed within and in response to our societies. The module will provide an opportunity to explore the many ways in which society can benefit from the application of technologies to improve and enhance people’s lives.
Storytelling will further explore narrative dynamics, researching and applying new forms and/or functions of stories in the digital age. You will consolidate your knowledge of innovative storytelling and how it is key to both the production of new digital creative forms and our understanding of them in culture and society. You will explore the sophisticated was in which stories can change the way in which we understand our place in the world.
Study
Assessment
SODA Placement Year
As part of your studies with SODA, you may have the chance to take a year working on placement within the industry. During your year, you may spend at least 36 weeks working within an organisation in the industry, developing workplace skills, practical understanding and genuine industry experience.
SODA Study Year Abroad
You can choose to spend an academic year studying with an approved partner university overseas, developing your core skills while demonstrating your initiative by engaging with a challenging curriculum at a foreign institution. This offers practice credits from the host university, after you’ve completed Level 5 of your SODA programme.
If you take the four-year placement route, Year 3 will be spent on placement.
Whether you’ve already made your decision about what you want to study, or you’re just considering your options, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about student life at Manchester Met.
We offer:
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
These typical entry requirements may be subject to change for the 2025/26 academic year. Please check back for further details.
GCE A levels - grades BCC or equivalent
Pearson BTEC National Extended Diploma - grade DMM
Access to HE Diploma - Pass overall with a minimum 112 UCAS Tariff points
UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma - grade of Merit overall
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - grade DMM
T level - We welcome applications from students undertaking T level qualifications. Eligible applicants will be asked to achieve a minimum overall grade of Merit as a condition of offer
IB Diploma - Pass overall with a minimum overall score of 26 or minimum 112 UCAS Tariff points from three Higher Level subjects
Other Level 3 qualifications equivalent to GCE A level are also considered.
A maximum of three A level-equivalent qualifications will be accepted towards meeting the UCAS tariff requirement.
AS levels, or qualifications equivalent to AS level, are not accepted. The Extended Project qualification (EPQ) may be accepted towards entry, in conjunction with two A-level equivalent qualifications.
Please contact the University directly if you are unsure whether you meet the minimum entry requirements for the course.
GCSE grade C/4 in English Language and Mathematics or equivalent, e.g. Pass in Level 2 Functional Skills
GCE A levels - grades BCC or equivalent
Pearson BTEC National Extended Diploma - grade DMM
Access to HE Diploma - Pass overall with a minimum 112 UCAS Tariff points
UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma - grade of Merit overall
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - grade DMM
T level - We welcome applications from students undertaking T level qualifications. Eligible applicants will be asked to achieve a minimum overall grade of Merit as a condition of offer
IB Diploma - Pass overall with a minimum overall score of 26 or minimum 112 UCAS Tariff points from three Higher Level subjects
Other Level 3 qualifications equivalent to GCE A level are also considered.
A maximum of three A level-equivalent qualifications will be accepted towards meeting the UCAS tariff requirement.
AS levels, or qualifications equivalent to AS level, are not accepted. The Extended Project qualification (EPQ) may be accepted towards entry, in conjunction with two A-level equivalent qualifications.
Please contact the University directly if you are unsure whether you meet the minimum entry requirements for the course.
There’s further information for international students on our international website if you’re applying with non-UK qualifications.
UK and Channel Islands full-time foundation year fee: £9,535 for the 2025/26 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval). On progression to any linked degree course, the standard UK and Channel Islands tuition fee would apply. For 2025/26, this is £9,535 (subject to Parliamentary approval). Fees for subsequent academic years may increase for inflation to reflect increased costs of course delivery (up to a maximum of 10% per academic year) and/or changes in UK government regulation. Inflationary increases will be calculated by reference to RPIx (RPIx is a measure of inflation in the UK). Fee increases are subject to limits imposed by UK government regulation.
EU and Non-EU international full-time foundation year fee: £21,500 per year. When progressing from the pre-degree foundation year to the linked degree. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study)
Full-time fee: £9,535 for the 2025/26 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval). Fees for subsequent academic years may increase for inflation to reflect increased costs of course delivery (up to a maximum of 10% per academic year) and/or changes in UK government regulation. Inflationary increases will be calculated by reference to RPIx (RPIx is a measure of inflation in the UK). Fee increases are subject to limits imposed by UK government regulation.
Full-time fee: £21,500 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
A degree typically comprises 360 credits, a DipHE 240 credits, a CertHE 120 credits, and an integrated masters 480 credits. For courses that offer a placement year option that starts in September 2025, the tuition fee is £1,907 (subject to Parliamentary approval). For courses that offer a study year abroad option that starts in September 2025, the tuition fee is £1,430 (subject to Parliamentary approval). Placement Year fees and study abroad fees for subsequent academic years may increase for inflation to reflect increased costs of course delivery (up to a maximum of 10% each academic year) and/or changes in UK government regulation. Inflationary increases will be calculated by reference to RPIx (RPIx is a measure of inflation in the UK). Fee increases are subject to limits imposed by UK government regulation.
You will have easy access to computing equipment and games design specific equipment and resources. Software relevant to your study is available on campus and is regularly updated. In addition to desktop machines, you are also able to access the university laptop loan service. Students working off campus may wish to purchase their own photography equipment, computer and licensed software.
You are strongly advised to purchase a portable hard drive to continually back-up your work (£50-100). In cases where you need to print your work, additional costs may be incurred which will be determined by the nature of the work.
There are opportunities throughout the programme to attend local, national and international study trips which will incur costs. These costs are proportional to the distance and length of the study trip. You are encouraged to market your work in forums relevant to your study, which may mean paying for materials or a digital service provider. All essential reading material and learning resources related to your programme of study are available in the library; however, you may wish to purchase your own books, subscribe to relevant online journals or pay for access to online resources or memberships.
Students wishing to follow the placement year and/or study year abroad units will incur extra costs. These costs are variable and will usually be dependent on distance, and local costs of the country in which the placement or overseas study takes place.
Find out more about financing your studies and whether you may qualify for one of our bursaries and scholarships
Money MattersThere is a very broad range of career opportunities for games designers within the fast-growing digital and creative sectors in the UK and abroad. Our students gain the knowledge, confidence and employability skills to compete with the best graduates in the country.
You can apply for the full-time option of this course through UCAS.
UCAS code(s)WGD1
Institution code: M40
Get advice and support on making a successful application.
You can review our current Terms and Conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.
Programme review
Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally
at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the
latest online learning technology. For further information on when we
may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our
terms and conditions.
Important notice
This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study
and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that
our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the
online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most
up to date information for your chosen course of study.
Confirmation of regulator
The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for
Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education
in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory
framework can be found at
officeforstudents.org.uk.
All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current student protection plan.