Courses

MA POSTGRADUATE

Games Design

www.uclan.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/games-design-ma

D U R ATION : 1 Year STA R T: Sep 2022 D ELIVER Y: Campus Taught

Our MA Games Design (with optional Professional Placement) course has been designed with industry in
mind. It will give you the opportunity to specialise in an area of Games Design, even if your specialism is
to be a one-person team and do it all!

This degree programme offers you a dynamic and friendly creative environment where you are encouraged and inspired to play,
learn and think creatively. Games Design covers the conceptual, visual and digital development of games, and you will be given
an industry perspective that will equip you to seek employment in the trade.

From the start of the course, you will be exploring and developing ideas and concepts relating to games and are actively
encouraged to play, to question the nature of your specialism and express the ideas formulated through personal project work.

Why Study With Us

• Our Games Design students develop portfolios that give them an advantage in an ever-competitive sector or the ability to
become independent developers.

• The University is an official academic partner of the Unreal Engine team.

• You can get involved in our annual cJAM employability event, where you’ll pitch your ideas to industry professionals who
are offering work placement opportunities.
What You’ll Do
Level Design, Concept Art, Board Games, 3D Modelling, Narrative, Game Mechanics, VFX, User Interface and more – What
you specialise in is up to you.

You are encouraged to operate in a specialist area of Games Design and given the creative freedom and necessary skills to
develop your own ideas.

We have an established visiting Industry Speaker programme which includes Lead Designers, 3D Artists, QA, Production and
Technical Artists from AAA and independent game development studios.
Module Overview

Year 1

Compulsory Modules

DE4101: Design Research 1

DE4201: Design Research 2

RP4111: FMP Practice 1

RP4222: FMP Practice 2

XB4333: Games Design Practice 3

DE4101: Design Research 1

Are you ready to develop your research skillset? You will learn theoretical methodologies and study these with a critical

mindset. This will give you the opportunity to reflect on your current practical skills and use these to underpin your personal

practical development.

DE4201: Design Research 2

This module aims to support you in making informed decisions of your critical position in the design industry. Learn to establish
a clear and critical rationale that will inform and underpin your practice decisions. Develop your critical understanding of the
philosophies, design strategies and design work of others by networking with relevant contacts.

RP4111: FMP Practice 1

This module aims to encourage a more focused analysis and initiate the generation of unique connections within the field of
contemporary design practice relating to your chosen discipline.

RP4222: FMP Practice 2

This module aims to analyse, de-construct and re-construct through practical activities. You'll be supported to challenge,
expand and contest accepted creative and technical practices. Test and explore design and story-telling ideas and emerging
philosophies. Utilise theoretical debate and discussion to stimulate analytical, creative and innovative responses to your
practice.

XB4333: Games Design Practice 3

In this module you'll get the chance to realise your ideas and aspirations from earlier modules through the completion of a major

study. You'll enhance your critical decision making in complex and unpredictable solutions. You'll challenge established

principles in the games industry and explore so much more of your own creativity.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes
are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation
of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject
benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback.
We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of
students.
Academic Expertise

Josh Taylor

JT Senior Lecturer
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND MEDIA

Josh has over ten years’ experience in the Games Industry working mainly as a Lead Art/Art Directo
and has experience in concept art, 2D art, modelling, animation and user interface design. He was
most notably the Lead Artist on ‘Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone’. He main...
Industry Links

The course is part of the Unreal Academic Partner Program. Which recognises UCLan’s provision of
experienced staff and high-quality resources. As well as our commitment to excellent student experience in

Unreal preparation for their future careers.

Engine

Future Careers

Our Games Design graduates have gone onto a variety of highly successful games companies, for example Warner Brothers,
Ninja Theory, Rare, Naughty Dog and Riot Games. Our Graduates have also gone on to create their own development studios
such as White Paper Games.

On successful graduation from this course are you will be able to display a rich portfolio of work that will showcase your
specialist skills.

These specialist skills are what industry have identified as key in individuals working in modern Game Development.

This postgraduate qualification will open exciting career opportunities within commercial design practices and you’ll also be
equipped with the skills needed to develop your own practice or consultancy.
 Entry Requirements

• Applicants should hold a 2:2 degree or equivalent professional experience or learning in a related field

• Applications from all candidates will be considered on their merits in the light of the nature and scope of the programme

• A detailed admissions procedure will be forwarded on application

• IELTS: Score of 6.5 or above

• A high level of achievement in undergraduate studies at a university elsewhere such as North America: Minimum overall
GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale

• All applicants are requested to submit digital supporting material and where possible will be invited to attend an interview
with a portfolio of recent work
Fees And Funding

2021/22

UK

Full time £7100 per year

Part time £785 per 20 credits

EU

Full time £13500 per year

Part time £785 per 20 credits

International

Full time £13500 per year

Course Specific Optional Costs

As part of your course, there may be additional optional costs to consider that are not included within your tuition fees. You can
find out more by following the links below:

UK Students

EU and International Students

2022/23

UK

Full time £7800 per year

Part time £867 per 20 credits

International

Full time £14500 per year

Course Specific Optional Costs

As part of your course, there may be additional optional costs to consider that are not included within your tuition fees. You can
find out more by following the links below:

UK Students

EU and International Students

Scholarships And Bursaries

Alumni Loyalty Discount

UK students with a previous award from us will receive 20% tuition fee discount.

Carers Bursary

If you need extra support because you have unpaid caring responsibilities alongside your studies.

Care Leavers And Estranged Student Bursary

For students who need extra support because they have been in care or are estranged from their parents.

Learning And Assessment

This course is tailored to suit your area of study – Games is a large subject so your study/specialism could be concept art, 3D
modelling, level design, character design, animation, narrative, engine work, accessibility, texturing, effects, materials…. The
list goes on.

We would ask you to enter a Learning Agreement which is an agreement between you and us which lays out a roadmap of what
you would study, how, the rationale and intended outcomes.

Alongside you practice work you would, along with the whole MA cohort from a range of art and design courses, take on two
research modules which would help inform your practice work. These modules look at your current methodologies, other
creatives methodologies, get you networking, reflecting and formulating new ways of working to help inform your practice.

The coursework is continually assessed through the project work.

There are no exams.

Further Information
The course team have a wide variety of skills and are highly experienced in developing your visualising, creative thinking, digital
modelling and games development skills. Team members include Bev Bush, Senior Lecturer who was named in the Women in
Games Top 100 (2013) and Associate Lecturers Pete Bottomley and James Burton of White Paper Games.

We have an established visiting Industry Speaker programme which includes Lead Designers, 3D Artists, QA, Production and
Technical Artists from AAA and independent game development studios throughout the UK who bring with them a broad
experience of the games development industry.

This course is based in the School of Arts and Media located in the Faculty of Culture and Creative Industries

For information on possible changes to course information, see our Essential and Important Course Information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Central Lancashire on our Student Contract
page

For more information on studying with the University of Central Lancashire, or for advice and guidance on how to apply visit
uclan.ac.uk/study or call our course enquiries team on 01772 892400

Date of publish: 19 11 2021

Course Disclaimer: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/legal/course-disclaimer