FdA Games Design and Development

 

Standard Entry Requirements for Full Time Students

The following admissions criteria will normally apply at Level 4:

• Applicants must be a minimum age of 18 years old at the start of the programme.
• Applicants are expected to hold a relevant Level 3 qualification in a related subject (for example A Levels or BTEC) with a minimum of 48 UCAS points.
• Applicants will normally require 4 GCSEs at grade A* to C (grade 4 or above).
• Applicants are also required to have at least grade 4 or above in GCSE Maths and English, or an equivalent qualification.
• All applicants must attend an interview with the curriculum team. Where applicants live substantially away from the College, this may be conducted via live video call.

Non-Standard Entry Requirements for Full Time Mature Students

Mature students (aged 21 or over at the start of the academic year of admission), or applicants with non-standard qualifications and or relevant industry experience, may be considered for entry where their background is deemed suitable for the programme.

• Admission is discretionary and will normally involve an interview.
• In appropriate cases, applicants may be asked to undertake an assessment activity (for example, a short task or portfolio review) to support the College in determining suitability for the programme.

Applicants will normally be judged against the following criteria:

• Evidence of self-organisation
• Evidence of independent working
• Motivation to learn
• Interest in the subject area (Games Design and Development)
• Evidence of working effectively with others

Where possible, applicants should have 4 GCSEs at grade A* to C (grade 4 or above), including Maths and English, or have demonstrated ability in Maths and English through further study (for example Functional Skills).

Additional Costs

You may be required to contribute to the cost of trips and visits. We also recommend that students purchase key texts to support learning. Reading lists are provided in module handbooks.

What are the next steps?

You will meet with a member of the curriculum team who will ask a set of standard questions. This is also an opportunity for us to understand your motivation for the course and your career aspirations, and for you to ask questions. A tour of the facilities will be available.

You will meet with a member of the curriculum team who will ask a set of standard questions. This is also an opportunity for us to understand your motivation for the course and your career aspirations, and for you to ask questions. A tour of the facilities will be available.

All applicants must attend an interview with the curriculum team. Where applicants live substantially away from the College, this may be conducted via live video call.

PENDING VALIDATION

The aim of the FdA Games Design and Development is to provide students with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to study and work effectively at Levels 4 and 5 within games design and development. The programme supports both creative and technical progression, preparing students to contribute to real-world games production through practical, portfolio-led learning.

The programme aims are as follows:

• Develop practical games design and development skills through hands-on production, iteration, critique, and playtesting, aligned with contemporary industry workflows.
• Build transferable professional skills, including communication, teamwork, time management, and reflective practice, to support progression into employment or further study.
• Enable students to plan, produce, and present a portfolio of work that demonstrates creative decision-making, technical capability, and professional standards.
• Strengthen understanding of the end-to-end games development pipeline, including concept development, prototyping, production, testing, and presentation.
• Support students to apply problem solving, research, and analytical thinking to improve design outcomes and respond to feedback in a structured way.
• Promote inclusive and responsible practice, with consideration of ethical, legal, and professional expectations relevant to digital production and the games industry.
• Provide opportunities for work-related learning through industry informed briefs and professional practice activities, supporting career readiness and progression.

Level 4 (Year 1): Foundation of Practice and Industry Awareness

• Introduction to Games Design Principles – Core game design concepts including mechanics, player experience, and design theory.
• Digital Asset Creation – 2D and 3D asset production using industry tools, with a focus on pipelines and integration into engines.
• Introduction to Game Engines – Engine navigation and prototyping, including scripting basics, interactivity, and environment set-up.
• Narrative Design and Worldbuilding – Storytelling for interactive media including character development and environmental storytelling.
• Collaborative Project: Game Jam – Team-based rapid prototyping to a brief, culminating in a playable concept and presentation.
• Professional Practice and Industry Awareness – Understanding industry roles, expectations, portfolio development, and reflective practice.

Level 5 (Year 2): Development, Application and Professional Readiness

• Advanced Game Development – Building mechanics and polished gameplay systems, including UI/UX and problem-solving in development.
• Level Design and Interactive Environments – Creating balanced, immersive environments using playtesting and feedback.
• Character and Animation Systems – Character pipeline from concept to animation, including rigging and engine integration.
• Client Brief: Industry-Linked Project – Responding to a live or simulated industry brief with professional communication and iteration.
• Personal Game Project – A self-initiated project focused on planning, development, polish, presentation, and a supporting portfolio.

PENDING VALIDATION

The programme is delivered on campus across two years, with teaching organised into scheduled study days each week. Timetables are designed to support a practical studio approach, combining taught sessions with guided development time, workshops, and project production.

Any times indicated are based on current planning and may be subject to change in future academic years. Full timetables will be confirmed at the start of the course.

Any times indicated are based on current courses and may be subject to change in future years. Full timetables will be confirmed at the start of each course.

PENDING VALIDATION

The programme is designed to reflect professional games development practice. Learning combines theory with practical application, where students develop and refine work through iteration, feedback, and production milestones.

Teaching and learning methods typically include:

• Lectures and demonstrations to introduce key concepts, tools, and processes.
• Workshops and studio sessions to develop practical skills, prototype ideas, and apply techniques to projects.
• Seminars and critique sessions to review work, discuss design decisions, and respond to feedback through playtesting and evaluation.
• Tutorials and supervised development time to support individual progress, problem solving, and project planning.
• Collaborative project work to mirror industry workflows, roles, and team communication.

Assessment is varied and designed to measure both creative and technical development. Depending on the module, assessment may include:

• Game design documentation and production portfolios
• Practical project submissions (individual and team-based)
• Presentations, pitches, and showcases
• Reflective evaluations linked to development and team practice
• Professional practice outputs, such as CV, portfolio planning, or industry research tasks

Assessment is structured around clear briefs and milestones, with feedback provided throughout the programme to support improvement and progression.

PENDING VALIDATION

The programme is designed to reflect industry practice and is informed through employer engagement to ensure skills development remains relevant to the games and wider digital sector. Students will be supported to understand professional expectations, explore current industry roles, and build employability skills through industry informed briefs, portfolio development, and professional practice activities.

The department is currently developing and strengthening links with regional and national employers. This section will be updated as partnerships are confirmed.

PENDING VALIDATION

The programme is designed to reflect industry practice and is informed through employer engagement to ensure skills development remains relevant to the games and wider digital sector. Students will be supported to understand professional expectations, explore current industry roles, and build employability skills through industry informed briefs, portfolio development, and professional practice activities.

The department is currently developing and strengthening links with regional and national employers. This section will be updated as partnerships are confirmed.