Duration: Three years (or four years with integrated Foundation Games Pathway) 
Tuition Fees: Foundation – £5,760 per annum | Undergraduate – £9,790 per annum 
sUBJECT TO APPROVAL*
COURSE OVERVIEW
why get a degree in computer games design?
With LCCA’s BA (Hons) Computer Games Design degree, you’ll learn how to create engaging player experiences through game mechanics, level design and gameplay systems. All the way from concept through to completion, you’ll develop original game ideas and build advanced gameplay features using industry-standard tools and game engines.
Through dedicated Games Studio Practice modules, you’ll work in multidisciplinary teams to plan, prototype, test and refine original games in a studio-style environment that reflects professional game development workflows. Alongside developing your technical and creative skills, you’ll explore player psychology, interactive storytelling and user experience design to create games that connect with audiences.
Designed in line with The Independent Game Developers’ Association (TIGA) benchmarking standards, the course combines industry-relevant learning with practical project work. You’ll build a professional portfolio throughout your studies, showcasing your game design skills, collaborative projects and creative development as you prepare for a career in the games industry.
Skills you’ll learn
- Gameplay mechanics design
- Level design and world building
- Unreal Engine 5 workflows
- UEFN development
- Interactive storytelling
- User experience (UX) and player psychology
- Rapid prototyping
- Quest design and branching narratives
- AI behaviours and gameplay systems
- Multiplayer collaboration
- Games studio workflows
- Professional portfolio development
Industry Partners & Collaborators
COURSE STRUCTURE
What will you learn on a Computer Games Design course?
Throughout the course, you’ll explore game design, gameplay systems, player experience and collaborative development while building a portfolio of practical work. Your learning will progress from core design principles to advanced game development projects and professional practice. The course is available as either a three-year degree or a four-year degree with Foundation Year.
Foundation Year: Learn the foundations of creative art and design
Our Foundation Year gives you the creative, technical and academic foundations needed for degree-level study in the UK. Through practical projects, research and creative exploration, you’ll build confidence, develop key skills and begin creating a portfolio of work.
Visual Culture
Explore how art, design and media communicate ideas and influence the world around us. You’ll develop visual analysis and critical thinking skills while learning how cultural, social and technological influences shape contemporary creative practice.
English for Academic Purposes, Research & Study Skills
Build the academic skills needed for university study, including research, critical thinking, academic writing and presentation. You’ll learn how to communicate ideas clearly, evaluate sources and develop confidence in your academic practice.
Final Major Project
Complete a self-directed creative project that brings together the skills you’ve developed throughout your Foundation year. From initial research and experimentation all the way through to a finished outcome, you’ll demonstrate your creativity, problem-solving and readiness for degree-level study.
Year 1: Learn the principles of game design
In Year 1, you’ll build a strong foundation in game design, combining creative thinking with technical development skills. You’ll explore how games engage players through mechanics, storytelling and interactive experiences while gaining hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and game engines.
Games Design Concepts and Visual Storytelling
Explore game mechanics, player engagement and visual storytelling techniques while learning how games are designed, balanced and experienced by players.
Games Studio Practice 1
Work in multidisciplinary teams to plan, prototype and test an original game, developing collaborative skills that reflect professional game development studios.
Introduction to 3D Asset Creation for Games
Develop core 3D modelling and asset creation skills while learning industry-standard workflows used throughout game development.
Introduction to Gameplay Mechanics
Learn how gameplay systems are built, from player controls and AI behaviours to user interfaces and interactive game features.
Year 2:Develop advanced gameplay systems and collaborative projects
In Year 2, you’ll take on more complex game design challenges, developing immersive player experiences and refining your technical and collaborative skills. Working on increasingly ambitious projects, you’ll explore advanced gameplay systems, level design and production workflows while learning how games move from concept to polished playable experiences.
Level Design: Player Experience and Usability
Design immersive game environments by applying principles of player flow, usability and environmental storytelling to create engaging and intuitive gameplay experiences.
Games Studio Practice 2
Work in multidisciplinary teams to develop and refine an original game through rapid prototyping, iterative design and collaborative development.
Games Project Management
Explore agile game development methodologies, project planning, market analysis and budgeting while developing the skills needed to manage complex creative projects.
Advanced Mechanics and Quest Design
Create advanced gameplay systems, AI behaviours, branching narratives and dynamic quest structures that enhance player engagement and progression.
Year 3: Build your final major project and professional portfolio
In your final year, you’ll bring together everything you’ve learned to create ambitious games projects that showcase your skills as a designer. Focusing on professional practice, technical development and portfolio building, you’ll work both collaboratively and independently to prepare for a career in the games industry.
Games Studio Practice 3
Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to design, develop and test a game, creating technical prototypes and a vertical slice that demonstrates the game’s core features and creative vision.
Final Year Project: Pre-Production
Research, develop and pitch your final major project, defining its scope, concept and production plan while exploring contemporary practices in games design.
Final Year Project and Professional Portfolio Curation
Produce a substantial final project and curate a professional portfolio that showcases your technical skills, creative interests and career ambitions within the games industry.
What jobs can I get with a Computer Games design degree?
Graduates from a computer games design degree can explore careers across games, interactive media and digital entertainment. You could work in areas including gameplay design, level design, UI/UX, story development and production, building experiences for console, PC, mobile and emerging platforms.
Some examples include:
• Games Designer
• Level Designer
• Technical Designer
• Quest Designer
• Narrative Designer
• UX/UI Designer
• Games Producer
• Junior Game Developer
• Interactive Experience Designer
WHAT’S IT LIKE STUDYING AT LCCA?
Career Focus: at LCCA, you’ll find excellent teaching, career-focused learning and a welcoming environment that encourages you to thrive.
Dedicated Facilities: our campuses are equipped with specialist facilities and industry-standard tools, giving you the space and support to push your creativity further.
Industry Insight: our teachers are experts in their fields, enriching your learning experience by giving you access to the latest industry knowledge and networks across their creative specialisms.
Creative Specialist: Your LCCA degree is awarded by University for the Creative Arts, the UK’s #2 creative specialist university.
We provide dedicated facilities to help you produce work to an industry-standard level and prepare for a bright future. These resources ensure that, upon graduation, you’ll feel ready to start working from day one.
At LCCA, you’ll have access to a wide range of specialist facilities across the college, including:
Gaming Lab equipped with industry software such as GameMaker, Autodesk Maya, Unreal Engine, Cinema 4D and Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
Our students also have access to online library from UCA.
Whether you’re starting your first degree or returning to education to take your career in a new direction, LCCA connects you to industry networks that matter. With strong professional links and hands-on opportunities, you’ll build skills, gain real experience and make the connections that open doors.
Recent industry engagements included:
· BAFTA Games Awards
· nDreams
· Guildford Games Festival
· EGX
· ukie
WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY
STUDENT WORK
what are theentry requirementsfor this course?
The standard entry requirements** for this course are one of the following:
32 UCAS tariff points from accepted qualifications*
Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4)
Merit, Pass, Pass at BTEC Extended Diploma
Pass at UALAB Extended Diploma
32 UCAS tariff points from an accredited Access to Higher Education Diploma in appropriate subject
A minimum of 24 points in the International Baccalaureate
And 4 GCSE passes at grade A*-C and/or grade 4-9 including Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2.
If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent. If you require a visa to study in the UK, you will also need a minimum score of 5.5 in each individual component.
The standard entry requirements** are one of the following:
112 new UCAS tariff points from accepted qualifications*
Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4)
Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma
Merit at UAL Extended Diploma
112 UCAS tariff points from an accredited Access to Higher Education Diploma in an appropriate subject
27 points from the International Baccalaureate
And four GCSE passes at grade A*-C and/or grade 4-9 including English and Maths.
If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent.
At LCCA, we welcome students who are ready to move on from their current institute and find a new place to study.
All of our UCA-accredited undergraduate degrees offer the option of direct entry into the second year (Level 5) depending on your existing qualifications.
To find out if you’re eligible for direct entry, simply contact us to discuss your admissions options.
Foundation UK/EU citizens – £5,760 per annum
Undergraduate Fees: UK/EU citizens £9,790 per annum
Note:
*To see the accepted QCF qualifications, visit: http://uca.ac.uk/study/accepted-qualifications/
**We occasionally make offers which are lower than the standard entry criteria, to students who have faced difficulties that have affected their performance and who were expected to achieve higher results.
Other relevant and equivalent level 3 UK and international qualifications are considered on an individual basis, and we encourage students from diverse educational backgrounds apply.
Getanswersabout LCCA’s Computer Games Design degree
Game design focuses on player experience, including gameplay mechanics, level design and interactive storytelling. Game development is a broader term that can also include programming, animation and technical production. On LCCA’s Computer Games Design course, you’ll explore the creative and interactive side of building games through hands-on projects.
Yes. Throughout the course, you’ll design, prototype and develop original games both independently and as part of multidisciplinary teams. Through the Games Studio Practice modules, you’ll work on collaborative projects that mirror professional game development workflows, while your Final Year Project gives you the opportunity to create a substantial piece of work that reflects your interests and career goals.
Computer Games Design focuses primarily on gameplay, level design, player experience and game systems rather than software engineering. While you’ll be introduced to technical development concepts and may use visual scripting tools within game engines, the course is designed for aspiring game designers rather than programmers. An interest in how games work is more important than previous coding experience.
During your studies, you’ll work with industry-standard tools and technologies used throughout the games industry, including Unreal Engine 5, Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) and Jira. You’ll also gain experience using game engines, prototyping tools and collaborative workflows that reflect professional game development environments.
London is one of Europe’s leading hubs for games, technology and creative industries, home to developers, publishers, studios and creative businesses of all sizes. Studying in London gives you access to industry events, networking opportunities, guest speakers and a thriving creative community, helping you build connections and gain insight into the rapidly evolving world of game development.