The Sheffield College
Games Development Yr1 FdA
The Sheffield College

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 15 graduates of Games Development Yr1 FdA at The Sheffield College for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Computer Science.

Overall student satisfaction
95 /100
15 total respondents
The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of all UK Graduates of

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £29821 £26104 £30658
25-75 percentile range £24771 - £35770 £19342 - £34316 £22615 - £42400

Course Description

This course has been specially designed for students who wish to pursue a career within the computer games industry, while also developing skills related to other creative sectors.

About the Course

We offer industry standard software taught by trained professionals, practical workshops, guest lectures as well as strong industry and higher education links. The course provides excellent enrichment through visits and industry set projects. We have a dedicated, young and passionate team of staff with industry experience who will ensure a supportive environment conducive to learning. We aim to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge that are required of a creative industry that offers exciting and rewarding career prospects in computer games or related areas.

The programme will be mainly based around the artistic elements of games design, covering concept art, illustration, storyboarding, level design, digital sculpting, 3D computer modelling, texturing, light, rigging and animation. The course provides and insight into the professional practice of games design through practical demonstration, research and theory-based study. Students are encouraged to explore a variety of sources and subjects that influence their development as well as experiencing a range of teaching methods such as formal lectures, team teaching, practical demonstrations and tutorials that further enhance their learning experience.

Attendance

Students will spend 15 hours in class and it is recommended that students spend at least 25 hours per week self-study time if they expect to meet the standards required by an employer or client. Student should expect to spend a minimum of one week on work placement although this is dependent upon the placement that are available and there is no guarantee of placement. 

Our facilities include dedicated high end PC/iMac suites installed with current industry standard 2d and 3d software. This includes the Autodesk and Adobe suites as well as games development software such as Gamemaker, UDK and Unity. We also have access to photography studios and state of the art DSLR cameras. You will learn a broad range of skills, from drawing to 3D modelling and animation with the opportunity to specialise in an area of your choice. 

The course is well structured while remaining flexible, allowing you to focus on an area of preference, and enables you to build a creative and effective portfolio.

The course team has an extensive network of contacts in the games and the post production industry. We look to arrange opportunities for our students to visit development companies, as well as inviting industrial experts to give guest lectures and talk about job opportunities within the industry.

HND students follow exactly the same syllabus as degree-level students but benefit from additional support and tutorials during their first two years of study with strong links to universities.

Methods include problem-based exercises, independent project work, research dissertations, practical demonstrations of skill, presentations in seminars, team working through collaborative projects. Students receive ongoing verbal and written feedback throughout the duration of a unit/project.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Minimum Required UCAS Tariff

•48 UCAS points •Successful completion of a Level 3 course, preferably in a creative subject area. Level 2 English and Maths preferred or willingness to work towards these. Students should be aware that they may need GCSE Maths & English to progress to top up to honours degree level.

Qualification requirements

We are unable to accept international applicants due to UK visa restrictions.
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Games Development Yr1, FdA, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Games Development Yr1 FdA

England UK £7500 year 1
Northern Ireland £7500 year 1
Scotland £7500 year 1
Wales £7500 year 1

Additional fee information

Students will be offered the opportunity to attend residential visits during their two years on the course. Destinations such as Paris, Barcelona and New York have proven popular with previous students and it is intended that we will continue to offer challenging and interesting study destinations. The cost of the visit will depend on the destination and students will be expected to pay approximately one third of the cost as a deposit and the remaining balance in two further instalments.

It is desirable for students to have their own PC to help facilitate learning outside of class. Students will also be required to provide their own stationery.

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

August 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)

UCAS application code:

II50

About The Sheffield College

The Sheffield College is one of the largest providers of Further Education in the English city of Sheffield. The college operates from four main campuses, which are City, Hillsborough, Peaks, and Olive Grove.

List of 18 Bachelor and Master Courses from The Sheffield College - Course Catalogue

Where is this programme taught

Hillsborough Campus
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FAQ about Games Development Yr1 FdA The Sheffield College

  • Tuition fees for this programme are 7500 per year for UK students. In addition to the tuition fees you should also take into consideration the average monthly cost of living for students in the UK.

  • 15 graduates rated the course 95. This means that 95% of graduates indicated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the course. See detailed ratings above and how these compare to the averages at other universities.

  • Games Development Yr1 FdA is taught on campus and cannot be taken online at The Sheffield College.

  • It is very difficult to get accepted into this course. Accepted students had an average UCAS tariff score of which makes it one of the 0% most difficult courses to enter among all Computer Games Programming students in the UK.