University of Southampton
Games Design and Art BA (Hons)
University of Southampton

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 15 graduates of Games Design and Art BA (Hons) at University of Southampton for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in computer games and animation.

Overall student satisfaction
84 /100
15 total respondents
The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Media Studies

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of computer games and animation at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £22000 £21000 £25500
25-75 percentile range £20000 - £25000 £16000 - £26500 £19500 - £32500


Salary of all UK Graduates of Media Studies

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £22551 £19428 £23436
25-75 percentile range £19337 - £25762 £15172 - £24463 £17929 - £29592

Course Description

Explore our specialist arts campus:

One of only a few specialist art schools in the Russell Group, you’ll be inspired to create in our purpose built studios and workshops and learn with expert creative practitioners at Winchester School of Art (WSA), part our University of Southampton community and just one hour from London. You’ll have industry exposure through guest lectures, work on live briefs with companies, explore work placements and internships where graduates have gone on to set up their own design labels or work at prestigious brands across the globe including Selfridges, Saatchi & Saatchi, Alexander McQueen, Burberry, ASOS, Nike and Apple. You’ll be prepared for a wide range of creative careers where 93% of Arts graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes 2020/2021, published in 2023).

Study BA Games Design and Art:

If you want to make unique new games and take your ambitious ideas into emerging games markets, platforms and spaces, this is the programme for you. You’ll cover design, illustration, character creation, animation and storytelling, as well as coding and digital production. Unlike many games design courses, BA Games Design and Art is based in an art school rather than a computer science department, allowing you to work creatively while gaining essential technical skills.

You’ll explore the full spectrum of gaming, from screen-based (video) games to board games and escape rooms. You’ll also cover the emerging fields of purposeful games and serious games, and explore how games can be designed to have social impact and cultural significance.

You’ll work in your own studios on campus as part of a vibrant, creative environment designed to mirror the collaborative practices of games companies and the creative industries. Working closely with your peers in a close-knit class, you’ll collaborate, inspire one another and explore concepts you are passionate about.

As part of your degree you’ll be able to visit innovative games studios and conferences, and pitch your ideas and prototypes to industry. You can also choose to spend a year in employment or study abroad for a year.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Games Design and Art BA (Hons) at University of Southampton

20% Business and public service associate professionals
20% Nursing Professionals
10% Caring personal services
5% Administrative occupations
5% Customer service occupations
5% Nursing Professionals
5% Administrative occupations
5% Caring personal services
5% Customer service occupations
5% Nursing Professionals

Grading & Study Time

The course is mainly studio-based, with an emphasis on hands-on collaborative project work. In addition you’ll learn through practical workshops, lectures, seminars and one-to-one tutorials. Guest lectures and visits to games design studios will give you additional insights into industry issues, while visits to museums such as the Design Museum in London offer new perspectives on design thinking. Regular feedback from your tutors and peers will help you to keep your studies on track. Digital learning tools are embedded into the course; for example we use online collaboration platforms, polling software and instant message systems to work collaboratively and feedback, we capture videos of seminars and workshops to support learning. You’ll also create your own web-based portfolio. You’ll be assessed on your coursework, which will include portfolios showing evidence of the development of your studio work and final project, and written assignments such as reflective and journalistic pieces.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Qualification requirements

Access to HE Diploma

31-30 overall or 665-655 in 3 HL subjects.

Including a relevant subject/science @ C or above (80 UCAS tariff points)

BTEC Level 3 National Diploma: DD plus A Level English at grade B. Preferred:- Performing Arts, Art & Design, Digital Film and Video Production,Business IT, Applied Science,Sport, Sport and Exercise Science

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Including one in a relevant subject/science (90 UCAS tariff points)

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate: D plus AB in two A Levels to include English. Preferred:- Performing Arts, Art & Design, Digital Film and Video Production,Business IT, Applied Science,Sport, Sport and Exercise Science

The Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted in lieu of one A Level at the A Level grades specified, excluding any subject specific requirements.

If Mathematics is not taken beyond GCSE, a grade 7, (or A) in GCSE Mathematics, or Core Mathematics grade B is essential

In addition to those qualifications listed, we also accept a pass in an Art & Design foundation programme. We welcome applicants with other qualifications eg. European Baccalaureate. You will be expected to attain an A level equivalent standard. The University of Southampton requires all applicants to achieve at least a Grade 4 in English and Mathematics GCSEs (taken in England) or a Grade C in both subjects (where taken in Northern Ireland or Wales). Some degree subjects stipulate specific additional GCSE minimum grades, which will be specified as part of the individual degree programme entry requirements. For more details on the suitability of your qualifications or foundation programme please contact the Faculty of Arts and Humanities Admissions Team at [email protected]

English language requirements

test Grade Additional Details
IELTS (Academic) 6.5

with no component below 6.0

Find out about equivalent entry requirements and qualifications for your country: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/international/your-country.page
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Games Design and Art, BA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Games Design and Art BA (Hons)

Ireland £9250 year 1
International £22300 year 1
EU £22300 year 1
England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
Channel Islands £9250 year 1

Additional fee information

**

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:

January 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)

University Rankings

Positions of University of Southampton in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of University of Southampton in related subject specific rankings.

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #18 
    • #101 
    Social Sciences
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 26 October, 2022]

See all 34 university rankings of University of Southampton

About University of Southampton

The University of Southampton, often abbreviated to Soton, is a research university located in Southampton, England. Although the university was founded in 1862, it has only enjoyed full university status from 1952 onwards. The university has five campuses in total, with the main one based in the Highfield area of Southampton.

List of 379 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Southampton - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Southampton

undergraduates:
14770
postgraduates:
8470
Total:
23240
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Where is this programme taught

Winchester School of Art
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