BA Games Design and Art
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in Games Design and Art, an undergraduate degree focused on the creative, cultural, and technical aspects of making games and immersive worlds. Core topics include Fieldwork. Students can optionally undertake an industrial placement year or a year abroad between the second and final stages of the programme. The first year establishes fundamental principles through modules such as Game Mechanics, Game Worlds, Games Design & Culture, and Games as Poems, which combine practical projects with cultural studies and field investigations. The second year expands into technical prototyping and documentation via modules including Games Design, Games Development Pipelines, and Games Development Process, alongside optional collaborative briefs like Collaborate (A), Collaborate (B), and Collaborate (C). The final year centres on independent production and industry preparation, featuring compulsory study in Game Pitching and Presenting, Game Project Proposal, Major Project – Promotion and Marketing, Major Project – Unique Impact Games, and Professional Planning (Games Industry).
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: Our standard offer is BBC at A-level or equivalent qualification, we also consider grades of comparable value and offer on these taking into account the suitability of the portfolio submission for the intended course. IB: Pass, with 28 points overall with 14 points at Higher Level.
See the highest paying Computer Science degrees in the UK →
See the highest paying Media & Journalism degrees in the UK →
What students say
Based on about 25 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 75%
- Learning opportunities: 72%
- Assessment and feedback: 77%
- Academic support: 92%
- Organisation and management: 67%
- Learning resources: 85%
- Student voice: 82%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 75 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 96%
- Left higher education: 4%
What graduates do next
Based on about 12 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 75%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 5%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Information Technology Professionals: 65%
- Elementary occupations: 4%
- Science, engineering and technology associate professionals: 4%
- Engineering professionals: 4%
- Sales occupations: 3%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 45%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 35 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 10%
- London: 30%
- South East: 45%
- South West: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 30 students who started
- A levels: 45%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- Foundation course: 45%
- A degree: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Game Mechanics
- Game Worlds
- Games Design & Culture
- Games as Poems
- WSA Year Abroad
- Games Design
- Games Development Pipelines
- Games Development Process
- Year in Employment
- Collaborate (B)
- Collaborate (A)
- Collaborate (C)
- Game Pitching and Presenting
- Game Project Proposal
- Major Project – Promotion and Marketing
- Major Project – Unique Impact Games
- Professional Planning (Games Industry)
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Games Design and Art at University of Southampton earn?
The median salary is £24,000 after 15 months, £23,500 after 3 years, £30,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,500 and £37,000. The £30,000 median after five years is £2,500 more than the UK median for Computer games and animation.
What do graduates of BA Games Design and Art at University of Southampton do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Games Design and Art at University of Southampton?
75% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Games Design and Art at University of Southampton?
The typical offer is BBC at A level, or 28 points in the IB. The average entrant had 140 UCAS points.
Does BA Games Design and Art at University of Southampton include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Games Design and Art at University of Southampton?
96% of students continued into their second year, and 4% left higher education.