Intro

Digital games are at the centre of a fast-paced, multi-billion pound industry, and our BSc(Hons) Digital Games Development degree course gives you the skills you need to be a part of it.

We work with game developers and industry experts to make sure our course continues to develop the skills employers value.

You’ll explore digital game theory, managing multimedia projects and developing design ideas, as well as programming complete digital games and delivering them to the marketplace. You’ll develop your own portfolio of single- and multi-player games.

Project work, game jams and placements put learning into practice and let you show potential employers what you are capable of. And our annual games conference is another way to meet people working in the industry.

See our upcoming events

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code GG46

Full-time 3 years
With placement year 4 years

Apply now with UCAS for 2023

Course content

Course structure 

You will often work collaboratively in groups, as you would in industry. You will have access to professional-standard equipment and applications, and work across various platforms to prepare you for work in a range of professional environments.

Our specialist facilities include:

  • digital media and games studios
  • Oculus Rift
  • HTC Vive
  • digitisation/ VR lab
  • 3D scanning and printing
  • Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) acquisition dome
  • mobile eye-tracking glasses
  • usability lab for testing software
  • arcade machine.

Assessment is typically through exams and coursework, creating games or investigating and reporting on aspects of the games world. You have the opportunity to develop your individual strengths and interests and can specialise further in your final year individual project with the support of an academic supervisor.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Oculus Rift

Areas of study

You will explore four main themes on your Digital Games Development degree:

Program design and implementation
The course has a strong emphasis on essential programming skills. You will study the concepts of programming and program structure, particularly the field of object-oriented programming. In your final year you will be able to apply what you have learned to design and create your own distributed multiplayer games.

Digital asset design and creation
You will study 3D models and investigate how these can be integrated into other media such as video. You will learn about video and audio production, and get hands-on experience in our recording and TV studio for green-screen and motion capture.

Web technologies
Through these modules you will develop a deeper understanding of how modern web technologies can be used to host digital media. At the start of the course, you will discover the key concepts of how technologies are used to create dynamic websites using client-side scripting. Later modules build on these skills, exploring server-side scripting, asynchronous communication and modern client-side frameworks, particularly in mobile technology.

Product development
These modules cover digital game theory, managing multimedia projects and developing design ideas, through to developing and programming complete digital games following agile methodologies and delivering them to the marketplace.

Year 1 

Beginning with a broad introduction to computer science and software engineering, you will study topics that cover programming, databases, web development, human computer interaction, professional legal and ethical issues, and professional skills. You will also learn about the principles and application of game design, 3D modelling and animation, as well as develop your skills in creative problem solving and communication.

Modules

  • Introduction to Game Design and Development

    This module explores the methods and techniques used to design and build computer games. You will learn how to:

    • analyse and deconstruct complex game systems to assess their entertainment value
    • turn original game designs into working prototypes.
  • Introduction to Games Programming

    This module is the entry-level programming module and will introduce you to the fundamental concepts and skills required to write simple games using C++.

  • Game Level and Asset Design

    This module will enable you to generate and develop ideas, characters, settings, structure and assets for game levels. You will explore the elements that form and shape different types of game levels. In addition, you'll explore interactive game level prototypes.

  • Introduction to Web Development

    This module will introduce a range of current web technologies, equipping you to build basic standards-compliant static and interactive web pages.

  • Working in the Digital and Games Industries

    This module introduces you to the digital and games industries context working practices, using the Brighton & Hove digital sector as a case study. You will prepare for work experience applications by producing a personal digital portfolio and managing your professional online presence. The module integrates an introduction to the university learning environment and a foundation in academic study skills.

  • Introduction to 3D Modelling and Animation

    This module will provide an introduction to the foundations of 3D computer graphics and basic animation. Covering the fundamentals of basic 3D design, modelling, texturing, simple lighting and animation, on completion you will be able to create simple 3D animated rendered sequences for multi-format delivery.

Student using VR headset with technician helping

Year 2 

In your second year, you will study topics such as web technologies, game and web app development, and 3D modelling and animation. Options enable you to explore asset design or to further develop the theory and skills to develop AI applications to solve real-world problems.

Modules

  • Artificial Intelligence for Games
  • Narrative Game Design
  • Integrated Group Project
  • Game Development Frameworks
  • Intermediate 3D Modelling and Animation
  • Web-based Game Development
Small group of student looking at robot man

Placement year 

You have the option of a year’s paid placement after your second year. Going on a placement builds confidence, can help you decide what how you want to specialise in your final year and strengthens your CV.

Our students have been on placement with organisations including: Unity Technologies, Glyndebourne, Ash Gaming, and the BBC. 

Business school student

Final year

The main focus in your final year will be your individual project, a great opportunity to explore a subject that interests you and consolidates your knowledge and skills. You will also study topics such as object-oriented analysis and modelling methods, new directions in games, multiplayer games development, Virtual Reality, and sound production and design for games.

Modules

  • Computing Project
  • Multiplayer Game Development
  • Advanced 3D Modelling and Animation

Options*

  • Usability Evaluation
  • Virtual Reality Systems
  • Marketing for Software Products
  • Intellectual Property Law and IT
  • New Horizons in Computing

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Student showing her work on screen at computing degree show

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Careers

Preparing for your career 

In your career you need a combination of knowledge, skills, personal qualities and relevant experiences – and you’ll get all of this from your Digital Games Development degree.

  • You’ll work on exciting live client briefs and build a professional portfolio showcasing your skills and talent.
  • The integrated group project in your second year will help improve your project management, team-building and problem-solving skills. 
  • You will present your individual final year project to potential employers at the computing degree show.
Male student working on app in front of computer

Work-related learning

Taking part in our Game Jams and monthly Codefest events, supported and sponsored by Brighton companies will enable you to apply your programming, problem-solving and team-working skills and are a great way to get to know students from other disciplines.

Companies such as Wish Studios, who design games for Sony, Hangar 13 Games, Studio Gobo, Electric Square and Brandwatch, mentor and judge these events.

Facilities for learning 

You’ll have access to our specialist facilities for hands-on learning

Facilities include:

    • usability lab with eye-tracking technology
    • security lab including secure and dependable software systems
    • digitisation/VR lab
    • Oculus Rift
    • HTC Vive
    • 3D scanning and printing
    • Reflectance Transformation Imaging acquisition dome
    • digital media and games studios
    • a Simulation Suite with flight simulators and a car simulator that use VR and motion platform technology.
Driving simulator 360
Click to view a virtual tour of the Simulation Suite.

Industry links

With a digital economy worth over £1bn a year, the city of Brighton & Hove offers opportunities for networking, internships and placements on your doorstep.

  • The Paxton Scholarship, open to computing, maths, engineering and product design students, offers three scholarships a year worth £10,000 and a three-month paid placement at the Brighton technology company.
  • We have regular contact with games developers, including Hangar 13, Studio Gobo, Electric Square, BossAlien, and Mediatonic as well as with companies such as Unity Technologies and GitHub. As a result you can expect guest lectures from leading names in industry.
  • Local meet ups and events such as Develop: Brighton are great for networking and exchanging ideas.
  • As a student you can find internships and a doorway to job opportunities across the city through Wired Sussex, a local membership organisation for companies and individuals working in the digital sector.
  • Each year you’ll also get to enjoy the Brighton Digital Festival which brings together the city’s arts and digital cultures and communities. The festival welcomes around 47,000 visitors and features more than 150 events.

Graduate destinations 

Our graduates are working at companies including:

  • Accenture
  • Pepsi
  • Intel
  • HP
  • Vodafone
  • Arcadia Group
  • Capgemini
  • RSM UK
  • BNP Paribas.

Further study 

We have opportunities for further study at postgraduate level.

Supporting your employability

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

  • Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
  • Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
  • Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
  • Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
  • Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
  • Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more...

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Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBB–BCC (120–104 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DMM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

International Baccalaureate
26 points, with three subjects at Higher level.

Access to HE diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Level 3 units in computing required. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 24 credits at merit or above.

T-level
Merit in the Digital Production, Design and Development T-level. Other T-levels are not accepted.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Flexible admissions

When you apply to Brighton we want to hear about who you are. Grades are never the whole picture; we're interested in things like creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and the capacity to think big and find new ways of doing things. And we recognise that not everyone has the same background. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual. We recognise many qualifications and we care about all of your achievements and the experiences you've had that set you apart.

Find out more

Graphic with the text 'Potential + possibility'

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 15,300 GBP

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Travel and accommodation costs are included for all mandatory taught residential field trips, but you’ll need to provide your own food and drink.
  • There will be opportunities to attend additional study trips or optional taught residential field trips throughout the school, but these are not required to pass your course. Normally, a contribution will be required towards expenses such as travel, entrance fees and accommodation. This will vary depending on where and how long the trip is, but you should budget around £1,500.
  • Where optional international field trips are offered, these are not required to pass your course. You should expect to budget £300–£500 for these, to cover flight, accommodation, food and entrance to museums. The total amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken.
  • If you choose to take an optional paid placement, you’ll be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation, food and drink.
  • Some students require specialist outdoor equipment and/or personal protective equipment (PPE) and should budget up to £150.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software; however, many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices, but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses. Find out what free software is available from the University of Brighton.
  • Course books are available from the university, but you may wish to budget from £15 to £100 per year to buy your own copies and subscribe to design magazines.
  • In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but students may wish to print notes which would involve an extra cost.
  • Costs of up to £50 are included in the fees for students on engineering courses to pay for materials for their final year projects. On rare occasions where material costs exceed £50, they will need to be paid for by the student.

For architecture, interior architecture, design and product design, additional costs are as follow

  • Students should budget around £25 for printing and binding dissertations in their final year.
  • In your first year of studies, you will need to buy a drawing and modelling toolkit. Each course will suggest a list of items of which some will be essential, and others optional. You should budget around £100–£250 for these.
  • For most courses you will need to budget between £100 to £300 per year for printing and portfolio costs. Costs will vary depending on type of printer and type and size of paper used. Some students tend to work digitally, spending more on printing and some by hand, spending more on materials so these costs vary widely between students.
  • For most courses you will need to budget between £10 and £100 for material costs per design project. Costs will vary depending on how and what you use to make models. You are encouraged to recycle used materials where possible.
  • You will need to budget between £5–£50 to exhibit work for the end-of-year show. Fundraising by the student society, BIAAS, normally helps towards this cost.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Moulsecoomb has been transformed by a recent development of our estate. On campus you'll find new Students' Union, events venue, and sports and fitness facilities, alongside the library and student centre.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

Two people walking past Mithras halls

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:

  • Mithras Halls are stylish new high-rises in the heart of the student village at our revitalised Moulsecoomb campus with ensuite rooms for more than 800 students.
  • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Relaxing in halls

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Mithras halls room with a view

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space

Student Union social space at Moulsecoomb

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Students talking in a social area

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Stay in touch

See our upcoming events

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Statistics

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked below). You can find out also about the support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Course and module descriptions on this page were accurate when first published and are the basis of the course. Detailed information on any changes we make to modules and learning and assessment activities will be sent to all students by email before enrolment, so that you have all the information before you come to Brighton.

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Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course, and are updated following course changes.

Programme specification

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