Skip navigation
You are viewing our beta course page.

Games Design and Art

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Winchester School of Art
More about University of Southampton

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
Apply

Course summary

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 98% of Arts graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes 2021/2022, published in 2024).

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 learn to apply design-thinking to the creation of brand new games and refine them through research-led creative investigation, making, prototyping and user testing.

You’ll explore the full spectrum of gaming, including screen-based (video) games, augmented and virtual reality game-making, alongside the physical production of products such as location-based games, board games, card 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.

*Course subject to programme review

Modules

You will study a variety of topics that cover the fundamental aspects of Games Design and you will have the opportunity to tailor your course to your interests by choosing some of your modules.

Some of the modules you may study include Games Design & Culture; Game Mechanics; Collaborate (Games Innovation); Games Design; Games Development Process; Games Development Pipelines; Game Pitching and Presenting; Game Project Proposal; Major Project – Promotion and Marketing; Major Project – Unique Impact Games; Professional Planning (Games Industry).

For further module information visit https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/games-design-art-degree-ba#modules

Assessment method

The learning activities for this course include the following:
Lectures
Classes and Tutorials
Coursework
Individual and group projects

How we'll assess you:
Essays
Individual and group projects
Oral presentations
Portfolios

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Winchester School of Art

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 21/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
1L6F
Institution code:
S27
Campus name:
Winchester School of Art
Campus Code:
W
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Southampton has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

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.

Application codes

Course code:
1L6F
Institution code:
S27
Campus name:
Winchester School of Art
Campus Code:
W

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

Find out about equivalent entry requirements and qualifications for your country: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/international/your-country.page

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - BBB

including an art, design, media, humanities or creative IT based subject Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.

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

Distinction, Distinction, Merit in the BTEC National Extended Diploma in an art, design, media, humanities or creative IT based subject

Access to HE Diploma

60 credits overall in an art related subject with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3. Out of the 45 credits at level 3, Distinction in 24 credits and Merit in 21 credits

Scottish Higher

We normally consider applicants who offer at least 1 Advanced Higher. Applicants presenting with only Highers will be considered on a case by case basis. Where Highers are taken over two years it might be expected that higher grades are achieved, particularly in any specific subjects required. For example, S5 – S6 (2 years): AABBB (A in specific subject) or S6 (1 year): ABBBB (A in specific subject). Unless a more advanced level (Higher or Advanced Higher) is specified in the stated entry requirements, all applicants will be required to have achieved a pass in Mathematics and English at Standard Grade, Grade 3 or National 5, Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/ Grade 4" We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

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

Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC National Diploma plus B in an A level including an art, design, media, humanities or creative IT based subject

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016) - D

Distinction in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus BB in two A levels including an art, design, media, humanities or creative IT based subject

Scottish Advanced Higher

Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education. Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact Admissions for more information.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 30 points

Pass, with 30 points overall with 15 points at Higher Level Applications where Higher Level subjects have been studied without the full Diploma, will also be considered on a case by case basis. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP): Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales - B

BBB from three A levels including an art, design, media, humanities or creative IT based subject or BB from two A levels including an art, design, media, humanities or creative IT based subject and B from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024) - B

BBB from three A levels including an art, design, media, humanities or creative IT based subject or BB from two A levels including an art, design, media, humanities or creative IT based subject and B from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H2, H2, H3, H3, H3, H3

H2 H2 H3 H3 H3 H3 including an art, design, media, humanities or creative IT based subject

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal - M2, M2, M2

M2 M2 M2 in three principal subjects including an art, design, media, humanities or creative IT based subject

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)

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 AdmissionsUG.AH@southampton.ac.uk

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio
Applicants who are based outside the UK and whose academic qualifications meet (or are on track to meet) our entry requirements will be required to send us a portfolio of their work. Portfolios will be requested by email after an application has been reviewed. Portfolio guidance sheets can be found at http://www.southampton.ac.uk/wsa/undergraduate/apply.page

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5with no component below 6.0
All programmes at the University of Southampton are taught and assessed in the medium of English (other than those in modern foreign languages). Therefore, all applicants must demonstrate they possess at least a minimum standard of English language proficiency.

Find out more about the University’s English Language requirements https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/admissions/admissions-policies/language.page

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Most of the students who enrolled on this course in previous years met their offer conditions at our published entry criteria, securing their place on their chosen course.

We encourage all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, to apply to study with us. Applicants who qualify for contextual admissions will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Learn more on the University of Southampton website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9250Year 1
Northern Ireland£9250Year 1
Scotland£9250Year 1
Wales£9250Year 1
Channel Islands£9250Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9250Year 1
EU£24200Year 1
International£24200Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Please see our website for further details and updates: www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/fees-funding.page

Related courses

At University of Southampton

Like this page