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BA (Hons)
Games Design
Key Information
Academic Year
Turn your ideas into playable, interactive experiences
Game design is not simply about making games look good or learning to code. It is about understanding how players interact with games, developing ideas that are engaging and accessible, and working with different creative and technical disciplines to turn those ideas into playable experiences.
At Lincoln, we bring together game design, programming, visual design, animation, sound, CGI, user experience and immersive technologies. You will learn how the different elements of a game work together, from developing an initial concept and gameplay ideas, to creating prototypes and producing substantial projects.
You will learn through practical, project-based work, building your skills progressively before completing a substantial independent project in your final year. You will also have the opportunity to apply for an Industry Placement Year and study abroad.
Whether you already have a clear ambition to become a game designer, or you are still exploring which area of the industry interests you most, this course will help you develop your strengths and build a portfolio of work to kickstart your career in the games industry.
Why study Games Design at Lincoln?
Develop a broad understanding of how games are designed and produced, while building practical skills you can use in games and wider digital creative industries.
Combine creative and technical skills
Explore game design alongside programming, visual production, animation, sound, CGI, UX and immersive technologies.
Learn by making
Apply your knowledge through projects, prototypes, collaborative development and independent creative work.
Graduate with transferable skills
Develop the communication, teamwork and project management skills needed when different specialists work together.
Build a portfolio
Create practical work that demonstrates your ideas, skills and development.
Explore your interests
Develop a broad foundation before having greater scope to tailor your final-year study towards your career ambitions.
Gain workplace experience
Apply for a placement year to gain professional experience before graduating.
Prepare for a changing industry
Explore games as creative, cultural and social experiences, including questions around ethics, accessibility, identity and representation.
The course has been designed around the way games are actually produced: different people bring different skills to a project, but everyone needs to understand how their contribution fits into the wider experience.
What you'll learn
You will follow a clear progression from fundamental knowledge and skills, to collaborative development and independent professional practice.
Year 1 – Build your foundations
You will be introduced to the principles of game design and the wider cultural context of games. Alongside this, you will develop skills in programming, visual design, CGI, storytelling and sound.
This combination gives you an understanding of both the creative and technical processes involved in producing games. You will begin applying your knowledge through practical projects, while developing your ability to communicate and evaluate creative ideas.
Year 2 – Develop through collaboration
You will apply your skills to more complex projects and develop your ability to work as part of a team. This provides experience of collaborative, studio-style working, supported by study in areas including CGI production, concept development, user experience, storytelling and game sound.
You will learn how individual creative and technical decisions contribute to a wider project, while developing skills in communication, planning, problem-solving and responding to feedback.
Year 3 – Refine your specialist direction
The final year gives you greater scope to focus your learning around your own personal interests and career ambitions.
You will complete a substantial independent project, allowing you to develop a significant piece of work that demonstrates your skills and interests. You will also explore areas such as games cultures, creative futures, game design methods and approaches, immersive audio, and virtual and augmented reality.
Your learning will culminate in work that can help demonstrate your ability to develop an idea, solve problems, work independently and communicate your capabilities.
Assessment is primarily coursework and practice-led. This includes portfolios, prototypes, design work and reflective activities, allowing you to demonstrate what you can create as well as what you understand.
Support and student experience
You will have academic, careers and placement support as you develop your skills and prepare for your next step. Your course is built around practical and collaborative learning, with opportunities to receive feedback, develop ideas and reflect on your progress. Careers support is integrated into the programme through careers- related teaching, employer and alumni activity, careers fairs, internships and work experience opportunities.
If you choose to pursue a placement, the University's placement and internship support can help you identify opportunities and prepare for the recruitment process. You can also access the University's wider student support services alongside your academic studies. The interdisciplinary structure means you will be part of a wider community spanning creative arts and technical subjects. This can give you opportunities to learn from different approaches to games, digital production and creative problem-solving.
Careers and future opportunities
A BA (Hons) Game Design degree can prepare you for roles across games, interactive media, digital production and related creative and technology industries.
Potential career destinations include:
- Game designer
- Game developer
- Game artist
- Concept artist
- VFX artist
- Multimedia specialist
- Multimedia programmer
- Applications developer
- Software engineer
- Freelance or independent creative practitioner
Your opportunities are not limited to traditional games studios. The skills you develop can also be relevant to wider multimedia, digital creative and technology roles.
Entry Requirements 2027-28
United Kingdom
104 to 112 UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of 2 A Levels or equivalent Level 3 qualifications.
If you are eligible for a contextual offer, a one grade or 8 UCAS Tariff point reduction to the standard entry requirements will be applied.
A Level: BBC
BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
T Level: Merit
Access to Higher Education Diploma: 45 Level 3 credits with a minimum of 112 UCAS Tariff points.
International Baccalaureate: 29 points overall
GCSE's: Minimum of three at grade 4 or above, which must include English and Maths . Equivalent Level 2 qualifications may be considered.
The University accepts a wide range of qualifications as the basis for entry and do accept a combination of qualifications which may include A Levels, BTECs, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
We will also consider applicants with extensive and relevant work experience and will give special individual consideration to those who do not meet the standard entry qualifications.
International
Non UK Qualifications:
If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages
https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/ for information on equivalent qualifications.
EU and Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page
If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills courses.
If you would like further information about entry requirements, or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the Admissions team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk
Contextual Offers
At Lincoln, we recognise that not everybody has had the same advice and support to help them get to higher education. Contextual offers are one of the ways we remove the barriers to higher education, ensuring that we have fair access for all students regardless of background and personal experiences. For more information, including eligibility criteria, visit our Offer Guide pages. If you are applying to a course that has any subject specific requirements, these will still need to be achieved as part of the standard entry criteria.Is this course right for you?
This course could be right for you if you want to combine creativity, technology and practical game development.
It may suit you if you:
- enjoy games and want to understand how they are designed and made
- want to develop creative ideas into playable experiences
- are interested in both creative and technical subjects
- want to explore different areas of games before choosing where to specialise
- enjoy making, experimenting and solving problems
- want experience of collaborative project work
- want to develop a portfolio alongside your degree
- are considering a career in games, interactive media or wider digital creative industries.
You do not need to have your entire career mapped out before you start. The course provides a broad foundation before giving you greater opportunity to shape your final-year work around your interests and ambitions.
If you want a degree that combines game design with programming, visual production, sound, animation, CGI and immersive technologies, while giving you opportunities to develop practical work and professional experience, Games Design at Lincoln could be a strong fit.
Fees and Funding
University Study is a major investment, so it’s important to understand the costs and support available. A full breakdown of the fees associated with this programme can be found below. Eligible students may be able to access scholarships and bursaries to help with study costs.