**Become a specialist in the field of games design and learn to work as part of a creative project team, with our Computer Games Design degree.**

Our BA (Hons) Computer Games Design course will take you through the main areas of computer games development, from idea generation all the way to releasing a playable and polished game.

As you study you’ll develop specialist skills in game design, level design, user interface design, and user experience design. You’ll learn about different methods for user and task analysis that will help you develop intuitive and accessible interfaces.

You’ll also develop a deep understanding of the two most popular commercial game engines, Unity and Unreal – knowledge that is highly sought after in the creative industries.

And of course you’ll build a professional portfolio to showcase your skills to future employers and clients.

There’s never been a better time to take a degree in computer games. According to UKIE, the value of the UK video games market reached £7bn in 2020. The industry needs highly skilled graduates that can work in multidisciplinary teams.

ARU is the place to study a computer games degree. The East of England is a hub for games companies, including Jagex, Frontier Developments and Ninja Theory. As a Computer Games Design student at ARU, you’ll be based in the heart of Cambridge.

Working as a team is crucial to games development, so you’ll take part in collaborative projects with students from other creative courses, developing your skills in teamwork and project management.

Every year, you’ll also tackle live briefs from our industry partners. These might include prototyping game ideas, and even developing teaser games. You’ll have a chance to take part in negotiated briefs too, which may focus more on your particular interests and specialisms.

Throughout your Computer Games Design degree, our expert staff are on hand to offer support and feedback. They’ll help you create an online presence to showcase your work.

You’ll also attend games jams, industry talks, conferences and festivals, like our annual gaming-inspired event Gamebridge. At Gamebridge, students from across the country attend industry-led talks and 1-2-1 portfolio reviews, whilst showcasing their work and networking with companies such as Frontier and Jagex, as well as other like-minded students.

**Industry-standard facilities**

As a Computer Games student at ARU you'll have access to:

- High-end computers with graphic tablets

- Motion capture equipment

- Render farm

- Industry-standard SLRs (for HDRI capture)

- HD cameras

- Top of the range 3D modelling, animation, and compositing software including Maya, Motion Builder, 3DS Max, Mudbox, ZBrush and Unity 3D

Our Computer Games Technical Officer will be on hand to offer training and support. You'll also have access to all our other creative facilities and equipment.

**Careers**

Our BA (Hons) Computer Games Design degree will help you get experience and find future work in design-focused roles such as game designer, level designer, user interface designer, and user experience designer.

All your work will go into your professional portfolio, including an online presence on portfolio sites, websites and blogs, so you’ll be ready to showcase your skills to future employers and clients.

Live briefs will not only help you prepare for work in the games industry – some may show you how to use your skills for communal wellbeing, regardless of where you work. For example, our brief with mental health charity Safe In Our World allows you to research professional and ethical issues faced within the games industry.

Research-based learning will play a large role in your project work, helping you develop a range of academic skills including information literacy, critical thinking and presenting an argument. You’ll also pick up transferable skills in teamwork, project organisation and management, and self-development.