School of Creative Industries

FD (Arts) Digital Media and Games Design

FD (Arts) Part-time 3 years, Full-time 2 years

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FD (Arts)
Start date(s)
16 September 2024
UCAS Code
Course specifications
Course length
Part-time (3 years),Full-time (2 years)
Campus location
Heart of Worcestershire College
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Why choose this course?

The Digital Media and Games Design industries are both rapidly expanding and increasing in use and popularity. From the prominence of mobile applications to the continued recognition of PC and console gaming, media and visual design. Courses in this sector have never been so relevant and in demand.

This course will provide you with a broad understanding and knowledge of games and digital media design. A range of technical and methodological skills necessary to analyse, design and implement the development of these media will be delivered on the course.

3D modelling and the use of game engines is one of the main focuses of the course and will give students the ability to be proficient with these tools.

Modules on the course are structured to allow a progressive learning curve using iterations for visual design and idea generation for product prototypes and full games. In order to aid your development, the course has a range of specialist equipment and software such as motion capture and virtual reality to help bring your ideas to life. There is also a good opportunity to aid with teamwork and employability skills with real world clients.

What happens on the course?

Students will be required to attend two full working days each week, which will consist of four separate sessions. 16 contact/teaching hours plus encouraged continuing professional development outside of this allocated time.

2 versions of the course are available:

  • Full-time - 12 modules over 2 years (3 modules in each semester)
  • Part-time - 12 modules over 3 years (2 modules in each semester)

The modules taught on the course include:

Year 1

  • Interaction in Games
  • Games Structures
  • Game Modelling
  • Graphic Design
  • Working to a Client Brief
  • Digital Animation and Video Production

Year 2

  • Group Project
  • Pitch and Development
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Game Production
  • Character Modelling
  • Advanced Modelling for Games

Unlike some other courses that have a specific game related focus. This course aims to give students in-depth knowledge on what is expected within the games industry; but also aims to show students that their skills are an asset in other related digital media environments. This gives students a wider range of potential employability options and a broader skillset. 

The course modules are structured to give students a natural progression to make sure they are not overwhelmed or become demotivated. A selection of varying modules is included that involve 2D and 3D design; level design; animation and gameplay mechanics. Other modules allow students to interact with peers and local organisations in a controlled and constructive environment.

Modules have been formed to allow students to further improve their portfolio. Opportunities to improve student portfolios will be encouraged throughout and all modules have been strategically formed to allow practical examples of student work to be visually expressed.

Opportunities to develop employability skills run throughout the course and a practical experience of complete production life-cycles allow students to choose the direction of their career and their specialism more realistically and informatively. Also, if a student decided to become an independent developer, they would benefit from having a much better understanding and practical experience of professional workflows.

All learning activities in this course are embedded with key skills that will enable graduates to be a digitally literate practitioner with the necessary set of skills at the right level and a portfolio of work to pursue a career within the field of digital media and games design.

Teaching and learning environments can consist of the following strategies -

Undertaking project-based learning activities, workshops and case studies, supported by lectures and seminar sessions

  • Structured studio and lab learning
  • Software tuition
  • Practical demonstration
  • Teamwork
  • Group discussions
  • Group lead projects
  • Presentations from industry professionals
  • Individual and group tutorials
  • Problem-based tasks inside and outside the sessions
  • Formative and summative assignments and feedback
  • Use of web and other digital software support material
  • Self-directed study

All summative assessments are course-based and there are no written exams. Most module sessions happen in workshops where weekly feedback is given while students work on their projects and discuss their progress.

Level Four

  • Essay and report writing
  • Presentations
  • Development and production of game concepts
  • Reflective learning logs
  • Producing practical work based on a brief
  • Creating game levels

Level Five

  • Cooperative group planning of projects
  • Group production of finished artefacts
  • Presentations
  • Reflective learning logs
  • Design documents & report writing
  • Producing practical work based on a self-initiated proposal
  • Producing practical work based on a brief

?Who will teach you on this course?

 

Jonathan Briggs - Course Leader

Department

  • Computing & Digital Media

Qualifications:

  • BA Honours Degree in Games and Digital Media
  • DTLLS

Modules taught:

  • Game Modelling
  • Graphic Design
  • Game Production
  • Character Modelling
  • Advanced Modelling for Games

 

Jake Potts - Lecturer

Department

  • Computing & Digital Media

Qualifications

  • BA Honours Degree in Games and Digital Media
  • DET

Modules taught:

  • Games Structures
  • Digital Animation and Video Production
  • Pitch and Development
  • Emerging Technologies

 

James Wearing - Lecturer

Department

  • Computing & Digital Media

Qualifications

  • BA Honours Degree in Games and Digital Media
  • DET

Modules taught:

  • Interaction in Games
  • Working to a Client Brief

 

We are currently reviewing our foundation course to enhance student learning and success. Course details may be subject to updates. Please keep an eye on our pages for updates.

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

Students can gain a range of employment opportunities in different fields. This can be within the games industry or other non-media based industries that requires the skill sets acquired on the Foundation Degree.

Students could find employment through the following roles:

  • Level designer
  • 3D modeller
  • Texture artist
  • 3D visualiser
  • 2D/3D game designers
  • Character designer
  • Character rigging
  • Cutscene animation
  • App developer
  • UI designer
  • Game testers

During the course, there will be opportunities to identify what skills and areas of interest a student is especially attracted to. Each student will be encouraged to focus on these specific aspects to allow them every chance of acquiring employability in their chosen field. Students will also be given the chance to communicate with professional individuals through the work-based learning modules. This will give them an opportunity to network and become more known to local companies and organisations.

Optional progression to the final year of the BA (Hons) Computer Games Design course at the University of Wolverhampton is also available to acquire a higher qualification.

This allows students to acquire guidance from Heart of Worcestershire College and the University of Wolverhampton. This gives larger scope to allow students to find related job opportunities and suitable pathways in a broader area.

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

The University of Wolverhampton and Heart of Worcestershire College have come together to create a strong collaborative partnership.

Heart of Worcestershire College provides a more unique and personal approach to learning due to being situated in a range of quieter and less busy locations compared to many universities. This allows for more one-to-one guidance and support.

Heart of Worcestershire College allows for the full university experience in a more local and familiar environment. This also allows more time to get used to higher education before making commitments to move away or learning in a completely new setting.

Work stations have been created to be able to run the latest industry software in order to ensure that the workflow is improved and more streamlined.

Software ranges from 3D modelling programs and 2D and 3D game engines.

Virtual reality (VR) and motion capture is available at the college, which meets the expectations of university courses. This technology can be used with a variety of modules to make the work more immersive and add a new layer of complexity to strong designs.

Through the varied selection of modules students will be given opportunities to further their skills -

The skills learnt on the course consist of the following:

  • Idea generation
  • 3D Modelling
  • Texturing
  • 3D Level Design
  • 3D Animation
  • Game structures and balancing
  • Game mechanics
  • Interface Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Professional workflows and group work
  • Working with clients, e.g. architectural visualisations, forensics, applications for a specialist target audience

  • GCSE English and Mathematics at grade C / 4 or above
  • AND

    • DD from ‘A’ levels
    • BTEC Extended Diploma in a related subject PPP
    • BTEC Diploma in a related subject MP
    • If you've got other qualifications or relevant experience, please contact The Gateway for further advice before applying.
    • International entry requirements and application guidance can be found here

    Those meeting the entry requirements may be shortlisted for an interview at Heart of Worcestershire College

    Other Requirements

    Students must have studied a minimum of two years post GCSE level. However, it is expected that some applicants will be mature students with work experience, who wish to further their career development. These applicants will be processed through standard procedures, which may involve an interview as part of the process. Please see http://wlv.ac.uk/mature for further information.

    Those who do not meet the entry requirements may be offered an alternative course.

    “The Foundation degree was right for me because it allowed me to comfortable and friendly environment. We had various guests talk to us from places like the National Stroke Association, Shire Consulting, the police for the reconstruct of crime scenes and Rockstar games. We also had the opportunity to work with most of these people. This helped give me insight to the options available to me and what was expected in an actual work place.”

     

    -  Henry Watton

     

    “I feel the Foundation degree was the best choice I could have made, as it allowed me to continue on in an environment where I felt familiar with almost everyone and could feel comfortable doing the required work. The opportunities presented throughout the course were perfect for learning industry skills, such as our client-based project with Shire Consulting, which helped me both gain skills in multiple areas, and assisted in the decision on where to go later in life.”

     

    -        Joshua Bennett-Ward

    Self-funding:

    If you don’t want to take out a loan to pay your fees or if you aren’t eligible to receive a loan, you might want to take advantage of the University’s scheme to pay by instalments: see How to pay.

    Gateway.


    Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

    If your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

    We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


    Financial Hardship:

    Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


    Bursaries and Scholarships:

    In addition the University also offers a range of Bursaries and Scholarships packages

    You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

    Telephone

    01902 32 22 22

    Email

    enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

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