Games Design and Development BSc Honours
Grow your design and development skills supported by experienced academic staff. Enhance your programming, experiment with technology and master gameplay design, prototyping, and in-game engine scripting
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Viewing course details for 2025-26 year of entry
- Code
- W246
- Attendance
- Full-time, Part-time
- Start
- September 2025
- Fees
- £9,250 (UK) | £16,600 (INT)
- Duration
- 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time
- Course Leader
- Penda Tomlinson
- Study mode
- On campus
- Location
- Hendon campus
- Entry Requirements
- 112 UCAS points
- Placement year
- Optional
- School / Department
- School of Film
Why choose Games Design and Development BSc at Middlesex?
Do you want to design and balance game mechanics to create emergent dynamic player experiences? On this hands-on course, you'll be making games with a mix of digital and paper prototyping and planning from week one.
Design and script games from day one. On this highly practical course, you'll be making games with a mix of digital and paper prototyping and planning. You will be introduced to a range of tools for bringing your ideas into reality, including Adventure Game Studio, RPGMaker, RenPy, Unity and Unreal.
As well as technical skills you will develop the communications and entrepreneurial skills needed to put together and manage a multi-disciplined team. You will get plenty of hands-on experience and opportunities for collaborating with other Middlesex students from our 3D animation, art and design, music, computing and graphics departments as part of our coordinated workshop activities.
You will learn design communication skills including writing, scripting, prototyping and storytelling. And learn the concepts and history of game design which will build confident communication skills so that you can explain what makes existing games successful and what players do in games that keeps them playing. You’ll also learn critical and analytical techniques for observing playtests, offering peer feedback, and iterating ideas.
There will be opportunities for experimental design to develop your ability to evaluate and adapt technologies to create new game experiences.
What you will gain
The games industry is complex, diverse and spans a variety of old and new technologies from print to computer software to 3D printed game pieces. This BSc gives you the skills and knowledge you need to become a successful games developer and designer in this fast-changing industry.
You will learn how to communicate a detailed game idea professionally across a range of modes including writing, prototyping, diagramming, speaking. We will develop your experience with a variety of game engines and teach you how to use them to produce digital prototypes to match industry briefs. You will gain hands-on experience of creating and publishing games using surprising mixtures of technologies and gameplay design
We'll help you build your portfolio, setting you up for a successful career in a range of creative industries. This degree's mix of in-person and online teaching will prepare you for the world of work.
You’ll develop your employability skills and industry connections with a range of work placements and internship opportunities. Year after year, students from this programme produce fantastic, high-quality game prototypes.
Take a look at some of the games created by our students (Itch.io) past and present.
Global experiences at Middlesex
We offer unique global experiences which could include studying part of your degree abroad and doing a placement or volunteering in another country, as well as many international opportunities in London. You'll build your cultural awareness and understanding and get a competitive edge in the job market. You may even qualify for grant funding under the Turing Scheme. Find out more about how studying at Middlesex will increase your global experience.
What you will learn
You will learn key technical skills such as programming, game engine scripting and technical game design and prototyping. You will also learn how to effectively communicate and present your experimental game ideas. This will involve developing skills in creating concept documents, pitching game proposals, and incorporating feedback from peers and industry professionals.
3 great reasons to pick this course
Part-time study
Study at your own pace alongside work and other commitments and get the skills and knowledge you need to progress in your career.
When choosing a part-time course, you will study the same modules as the full-time course but over a longer period.
Find out more about the many benefits of studying part-time at Middlesex University.
About your course
In year one you will play and analyse games critically in class using both digital and table-top games. You will use the critical language you develop to communicate your own designs through writing, diagramming, prototyping, and playtesting. In years two and three you will develop your prototyping and design communication skills through a variety of industry facing briefs and projects, individually and in small groups, including collaborating with students on other degrees. The overall themes of this degree are design communication, data driven design, project work, analysis, research, reflection, collaboration, making, diversity, integrating fun with technology, play and experimentation.
This module is designed to:
- Develop critical skills by examining a range of topics associated with games culture
- Teach you how to assess the construction of games produced for non-entertainment contexts
- Enable you to devise gameplay and mechanics for non-entertainment contexts.
- Build upon existing game design, development and management skills
- Engage with a professional brief from industry
- Create appropriate professional documentation in response to industry brief
- Evaluate and respond to the requirements of an intellectual property and audience
- Work as part of a team to design and develop an advanced game prototype.
This module builds on your existing technical knowledge to help you evaluate various technologies and techniques and generate game appropriate ideas using them and make prototypes to test the ideas. It will provide you with:
- A knowledge of technical advances informing the direction of games design and development
- The ability to evaluate and test advanced technologies and predict their application in practical project development
- A critical understanding of the ways in which new game interfaces are developed in light of developing technologies
- New technical competences with novel forms of interaction to expand application potential.
This module will provide you with:
- A range of methods for rapidly prototyping and experimenting with gameplay ideas and evaluating them
- The ability to propose and test game ideas that provide unexpected play experiences or promoting unique feelings within players through mechanics
- A critical understanding of the core aspects of technical design including generative gameplay, emergent gameplay, interactive storytelling, and innovative user interfaces
- The space to learn from failure.
- Understand the processes needed to run a professional project and to demonstrate industry ready skills
- Critically evaluate project work within the context of theory, history and existing practice in the field to and effectively communicate outcomes
- Communicate ideas, challenges and solutions in the field of study to demonstrate independent, responsible practices
- Apply academic reading and analysis to areas of Games Design research to inform project work
- Use appropriate social research methods with an understanding of the ethical requirements of undertaking user research.
- Develop an awareness of professional games development workplace environments and the current recruitment process
- Manage your professional development portfolio to help with career planning
- Demonstrate a body of work in games design and development
- Work independently to make decisions in dynamic professional contexts.
To find out more about this course please download the Games Design and Development programme specification (PDF).
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Teaching
You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience. You will learn by attending project-based workshops and learning groups supported with short lectures. Working together you’ll develop critical language for communicating ideas about gameplay, game experiences, and game-based storytelling. You’ll make and playtest games digitally and using physical materials, discussing your prototypes with peers and tutors. In some modules you will work with students on related courses - 3D animation, art and design, computing and graphics - learning about teamwork and professional workflow as you collaborate. Focused on interactive storytelling and design, we'll equip you with the skills you need for a career in this rapidly changing area. Most learning groups have about 20–30 students. Work is divided into credits of approximately 10 hours of study You will need to complete 120 credits per year.
You will study at our leafy north London campus, in Hendon.
During your first year, your weekly timetable will typically consist of:
- 6 hours of practical workshops
- 6 hours of seminars.
Here is an indication of how you will split your time:
Year 1
| Percentage | Hours | Typical Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 24% | 288 | Teaching, learning and assessment |
| 76% | 912 | Independent learning |
Year 2
| Percentage | Hours | Typical Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 24% | 288 | Teaching, learning and assessment |
| 76% | 912 | Independent learning |
Year 3
| Percentage | Hours | Typical activity |
|---|---|---|
| 22% | 264 |
Teaching, learning and assessment |
| 78% | 936 | Independent learning |
Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.
We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.
Our excellent teaching and support teams will help you develop your skills from research and practical skills to critical thinking. Our Sheppard Library is open from 7am to 11pm Monday to Sunday during term time. And we offer free 24-hour laptop loans with full desktop software, free printing and Wi-Fi to use on or off campus.
You will be assessed through practical production work including sample scripts and playable prototypes, videos of both playthroughs and design breakdowns, game planning reports, reflective reports, as well as critical essays.
To help you achieve the best results, we will provide regular feedback.
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North London campus
Our north London campus is just 20 minutes from central London, giving you easy access to everything this vibrant city has to offer. Make the most of incredible professional opportunities, cultural experiences, and more affordable living, all within a supportive and close-knit campus community.
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Our media and VFX studio is home to a wide range of sophisticated technology, enabling the creation of rich visual effects
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You can work with wood, metal and plastics and the latest technologies, including a computer-controlled 3D printer
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You will have access to our media store, with a range of industry-standard equipment for loan
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Our digital media workshops have high-end work stations for all kinds of digital media, from video editing to 3D graphics and music composition.
Student support
We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.
Additional needs
We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.
Wellness
Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.
Work while you study
Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.
Financial support
You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.
We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.
Careers
How can the Game Design and Development BSc support your career?
This degree equips you with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive as a game designer in a dynamic industry. Through hands-on experience, you will develop a portfolio that will set you up for a successful career in a range of creative industries.
Graduate job roles
This degree opens up a wide variety of different career options, including technical game designer, gameplay designer, level designer, interaction designer, app designer, developer and programmer.
Graduate employers
Graduates from the course have gone into a range of roles throughout the gaming and creative industries:
- Junior Open World Designer at CDProjeckt Red
- Game Designer at Outplay Entertainment
- Game Developer at Trick27
- Level Designer at Pixel Foundation
- QA Tester at Rockstar
- Account Assistant at PlayStation
- Assistant Producer at Square Enix
Transferable skills
This degree's mix of in-person and online teaching will prepare you for the distributed nature of the world of work. You will gain experience and skills in management and team collaboration.
MDXworks
Our employability service, MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.
Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has put us in the top 10 UK universities for students who want to be CEOs and entrepreneurs (Hitachi, 2021).
MDXcelerator Student Start-Up Support
Want to be your own boss? You'll have the chance to pitch your business to gain mentoring and grants of up to £15,000.
Global network
You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll still support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.
Work placements
Placements and internships can greatly improve your future job prospects after you graduate. They usually boost your confidence and academic results by giving you the opportunity to practice what have learned in a professional setting.
Our specialist employability service will help you find placement opportunities.
Entry requirements
At Middlesex, we're proud of how we recognise the potential of future students like you. We make fair and aspirational offers because we want you to aim high, and we’ll support you all the way.
Qualifications
- 112 UCAS points
- including GCSE Grade C/4 in mathematics
- A-Level
- BBC
- BTEC
- DMM
- Access requirements
- Overall pass: must include 45 credits at level 3, of which all 45 must be at Merit or higher
- Combinations
- A combination of A-Level, BTEC and other accepted qualifications that total 112 UCAS Tariff points
We accept T Levels for entry onto this course (and our extended courses with a foundation year) with GCSEs in line with UCAS tariff calculation.
We’ll always be as flexible as possible and take into consideration any barriers you may have faced in your learning. And, if you don’t quite get the grades you hoped for, we’ll also look at more than your qualifications. Things like your work experience, other achievements and your personal statement.
If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, we may be able to count this towards your entry requirements.
Our entry requirements page outlines how we make offers.
Portfolio
Entry onto this course requires a portfolio review, please see more information in the Portfolio tab.
Transfer courses?
If you have a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND or have completed terms at another university, you may be able to join us in year two or three. Find out how to transfer courses.
Mature students (over 21)
You can apply at any age, even without formal qualifications, provided you can demonstrate relevant experience and ability.
We welcome students from the UK and all over the world. Join students from over 122 countries and discover why so many international students call our campus home:
- Quality teaching with top facilities plus flexible online learning
- Welcoming north London campus that's only 30 minutes from central London
- Work placements and networking with top London employers
- Award-winning career support to get you where you want to go after university.
Qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the accepted qualifications on your country's support page. If you are unsure of the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest international office.
English language
You will need to meet our English language requirements. And, don’t worry If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, as we offer a Pre-sessional English course.
Visas
To study with us in the UK, you might need a Student visa. Please check to see if this applies to you.
After you have applied, we will send you a link for you to submit your portfolio online via the applicant portal.
Please apply via UCAS using the code W246.
Need help with your application? Check out our undergraduate application page.
Personal Statement
Find out how to make a an effective personal statement.
Interviews
You won't be required to interview for this course.
Fees
The fees below are for the 2025/26 academic year:
UK students1
Full-time: £9,250
Part-time: £77 per taught credit
International students2
Full-time students: £16,600
Part-time students: £138 per taught credit
Additional costs
The following study tools are included in your fees:
- Free access to resources, learning materials and software you need to succeed on your course
- Free laptop loans for up to 24 hours
- Free specialist software for your course
- Free printing for academic paperwork
- Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.
The following course-related costs are not included in the fees, and you will need to budget for these:
- Additional books that you wish to purchase
- Memory media
- Stationery
- Travel to some (non-course essential) external events
Scholarships and bursaries
To help make uni affordable, we do everything we can to support you including our:
- MDX Excellence Scholarship offers grants of up to £2,000 per year for UK students
- Regional or International Merit Awards which reward International students with up to £2,000 towards course fees
- Our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.
Find out more about undergraduate funding and all of our scholarships and bursaries.
Fees disclaimers
1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase undergraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.
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