Our BA (Hons) Computer Games Design degree 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.
For those who prefer to work with the technical tools that make computer games run smoothly on a variety of devices, we also offer Computer Games Art, Computer Games Technology and Computer Games Programming degree courses.
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Sam McHaffie, Final Project 2023
See more of our undergraduate computer games students' workMore than 200 students from across the country took part in industry-led talks and portfolio reviews, while showcasing their work and networking with major gaming companies like Frontier and Jagex.
ARU Senior Lecturer in Computer Games Art Adam Twycross explains which of our undergraduate computer games courses is the best choice for you.
2021 showreel of work by students on the BA Computer Games Art course at the School of Creative Industries at ARU in Cambridge
As a Computer Games student at ARU you'll have access to:
Our Computer Games Technical Officer will be on hand to offer training and support. You can also get training in the use of all our creative facilities.
Our new digital workshop includes a variety of computer aided manufacturing machines, helping you learn up to date manufacturing and design processes as well as supporting many traditional techniques. These technologies include:
As a student at ARU you'll benefit from:
Our Creative Showcase shines a spotlight on what makes ARU creative and cultural – our spaces, places and people. Find out more about our community, the difference we make, the stories we tell, and the things that inspire us.
Meanwhile, Present is an exhibition that you curate for yourself. Explore the work of our graduating students in this eye-catching virtual degree show.
Alternatively, take a guided tour and meet our students.
Senior Lecturer Practitioner
Deputy Head of School
Senior Lecturer Practitioner
Senior Lecturer
Lecturer
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 on the course 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.
The live briefs you take part in will not only help you prepare for work in the games industry – some may show you how you can use your skills for communal wellbeing, regardless of where your career takes you. For example, our brief in conjunction with mental health charity Safe In Our World will allow you to research the professional and ethical issues faced within the games industry, and present your findings through a group presentation.
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.
After you graduate, you might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our MA Computer Games Development (Art) degree. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and save 20% on your fees.
Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.
You will need to dedicate time outside of your course to develop your employability, through placements, internships or volunteering or through our partner scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). You can evidence this experience on your CV and talk about it in interviews to give you that all important edge.
Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.
Our friendly, bustling campus is a stone’s throw from the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.
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Applying for one of our creative courses? Get expert advice on putting together a portfolio that showcases your skills.
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