• Undergraduate

Games, Design and Animation BSc (Hons)

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Overview

Overview

Why study at the University of West London?
  • Ranked 30th university in the UK - The Guardian University Guide 2025
  • Number 1 London university for overall student satisfaction - National Student Survey 2024**
  • Best university for Student Experience and Teaching Quality in the UK - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
Why study this course?

On this exciting course, you will be encouraged to showcase your creativity as you learn to make the visual and interactive elements of games. Specialised teaching, focused on game design and animation, will help prepare you for a career in the growing and fast-paced games industry.

As well as the key artistic and practical skills required by employers in this industry, you will explore new ways of interacting with computers and experiencing games. You will learn about the practical and theoretical aspects of creating, analysing and enjoying games.

In addition, the course will give you a foundation in the history and future of games, looking at play as art, entertainment, a form of communication and an engaging storytelling medium.

View some of our students' recent work.

Computer Games Technology student designs graphics

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Study options:
We support flexible study by offering some of our courses part-time or via distance learning. To give you real world experience before you graduate, we also offer some courses with a placement or internship. All available options are listed here. Your choices may affect some details of your course, such as the duration and cost per year. Please re-check the details on this page if you change your selection.
With Foundation Year
Duration: 4 years

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study Games, Design and Animation with us?

Why study Games, Design and Animation with us?

A collage of students

What our students say…

UWL has truly state-of-the-art facilities. I feel like I'm learning something new every day.

Nicolas Gutierrez
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Industry focused teaching
Graphic advising on-site Macs and PC Labs
Access to Perlego
A statistic stating that the University of West London has been ranked 30th overall in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2025
Course detail & modules

Course detail & modules

This course has been developed to fuse technical and creative abilities. It is firmly grounded in art and design, with computing and scripting elements interwoven throughout, to help you develop the skills you need to make the visual and interactive elements of games.

As you develop your creative 3D animation skills you will explore games as a means of communication and storytelling. You will have the freedom to experiment with new or unconventional modes of interaction or play, and we will encourage you to consider games as spectator or theatrical events.

We will introduce you to the digital tools you will work with during the course and consider how to develop game narratives, assets, and levels. 

As you progress through the course, you will be able to explore performance and motion-capture methods, as well as traditional character animation approaches. You will examine interaction and user-interface (UI) design and try out gaming ideas.

For your final year project, you will develop a digital product, which will give you valuable experience of applying your knowledge, business planning and entrepreneurial skills. This work can form the basis of your portfolio to showcase your work to future potential investors or employers.

You will leave the course with strong creative and workplace skills, and the ability to continue building your portfolio, ready to start your chosen career.

Compulsory modules

Compulsory modules

  • Digital Sculpture

    Beginning with an exploration of abstraction models of facial design, and progressing through observational drawing and clay modelling, you will develop your understanding of proportion and human anatomical features. You will go on to use the industry standard software Zbrush to model a character, exploring various problems and the tools to overcome them.

  • Character Animation

    You will gain first-hand experience of building an animation in stages, from layout to blocking through to animation and refinement. At the end of the module you will have created and documented the development of a piece of character animation that will show your ability to generate a considered and emotional performance.

  • Game Flow

  • Design for Interaction

  • Research Project

    This module aims to develop your research skills, deepen your understanding of game design, and promote your contribution to knowledge within the field. Throughout the module, you will engage with various topics and activities to achieve these aims.

  • Experimental Games

Compulsory modules

  • The Games Business

  • Sound and Action

  • Planning for Media

    This Module focuses on the creation and organisation of a ‘Moving Image’ project. This module will explore the methods for production planning and management required in the process of adapting a piece of scripted drama to a visual medium. We will introduce planning and scheduling conventions used in the film and TV industry as well as methods used in animation and games development.

  • Games Theatre

  • Project

    In the final year of your degree course, you will create your own project with a high degree of independence. You will be allocated a supervisor and then given the freedom to create a piece of work, which you feel really represents you as a student. You will be guided and supported, but this is your vision and your chance to show the world what you have achieved while you’ve been at UWL.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

112 UCAS points required from level 3 qualifications

These can include:

  • A Levels at grade B, B and C, or above
  • BTEC Extended Diploma with Distinction, Merit, Merit
  • Access to HE Diploma
  • T Levels

You also need GCSE English and Maths (grade 9 – 4 / A* - C) or Level 2 equivalents.

 

Looking for BSc (Hons) Games, Design and Animation with Foundation Year?

View Foundation Year course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.

Mature applicants (aged 21+): If you do not hold the qualifications listed but have relevant work experience, you are welcome to apply. Your application will be considered on an individual basis.

Level 5 (year 2) entry
To directly enter the second year of this course you will need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 120 undergraduate credits at Level 4 or a CertHE in a related subject area.

Level 6 (year 3) entry
To directly enter the third year of this course you need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 240 undergraduate credits (at Levels 4 and 5), a DipHE, Foundation Degree or HND in a related subject area.

Looking for BSc (Hons) Games, Design and Animation with Foundation Year?

View Foundation Year course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.
6.0 IELTS or above

You need to meet our English language requirement - a minimum of IELTS 5.5 for each of the 4 individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening). Visit our English language requirements page for information on other English language tests we accept. 

You also need academic qualifications at the same level as UK applicants. In some countries where teaching is in English, we may accept local qualifications. Check for local equivalents. 

We offer pre-sessional English language courses if you do not meet these requirements.

Find out more about our English Language courses.

Looking for BSc (Hons) Games, Design and Animation with Foundation Year?

View Foundation Year course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.

Mature applicants (aged 21+): If you do not hold the qualifications listed but have relevant work experience, you are welcome to apply. Your application will be considered on an individual basis.

Level 5 (year 2) entry
To directly enter the second year of this course you will need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 120 undergraduate credits at Level 4 or a CertHE in a related subject area.

Level 6 (year 3) entry
To directly enter the third year of this course you need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 240 undergraduate credits (at Levels 4 and 5), a DipHE, Foundation Degree or HND in a related subject area.

Looking for BSc (Hons) Games, Design and Animation with Foundation Year?

View Foundation Year course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.
Fees & funding

Fees & funding

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Additional costs

There are additional costs for this course that are not included in the tuition fees. See the links below to get a better idea of what to expect:

Please note:

  • Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
  • Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
  • If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
  • If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

You may be eligible for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees, or a maintenance loan. Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as those with dependants and disabled students.

We offer generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit. In recent years, hundreds of students have received our Full-time Undergraduate Student Bursary.

Additional scholarships specifically for students in the fields of film, media and design are also on offer.

View full details, including conditions and eligibility.

Funding your studies
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Additional costs

There are additional costs for this course that are not included in the tuition fees. See the links below to get a better idea of what to expect:

Please note:

  • Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
  • Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
  • If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
  • If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

International students - funding your studies

We offer scholarships for international students including International Ambassador Scholarships. 

Further information about funding and financial support for international students is available from the UK Council for International Student Affairs.

 

Financial support for international students
Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Course Leader Jay Shin

Jay Shin

Senior Lecturer and Course Leader at University of West London for the Games, Design and Animation course.

Senior Lecturer and Course Leader at University of West London for the Games, Design and Animation course.

Study & career progression

Study & career progression

A man excited whilst wearing a virtual reality headset whilst another man makes notes.

Once you graduate, you could go on to work in:

  • game design
  • level design
  • character art
  • interaction design
  • play testing

You may also consider roles within one of the many creative industries where you could use your transferable skills in 3D graphics, computer animation or storytelling, such as:

  • visual effects
  • animation
  • motion graphics
  • creative development
  • graphic design
  • web design
  • concept art

You may decide to specialise in a related area or explore a new subject. Please see our postgraduate courses for a range of options.

How to apply

How to apply

Search for courses

ARTSFEST

line drawing of a girl's head

Find out more about the work our students produce and view some of their recent work by visiting our Design ARTSFEST page. 

Find out more

Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

*Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

**The National Student Survey 2023 and 2024 - Average of answers to all questions by registered student population. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.

Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.

Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.