Digital Design
Are you passionate about the web? Would you like to help businesses reach and implement creative online solutions? Solent University’s MSc Digital Design programme teaches...
Take your creative gaming ideas and turn them into marketable gaming products on this exciting undergraduate degree. You’ll work with experienced academics and industry professionals, designing and developing ideas into finished games preparing you with the skills and knowledge for a fascinating career after graduation.
Starting with fundamental design tools, the course focuses on creating and prototyping compelling games that engage players and build game experiences. You'll be learning the production pipeline, and building computer games using state-of-the-art game engines. As part of your learning journey, you will also learn how to build unique game controllers, work in a motion capture studio, explore virtual reality or even build your own independent game development studio.
Throughout your studies, you’ll benefit from access to dedicated gaming labs providing all the specialised software you’ll need: Unreal, Unity, Visual Studio, 3D studio max, ZBrush and Substance to name just a few. You’ll also have access to console development kits, a motion capture studio, a mobile devices lab and a range of consumer gaming/VR hardware: all for student use.
Bringing a modern game to market requires a broad range of skills and specialisms. Throughout your degree you will learn to collaborate in multi-disciplinary teams, bringing these varied specialisms together to create polished and engaging gaming experiences.
The course team maintain excellent links with industry, and these links are often called upon for guest lectures and to be involved in the courses industry advisory board. This board supports the planning of the curriculum, ensuring you are learning the skills most in-demand by industry. Companies previously involved in the board include; Sony Computer Games Europe, Unity Technologies, Sumo Digital, Bitmap Bureau, Stainless Games, and Aardvark Swift.
This video 'Are you Ready?' is available as a text transcript, with a description of visuals.
in the sector for graduate start-ups (HEBCI 2018/19)
After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent
If you're not quite ready for a full undergraduate degree, there's alternative entry through one of our foundation years
This course has access to specialist facilities
If you have an appropriate Level 5 qualification, you can top it up to a degree in just a year
This course is ideally suited to creative students who want to see their game ideas become working prototypes or even finished published games. Candidates typically come from a range of different academic backgrounds including computing, art, design and media.
As a graduate from this course, you will be well prepared for a range of roles within game production. This could be working for an established gaming business, a smaller independent studio or your own start-up.
The course offers many opportunities to specialise, allowing graduates to progress into a variety of paid work. Suitable positions include gameplay design, level design, UX design, simulation design, VR design, game programming, usability, quality assurance and software testing.
There are also a growing number of opportunities outside the computer games industry in areas such as board game design, simulation design and toy design.
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
All game design students benefit from access to our dedicated gaming labs providing all the specialised software you’ll need: Unreal, Unity, Visual Studio, 3D studio max, ZBrush and Substance to name just a few. You’ll also have access to console development kits, a motion capture studio, a mobile devices lab and a range of consumer gaming/VR hardware: all for student use.
Our vibrant campus brings state-of-the-art facilities to enhance your learning and elevate your student experience. Our award-winning teaching building, The Spark is centred around students and offers a stimulating study environment with flexible learning spaces. Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.
This module aims to introduce students to the games industry, and the tools and processes used by industry professionals. Students work individually and in small groups on practice-related projects, which allow students to experiment with creative tools whilst developing core academic and collaborative skills, vital for industry and university success.
This module explores the fundamentals of game design and prototyping. Students will design and build their own board and card games from concept through to prototype and playtesting. Students will learn the fundamentals of game design theory and demonstrate that knowledge with their game prototype portfolio.
This module focuses on the idea that programming is fundamentally a problem-solving activity and seeks to lay the foundations in creative and logical thinking that are vital in many areas of software development.
This is a group-based module where students from the Computer Games Art and Design courses collaborate to create small game projects using game engine technology. Students will work in teams and record their individual progress in a reflective blog.
This module aims to give a basic introduction to a selection of third-party development environments and involves learning about the engine’s interface, developing a simple game and how to find help should they encounter issues.
This module will concentrate on the skills needed for computer game designers to communicate their ideas in an effective and appropriate manner.
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out moreThe student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
Access Solent provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
The gaming industry is going from strength to strength, and in 2019 was said to be worth £3.86bn (Entertainment Retailers Association). The UK has seen major success with names like ‘Grand Theft Auto V’, ‘Batman Arkham City’, ‘Monument Valley’ and ‘Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice’. In addition there are growing opportunities outside the computer games industry in board game design, simulation design and toy design. The UK toy market alone saw a 5.9% increase in sales in 2015, and the British toy industry is now valued at £3.2 billion (British Toy and Hobby Association, NPD Group).
The teaching team have wide-ranging experience in the games industry and will support and encourage you in building your own contacts.
The teams close links to industry also enable for an industry advisory board and a range of guest lectures. Recent speakers have included representatives from Codemasters, Climax, Aardvark Swift and Stainless Games.
The tuition fees for the 2022/23 academic year are:
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Please select an option below:
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about EU qualifications, please refer to our course entry requirement statement.
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about international qualifications, please refer to our course entry requirement statement.
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application and to take a look at this PDF document which outlines both Solent University and Home Office requirements for a number of language tests.
Contact our admissions team!Call: 023 8201 5066Email: admissions@solent.ac.uk
Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.
Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.
Your application should reach UCAS by 26 January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until the end of June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.
Top-up route:
We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses. Please contact our admissions team for more information: contact us
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
Pre-Sessional English programme
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
Suitable roles for graduates include
The Solent Futures team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
If you're in your final year, we also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
Find out moreAll students at Solent University have access to a range of specialist support services. Whether you are having financial difficulty, need additional help with academic skills or want advice on setting up your own business you'll find that help is always on hand.
Most of our specialist support services are based around the Student Hub, a central space where you can access all the information and support you may need during your time at University. The Student Hub is the first point of contact if you have any queries relating to your course, including questions about your timetable, options, and assessments and extenuating circumstances.
We work in partnership with the University to build a sense of pride and confidence in your Union, University and student experience.
Find out moreThinking about studying further than an undergraduate degree? Alumni can get up to 50% off their postgraduate study.
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