Game Design with Foundation Year

Your future in games starts here

The games industry is constantly evolving and changing, and this course has been designed specifically to help you stay ahead. Our BA (Hons) Game Design degree prepares you to design, prototype and test exciting player experiences. You will learn by experimenting, iterating and playtesting — exploring new ideas in gameplay, interaction, storytelling and more, across both digital and physical media.

You will also learn about the business side of game development. This includes scheduling, pitching ideas, budgeting and communication — all skills game designers and producers need. You will understand how to work in agile teams and how to take a project from its first idea to a finished, playable game, using workflows that scale from small indie teams to large AAA productions (major studios that produce high-budget, professionally developed video games).

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• Understand modern game design theory, from gameplay loops to scripting and pipelines in current industry-standard game engines
• Design games, levels, mechanics, systems, UI/UX, design narratives, and build worlds
• Plan and communicate your ideas clearly through professional documentation
• Experience cross-discipline simulated studio projects that help you understand how art, programming and design work together in industry
• Use ethical and professional approaches to your work, including responsible use of AI
• Prototype and test gameplay using industry-standard tools
• Communicate confidently through visuals, writing and presentations, and think creatively to solve problems
• Understand technologies, including generative AI, to help you stay adaptable in a fast-changing industry.

Develop skills to go far

Throughout the course you will also study business modules in our new International Business School to develop your understanding of entrepreneurship, innovative and creativity. This will help you to build skills and confidence if you wanted to start your own company after graduation.

You will work with industry-standard hardware and software throughout the course, including high-spec PC workstations, professional game engines such as Unreal and Unity, and leading 3D tools including Houdini and Blender. You will have access to motion capture facilities, XR equipment and specialist East Midlands Institute of Technology (EMIoT) labs, allowing you to prototype, test and iterate interactive experiences using real studio workflows. Alongside this, you will use professional design, UI/UX, version control and production tools, with an emphasis on ethical and responsible use of emerging technologies such as generative AI. All tools are taught through practical, studio-style projects, helping you develop transferable skills that scale from small indie teams to large AAA productions and beyond.

Foundation Year - helping you to achieve more

Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.

A multidisciplinary, studio-style experience

You will be part of Games@Derby, a collaborative community that mirrors real game studios. You can work side-by-side with Game Art and Game Programming students, learning how different disciplines come together to create a finished game. It provides a shared identity and collaborative framework through which studio-based learning, interdisciplinary projects, industry engagement and co-curricular activities are coordinated and embedded within programme delivery.

Teaching and guest input is informed by industry professionals, including contributors from Tomb Raider, developers from Tactile Games, and specialists from the original Tomb Raider AI programme team and The Multiplayer Group. as well as a wide network of local, national and international studios.

This experience does not just prepare you for the games industry — your skills will also be useful in areas like simulation, healthcare games, interactive installations, exhibitions and museum design.

You will benefit from strong links with local and national studios, gaining support from guest speakers, live projects, game jams and mentorship opportunities.

Industry recognition

The University of Derby is a Houdini Certified School and an Unreal Academic Partner (2026). This means you will get hands-on experience with the same tools and workflows used by top studios. You will learn how to prototype quickly, test ideas effectively and work across disciplines — all essential skills for technical and creative game designers.

The course also connects with the East Midlands Institute of Technology (EMIoT), giving you access to industry networks focused on digital innovation.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

The course is practical, creative and focused on helping you become an independent designer. You will learn through:

• project-based work
• problem-solving
• group critiques
• reflective practice
• live and industry briefs
• collaboration with Game Art and Game Programming
• guest lectures, game jams and competitions.

In the first year, you will build your core skills in level design, gameplay design, scripting, prototyping and documentation. In your second year, you will work in simulated studio environments, take on more advanced prototyping tasks, and develop entrepreneurial skills for indie development. During your final year, you will lead your own major projects, develop your portfolio and prepare for the industry.

You can benefit from guest lectures, mentorship and live project input informed by a network of local, national and international studios, including contributors with experience on Tomb Raider, developers from Tactile Games, and industry specialists connected to organisations such as The Multiplayer Group.

Throughout the course, you will work with industry-standard tools and workflows, using professional game engines such as Unreal Engine and Unity, alongside 3D and technical design tools including Houdini and Blender. These tools are taught through hands-on, studio-style projects rather than in isolation, helping you develop transferable skills that scale from small indie teams to large AAA productions.

There is also the opportunity for you to take an industrial placement year between your second and third year of study, where you can gain hands on experience working in the games sector.

Throughout your studies, you will learn how to document your work properly and explain your design decisions — an essential part of professional game development.

How you will be assessed

Assessment is mostly through coursework, including:

• practical design projects
• portfolios
• presentations
• reports.

You will work on both small tasks and large, self-directed projects. Peer reviews, industry critiques and group presentations will help develop your teamwork and communication skills — just like in real studios.

This course prepares you to become a confident, adaptable and creative game designer. You will graduate with a strong portfolio, production awareness and experience working across all stages of development.

Through project-based learning and studio-style modules, you will have opportunities to gain the independence, teamwork skills and professionalism that employers look for.

You could go into roles such as:

• gameplay designer
• level designer
• narrative designer
• technical designer
• producer.

Your skills will also be valuable in related areas such as:

• Simulation
• Serious games
• XR (augmented/virtual reality)
• Interactive installation design.

By joining Games@Derby, you’ll become part of a supportive community of designers, artists and programmers, with access to industry-informed teaching, guest input, live briefs and networking opportunities with local, national and international studios. This community helps you build the confidence, adaptability and professional mindset needed for a wide range of careers across indie, AAA and interactive industries.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

You may be required to attend an interview with a portfolio of recent creative work. If you are applying from overseas, you will be required to send a digital portfolio on a disk or via email. Your passion and enthusiasm for the subject will be taken into account through the UCAS personal statement and references.

*This is the fee for the Foundation Year. Subsequent UK fees are £9,790 per year. Subsequent International fees are £17,500 per year.

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.