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Games Design

Welcome to Games Design

If you love to talk about games, design them and most importantly play them for hours on end, a study programme in Games Design sounds like it could be right up your street.

As well as joining national game jams, our students also get the chance to visit huge game conventions. We have lots of guests joining us throughout the year for interactive workshops on animations, gameplay and VFX, including some of our former students who are now working in the industry.

Games Design

"My biggest achievement whilst at college was being nominated as a finalist for the Young Games Designer award that BAFTA run!"

Caleb O'Brien, Junior Character Artist at Firesprite Games and former Games Design student

Which programme is right for me?

Picking the right course is the first step in your games design career. At The Sheffield College, we offer full time study programmes starting at level 1 all the way up to level 3. This means that there are no barriers to you achieving your career goals; you can choose the right level of study for you.

University level courses

Looking to take your learning further? Our career-focused university level course is just what you're looking for! Click on the link below to find out more:

Key skills you will learn

A huge part of the work you will do on any of our creative courses is practical, hands-on experience! We know that getting out of the classroom and into a studio is one of the best ways to help you pick up new skills and embed the theory you've been learning. 

Day to day you'll be learning in our fully-equipped games design studios. You'll work on projects that allow you to create and explore your own ideas, whether that's:

  • producing game concepts
  • associated artwork
  • developing game environments in 3D
  • creating playable games

All of the work you'll be doing will centre on developing your practical skills.

Who we work with

Our students have fantastic opportunities to work with and learn from some of the best employers in the region, including:

  • Sumo Digital
  • NextGen
  • Framestore
  • Bluezoo

How will you be prepared for the world of work

As a student at The Sheffield College, you will be encouraged to spend time with an employer in a real-life working environment as part of your study programme. This could be work experience or an industry placement, depending on what kind of course you are studying.

At The Sheffield College, we go further to ensure that you get the best learning and cultural experiences possible to enhance your time with us. We do this through visits to local art exhibitions and museums, having guest speakers come in to demonstrate their knowledge and skills, or through visiting major industry leaders so you can see how they go further in the real world.

Facilities

Our facilities are one of the things that really make us stand out - we've invested millions in our Hillsborough Campus to ensure that our creative media students are learning in a top-class, industry standard environment.

Our Games Design students have access to our industry standard computer suites, equipped with the latest editing and games design software; perfect for developing your skills.

 

What can I do once I finish my studies?

At the end of the day, we all know that a qualification is just the first step on the road to landing your dream job and kick-starting your career, and we're determined to help you get to where you want to be. A qualification in games design can lead to a variety of opportunities within the industry.

Whether you want to create the next Fortnite, or design the next iconic video games character, career prospects in this area are on the up, with over 6,900 job roles in the creative sector predicted to be available in Sheffield by 2026! 

Careers advice to help you go further

Choosing a career path when you've only just left school can seem like a daunting prospect, but our Careers Advice Team are on hand to offer you the best impartial careers guidance going. 

We want your experience to be as enjoyable as possible. We don’t think you should have to worry about much so you can concentrate on having a great time and doing well on your course.That’s why we have a fantastic Student Support Team, who are always on hand to help you with any questions, concerns, or problems that you might face whilst at college, including, study support, finances, childcare, and mental health and well-being.

Case Study: Caleb O'Brien

 

One of the best ways to find out about a course is to speak to somebody who has been there and done it.

Enter former Games Design student and Sheffield College alumni, Caleb!

In this video Caleb explains a bit more about the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Games Design, what his job as a Junior Character Artist involves, and how his experiences at The Sheffield College helped to prepare him for the role he does now.

Example careers

Ever wondered how much an accountant is South Yorkshire earns? Or what skills you need to become a developer?

Computer games developer

Starting Salary
£21,164

Average Salary
£42,328

High-end Salary
£59,644

App developer

Starting Salary
£23,088

Average Salary
£41,366

High-end Salary
£59,644

Technical Animator

Starting Salary
£35,000

Average Salary
£45,000

High-end Salary
£49,625

What Courses are available

Games Design icon

Games Design & Interactive Media

Hillsborough Campus
Level 2

More info