BA/BSc (Hons) Games Design & Development – Top-Up Degree
Draft – Subject to Validation
Achieve a full honours degree in games design and development by refining your specialist skills and producing a graduate-level professional portfolio.
Delivered by Milton Keynes College Group in partnership with The Open University.
The Open University Validation
This programme is subject to validation by The Open University and may change.
What “subject to validation” means:
This programme has not yet completed The Open University’s academic approval process and approval is not guaranteed. Programme content, structure, assessments, delivery pattern and fees may change until validation is confirmed. Final approved information will be provided once validation is complete. Expected validation date May 15th.
Applicants may withdraw their interest, application or provisional acceptance at any time without penalty.
Course overview
The Games Design & Development Top-Up Degree is a one-year, full-time honours-level course for students who have already completed a Foundation Degree, HND or another relevant Level 5 qualification in games or a related digital subject.
What will I do?
This course allows you to build on your existing skills and develop advanced specialist knowledge aligned to modern games industry practice. Teaching is studio-based and practical, supported by workshops, research sessions, critiques and guided independent study.
What’s next?
On successful completion of the Games Design & Development Top-Up Degree, you will graduate with a full honours degree and a professional portfolio suited to graduate and junior professional roles within the games and creative industries.
Typical progression routes include:
- Graduate Game Artist
- Technical Artist
- Animator
- Game Designer
- Programmer
- Production or Studio Support Roles
The advanced project management, research and professional communication skills developed during the Top-Up year also support progression into postgraduate study in areas such as Games Development, Digital Media, Interactive Technologies or Creative Computing.
Students interested in freelance or independent work can use their Final Major Project and portfolio to begin studio projects, contract work or self-employment within the digital creative sector.
Is it for me?
This course is designed for students who are ready to work at honours level, take ownership of their practice and refine a clear specialist direction within games design and development.
You should feel confident managing independent projects, making informed creative or technical decisions and contributing effectively to collaborative studio work. Strong communication, reflection and time-management skills are important at this level.
This course is well suited to students who:
- Have completed a relevant Level 5 qualification
- Want to achieve a full honours degree
- Are motivated to specialise in art, animation, design, programming or technical art
- Can manage a significant independent workload
- Are comfortable with critique and iterative improvement
- Want to produce a graduate-level portfolio aligned to industry expectations
This is not a beginner course. It is intended for learners who already have core skills and want to push their work further, develop professional confidence and operate with greater autonomy.
Entry requirements
You will need to have completed a Foundation Degree, HND or equivalent Level 5 qualification in games design, development or a related digital discipline that demonstrates recognised prior learning.
How will my progress be monitored?
You will be monitored in a variety of ways, and these will be explained to you by your tutor.
How will I be assessed?
You are assessed in a variety of ways designed to measure both your academic understanding and your practical skills.
Work experience and employers
Work experience is a key part of the course and is designed to help you apply theory to real practice.
How can I pay for my course?
There are a variety of ways in which you can get help with fees and funding while studying. For detailed information on funding options and bursaries, please visit our Funding and Financial Support page.
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Contact Details
For queries about this programme, please contact Admissions using the details below.
- Email: admissionsandenrolments@mkcollege.ac.uk
- Phone: 01908 684551
Change Communication Statement
If any programme information changes during the validation process, we will update this webpage within five working days of the change being made and contact all individuals who have registered interest. You may withdraw your interest at any time without penalty.
This page was last updated on [27/02/2026] following changes to the proposed programme.
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