Course Summary
This course builds on the HNC level 4 and prepares students to move on to specific areas of game development at Level 6 or to enter employment with the qualities and abilities necessary for roles that require personal responsibility and decision-making. You will be able to develop and apply your own ideas to your studies, to deal with uncertainty and complexity, to explore solutions, demonstrate critical evaluation and use both theory and practice in a wide range of games situations. By the end of Level 5, students will have a sound understanding of the principles in their area of specialist study and will know how to apply those principles more widely in the business world. You will be able to perform effectively in Games Development.
You will benefit from opportunities for deeper learning, where you can make connections between different study modules and select areas of interest for detailed study. BTEC Higher Nationals in Game Development provide a vocational context in which students can develop the knowledge and academic study skills they need to progress to university degree courses.
The qualification aims to widen access to higher education and enhance career prospects.
This course is delivered face to face termtime only. In addition to this all learners are required to undertake significant independent study.
This course is suitable for anyone who is considering a career in Games Development.
Course Content
On this course you will develop your skills from the HNC in terms of technical and creative content still looking at worlds, environments and characters alongside the functionality of gaming to bring together your ideas into reality. You will have a USP aimed at your target audience and find resolutions to issues around ethics and morality including legalities within the industry. You will work with a variety of industry standard software to develop your skills. Industry standard software may include but will not be limited to Unreal Games Engine, 3DS Max, Adobe package and Blender. You will consolidate your skills in Computer Games Coding, Game Design Theory, Game Interface Design, Audio Engineering for Games, and aspects of Animation related to the production of computer games and find your specialism.
You will leave the course with a range of skills aligned to the games industry alongside your portfolio and presentations skills making you ready for your next steps.
Course Assessment
You will be assessed throughout in classwork with an expectation that this will be completed in your own time out of lessons. The modules you will complete are, B1 Personal Professional Development and B2 Professional Project.
Each unit contains the following learning outcomes,
• Contextual Knowledge
• Ideas generation and development
• Technical knowledge and skill
• Professional Practice
• Communication
These are awarded at a Pass, Merit or Distinction standard.
Materials
Digital equipment including computers and software will be provided for use in lessons. It is recommended that you have access to a computer to complete any work or research in your own time.
You may also need some basic art materials, but these are dependent on your preferred way of working.
Qualifications
You will achieve a BTEC Higher National Diploma in Game Development.
Progression
Students completing this course usually go on to further study at university which we support you with your applications.
This course can lead to careers in:
• Junior Developer
• Game tester
• Audio engineer
• Game Designer
• Game Artist
• Animator
• Technical support specialist
• Independent content creator or Developer
• Teaching
Entry Requirements
A minimum of HNC Game Development
In addition to this you will have GCSE English Language grade 4 or above and mathematics grade 4 or above.
*Can I get help with fees?
Funding may be available to support your learning as an adult (aged 19+) studying at Dudley College in the following circumstances:
- If the course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and they have given us permission to offer it at no cost to you and live in the WMCA area.
- If the course is part of the ‘Free Courses for Jobs’ government scheme and you are unemployed or working for a low wage.
- If the course is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) / WMCA and you meet certain criteria (such as this being the first qualification of this type and level you are studying, or unemployed, or working for a low wage).
Your personal circumstances and the funding available to you will be discussed at enrolment, if would useful if you bring evidence including proof of income / benefits; proof of age (i.e. driving licence); prior qualifications.
English & Maths: If you have not previously achieved GCSE grade C or above in English and/or maths, you can study these for free.