Course Title: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Game Design
This four-year course focuses on the creation and study of games. It covers the design and development of digital and analogue games, including PC, mobile, Web, card and board games.
Topics include in-depth analysis of games, practical hands-on development experience and theoretical game studies. Along the way, you’ll also learn important industry skills such as programming, game design, digital media asset creation, project management and game publishing. You will develop an in-depth understanding of the concepts, theories and models of game design and how they can be applied to both commercial and serious game development.
You will be able to analyse and determine multiple approaches to game design, gameplay mechanics, UI controls and the context within which they’re used. You’ll use advanced skills from specialist areas to achieve goals, including the design and implementation of complex game systems, documentation of the design process, testing and publishing games.
During the course, you will be continuously making games, from Year 1 to Year 4. You will work on both individual and team projects. Teamwork is an essential skill in the games industry and you will work in different teams to develop important soft skills such as communications and group decision making.
In your final year, you will complete a major game project demonstrating your full range of design and development skills.
Study Abroad Opportunities
In Year 3, students will have the opportunity to study abroad through an Erasmus exchange with a partner university.
Work Placement
In Year 3, students will have the opportunity to get experience working with an external serious game partner and gain industry work experience.
IT Requirements
A personal laptop of sufficient specifications for game development is highly recommended. In general, most mid-high end gaming laptops should suffice for development. VR/AR development may require higher spec machines.
Leaving Certificate Requirements
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Minimum Number of |
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|---|---|
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Subjects |
Higher |
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6 |
2 H5's |
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Minimum Grade in |
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Maths |
English OR Irish |
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O4/H7 |
O4/H7 |
QQI/FET Requirements
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QQI/FET Award Required |
Additional Requirements |
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Level 5: 1 OF THE FOLLOWING AWARDS:
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DISTINCTION(S) REQUIRED: CITXX - 5 DISTINCTIONS WHICH MUST INCLUDE: C20012 Computer Architecture AND C20013 Computer Programming OR 5N1603 Computer 3D Modelling & Animation OR 5N5029 3 Dimensional Computer Graphics AND 5N1651 Games Analysis Design OR 5M0529 / 5M17817 - 5 DISTINTIONS WHICH MUST INCLUDE: 5N0541 / 5N17785 Fundamentals of Object Oriented Programming AND 5N1651 Games Analysis Design |
| Level 6: Full level 6 award in a relevant discipline | |
In addition to the QQI minimum entry requirements, QQI quotas and QQI points apply. The max QQI points awarded is 390. Further details at www.tudublin.ie/qqi
Mature Applicants
Applications from mature students (23+) are welcome. Further details at www.tudublin.ie/mature
English Language Requirements
If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website. Applicants for this course should have a minimum IELTS (Academic Version) English Proficiency of 6 overall (or equivalent) with nothing less than 6 in each component.
Click on the link below to view an indicative timetable for this course. Timetables are subject to change and up to date timetables will be provided to students on commencement.
View Sample Timetable
- Animator
- Audio and Video Programmer
- Audio Designer
- Entrepreneur/Business Set-up
- Game Artist
- Game Designer
- Game Manager
- Game Programmer
- Game Researcher
- Game Software Development
- Game Tester
- Games Analyst
- Games Quality Assurance
- Indie Game Developer
- Level Designer
- Game Producer
- Media Content Developer
- Product Manager
- Production Manager
- Project Manager
- Realtime Visualisation Artist
- Technical Artist
- Unity Game Developer
- Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Developer
- 3D Modeller
- 2D Game Artist
Graduate employers:
- DIGIT
- Dreamfeel
- Larian Studios
- Rare
- Romero Games
- Intel
- Gambrinous
- Arcadem
- Lemonchili Games
- Black Shamrock
Semester 1
- Game Design 1 [Mandatory]
- Gameplay and Ludology [Mandatory]
- Games Programming 1 [Mandatory]
- Game Production 1 [Mandatory]
- Design Practice [Mandatory]
Semester 2
Semester 1
- Game Design 2 [Mandatory]
- Game Programming 2 [Mandatory]
- Game Tools 2 [Mandatory]
- Digital Storytelling [Mandatory]
- Introduction to Academic Writing [Mandatory]
Semester 2
We are currently closed for Advanced Entry Applications. The courses that will be open for advanced entry will be listed on the CAO website in January 2025. For information on how to make an Advanced Entry application, please visit our CAO Hub.
If this course opens for advanced entry, the following will apply:
To qualify for Advanced Entry applicants must be currently studying, completing, or have successfully completed, studies at Level 6, 7 or 8 in a Higher Education Institution (HEI) or an equivalent, in a related area. You must demonstrate by providing transcripts of results that you have achieved the learning outcomes for each stage you wish to advance past, for example:
- To enter Year 2 via Advanced Entry, you must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for Year 1.
- For entry to Year 3, you must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for Years 1 and 2.
- For entry to Year 4, you must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for Years 1, 2, and 3.
If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website.