Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments (Game Design)

Name: Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments (Game Design)
Author: Queensland University of Technology

Highlights

This major provides you with hands-on game design experience, as well as knowledge of narrative and immersion (drawing the player into the game), and theories of design (both general and specific to games) to provide the skills necessary to create interesting and unique game worlds.
Cover both the technical and creative aspects of games development.
Be prepared for a career in games design, animator, special effects developer, or mobile entertainment developer.
QUT's Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments degree is the most successful degree of its kind in Queensland, with strong connections to local games industries, as well as other industry partners in game-based technology.
Be a part of Queensland’s leading video game industry, responsible for titles such asHellboy, Fruit Ninja, the children's game Viva Pinata Party Animals and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

Highlights

This major provides you with hands-on game design experience, as well as knowledge of narrative and immersion (drawing the player into the game), and theories of design (both general and specific to games) to provide the skills necessary to create interesting and unique game worlds.
Cover both the technical and creative aspects of games development.
Be prepared for a career in games design, animator, special effects developer, or mobile entertainment developer.
QUT's Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments degree is the most successful degree of its kind in Queensland, with strong connections to local games industries, as well as other industry partners in game-based technology.
Be a part of Queensland’s leading video game industry, responsible for titles such asHellboy, Fruit Ninja, the children's game Viva Pinata Party Animals and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

Why choose this course?

The Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments (Game Design) gives you the opportunity to join the growing industry of digital environments and electronic games by acquiring expertise in the development of computer games and other forms of interactive media. The course has a strong foundation in information technology, design and creative thinking.

This major will give you practical skills in games design and development. You will acquire underlying theoretical knowledge across a range of disciplines including psychology (for example, motivation) and sociology (for example, cultural impact) and become proficient at effectively communicating design ideas and proposals.

You will gain experience in the whole process of game and interaction development, from identification and evaluation of ideas, creation of design concepts, critique of existing and potential products, analysis of cultural impact and industry trends, right through to the development and delivery of a final product.

This course is a collaboration between the faculties of Science and Engineering, and Creative Industries, which means you'll have access to experts in both design and technology.

Explore this course

What to expect

Choose your career path in this multibillion dollar industry. This degree allows the development of creative skills ranging from the technical to the artistic. You will gain experience in the whole process of game and interactive media development, from identification and evaluation of ideas, creation of design concepts, critique of existing and potential products, analysis of cultural impact and industry trends, through to the development and delivery of a final product.

You will learn about the games and interactive environments industries through interacting with industry members, reviewing the development process of games and related products, participating in class discussions and studying industry literature. You will discover visualisation, interaction and communication techniques as applied to games and interactive media. A strong foundation in both entertainment technology and creative skills is complemented with options in games programming, including graphics programming and game artificial intelligence. You will be introduced to generic programming concepts and problem-solving strategies, team work, and the ethical and social responsibilities of an interactive media professional.

Given the growth in small, independent game development worldwide you'll be introduced the ideas of game development entrepreneurship from your first year of studies. You'll gain the knowledge and skills related to succeeding as an independent game developer. In your major capstone experience you'll work as part of a team to develop and publish your own game.

Other study options

Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments
Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments/Bachelor of Mathematics
Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments

Careers and outcomes

As a graduate from the Game Design Major, you can apply your knowledge and skills in roles such as game designer, level designer, game producer and mobile game designer. The skills learnt can also be applied outside the games industry to create engaging tools and environments in other domains.

Professional recognition

If you complete a Software Technology Minor as part of your degree, you may be eligible for associate membership of the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Research pathways

You may wish to take your passion further and extend your studies with an honours research program.

Honours is an ideal pathway for high-achieving graduates to enter the doctoral program (PhD), and provides a wider range of career opportunities including research, analytic or teaching positions.Consult your course coordinator in second or third year to assess what projects may be available within your areas of interest.

To be eligible for an honours course, you must have a bachelor degree in information technology, mathematics, science or property economics (depending on the course) or its equivalent, completed within the last five years, with a minimum grade point average of 4.5 (on QUT’s 7-point scale).

Possible careers

Animator
Computer Game Programmer
Computer Games Developer
Computer-aided designer
Digital Content Designer
Digital Content Producer
Games Developer
Programmer
Sound Designer

Details and units

Requirements for the completion of IN05 Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments (Study Area A) are as follows:

72 credit points (6 units) of games and interactive environments core units, which includes 24 credit points (2 units) of option units* selected from an approved list.
120 credit points (10 units) of Major core units
96 credit points of complementary studies comprising of either two minors (4 unit set each); or one minor (4 unit set) plus 48 credit points of elective units.

* Unit options list - comprises a range of units from which you choose to undertake two (2). The core option choices provide you with space in your course to explore other fields such as within Games and Interactive Environment, Information Technology. These units can be used to complement your Major studies or, explore which areas you may choose for your complementary studies.

Requirements for the completion of IN05 Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments (Study Area A) are as follows:

72 credit points (6 units) of games and interactive environments core units, which includes 24 credit points (2 units) of option units* selected from an approved list.
120 credit points (10 units) of Major core units
96 credit points of complementary studies comprising of either two minors (4 unit set each); or one minor (4 unit set) plus 48 credit points of elective units.

Requirements

OP: 14
Selection rank: 70.00

These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2020.

Don't have an OP or selection rank?

Find out other ways you can apply

Starting uni in 2021?

There are some changes to subjects and the qualifications we’ll consider for entry to QUT from 2021 and beyond. Make sure you’re prepared to apply.

The selection rank is a good indication of the equivalent ATAR.

Find out how these changes might affect you

Course code: IN05

QTAC code: 418102

CRICOS code: 092648J

Delivery

Gardens Point

Delivery

Gardens Point

Duration: 3 years full-time

Duration: 3 years full-time

Entry: February

Entry: February

Offer Guarantee: Yes

Deferment: You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.

Assumed knowledge

Before you start this course, we assume you have sound knowledge of the subject/s listed below. If you don't have the subject knowledge, you can still apply for the course but we encourage you to undertake bridging studies to gain the knowledge:

English, or Literature, or English and Literature Extension, or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 & 4, C)
General Mathematics, or Mathematical Methods, or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C)

More about assumed knowledge

Offer guarantee

If you achieve an ATAR/selection rank of 87.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.

Advanced standing

If you have prior studies or work experience, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit). You can apply for advanced standing once you've been accepted to QUT. If you're in your first semester of study, you must apply for advanced standing within 10 days of receiving your offer.

More about advanced standing

Deferment

You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.

More about deferring your offer

Adjustments to your selection rank

Any adjustments you receive to your selection rank (or OP equivalent) will be applied to this course.

Find out if you’re eligible for an adjustment to your selection rank

Offers we made to school leavers in Semester 1, 2019

The scores listed in the tables below reflect the offers that were made to recent school leavers. If you are not a school leaver, take a look at the entry thresholds box at the top of this page to see the lowest adjusted scores required overall to receive an offer.

	Excluding adjustments		Including adjustments
	OP	Selection rank	OP	Selection rank
Highest OP/selection rank to receive an offer	OP 2	Selection rank 97	OP 1	Selection rank 99
Median OP/selection rank to receive an offer	OP 9	Selection rank 82	OP 8	Selection rank 84
Lowest OP/selection rank to receive an offer	OP 14	Selection rank 11	OP 11	Selection rank 77

You can find out more about your fellow students’ backgrounds with this course’s student profile.

Other admission options

If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you may be eligible for admission through our Centralised Assessment Selection Process (CASP).

I completed my studies outside of Australia

Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.

If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.

Subject prerequisites

General Mathematics, or Mathematical Methods, or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C)

You must have achieved this study at a level comparable to Australian Year 12 or in recognised post-secondary studies.

I completed secondary school in Australia

Assumed knowledge

General Mathematics, or Mathematical Methods, or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C)

More about assumed knowledge

Guide to entry thresholds

These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2020.

OP: 14

Rank: 70

Offer guarantee

If you completed secondary school in Australia and achieve an ATAR/selection rank of 87.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.

Minimum English language requirements

Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.

Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, United States of America and Wales.

If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.

We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests.

English Test	Overall	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
Pearson PTE (Academic) Test must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement date.	58	50	50	50	50
Cambridge English Score Test must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement. You must provide your Candidate ID and Candidate Secret Number, these are printed on your Cambridge English Confirmation of Entry.	176	169	169	169	169
IELTS Academic Test must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement date.	6.5	6	6	6	6
TOEFL iBT Test must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement date.	79	16	16	21	18