Curriculum Information

Document Version

QAA Benchmarks

Educational Aim

Learning Outcomes

Course Structure

Level 7 Modules

Teaching and Assessment

Learning and Teaching Methods

Employer Engagement

Visiting Speakers
The Faculty operates a range of visiting speaker/guest lecturer opportunities at Faculty, Subject, Course, and Module level. Some of these are arranged centrally and other at course/subject level.

Volunteering
Students are actively encouraged to engage with the USW careers service which includes volunteering opportunities, workshops and events.

Fieldtrips
Organised visits to trade events and associations, and studios where appropriate.

Work Placements
Students are encouraged to explore opportunities for work placements, which can take a variety of forms, from vacation-based work to in-term activities. Placements are not guaranteed.

Work-based Learning
Work-based Learning activities will be actively sought for, and in coordination with, the student. Where possible these opportunities will reflect the student’s identified specialism and employment area.
Live-briefed projects may also be used within modules.

Employer Forums
The course team maintain a regular dialogue with a range of local and national employers and associations, including those from beyond the traditional design industry.

Other
Staff actively engage with the Faculty of Creative Industries’ Visiting Fellows.

Means of Assessment

• Portfolio

• Oral Assessment

• Written Assignment

• Dissertation

Learning Support

Induction
Induction week activities are organised at University, Faculty and Course level.

Personal Tutor
All students are allocated a Personal Tutor.

Office hours
Staff office hours relate to a two-hour designated weekly period where students can electively meet their tutors.

Tutorials
Teaching and learning supported through both individual and small group tutorials across each of the course’s modules.

Seminars
Teaching and learning supported through seminars across all the course’s modules.

Formative Assessment
An integral part of many of the course’s outputs Formative Assessment provides a useful way of giving students feedback and assessing their existing knowledge without affecting their eventual grades.
In general, an embedded approach to formative feedback is taken, with regular critique of outputs and discussion throughout all practice modules. This arrangement provides the opportunity to advise the students on their current progress and any areas to consider, in a feed-forward arrangement.
This approach of embedding formative assessment rather than specifying it as a distinct learning and teaching method provides the flexibility to work at the student and project pace and requirements, rather than tie them to a specified time allocation. As such each module description does not include an allocation for Formative Assessment, but it is embedded within the allocated Learning and Teaching Methods.

Progress meetings
In addition to the tutorials, progress meetings are held individually or with small groups, during modules.
These are especially important for team projects depend heavily upon regular group milestone meetings, these are facilitated by the module’s teaching team and cover aspects such as planning, progress, critique and the monitoring of individual contributions to the project.

Research Supervision
For some modules, where students are expected to be working largely independently, they will be allocated a supervisor who will guide them throughout their research. Students and staff will keep in touch using a variety of methods including email, studio practice and meetings. Some may operate ‘office hours’ for drop-in discussions while others may schedule meetings with students.

Online Resources
The course and its modules use USW’s virtual learning environment (VLE), Blackboard, and course management system. All integral learning resources and assessments are available and managed through this system.
As well as the course VLE the course team uses a variety of methods to provide and links to online resources including: vendor-specific learning materials, course blogs, Twitter feed, and the USW Games YouTube channel.
Students are encouraged to develop their own online presence and to share useful resources with others. Professional collaboration tools such as: Basecamp, Trello, Google Docs and Discord are used to support team working and project management.

Advice Centres
Available via USW online appointment-based system.
See: https://advice.southwales.ac.uk/

DDS Service
Available via USW online appointment-based system.
See: https://disability.southwales.ac.uk/

IT/Library
Study support is available at the Atrium Building Library.
See: https://library.southwales.ac.uk/ & http://studyskills.southwales.ac.uk

Course Exit Points

Progression Route

Employment within the games and/or allied media industry, as permanent, contract or freelance employee. Independent video games developer. Alternative career pathways such as education and training, etc. Further study at PhD/MRes level.

Entry Requirements

Admission to the course is typically through the following qualifications:

Masters level 7 entry requirements:

A first or second-class Honours degree in a relevant discipline or appropriate professional qualification; or an HND/HNC and relevant experience; or equivalent international qualifications. Those without such qualifications will be considered on an individual basis, where relevant, specialism specific, prior industrial experience will be considered. All applications will be subject to the University’s procedures.

All applicants may be invited to a portfolio-based interview, which should include a showreel of recent work. During the interview, applicants will be expected to outline and discuss any project proposals or ideas they wish to develop on the course. This has contributed to the high conversion rate for the course.

We also welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications. For exact details visit the country specific pages on the USW international website: https://www.southwales.ac.uk/international/

In general, international applicants will need to have achieved an overall IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component.

Inclusive Curriculum Statement

The University of South Wales operates a policy of inclusive learning, teaching and assessment to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Course teams will have considered ways of designing out any potentially disadvantageous element of courses during the course design process. However some specific needs may remain, details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3040-disability-and-dyslexia-service/

Addendum for Delivery at a Partner Institution

N/A