University Game Design Courses

[supaste]

I'm looking to study game design at uni and i was wondering some things.

1. First of all which Universities offer courses of this type in the North East, currently i know of Teesside and Northumbria.

2. Which Unis provide courses which have actually been sanctioned by Game design companies. I.e have been proved to provide the skills which your going to need.

3. What should I write in my UCAS statement, I have already written one but I was things they will be looking out for because I'm sure these courses are popular.

I have sort of settled on the idea of studying game design at Northumbria but i have no idea what they are like at this subject. I live near Middlesbrough and I know how good Teesside uni is at these courses but I don't like the thought of staying at home.

[ƒray]

I'd say as long as you have a portfolio and some work to show, and a degree of somesort, it does not matter if you even have game design courses.

[supaste]

I don't have a portfolio though I have attempted to put one together before. The thing is I don't want to go down that route because I want to go to uni, I would feel like i was missing out something big if i didn't.

[ƒray]

Well, yea go to a University, and get into the CS program, and as well as doing that, make a portfolio of what you have done at the university as well on your own time

[supaste]

Ok. i need to find out what other unis have a good games reputation so that can apply to a few.

[Habboi]

Two Interlopers study at East London. It's an alright course, mix of everything but they expect you to get the skills yourself.

[supaste]

I was really looking for something a bit closer to home, i don't think i would want to move to london.. though it would give me an excuse to get a shit scooter.

[abathor]

I went to this uni and did a similar course. Not too far from your area either.

http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/dci/_courses/u ... efault.asp

[supaste]

Yeah i saw on your portfolio ages ago and picked up a prospectus for Lincoln.

[city14]

I went to a tour of valve at the beginning of the summer. I asked them this question actually, I think the guy I talked to said that there is this place outside of Bellevue, Washington (where valve is) that's called digipen and that's where the team that did portal came from. They hired them as soon as they heard the idea...

[ƒray]

Ahh, yes http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 1718425548

hehe digipen's own portal before they got hiredzor

[tundra_cool]

Game design courses are bullshit and will more than likely have you paying for them years after you leave. Motivate yourself and learn 5 steps ahead of any spoon-fed class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiARsQSlzDc

[KILLA-COW]

Study a maths or a science or something with a multiplicity of applications and work on a portfolio in your spare time. Game design is such a narrow market that you shouldn't limit yourself with a degree in only that - I think game design companies would be much more interested in a good quality portfolio than a piece of paper saying you did a games design degree.

[PaulH]

Did you finish at Teesside now Reeke? How did you get on?

[supaste]

Do you know Joseph Donnagon? He's kind of a family friend who live around the corner from me who i know had a job in one of the uni game/animation departments.