Media and Games
Level 5

HND Game Development

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HE (HESES)
Adult, Higher Education
Student type:
Adult, Higher Education
Start Date:
September 14th, 2026
Duration:
2 Years
Campus:
Chester Campus

The Course

Take your games development skills to a more advanced level and prepare for your next step into the creative and digital industries or further Higher Education.

This Level 5 HND combines theoretical knowledge with practical projects, helping you develop the technical understanding and hands-on experience required within the games development sector. You’ll build a strong professional portfolio that can support your progression into employment or a university top-up degree.

Topics you will study include:

  • Advanced games development
  • Practical games development projects
  • Digital technologies within the games industry
  • Games industry management and operations
  • International games development
  • Global games markets
  • Research and analysis
  • Problem solving
  • Communication and teamwork
  • Guided projects
  • Real-world industry scenarios
  • Professional portfolio development

You’ll explore how new and emerging digital technologies continue to shape the games industry and develop your understanding of the opportunities and challenges of working within a global marketplace.

Through research, practical projects and real-world scenarios, you’ll also develop valuable transferable skills including communication, teamwork, problem solving and analysis. These skills will help prepare you for progression within Higher Education and the wider creative and digital industries.

The HND is available for students who wish to progress from a HNC at Cheshire College. If you have obtained your HNC from another institution or have had a gap in your studies your application will be reviewed to ensure you have previously undertaken a combination of units that is complementary to our HND programme.

We welcome an application profile that meets one of the following:

  • A BTEC Level 3 qualification in games development or a related course
  • A GCE Advanced Level profile that demonstrates strong performance in a relevant subject or adequate performance in more than one GCE subject
  • Other related Level 3 qualifications
  • An Access to Higher Education Diploma awarded by an approved further education institution
  • Related work experience as determined at interview with the Course Team Leader
  • An international equivalent of the above

and:

  • GCSE grades A* to C and/or 9 to 4 in maths and English
Successful candidates may be able to move on to the HND in Games Development (also delivered at the College) then progress to a top up degree. They also can gain employment in a wide range of creative media sectors.
£6185

The course fee shown is the co-funded rate which is only available for people living in the local authority areas of Cheshire West and Chester or Cheshire East. If you live outside of these local authorities please contact the College for fee information.

Funding for Adult Courses

You may see a fee attached to the course you’re interested in, but if you are 19+ there may be funding options available to cover the cost of your course.

Get in touch with admissions@ccsw.ac.uk if you’d like anymore information.

Higher Education Funding

There is funding available for eligible students.

Do I pay this fee?

Higher Education courses such as HNCs and HNDs can be self-funded through a payment plan. However, for eligible students, a tuition fee loan can fund your course through Student Finance England and you may be eligible for a maintenance loan to support your education.

Please note, you should apply for your loan before the course starts. You only commit to the loan once you begin attending the course.

Find out more about eligibility at Student Finance. For more information, find out on our Higher Education page or get in touch with our Bursary department.

Find out more about funding

Potential Career Pathways

Biologist

Average Salary:
Up to £40,000

Biologists examine the structure, behaviour and relationships of living organisms. Their work helps improve environmental management, medicine and scientific knowledge.

Biologist

Average Salary:
Up to £40,000

Biologists examine the structure, behaviour and relationships of living organisms. Their work helps improve environmental management, medicine and scientific knowledge.

Top-Up Degrees

Degrees you could enter:

  • Degree 1
  • Degree 2
  • Degree 3

Take the next step - Apply Now

Campus:
campus
Start Date:
startdate
Duration:
duration
Course Level:
level
Campus:
Chester Campus
Start Date:
September 14th, 2026
Duration:
2 Years
Course Level:
Level 5

Upcoming Events

Crewe Campus
24th September

Pledge Careers Fair (Crewe)

10am to 6pm

The Course

Take your games development skills to a more advanced level and prepare for your next step into the creative and digital industries or further Higher Education.

This Level 5 HND combines theoretical knowledge with practical projects, helping you develop the technical understanding and hands-on experience required within the games development sector. You’ll build a strong professional portfolio that can support your progression into employment or a university top-up degree.

Topics you will study include:

  • Advanced games development
  • Practical games development projects
  • Digital technologies within the games industry
  • Games industry management and operations
  • International games development
  • Global games markets
  • Research and analysis
  • Problem solving
  • Communication and teamwork
  • Guided projects
  • Real-world industry scenarios
  • Professional portfolio development

You’ll explore how new and emerging digital technologies continue to shape the games industry and develop your understanding of the opportunities and challenges of working within a global marketplace.

Through research, practical projects and real-world scenarios, you’ll also develop valuable transferable skills including communication, teamwork, problem solving and analysis. These skills will help prepare you for progression within Higher Education and the wider creative and digital industries.

Take your games development skills to a more advanced level and prepare for your next step into the creative and digital industries or further Higher Education.This Level 5 HND combines theoretical knowledge with practical projects, helping you develop the technical understanding and hands-on experience required within the games development sector. You’ll build a strong professional portfolio that can support your progression into employment or a university top-up degree.Topics you will study include: Advanced games development Practical games development projects Digital technologies within the games industry Games industry management and operations International games development Global games markets Research and analysis Problem solving Communication and teamwork Guided projects Real-world industry scenarios Professional portfolio development You’ll explore how new and emerging digital technologies continue to shape the games industry and develop your understanding of the opportunities and challenges of working within a global marketplace.Through research, practical projects and real-world scenarios, you’ll also develop valuable transferable skills including communication, teamwork, problem solving and analysis. These skills will help prepare you for progression within Higher Education and the wider creative and digital industries.
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FUNDING FOR ADULT COURSES

If you are aged 19+ we can help you upskill and invest in your future with one of our adult courses.

You may see a fee attached to the course you’re interested in, but if you are 19+ there may be funding options available to cover the cost of your course.

Get in touch with admissions@ccsw.ac.uk if you’d like anymore information.

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