Bachelor of Media and Communication majoring in Games Design and Production

Undergraduate | 2026

Mode

On Campus

Start date

February, July

Campus

Adelaide City Campus

Duration

3 year(s) full-time

Program code

BMECO

Study as

Full-time

Indicative annual fees

$43,400

Non-tuition fees

Prerequisite

None

Assumed knowledge

None

English language requirements

IELTS Overall 6.5 IELTS Reading 6 IELTS Listening 6 IELTS Speaking 6 IELTS Writing 6 Equivalent English qualifications

CRICOS code

115730K

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved at least one of the following minimum entry requirements and demonstrate they fulfil any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive with ranks based on the entry criteria.

Secondary education (Year 12)

Completion of a secondary education qualification equivalent to the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Completion of an award from a registered training organisation (RTO) at Certificate IV (AQF level 4) or higher.

Higher education study

Successful completion of at least 6 months full-time study (or equivalent part-time) in a higher education award program.

English language entry requirements

In addition, international students who speak English as an additional language must have obtained one of the following standards within the last two years prior to admission. Possession of one or more of these qualifications, in addition to the academic entry requirements, does not, in itself, guarantee a place at Adelaide University. Applications are considered on an individual basis and selection is competitive. Where previous study/work experience was conducted in English, the application must be accompanied by certified documentation from the educational institution/employer certifying that the language of instruction/employment was English.

IELTS Overall 6.5
IELTS Reading 6
IELTS Listening 6
IELTS Speaking 6
IELTS Writing 6

Please access the following link for a comprehensive list of English language tests accepted by Adelaide University and other important information in relation to meeting the University’s language requirements:

Equivalent English qualifications

International admissions by country

Country	Requirement	Score
Australia	ATAR	75
Bangladesh	Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)	4.85
Canada	Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)	70%
China	Gaokao	65%
Denmark	Studentereksamen (stx: Upper Secondary School Diploma)	4 (Fair)
France	French Baccalaureate	11.5
Global	International Baccalaureate	26
Hong Kong	Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)	17
India	CBSE and CISCE	75
India	State Board Examinations	85
Indonesia	SMA III	78%
Kenya	Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)	B+
Malaysia	Matrikulasi	2.78
Malaysia	Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM)	2.78
Malaysia	United Entrance Certificate (UEC)	20
Nepal	National Examinations Board (NEB)	3.01
Norway	Upper Secondary School Certificate (Vitnemal fra den Videregaende Skole) / Vitnemal For Videregaende Opplaering	3.6
Phillippines	High School Diploma (Grade 12) (Academic Track) K12	87%
Singapore	Singapore GCE Advanced Levels	8
South Korea	College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)	320
Sri Lanka	GCE A Levels	9
Sweden	Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate	14.0
Taiwan	GSAT %	65%
Thailand	Matayom 6	3.40
UK / Global	GCE Advanced Levels	8
USA / Global	Advanced Placement (AP)	8
USA / Global	America College Test (ACT)	22
USA / Global	Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)	1130
Vietnam	Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Trung Học Phổ Thông (Vietnamese Year 12)	8

Why Bachelor of Media and Communication?

Unleash your creativity and imagination in the world of games design. Watch your creations come to life as players explore, discover and conquer challenges. Blend artistry and technical skills to become an architect of alternate realities.

Our Bachelor of Media and Communication majoring in Games Design and Production will build your skills and knowledge in games design, production, programming and art. You’ll explore emerging industry practices in specialised game production labs and construct a game through all stages of the pipeline process, growing your skillset.

In this deeply practical degree, you’ll hone your technical and professional skillset through professional experience and industry projects. All these experiences ensure you’ll graduate ready to make an impact in the field, creating groundbreaking interactive games.

Overview

The Bachelor of Media and Communication majoring in Games Design and Production will help you pursue a career as a game designer, artist, program, or writer.

Hands-on from the beginning, you’ll learn the processes and techniques that bring a game to life. This will be accompanied by time spent learning core concepts in media and communication, that will help you dive deeper into the world of innovative game design.

You’ll learn how to design game engines for various platforms, as well as traditional tabletop set-ups. Conceptualise and develop forward-thinking games that can be brought to market in the growing games industry.

You’ll have opportunities to work collaboratively and build relationships with industry throughout your degree. These experiences will expose you to the latest e-techniques that are engaging audiences worldwide.

You’ll graduate with the skills and expertise necessary to take on a range of jobs in the dynamic games industry.

Key features

Create your own game narratives using industry-standard tools and software.
Build skills and knowledge in games design, production, programming and art.
Gain hands-on experience in state-of-the-art game laboratories to produce games in multiple formats and mediums.
Collaborate with others in a studio environment, putting your new skills to work to collaboratively create game projects.
Explore virtual production techniques to create animations inside game engines.
Be equipped with the skills to create effective, efficient and appealing graphic assets for game design.

What you'll learn

Your major will explore key elements of game design theory, practical development skills, and the project management skills involved in bringing a game to fruition. You’ll create your own game design documents and learn how to write narratives that captivate users. You’ll develop your skills in Unreal Engine, learning how to utilise tools for developing high-quality games, simulations, and interactive experiences across various platforms. You’ll even use physical prototyping methods like 3D printing to design and produce a tabletop game, creating prototypes and physical items to simulate gameplay.

Interested in animation? Focus on production techniques to create and implement animations that bring characters, environments and objects to life within a digital game.

Establishing connections with industry is a major part of your third year. Undertake professional experience and a production project in collaboration with professionals in game development. Grow your skillset in games production and design, ready to pursue a career in the advancing tech industry.

Majors

The Bachelor of Media and Communication is also available with majors in the following:

What courses you'll study

Complete 144 units comprising:

84 units for Core courses, and
Either:
48 units for one Major from Majors, or
48 units from Discipline courses, and
6 units for all Work integrated learning, and
6 units for Electives

Complete 84 units comprising:

18 units from Common core, and
66 units for all Program core

	Course code	Units
Course name An Ethically Rich Life	Course code COREX001	Units 6
Course name Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone	Course code COREX002	Units 6
Course name Igniting Change: Ideas to Action	Course code COREX003	Units 6
Course name Proppa Ways, Future Practice	Course code COREX004	Units 6
Course name Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry	Course code COREX005	Units 6
Course name Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing	Course code COREX006	Units 6

	Course code	Units
Course name Digital Platforms	Course code MDIA1001	Units 6
Course name Key Concepts in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA1018	Units 6
Course name Media and Communication Professional Identities	Course code MDIA1016	Units 6
Course name Creating Content for Media	Course code MDIA2101	Units 6
Course name Media Law, Policy and Ethics	Course code MDIA2022	Units 6
Course name Research Methods in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA2021	Units 6
Course name Promotional Culture	Course code MDIA2102	Units 6
Course name Media Industries in Transition	Course code MDIA3015	Units 6
Course name Media and Communication Professional Experience	Course code MDIA3905	Units 6
Course name Strategic Planning for Media and Communication	Course code MDIA3017	Units 6
Course name Advanced Concepts in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA3023	Units 6

Course name		Course code	Units
Year 1
Semester 1
	Course name Key Concepts in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA1018	Units 6
	Course name Digital Platforms	Course code MDIA1001	Units 6
	Course name Digital Design Principles and Methods	Course code GRAP1004	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Media and Communication Professional Identities	Course code MDIA1016	Units 6
	Course name Creating Content for Media	Course code MDIA2101	Units 6
	Course name Digital Project Management	Course code COGR2000	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Media Law, Policy and Ethics	Course code MDIA2022	Units 6
	Course name Research Methods in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA2021	Units 6
	Course name Visual Asset Design for Games	Course code INFO2020	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Promotional Culture	Course code MDIA2102	Units 6
	Course name Media and Communication Project	Course code MDIA2901	Units 6
	Course name Majors	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Majors	Course code -	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Media Industries in Transition	Course code MDIA3015	Units 6
	Course name Strategic Planning for Media and Communication	Course code MDIA3017	Units 6
	Course name Managing Games Design	Course code COGR3000	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Advanced Concepts in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA3023	Units 6
	Course name Media and Communication Professional Experience	Course code MDIA3905	Units 6
	Course name Games Production Industry Lab	Course code COGR3001	Units 12

Complete 48 units for ALL of the following:

	Course code	Units
Course name Introduction to Games Design	Course code COGR1005	Units 6
Course name Digital Project Management	Course code COGR2000	Units 6
Course name Immersive Media Design and Development 1	Course code COGR2003	Units 6
Course name Managing Games Design	Course code COGR3000	Units 6
Course name Games Production Industry Lab	Course code COGR3001	Units 12
Course name Digital Design Principles and Methods	Course code GRAP1004	Units 6
Course name Game Environment Design	Course code GRAP2019	Units 6
Course name Visual Asset Design for Games	Course code INFO2020	Units 6

Course name		Course code	Units
Year 1
Semester 1
	Course name Key Concepts in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA1018	Units 6
	Course name Digital Platforms	Course code MDIA1001	Units 6
	Course name Digital Design Principles and Methods	Course code GRAP1004	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Media and Communication Professional Identities	Course code MDIA1016	Units 6
	Course name Creating Content for Media	Course code MDIA2101	Units 6
	Course name Digital Project Management	Course code COGR2000	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Media Law, Policy and Ethics	Course code MDIA2022	Units 6
	Course name Research Methods in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA2021	Units 6
	Course name Visual Asset Design for Games	Course code INFO2020	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Promotional Culture	Course code MDIA2102	Units 6
	Course name Media and Communication Project	Course code MDIA2901	Units 6
	Course name Majors	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Majors	Course code -	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Media Industries in Transition	Course code MDIA3015	Units 6
	Course name Strategic Planning for Media and Communication	Course code MDIA3017	Units 6
	Course name Managing Games Design	Course code COGR3000	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Advanced Concepts in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA3023	Units 6
	Course name Media and Communication Professional Experience	Course code MDIA3905	Units 6
	Course name Games Production Industry Lab	Course code COGR3001	Units 12

Complete 6 units for ALL of the following:

Course name		Course code	Units
	Course name Media and Communication Project	Course code MDIA2901	Units 6

Course name		Course code	Units
Year 1
Semester 1
	Course name Key Concepts in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA1018	Units 6
	Course name Digital Platforms	Course code MDIA1001	Units 6
	Course name Digital Design Principles and Methods	Course code GRAP1004	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Media and Communication Professional Identities	Course code MDIA1016	Units 6
	Course name Creating Content for Media	Course code MDIA2101	Units 6
	Course name Digital Project Management	Course code COGR2000	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Media Law, Policy and Ethics	Course code MDIA2022	Units 6
	Course name Research Methods in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA2021	Units 6
	Course name Visual Asset Design for Games	Course code INFO2020	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Promotional Culture	Course code MDIA2102	Units 6
	Course name Media and Communication Project	Course code MDIA2901	Units 6
	Course name Majors	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Majors	Course code -	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Media Industries in Transition	Course code MDIA3015	Units 6
	Course name Strategic Planning for Media and Communication	Course code MDIA3017	Units 6
	Course name Managing Games Design	Course code COGR3000	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Advanced Concepts in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA3023	Units 6
	Course name Media and Communication Professional Experience	Course code MDIA3905	Units 6
	Course name Games Production Industry Lab	Course code COGR3001	Units 12

Complete 6 units comprising:

6 units from University-wide electives

Course name		Course code	Units
Year 1
Semester 1
	Course name Key Concepts in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA1018	Units 6
	Course name Digital Platforms	Course code MDIA1001	Units 6
	Course name Digital Design Principles and Methods	Course code GRAP1004	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Media and Communication Professional Identities	Course code MDIA1016	Units 6
	Course name Creating Content for Media	Course code MDIA2101	Units 6
	Course name Digital Project Management	Course code COGR2000	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Media Law, Policy and Ethics	Course code MDIA2022	Units 6
	Course name Research Methods in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA2021	Units 6
	Course name Visual Asset Design for Games	Course code INFO2020	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Promotional Culture	Course code MDIA2102	Units 6
	Course name Media and Communication Project	Course code MDIA2901	Units 6
	Course name Majors	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Majors	Course code -	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Media Industries in Transition	Course code MDIA3015	Units 6
	Course name Strategic Planning for Media and Communication	Course code MDIA3017	Units 6
	Course name Managing Games Design	Course code COGR3000	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Advanced Concepts in Media and Communication	Course code MDIA3023	Units 6
	Course name Media and Communication Professional Experience	Course code MDIA3905	Units 6
	Course name Games Production Industry Lab	Course code COGR3001	Units 12

Career outcomes

Each role in the games industry contributes to the creation and development of games – digital and tabletop. Whether you're passionate about storytelling, visual design, project management or user interaction, there's a career path in game design that can align with your passion.

Maybe you’ll work on creating immersive game environments, compelling storylines, characters and dialogue that captivate players. Maybe you’ll focus on serious games or gamification projects, applying game design principles to education or other fields to enhance engagement for learners. Or you could pursue a career as a project manager or producer, coordinating teams and resources to bring a game from concept to completion.

Graduates can pursue careers as a:

Games designer
Narrative designer
Game artist or animator
Level designer
User experience designer
Project manager or producer
QA tester
eLearning developer.

Industry trends

Total video game revenue is projected to rise from $262 billion in 2023 to $312 billion in 2027. Fuelled by its ability to captivate wide audiences, industry growth continues to rely on games designed to be played on a PC or console (PWC, 2024). Use your skills in digital games design and knowledge in communication theories, to develop games that will catapult through the market and drive profitable sales.

Ready to apply?

Check your eligibility

Before you begin, find the degree you wish to study and check you meet the academic entry requirements and English language requirements.

Entry requirements

Gather your relevant documents

Ensure you have all supporting documentation needed at the time of application to avoid delays.

How to apply

Complete and send your application

Apply through one of the University’s official agency partners, or via our online application system.

Apply now

Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.

How to apply

Applications for international students are open now, to begin your studies in 2026.

Apply through one of the University’s official Education Agents, or via our International Application System.

Find an Education Agent

Depending on your country of citizenship, you may be required to apply through one of our Education Agents.

Find an education agent in your country

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Your study experience and support

Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.

You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.

Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.

Student services

We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:

Career advice and mentoring services
Personal counselling
LGBTQIA+ support
Academic support
Fees and finance help
Security services
Accommodation services
Common rooms
Prayer rooms.

You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.

Your campus

You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.

This degree is offered at the following campus(es)

Study hours

Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.

Assessment

During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:

Case studies
Essays and assignments
Examinations
Group projects
Internships and placements
Practicals
Presentations
Reports and project documentations
Research projects
Workplace and classroom contributions.

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Bachelor of Media and Communication majoring in Games Design and Production