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The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.
Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:
Recent secondary education
Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
AND
Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points
Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.
OR Higher education study
Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above
OR Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Certificate IV or above
OR Work and life experience
Qualify for Special Entry, or
Complete a 12-month UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past
Completed one of the following professional courses:
Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA)
Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP)
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
CompTIA A+ Certification
Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA)
Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)
Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD)
Microsoft Certified Solutions Master (MCSM)
Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)
VMware Certified Professional (VCP)
Essential requirements for admission
Prerequisites
None
Assumed Knowledge
None
English language entry requirements
In addition to meeting academic entry requirements, international students who speak English as a second or additional language must also meet the University's English language entry requirements.
The minimum language requirements for this program are:
English language test
IELTS total [6.0]
IELTS reading [6.0]
IELTS writing [6.0]
Please access the following link for a comprehensive list of English language tests accepted by UniSA and other important information in relation to meeting the University’s language requirements:
English Language Equivalence Table (PDF)
Study at SA’s number one university for graduate skills in I.T.1.
Combine technical IT with game development to pursue a creative career in the game industry.
Benefit from our partnership with Epic Games – makers of the world popular and widely used Unreal Engine.
Build your game development full pipeline skills from asset to engine using industry game engines such as UE5 (UnReal Engine 5).
Learn from experienced teaching staff dedicated to supporting your future in this growing, in-demand area.
Benefit from curriculum informed by UniSA research in areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and data analytics.
Experience purpose-built teaching spaces designed to facilitate collaboration and work-integrated learning, including the Gaming Lab – home to Alienware PCs and AR / VR hardware such as Vive and Hololens.
Enjoy significant opportunities for placements and industry projects to build connections and prepare for a career in the gaming industry.
Professionally accredited by the Australian Computer Society.
Start now, decide later. Enjoy a common first-year across most IT degrees enabling you to switch between IT specialisations and receive credit for completed courses.
1ComparED (QILT) Student Experience Survey 2021-22, Computing and Information Systems – Skills Development Indicator (Undergraduate). SA public universities.
Snapshot
Worth billions of dollars and growing, the video game industry continues to go from strength-to-strength, with revenue up, and Australia well positioned to take advantage of the global popularity of video games¹.
While the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted numerous industries, games development proved resilient¹. And with the Australian Government announcing a federal tax incentive for video game development, the market is even more appealing for both local and international businesses to develop games in Australia².
With ongoing growth in games and entertainment, IT professionals with the expertise to build highly visual systems are in demand, with the Bachelor of Information Technology (Games and Entertainment Design) designed to meet that need.
Balancing technical skills with creativity, you will develop your ability to design and program games, pitch your ideas and take them to market.
These skills are highly transferrable, with opportunities also available in the film and tv industry, education, health, business and defence sectors.
Enjoy a common first-year across most IT degrees enabling you to switch between specialisations and receive credit for completed courses. This means if you change your mind about your IT specialisation after first-year, you can change programs and still complete your degree in 3 or 4 years full-time (depending on your degree length). Start now, decide later.
On-campus teaching for this program is based at the Mawson Lakes campus. Only 20 minutes from the city centre with easy parking. The Mawson Lakes campus is also accessible by bus and train with the Mawson Lakes train station only a short walk.
¹Interactive Games and Entertainment Association 2021
²Australian Trade and Investment Commission 2021
What you'll learn
During your first year of study, you will build a strong foundation in IT fundamentals, including networking, database development, programming, and systems analysis and design, before specialising in game development, which will see you build skills in computer graphics programming, multimedia design and information visualisation.
Topics include:
Game Engines and Graphics using Unreal game Engine (UE5)
Unity game engine
Game asset creation
Game design
Mobile game development
Game project management
3D graphical production
You will also have the chance to apply technical skills and creativity to wider productions, software and interfaces, studying areas such as:
User Experience
Software Development Tools
Programming
Python and Java – highly sought after skills in the Australian job market¹.
In your final year you will put your skills into practice through our ICT Capstone Project.
You may have the opportunity to work directly with an industry client, drawing on the technical expertise gained throughout your studies and applying professional skills in a real-world setting to produce and deliver an artefact for your client.
You will enjoy access to dedicated learning hubs where you can connect and collaborate, giving you the full workplace and project experience.
1Deloitte Access Economics, ACS Australia’s Digital Pulse 2021
1. The University elective is a course from any academic unit or program within the University of South Australia that is freely chosen by students, subject to pre-requisite requirements and availability.
2. Enrolment in this course is required at least six weeks prior to the study period beginning so projects can be allocated to student groups.
3. STEM internship electives of either 15, 30, 45 or 60 days are available to students with Program Director approval.
Study hours
For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects, as well as to contribute to online discussion forums (independent study). So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12–26 hours of study when at university and 14–28 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
Your studies at UniSA will incorporate both practical, professionally focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:
Interactive studio exercises
Industry aligned projects
Industry based internships
Hands-on practical activities
Collaborative group projects
Development of full games
Pitching game ideas
Documentation
Global opportunities
Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. You may have the option to undertake an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas while you study. We have links with universities worldwide, as well as a range of travel grants available to make going overseas much more accessible.
You can choose short-term or semester-long study from a range of universities and countries depending on your area of study and cultural interests.
Why Bachelor of Information Technology (Games and Entertainment Design)
Balance your creativity with expertise in information technology, and benefit from our partnership with video gaming giant, Epic Games. You can be assured you’ll be taught the most up-to-date gaming skills and practices in demand by the gaming industry, as well as other sectors, including health, business, defence and education.
Epic makes the world’s most popular and widely used Unreal game Engine. As the first university in Australia to gain academic partnership status in their internationally renowned Unreal Academic Partnership Program, we’re offering you the opportunity to develop broad skills in game and software development, preparing you to bring the next generation of games to market.
In addition to developing technical expertise, you will also complete a unique series of collaborative, work-integrated courses, reinforcing the concepts learnt in the classroom in a supportive practice environment. Non-technical skills are also integrated into your learning to develop the qualities highly valued and sought after by industry. Topics include design thinking, system requirements, system design and agile development, and project management.
In your final year you may have the opportunity to work directly with an industry client – from brief through to project delivery – with our ICT Capstone Project. Upon graduation, this allows you to demonstrate your ability to deliver work to industry standard, and to the satisfaction of a client.
Most of our IT undergraduate programs share a common first-year, so choosing this degree offers ultimate flexibility. Should you wish to pursue a different specialty after completing your first-year, you can switch to an alternative IT program and receive credit for the courses completed. Start now, decide later.
Real-world connections
With more than 200 industry contacts, you will have numerous opportunities to gain real-world experience through projects and placements with organisations such as Adelaide Football Club, Services Australia, SAAB, DSTO, Forensic Science SA, Top Chop Games and Maptek.
UniSA is also home to several research centres and concentrations, including:
All have world renowned links and associations that provide a dynamic teaching and research base for our students.
You will also benefit from our culture of innovation and startup community. We’re helping IT entrepreneurs and innovators turn their ideas into startup enterprises with a bright future. Through the Innovation and Collaboration Centre (ICC), the University’s startup incubator, you have access to programs (such as Venture Catalyst), services and expertise including:
Workshops
One-on-one mentoring
Office space for startups and entrepreneurs
Access to a global pool of expert advisers
Small funding stipends
Events to kick-start ideas and competitions like hackathons
Explore our purpose-built IT facilities at the UniSA Mawson Lakes campus, including our games and virtual reality labs.
Career outcomes
Your career
Graduates of this program will have the skills to follow a traditional IT career path or pursue a career in the ever-growing gaming industry, with strong employment prospects for suitably qualified ICT professionals.
By 2026, it is predicted there will be nearly 300,000 more technology workers in the Australian workforce. And software programming skills – developed in this program – are in high demand¹.
Similarly, the announcement of significant tax incentives for games developers is likely to bring increased interest in setting up game development studios in Australia, and potentially, more jobs.
Careers to consider:
Game Developer: collaborating with designers and product managers to define game features and system requirements; delivering high quality, functional systems on time and according to specifications; understanding user experience.
Mobile Game Developer: Designing, developing and testing games that will be deployed on all major mobile platforms.
Game Programmer: Working in a team to develop interactive entertainment applications designed for consoles, mobile and PC gaming markets.
Simulation Developer: Creating realistic simulations using development environments such as Unreal Engine and Unity.
Game Pipeline Developer: Creating the full asset pipeline from high quality assets that are used in the games through to the deployment within game engines.
Software Developer: designing, coding, testing, and debugging software applications; interpreting customer requirements into a code solution; working with a team to research, design, and implement a software solution; working with others to extend existing software functionality; produce standalone software solutions for a client; produce a solution that contributes to a large software system; work in a diverse range of programming roles and contexts.
SCRUM Developer: working in a scrum team developing quality software artifacts in a diverse range of contexts.
Career progression may see you working as:
Game Designer
Studio Lead
Game Producer
Lead Game Developer
1Deloitte Access Economics, ACS Australia’s Digital Pulse 2021
Professional accreditation and recognition
This program is professionally accredited by the Australian Computer Society.
Industry facts
The tech sector generated $167B to the Australian economy in 2020, making it the third largest contributor, and is only expected to grow stronger in the future
(Accenture and Tech Council 2021)
The global gaming market was valued at $240 billion in 2020 and expected to reach $294 billion by 2024
(Australia Department of Foreigh Affairs 2022)
Employment for Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers are expected to grow strongly by 1,900 (or 13.7 per cent) jobs by 2026
(Labour Markets Insights 2022)
How to apply
How to apply for international students will give you helpful information about the application process at the University of South Australia. When you are ready, apply through our International Application System. If you would like to talk to someone near you about studying at the University of South Australia, we have agents all over the world who can assist you. Find an Education Agent in your country.
Alternative Pathways
Australian
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.
As a UniSA student, you will have unique access to work placement opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events, internships, guest speakers and more.
Our campuses are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform. We have health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and great student lounges. You will also gain access to a range of community clinics, which provide professional and cost effective services in areas of health, business, law and psychology. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and lots more.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation and private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages, or explore our student accommodation by Scape on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.
Student services
Our international student services provide you with all the support you need at university. We want you to succeed, and if you need help, we're here to assist. You can access a full range of support services, including:
We also offer study support from our Learning Advisers face-to-face or online. They are here to help you develop academically and professionally during your studies, and can offer help with the English language too. When you become a UniSA student, you can also contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and more.
24/7 digital environment
Our learnonline facilities include a personal learning environment with virtual classrooms, lecture recordings, emails, learning support, administration, library access and results. The environment is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can tailor your learning to your life. We are continually investing in innovative digital technologies for a high-quality student learning experience.
Your campus
We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with modern facilities including lecture theatres, libraries and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments.
This degree is delivered at the following campus.
Your study spaces
UniSA is ranked Number 1 in SA for campus facilities in IT¹.
During your studies you will have access to purpose-built learning spaces such as:
Gaming Development Lab
Cisco Networking Labs
Cyber Security Labs
IT Capstone Project Space
IT Collaboration Studio
Apple Development Lab
PC Labs
1ComparED (QILT) Student Experience Survey 2019-20 – Computing and Information Systems – Learning Resources Indicator (Undergraduate). SA public universities.
Your program director
I’m passionate about building university degrees that help students further their careers. The biggest reward I get is meeting students later in their careers and having them say how useful what they learned at our University was for them. My Phd was in programming languages and concurrency. However, more recently I have been working with virtual reality technologies and the internet of things.
There are a number of ways to apply to study UniSA's undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.
You can access our online International Application System through our How to Apply page. The International Application System is an easy and secure online application and acceptance process. You will have visibility of your application through the secure online portal with the ability to download offer documents, submit your acceptance and make a payment.
If you are completing an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or overseas, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Australia, you must apply through SATAC http://www.satac.edu.au/.
If you are applying for the UniSA Study Abroad or Study Abroad Plus program, you can submit your application online here.
Postgraduate study by research For information on applying to do postgraduate study by research, including Masters by Research, PhDs or Doctorates, please visit http://unisa.edu.au/resdegrees.
There is no closing date for submitting your application however the admissions process takes between one and three weeks from the date that we receive your application and all required supporting documentation.
If you are completing an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or overseas, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Australia, you must apply through SATAC. Key dates for applications can be found here.
You may be eligible to receive credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area at an equivalent or higher level. Receiving credit will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree.
The amount of credit you may be eligible to receive is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Admissions team.
The best way to determine your eligibility to receive credit or advanced standing is to apply using our International Application System which can be found on our How to Apply page. You will need to supply detailed syllabus documents with your application.
UniSA welcomes the opportunity to speak with you regarding your study options. Our staff are able to talk to you about degree information, career outcomes and pathways, entry requirements, applications, and student life, so that you are able to make the best study decision for your future.
Click here to book a 1:1 appointment with one of our enquiries team.
We also have many events throughout the year in Australia and overseas where you can speak with UniSA representatives about your area of interest. View our calendar of events in your home country by selecting the 'International' filter.
When I was younger, I discovered gaming and fell in love with the creative fantasy worlds each game provided. I always thought that it would be a dream career to be able to create games just like the ones I play. With all of the experience I gained at UniSA, this has now become a reality, and I am working as a digital artist for a virtual reality studio.
Billy Bizilis
Bachelor of Information Technology (Games and Entertainment Design)
Digital Artist & Software Developer | Jumpgate VR
Billy Bizilis
Bachelor of Information Technology (Games and Entertainment Design)
Digital Artist & Software Developer | Jumpgate VR
Games Lab
Take a look inside one of the games labs at UniSA. IT students studying the Games and Entertainment Design specialisation use this lab, which prepares them for this hugely-growing industry.
Fees This is based on the total number of units for this program where one EFTSL is expressed as 36 units.
*UniSA accepts applications for programs commencing beyond the year advertised and tuition fees for these years will be higher. Please note that your tuition fees will be subject to an annual increase.
