Why Study / Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Games and Interactivity / Bachelor of Applied Innovation is a four-year double degree combining games and interactive-media education with innovation practice.

Students work in studio-style environments to design, develop and playtest games, progressing towards the creation of an original game in the final year. The course combines practical game development with animation, creative problem-solving, analytical and strategic thinking, collaboration and entrepreneurial skills.

Key benefits include:

• Practical games and interactive-media development.
• Experience designing, developing and playtesting games.
• Game-design and game-production knowledge.
• 3D modelling and digital prototyping.
• Interactive narrative writing.
• User-centred design and evaluation.
• Behaviour and motivation in games.
• Innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking.
• Opportunities to combine the Games and Interactivity major with another co-major, minor or electives.
• A final-year project focused on games and interactivity.
• Exposure to industry-oriented game development and showcase activities.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The Games and Interactivity component contains the following core subjects:

• Sound Design and Acquisition – FTV10005
• Introduction to Game Studies – ART10004
• 3D Modelling for Objects and Environments – DDD20022
• Principles of Game Design – GAM10002
• Introduction to Games Production – GAM20001
• Pervasive Game Design Lab – GAM20002
• Digital Game Prototyping Lab – GAM20003
• Writing for Interactive Narratives – GAM20004
• Games & Interactivity Project 1 – GAM30002
• Behaviour and Motivation in Games – ART30003
• Games & Interactivity Project 2 – GAM30003
• User-Centred Design & Evaluation – GAM30004.

The Applied Innovation component includes:

• Exploring Creativity and Innovation – INV10001
• Fundamentals of Innovation Practice – INV10002
• Innovation Sandpit – INV10003
• Responsible Innovation Futures – INV10004.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The principal disciplines are:

• Games and Interactivity
• Applied Innovation

The handbook lists co-major options including areas such as:

• Accounting
• Advertising
• Animation
• Biotechnology
• Business Analysis
• Business Analytics and Analysis
• Cinema and Screen Studies
• Climate and Social Justice

Suggested minors include areas such as:

• Computer Science
• Creative Writing
• Data Analytics
• Data Science
• Design Principles and Processes
• Digital Marketing
• Entrepreneurship
• Film and Television Theory
• Games and Interactivity
• Innovation
• Psychology-related study
• Communication Design
• Engineering
• Ethics and Technology.

Programme Highlights

• Four-year double degree.
• Hawthorn campus in Melbourne.
• Games and Interactivity combined with Applied Innovation.
• CRICOS: 108355J.
• Game development and production.
• 3D modelling.
• Game design.
• Digital game prototyping.
• Interactive narrative writing.
• User-centred design.
• Game behaviour and motivation.
• Innovation and entrepreneurial practice.
• Studio-based collaboration and playtesting.
• Original game development leading into the final year.
• Choice of additional study through a co-major, minor and/or electives.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne's course page identifies career opportunities including:

• Games developer
• Computer graphics (CG) animator
• Games tester
• Software developer
• Innovation lead
• User researcher.

The detailed handbook also identifies broader innovation-oriented roles such as:

• Innovation Consultant
• Innovation Lead
• Innovation Analyst
• Strategic Designer
• Creative Producer
• Start-up Founder
• Human-Centred Researcher
• Self-employed Entrepreneur
• Product Manager
• Transformation Lead
• Innovation Strategist
• Innovation Manager.

International Student Visa Requirements

The relevant Australian visa is the Student visa (subclass 500).

For this course, Swinburne specifically states that international students in Australia holding a Student visa must study full-time and on campus.

According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs, Student visa applicants must generally:

• Apply online.
• Be enrolled in an eligible Australian course.
• Hold a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when the visa is decided.
• Maintain appropriate Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless exempt.
• Satisfy the applicable Genuine Student requirement.
• Provide English-language evidence where required, unless an exemption applies.
• Meet applicable health and character requirements.
• Comply with all visa conditions.