Games Design BA course induction

Welcome to your course

Congratulations on securing your place on our course and welcome. 

We anticipate that this is going to be a rich and vibrant three years of study for you. To enable you to settle in as a new student we have organised some events as part of your induction week, leading into your first learning weeks. During induction week, you will be provided with useful information on the basic structures of your course and the resources and facilities available to you. You will also meet your fellow students and the teaching staff. 

Induction week is an important time to find your feet within the University and to ask any questions you may have. 

We look forward to meeting you in September and wish you a creative and enriching period ahead.

Welcome to the Westminster School of Media and Communication

Welcome to the Westminster School of Media and Communication at the University of Westminster. We are thrilled to have you join our dynamic and inclusive community, dedicated to nurturing innovative, responsible, and impactful professionals in the ever-changing world of media.

Your studies here will not only deepen your subject knowledge but also develop vital transferable skills, such as teamwork, critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication, all of which are essential for a successful career. Our distinguished researchers, experienced practitioners, and industry guest lecturers will support you at every stage, ensuring your learning is academically rigorous and closely linked to real-world needs.

We pride ourselves on a progressive, research-led approach, with teaching shaped by the latest debates and methodologies, underpinned by our Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI). Our curriculum is forward-looking, embracing emerging trends and encouraging you to consider the social impact and ethical responsibilities of media work, including addressing bias, disinformation, and digital challenges.

Above all, we are committed to fostering informed, creative, and socially responsible practitioners and scholars who make a difference locally, nationally, and globally—promoting equality, justice, and democracy.

We encourage you to participate in induction week and begin building connections. Welcome to a community that values progress, compassion, and responsibility. We look forward to supporting your growth as future media and communication leaders.

See you on campus!

Dr Doug Specht
Head of School, School of Media and Communication, University of Westminster

Collecting your ID card and completing enrolment

As part of your induction and to complete your enrolment, you'll need to collect your student ID card. 

Your time slot for collection is: 

4pm, Tuesday 16 September
Marylebone Campus 

For more information about enrolment, including related FAQs, visit our Enrolment for new students page.

Course induction schedule

Your course induction events may take place online or on campus – check the details for each event below.

The timing and venue for events may change, so double check this page closer to the date. 

All of today's course events are on Microsoft Teams 

Introduction to Arrivals week

11am–12pm 
Link to follow
A chance to discuss the activities happening throughout Arrivals week and ask any questions you might have about it.

Head of School welcome

2.45pm
Auditorium
Harrow Campus 

Optional Event: 1-to-1 Tutor Support

1.30-3pm 
Link to follow
A session that gives you the opportunity to privately discuss any questions or issues you might have about the course, any support that is required, or anything else related to starting this academic journey with the University of Westminster.

Collecting your ID card and completing enrolment

4pm
Marylebone Campus 

Optional event: Students' Union Welcome Fair

The fair will provide students with the opportunity to see what the student union and University has to offer them, outside their studies.
10am–4pm
Room P3, Marylebone Campus

For more information, please visit the University of Westminster Students' Union webpage 

All of today's course events are at the Harrow Campus 

Welcome to Games 

10-10.30am
Meet in the Forum
We’ll meet you in the Harrow campus entrance hall and guide you to the first session.
If you’ll be late for this in-person session, or any of the others, please contact Dominic (listed below in Key Contacts) and let him know.

Tutor and course introduction

10.30am–12:45pm 
Games Hub, Room LG.14
We’ll introduce your tutors and try to get to know you a little, then go over some of the important course information that you’ll need to know. You may want to bring a pen/paper or digital device to be able to make notes. There will be a break for lunch after this session.

FANS Activity + Campus Tour

3-4.30pm 
Games Hub, Room LG.14
The FANS (Friends of Arriving New Students) are running a getting to know your peers activity, plus giving you a guided tour of the Harrow campus. 

Optional event: College Social - Outdoor Film Screening 

6.30–9.30pm 
All students are invited to an outdoor cinema event at the Harrow Campus. The college will be providing one free drink and a choice of snack for the first 300 attendees, as well as a paid bar during the screening.
Reserve your free ticket for the Outdoor Film Screening

Today's events are at the Harrow Campus 

Preparation, Expectation, Operation 

10–11:30am 
Games Hub, Room LG.14
An important discussion of your time at university that includes how you should prepare yourself, what you should expect and what we expect from you, and how the course and university is run.

Software, Systems, and Virtual Learning

12.30–2pm 
Games Hub, Room LG.14
Introduction to the software, online systems, and virtual learning platforms that you’ll be using while at the university. 

Optional Event: Games Social

3–6:30pm
Games Hub, Room LG.14
Come and play a bunch of video games and board games with your tutors, peers, and students from other courses such as Illustration, Graphic Design, and Animation.

All of today's events are at the Harrow Campus

Optional Event: Tutor Support

10-10.30am
Games Hub, Room LG.14
A session that gives you the opportunity to discuss any questions or issues you might have. Particularly important if you missed any of the core sessions during the week.

Option 1: Sketchbook Workshop

10.30am-4.00pm 
Graphic Design Studio, room J2.42/3
Opportunity for those interested in improving their drawing skills. This session will be run by professionals from the games industry, so please try not to be late.

Option 2: Boardgame Challenge

10.30am-4pm 
EMS, room LG.12
Opportunity to work with a game designer to create your own board game. This session will be run by professionals from the games industry, so please try not to be late.

Welcome Festival - Harrow Campus

Students' Union Welcome Fair, 11am-5pm. 
Welcome Festival, 12–7pm - food, drinks, entertainment and music for students 
Harrow Campus
For more information, please visit the University of Westminster Students' Union webpage

Key contacts

Course leader

Markos Mentzelopoulos
E: [email protected]

Course resources

Blackboard

Blackboard is our online learning platform, which you'll be able to log in to after you've set up your University email address and password.

Teaching timetables

Teaching starts in the week commencing Monday 22 September and you can check your teaching timetable to see when and where your classes are being held.

Course handbook

Full details on the course structure, modules and course team are included in the course handbook, which can be found on Blackboard.

Reading list

Further information will be given during the week.

Equipment and materials

Digital technology

While you can borrow laptops through the University for 24 hours, it's better to have your own. If you're not sure what to buy, our technical support team can advise you once you've enrolled.

You'll be eligible for a student discount on computer purchases.

A smart phone with a good camera function is very useful for recording your work and for online communication. 

Support and services

Welcome to Westminster

Visit our Welcome to Westminster page for everything you need to get started at Westminster.

Student Centre

If you need help with enrolment or have any questions, please use the live chat.

Academic English

If you'd like to hone your academic English skills, watch our Academic English for Disciplinary Study Module video for starters and consider joining one of our Academic English Modules. If you have any questions, get in touch with the Academic English team at .