Undergraduate study
     

Animation, Games & Computer Graphics

BSc (Hons) Computer Games Programming

  • Length: 3/4 years
  • UCAS code: GGK6 BSc/CGP
  • Typical offer: 260-320 tariff points
 

In a mere matter of decades, video games have saturated society. Everywhere you look, people are playing games. Someone has to create all the games for mobile phones, personal computers, hand-held gaming devices and gaming consoles. Vital to their development is the games programmer – who creates the code to make the game work.

The games programmer has to take the game designer’s creative vision and use their technical skills to make the idea come alive on the screen. This requires highly skilled and highly creative people with a passion for their work. If you think this could be you we can nurture your passion for computer games and give you the technical skills needed for their development.

This course has a serious reputation in the games development industry, and many of our graduates now work for some of the top game development companies in the world such as Sega and Ubisoft. Our lecturers have worked in the games industry, providing you with up-to-date industry skills and awareness.

You gain the programming and technical skills to construct game action and transform a game design into a working program – it’s a vital career role in the computer game industry.

If you love gaming and want to get to grips with the technical aspects of games development then this is the course for you, it will equip you with the right skills to take advantage of the great job opportunities open to games programmers.

How you learn

You will be taught by a combination of lectures and practical sessions per module. Lectures concentrate on teaching the principles while practical sessions allow you to put these principles into practice.

How you are assessed

Modules are assessed either by an examination or an in-course assessment which normally requires you to develop and document applications to demonstrate your skills and understanding of the topics being taught.

Professional placement

You may apply to take a year-long supervised work placement between your second and final years. Placements provide an opportunity for you to improve your employment prospects by developing new skills and deepening your understanding of the subject.

The placement year is assessed and contributes to your final degree award. Currently students are placed in games companies, such as Rare, Blitz Games and Reflections, and animation companies, such as Triffic Films. Some choose a more science/research placement such as Cern (Switzerland), Schlumberger and IBM. Students are selected by employers and are normally paid by the host organisation during the placement.

Professional accreditation

Skillset Approved The Skillset accreditation scheme has been created with the games and animation industry to signpost courses which fulfil professional criteria and prepare students for the world of work.

Career opportunities

You can choose from games programming or computer simulation and computer graphics applications. Due to the advanced nature of games development you will also have strong transferable skills allowing for a career in mainstream computing.

Graduates from our programming degrees have gone on to enjoy careers with a wide range of companies including Blitz, Electronic Arts, Kuju Entertainment, Quantic Dream, Radical Entertainment, Sega, Sony Computer Entertainment, Traveller's Tales, Typhoon Mobile, Ubisoft and many more.

Entry requirements

A typical offer will be 260-320 tariff points which must include at least two A levels or equivalent in technical, science or numerate subjects, such as computing, physics or mathematics. GCSE mathematics at grade C or equivalent is essential. Key Skills Level 2 in Application of Number will not be accepted as an equivalent.

Normally you will be expected to attend an interview.

If you apply for a course for which your educational background is inappropriate, you may receive an offer in a related but more suitable area.

For additional information please see the standard University entry requirements.

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Part-time study not available

Modules

Animation, Games & Computer Graphics

Year 1 core modules

Year 2 core modules

and three option modules

Final-year core modules

and three optional modules

Modules offered may vary.