BSc (Hons) / MSci Computer Games Technology is a course that focuses on the technical expertise required to develop computer games. The core modules deep-dive into 2D and 3D graphics rendering, physics, artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction required for the development of high-end computer games platforms.

The course will also involve working in small and large multi-disciplinary (creative and technical) teams for the development of computer games.

While studying your computer games degree, you will use our state-of-the-art computer games technology lab, which is kitted with high-performance PCs with dual monitors and cutting edge GPUs, Sony PlayStation and XBOX development kits, as well as a variety of industry standard software.

Our collaborations with Microsoft and Sony, coupled with our state-of-the-art technology will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in the games industry and beyond.

This course aims to develop critical, current, analytical and agile graduates, who:

• produce computer games in a legal and ethical manner;
• have a diverse understanding of the key issues that exist in games development;
• combine the critical faculties that derive from a traditional academic degree with the professional skills and flexibility needed to get the best jobs in the games development industry;
• can manage their own personal development and lifelong learning;
• are equipped to be familiar with a variety of contemporary industry tools and agile enough to respond to new technologies and consumer trends.

Engaging with industry and gaining work experience during your studies is essential if you are going to be taken seriously in the job market. Getting work experience in the games industry can be challenging, so we encourage you to take advantage of as many of the extra-curricular activities available. These may include industry sponsored talks and events, game jams, voluntary work, internships and placements.

The University is eager to recognise you have made the effort to gain industry experience and stand out from the typical graduate, so we offer a range of options for you to get extra awards and recognition for your work in industry and attain employability skills. All of this has been incorporated into an additional University programme called Graduate+.

You have the option to undertake an assessed sandwich year between your second and third year, which will provide you with valuable work experience and give you the real-life skills you need. It may not always be possible to get a placement in the game industry, so we actively encourage you to broaden your interests to allied sectors, for example software development companies. We also encourage you to gain relevant work experience by taking on short-term internships with local companies.

The second-year Interdisciplinary Project and Industry Project and Practice modules, as well as the third-year Consultancy and IT module, are all devised to promote employability. These modules give you the opportunity to work on live projects, working across disciplines where you use games to help solve problems in other fields which are not normally associated with games. These modules also encourage you to develop your skills and learn how to commercialise your own game ideas.

PLACEMENTS

There are a range of opportunities for you to gain industry experience during your studies examples of activities our students have done include: 

•        Game developer for local indie studios
•        Web programmer
•        QA in game development
•        Software engineer
•        IT support and administration
•        Internal placements within the University