Computer Games Programming BSc (Hons)

Course overview

This degree is one of the UK’s leading games programming courses and is well respected by the industry. You have the opportunity to study on this specialist course taught by experienced developers and internationally recognised researchers. Learn to apply software engineering and problem-solving skills to develop games from 2D games developed from scratch, to polished 3D games with massive development teams. This course includes an optional work placement year, at no extra cost.

Games programmers build games from the creative vision of designers and artists. Our course gives you the essential industry skills to do this. Games-specific modules take you beyond traditional software development, providing a head start for your future career. Each year culminates in producing a complete game demo, whether as a personal project using middleware, in a team of programmers working to a game design document or in a multidisciplinary team of artists, animators and designers. You will become a talented software engineer, technically skilled and an excellent problem solver with games-industry-specific knowledge and experience. You will have the technical expertise for a variety of careers within the games industry and mainstream computing.

The course is structured around the following themes:

• Programming and agile software engineering practices
• Gaming hardware and platforms (mobile devices and consoles
• Gameplay programming and user interfaces (multimodal interfaces) artificial intelligence
• Networked multiplayer games (from social gaming to massively multiplayer games) graphics, animation, physics, and simulation programming.

Take part in Animex our annual international festival of games and animation which brings together experts from world-renowned studios including Rockstar, Pixar, Aardman, Disney, ILM, Sony Interactive and Supermassive Games.You also have the chance to enter our local, national and international GameJam events, take part in our industry competitions, attend industry events, and Beta test some upcoming games before they are released. You also have the chance to enter our local, national and international GameJam events, take part in our industry competitions, attend industry events, and Beta test some upcoming games before they are released.Free online maths coursePrepare for your studies with our free online Mathematics for University course. Develop your knowledge and understanding in maths so that you can start your studies in September confidently and better prepared. Places offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Find out more

Alongside the optional work placement year, you can gain valuable experience and engagement with the sector through our shorter work placements, internships and work experience opportunities.

Career opportunities

You are ideally suited for employment in the games development industry and similar creative industries. A variety of programming roles exist within these industries such as gameplay programmer, tools programmer, middleware developer and mobile application programmer. The course gives you a strong foundation in computer programming, also allowing for a career in mainstream software development.

Our graduates are highly sought after in the games industry securing roles in AAA studios across the country and the globe including Accenture, HMRC, Zerolight, Ubisoft, Creative Assembly, Double 11, Microsoft, Traveller's Tales and many more.