Computer Games Programming and Design

Whether you're interested in game design or programming, or still deciding where your skills and career will take you, the computer games programming and design degree offers the perfect opportunity to build a broad base of games industry knowledge before specialising in your chosen area.

You'll be able to tailor your studies through optional modules, working on real games projects alongside other students with a diverse array of skills, building your teamwork and pipeline experience in studio scenarios designed to emulate a real indie studio environment.

Programming options will build the problem solving and logic skills you need to succeed, including computational thinking, designing gameplay systems, and maths for games. At the design end, you'll learn fundamental design tools and explore how to create and prototype compelling games that engage players and build game experiences.

You'll learn the production pipeline and how to use state-of-the-art game engines as part of a collaborative team. Through studio modules that simulate industry practice, and in our Video Games Academy, you'll build professional connections and friendships alongside a fantastic grasp of all aspects of game development, putting you in the best possible position to start your career in this growing industry after graduation.

You’ll be taught by highly experienced academics with vast experience of the gaming industry, and excellent industry links. These close links enable you to benefit from a range of guest lectures throughout your studies and gain valuable critiques and guidance. Recent speakers have included representatives from Stainless Games, Unity and Aardvark Swift.

Special events are a valuable part of the student experience. There are opportunities to attend conferences, guest lectures, even occasional trips to industry venues. We encourage participation in game jams and host a few every year. We're also partnered with Grads in Games - students are invited to attend monthly webinars tailored to your chosen field and focusing on discipline-specific insights and recruitment strategies. Students are also invited to participate in their industry-recognised game development challenges - Search for a Star and Rising Star - with previous students being finalists.

If you’re looking to study our computer games programming and design degree but don’t have the relevant qualifications or experience, the digital arts foundation year will help you develop the core skills and knowledge to progress. Find out more about the digital arts foundation year.

This course also offers the option of a placement year. A placement year allows you to put what you've learned in your first and second years into practice in the workplace, gaining valuable real-world work experience before you graduate. Our course and placements teams will help you find the perfect industry placement in your chosen field.

• What does this course lead to?*
  This course will prepare you for a career as a computer game programmer or computer game designer.

For those more interested in programming, jobs could include: gameplay programmers, AI programmers, user interface programmers, physics programmers, graphics programmers, animation programmers, network programmers, Engine/Tools programmers, Unity/Unreal Engine developers.

Many programming skills are also transferrable in industries outside games: software engineers, information systems professionals, web developers, computer scientists, mobile developers, XR/AR/VR developers.

For those with more of a design focus, possible jobs include: level designers, user experience designers, games user researchers (GUR experts), UI designers, narrative designers, game writers, gameplay designers.

Regardless of the course experience, students who favour either discipline can enjoy potential future careers as: indie game developers, producers, technical trainers, teaching professionals/academics, researchers.

Course Modules

YEAR ONE
CORE MODULES

Game Start: Game Development 101
Rubber Duck: Coding 101
XP: Game Design
Game Studio 1

YEAR TWO
CORE MODULES

New Mechanics: Advanced Game Development
Game Studio 2
Game Studio 3

OPTIONAL MODULES - Please note: Not all optional modules are guaranteed to run each year.

Building Games from Scratch: Engine Architecture
Spaces and Stories

FINAL YEAR
CORE MODULES

Game Studio 4
Final Fight: Final Major Project Part 1
Final Fight 2: Final Major Project Part 2

OPTIONAL MODULES - Please note: Not all optional modules are guaranteed to run each year.

Advanced Graphics Programming
Respec: Experimental Game Design

You may be assessed at the end of each block by:
Project work
Coursework
Creative design projects
Group work
Individual and group projects
As part of this course, you will study one module at a time, giving you the chance to build a deeper understanding and see the results of your hard work more quickly. With regular assessments and feedback, rather than exams all at once, you’ll also benefit from improved focus, and a more manageable workload.