Computer Games Development with Foundation Year

On our practical BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development degree, you will have the opportunity to gain technical skills and theoretical knowledge to help you become a confident and competent Games Developer.

From programming, software design and asset development to character animation, this course will cover the industry latest to help you stay up-to-date, ensuring you’re ready for the working world upon graduation.

In the Foundation Year of this four-year course, you’ll build essential academic study skills. This year will help you gain confidence in your abilities. You’ll also identify your strengths and areas for development. Together, these will prepare you for progression to the undergraduate degree.

Why study Computer Games Development at BNU?

Industry standard facilities
Our Game Development programme at BNU offers direct access to professional tools and software used in the industry today. Access to high-performance computers and collaborative workspaces supports your learning and creativity, allowing you to turn your ideas into reality.

We are a member of the PlayStation® Vita Academic Development Programme run by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), which provides access to professional console development hardware and software tools.

Hands-on experience
The course emphasizes practical learning, allowing you to engage in real-world projects and develop games from concept to completion. This experiential learning approach equips you with the skills and confidence to tackle industry challenges head-on. By working on team projects and live briefs, you’ll not only refine your technical skills but also learn to collaborate effectively, mirroring professional game development environments.

Learn from industry experts
You'll learn from lecturers who bring a wealth of industry experience and academic expertise. Their insights into current trends and practices provide you with a relevant and up-to-date education, bridging the gap between academia and the professional world. They’ll also share their personal experiences and connections, helping you gain a clearer understanding of how to navigate the gaming industry successfully.

We are an NVIDIA CUDA Teaching Centre. We are also a member of TIGA, the trade association representing the UK's games industry.

Industry connections
We have close ties with a network of industry professionals, providing opportunities for networking, internships, and real-world projects. Guest speakers, live projects, and placement opportunities help you learn directly from industry leaders and gain a competitive edge. These connections, combined with visiting a number of events every year often lead to job offers or further collaborations, giving you a solid foundation for your future career.

What will I study?
During the first year you will develop your programming skills (C#) and apply them to the development of 2D mobile and console games and 3D levels within a commercial game engine. Other modules provide a taste of other disciplines in the games industry, including an introduction to games design and 3D modelling. Further modules provide a theoretical and practical understanding of the hardware on which games are deployed.

In second year you will continue to develop your programming skills (C++) and apply them to the development of realistic AI and graphical applications using a graphics library.

During your third year, you will develop a physics engine and integrate it into a games engine. You will also extend your understanding of the more complex AI techniques used within games and gain an insight into how games companies operate. A major component of the final year is the project, which provides an opportunity to develop a game or related software application.