BSc (Hons) Game Development with Integrated Foundation Year

Program Overview

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Game Development with Integrated Foundation Year BSc (Hons)

Overview

This course equips you with the necessary technical skills to develop games both independently and within a multidisciplinary environment, backed by industry standard practices.

Why us?

• BSc (Hons) Game Development course has a 100% positivity score for how intellectually stimulating the course is, how the course challenges students to produce their best work, and how well the course develops knowledge and skills needed for the future (National Student Survey 2024)
• Our Computer Science courses are 11th in the UK for teaching quality (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)

Course structure

Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, seminars and laboratory sessions. You will be encouraged to develop independent study skills as well as work with other students on group projects. As well as assessments (i.e. coursework) that count towards your degree, there are also ongoing opportunities for feedback and consolidating your learning.

Course modules

The Computing Integrated Foundation Year includes five modules:

• Foundations of Computing (40 credits)
  • Consider a wide range of perspectives related to the field of computing to help prepare you for your degree study.
  • Understand how a modern computer works and how this has developed over time, leading to the adoption of the Von Neumann architecture.
  • Comprehend various ways of programming a computer using a modern compiled software language.
• Essential Study Skills (20 credits)
  • Develop the necessary skills for study at university.
  • Enhance your academic writing, communication, and presentation skills.
  • Reflect upon your development, career aspirations, and personal goals.
• Project (20 credits)
  • Investigate a topic area related to your degree programme, and produce either a portfolio, practical project, performance, artefact, video, website, essay, or analysis of data/report.
  • Engage in lectures, tutorials, lab, and/or practical sessions with subject specialists.
  • Gain experience of researching your subject area and further develop your critical thinking, writing, time management, and organisational skills.
• Fundamentals of Computer Networking and Security (20 credits)
  • Study the components of a computer network, install and power up virtual machines and describe threats to their security and well-being.
  • Develop your confidence when working with networks, virtualization, and security.
  • Enhance the skills vital to becoming an IT professional, including communication skills, operation procedures, and ethical and legal considerations.
• Practical Maths (20 credits)
  • Consolidate your numeracy skills and see how to apply them to real-life scenarios.
  • Consider how statistical results are presented, calculated, and misrepresented.
  • Study the foundations of numeracy, including powers, roots, fractions, percentages, standard form, area and volume, ratio, and proportion.

Year 1 (national level 4):

• Software Engineering (20 credits)
  • Explore a wide range of software engineering techniques and industry practices, designed to promote the production of high-quality, efficient, reliable, and secure software.
  • Examine how software is created and the various stages of the software development lifecycle, together with consideration of social, ethical, professional, and legal issues.
  • Evaluate software products to ensure that they are functioning correctly, and conclude their strengths and weaknesses.
• Computer Systems, Architectures and Networks (20 credits)
  • Gain an overview of how a computer works, from the moment it is switched on.
  • Explore what happens inside the machine, including how computers process input, generate output and store data.
  • Install and configure a modern operating system, and troubleshoot hardware and software problems using real equipment and simulations.
• Introduction to Programming (20 credits)
  • Learn about the fundamental programming concepts, including how to write computer programs using a high-level programming language such as Python or C#.
  • Develop an understanding of debugging techniques to find and resolve defects.
  • Select and implement appropriate structures for file handling, data manipulation, and error handling within a program.
• Full Stack Development (20 credits)
  • Explore both front-end and back-end web development, and use frameworks to create a fully dynamic web application.
  • Consider the development of the modern web and review the underlying technologies and standards.
  • Create programs that run on a live web server and use a modern programming language.
• Specialist Project (20 credits)
  • Explore and develop an individual project based around your preferred area of study.
  • Work directly with subject specialists in workshop-style sessions to explore your specialism.
  • Appreciate the social, ethical, professional, and legal issues as they apply to computer-based systems.
• Game Development (20 credits)
  • Gain hands-on experience using an industry-standard game engine.
  • Plan and design a game using relevant principles and techniques, and incorporate the fundamentals of level design.
  • Apply game programming techniques using an established set of relevant game-related technologies.

Year 2 (national level 5):

• Rapid Game Prototyping (20 credits)
  • Get practical experience and experiment with the tools and techniques used in game development.
  • Rapidly design and develop a series of game artifacts, with a particular focus on gameplay mechanics.
  • Critically reflect on the rapid prototyping approach to game development.
• Agile Development and DevOps (20 credits)
  • Learn how to use Agile and DevOps practices in modern software development, using a range of modern tools and technologies.
  • Apply SCM concepts and GIT commands to a range of developer situations.
  • Design, develop and deploy a workflow on a remote repository that automatically builds, tests and deploy a software product.
• Advanced Programming (20 credits)
  • Propose solutions to programming problems through OO software design modeling, using UML diagrams, notations, and techniques.
  • Apply advanced OO programming constructs to the development of professional-standard software.
  • Select appropriate software design patterns, data structures and algorithms to provide efficient solutions to complex programming problems.
• Enterprise Project (20 credits)
  • Participate in the organising, running, controlling, and monitoring of a team tasked to produce a computer-based solution to a client-posed problem.
  • Respond to client analysis and feedback to progress and complete your prototype solution.
  • Appreciate enterprise approaches for software project determination, selection, development, implementation, and criteria-based evaluation.
• Immersive Application Development (20 credits)
  • Explore the use and effectiveness of current immersive technologies, including Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Mixed Reality.
  • Learn how immersive technologies are being used and embraced in the industry and consider these technologies in the context of entertainment.
  • Examine and evaluate an application prototype for its immersive and interactive qualities.
• C++ Programming (20 credits)
  • Enhance your knowledge of the C++ language and develop your programming skills.
  • Delve into data structures and algorithms and other C++ techniques such as memory management and overloading.
  • Compare and contrast the usage of C++ development frameworks or engines in a gaming context.

Optional placement:

• Industrial Placement (120 credits)
  • Spend 48 weeks on placement working within the industry.
  • Refine, plan, schedule and produce an individual project based on your experience.
  • Critically reflect on the skills and experience gained as part of your placement.

Final year (national level 6):

• Project (40 credits)
  • Articulate an in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of your chosen research topic.
  • Develop your professional skills, such as problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, self-reflection, and time management.
  • Collect, organise, and present your body of work, including a critical evaluation and correct citation and reference of appropriate research sources.
• Artificial Intelligence (20 credits)
  • Examine a range of AI techniques and their application to problem-solving within society, industry, and research.
  • Develop an awareness of the contemporary developments in the field of AI and their application and potential implications.
  • Critically assess real-world problems and determine which AI approaches are suitable for their solutions.
• UX Design (20 credits)
  • Translate research user and contextual data into human-centered design tools such as user stories, personas, and scenarios.
  • Design and develop digital prototypes for a given problem specification.
  • Critically evaluate the usability and user experience of a given interactive system.
• Collaborative VR Applications (20 credits)
  • Develop a collaborative VR application using network programming and industry-standard tools.
  • Consider what makes an interactive artefact collaborative and investigate the limitations of multi-user VR applications.
  • Devise appropriate technical design documentation for a collaborative VR application using industry-standard diagrams and or illustrations.
• Game Showpiece (20 credits)
  • Critically evaluate and select appropriate contemporary tools and techniques to design a showpiece game.
  • Enhance your transferable skills in presenting, planning, and time management.
  • Evaluate the success of the game with respect to potential or actual end users and reflect on the development process.

Facilities

This course is based at the David Goldman Technology Centre, a high-tech computing environment with strong links to software companies and a constant exchange of ideas and people.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for Ireland. Please contact the Student Admin team on or .

Entry requirements are provided for guidance only and we may offer you an entrance interview which will help us determine your eligibility for your chosen degree. This enables us to consider making you an offer if you're perhaps a mature student who's been out of education for a period of time, or you've gained significant knowledge and skills through employment rather than traditional education.

Eligible entry qualifications:

If you're unsure of whether you think you might be suitable for the course, please contact us.

**If you've studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade, you'll need to achieve a grade 4 or above. Equivalent alternative qualifications are also accepted, such as Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number.

If English isn't your first language, please see our English language requirements.

Fees and finance

The annual fee for this course is £9,535 if you're from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled.

Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2025/26 will be £9,535. You will pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.

If you're a full-time UK/Irish/EU settled/EU pre-settled student, you may be eligible to receive financial support to cover your fees for the full four years. UK and EU settled students may also be eligible to receive a maintenance loan.

Please note, this course isn't available to international students.

Learn more about settled status, pre-settled status, special discounts, visa requirements, and Common Travel Area (CTA) agreements for the Republic of Ireland applicants in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

This course has a strong emphasis on real-world learning that boosts employability and equips you to make a bigger contribution in the workplace.

Graduate success

In your final year of the course, you will undertake a major individual project with research-active staff. This adds to your hands-on experience and, in some cases, leads to a job offer that can be taken up as soon as the course ends.

Our graduates have gone on to become web programmers, IT managers, information analysts and software developers. Employers that have taken on our graduates include Sage, British Airways and the NHS. Other graduates have started their own businesses or become software contractors earning over £50,000 a year.

Program Outline

BSC (HONS) Game Development with Integrated Foundation Year at University of Sunderland

Degree Overview:

This four-year program equips students with the necessary technical skills to develop games independently and in teams, utilizing industry-standard practices. Students learn to create games for PC, mobile, and VR platforms, focusing on software development using industry-relevant languages and mathematical concepts through popular game engines. Collaboration is fostered in the Game Development Lab through simulated studio settings where students work together to build game portfolios demonstrating their technical prowess, gameplay programming competency, and the creation of engaging player experiences.

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Objectives:

• Equip graduates with the necessary technical expertise for independent and collaborative game development.
• Foster expertise in developing games for diverse platforms including PC, mobile, and VR.
• Emphasize software development using industry-standard languages and tools.
• Utilize popular game engines for game design and development.
• Provide a collaborative learning environment through simulated studio settings in the Game Development Lab.
• Equip graduates with skills to build their game development portfolios showcasing technical skills and engaging player experiences.

Outline:

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Year 1 (Integrated Foundation Year):

• Focus on fundamental computing principles, problem-solving through programming languages (Python or C#), data manipulation techniques, and error handling within a program.
• Gain understanding of essential study skills, communication strategies, academic writing techniques, and self-assessment.
• Introduction to various computer architecture concepts, operating system configurations, troubleshooting hardware/software issues, and network components and security considerations.
• Introduction to game design using game engines, user input methods (console gamepads), and basic game engine functionality (level design).
• Project work focused on the individual use of various programming languages for creating web applications.
• Exposure to immersive technologies (AR, VR, MR), their potential in various industries, and development considerations in entertainment.

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Year 2:

• Gain experience through rapid game design prototyping, focusing on gameplay mechanics and design, critical reflection, and Agile/DevOps methodology.
• Utilize industry tools and technologies, implementing Agile principles for modern software development, including using Git commands for collaborative development workflows, testing, deployment, and monitoring.
• Advanced object-oriented programming using UML diagrams for design, employing advanced constructs, design patterns, data structures, and algorithms to solve complex programming challenges.
• Participation in teams for creating a client-posed software solution, utilizing project management skills, adapting to feedback for solution refinement, and adhering to ethical principles for software projects.
• Explore immersive application development using network programming techniques and industry-standard tools, considering collaborative features and limitations, and creating appropriate technical documentation with diagrams/illustrations.
• Deepen C++ knowledge, exploring data structures, algorithms, memory management, and overloading for game engine applications and frameworks.

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Optional Placement Year:

• Gain valuable real-world industry experience and incorporate it into self-directed project development, enhancing presentation, planning, and time management skills.

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Final Year:

• Develop an in-depth research project, showcasing knowledge and understanding, utilizing critical thinking, research techniques, and effective presentation of findings.
• Gain an overview of techniques used within AI, considering its various applications, contemporary developments and potential implications, and applying this knowledge to real-world problem analysis for AI suitability determination.
• Utilize user research and context to transform data into design tools (user stories/scenarios), prototype digital solutions for given specifications, and evaluate usability/user experience for interactive systems.
• Develop collaborative VR applications incorporating network programming and industry tools, investigate limitations of multi-user VR settings, and design technical documentation using industry-standard diagrams/illustrations.
• Create an innovative "show-piece" game, showcasing technical expertise through project selection, execution, and evaluation, with consideration given to target user feedback.

Assessment:

Assessments include coursework, individual and team projects, examinations, presentations, critical analyses, and a final year individual research project. Assessments aim to test knowledge acquisition, application skills, problem-solving abilities, communication proficiency, and project completion under specific criteria.

Teaching:

This program is taught by a dedicated and skilled teaching team supported by Academic Technical Support (ATS) staff to aid in project work, practical session assistance, equipment configuration, and overall student support. The faculty comprises seasoned professionals who provide accessible support, fostering a positive learning environment. Delivery includes lectures, tutorials, practical sessions, seminar discussions, independent study modules, collaborative group projects, and research project supervision for the culminating individual work. Feedback mechanisms for ongoing assessment and consolidation of learning are incorporated throughout the program.

Careers:

This program prepares graduates with diverse career opportunities in the growing global video game industry. The curriculum equips graduates for positions like: Web Programmer, IT Manager, Information Analyst, and Software Developer Additionally, graduates can forge successful careers as independent game developers or software contractors. Employment opportunities exist within established game studios or within the wider technology and IT sectors. The program fosters critical skills and competencies in technical proficiency, problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, teamwork, time management, and self-direction, preparing graduates for various roles in this evolving field.

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The annual fee for this course is £9,250 if you're from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled. If you're a full-time UK/Irish/EU settled/EU pre-settled student, you may be eligible to receive financial support to cover your fees for the full four years. UK and EU settled students may also be eligible to receive a maintenance loan. Please note, this course isn't available to international students.