Program Overview

BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development

The BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development degree is designed to help students become games programmers. From the outset, students will be hands-on, designing and programming games as they prepare for an exciting career at the cutting-edge of interactive digital content.

Course Overview

Our computer games development degree is designed to help students become games programmers. The course is designed to ensure direct relevance to the computer games industry and to provide students with opportunities to showcase their work to potential employers. Throughout the course, students will build up a portfolio of work that they can showcase when they come to apply for games development roles in industry.

Features and Benefits

• We are ranked top ten in the UK for our Animation and Game Design courses.
• Gain computer science skills through the innovative vehicle of game programming and design.
• Develop project management, team working, and communication skills, helping to enhance employability.
• Take the four-year placement route and spend the third year on industrial placement, boosting employment prospects.
• Experience what it’s like to work as part of a professional team, finding solutions to complex problems via group projects.
• We’ve invested over £115 million to transform the way we teach and the way our students learn.
• We have a games lab equipped with gaming chairs, keyboards, and mice used for our eSports events, and a user experience lab with VR headsets and an eye-tracking system.
• We offer a wide range of student support initiatives, including drop-in sessions, lecture recordings, video tutorials, and a dedicated support laboratory.
• This course has a scholarship available for 2026 entry. The PlayStation Elevate scholarship offers £10,000 paid over three years of study.

Accreditations, Awards, and Endorsements

• The Chartered Institute for IT
• Institute of Coding
• Chartered Institute of Information Security
• Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)
• Teaching Excellence Framework
• National Student Survey 2025 (NSS)

Year 1

In Year 1, students will study a core set of computing skills, including essential programming and maths for computing competences. Students will also study the art of game design, including various theories and frameworks, and will be designing and programming computer games from the outset using a variety of game programming languages and tools.

Core Modules

• Computer Games Programming
• Mathematics and Physics for Game Development
• Game Design Principles
• Game Mechanics

Year 2

In Year 2, students will further enhance their games design and development skills through the advanced use of programming languages and graphic libraries. Students will be developing game objects and environments and examining the games design and development process.

Core Modules

• Rapid Game Prototyping
• Games and VFX Industry
• Robust, Performant and Scalable Development
• Algorithms and Data Structures

Year 3

If students opt for the four-year placement route, their third year will be spent on placement. In the final year, students will be ready to apply their knowledge and skills and learn about advanced games development techniques. Students will also undertake a substantial games project, the product of which will be the centrepiece of their degree work portfolio.

Core Modules

• Game Studio
• Game Engines
• Tools Development
• Final Year Project

Study and Assessment

• Year 1: 25% lectures, seminars or similar; 75% independent study
• Year 2: 25% lectures, seminars or similar; 75% independent study
• Year 3: 20% lectures, seminars or similar; 80% independent study
• Assessment: 100% coursework in all years

Entry Requirements

• IELTS score: 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5
• UK students: GCE A levels - grades BBB, and to include minimum grade B in one of the following subjects: IT, Computer Science, Mathematics, CCEA Digital Technology, Software Systems Development or a science subject.
• International students: IB Diploma - Pass overall with a minimum overall score of 30 or minimum 120 UCAS Tariff points from three Higher Level subjects, including HL5 in at least one of IT, Computing, Mathematics or a science subject.

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are still being finalised for all courses.

Careers Support and Prospects

• Employed or in further study: 88.7% of our UK-domiciled, full-time, first degree graduates are employed or in further study 15 months after graduation.
• The rapidly changing digital, new media, and creative industries offer career opportunities in an extremely wide range of roles. A degree in computer games development will prepare students for a career in games design and games programming, but also in broader roles such as in software development, UX analysis, or in managing technology to support a range of public and private sector organisations.