BSc (Hons) Computer Games Programming

When can you start this course? | UCAS code | Fees | Course length | Entry requirements

Why choose this course?

• The course has been developed with industry to ensure you have both the theoretical grounding and the practical skills the industry needs for both games development and software engineering.
  
• It's taught in a studio style environment by experienced computer scientists and ex-industry professionals, and you'll benefit from regular guest speakers from the gaming industry.
  
• You'll spend a year in industry giving you the opportunity to work alongside other software professionals and see at first hand how the knowledge and skills you've learned are put in to practice.
  
• Our two high specification games labs are among the best found in academia and the envy of many games studios. Take the video tour

About the course

Some studies suggest the computer games industry is now even bigger than the film industry, and consumers spend more money on games than on films. There's no question that the computer game industry is vast and employs a significant number of computer scientists who are highly skilled in software development. The computer games industry isn't just about "blockbuster" or "triple A" entertainment titles. It includes serious games for education, training, health rehabilitation and scientific research.  Whether you're interested in games for entertainment or games for serious purposes, this Computer Games Programming course is intended to give you both the theoretical grounding and the practical skills you'll need to develop computer games.

Computer science is the theoretical field that underpins all software development. Knowledge of computer science is a prerequisite for long-term employability and success as a computer programmer of any kind, but is particularly applicable to the breadth and complexity of computer games development. On this course you'll study computer science with a strong emphasis on practical programming skills.

In your first year, you'll discover the foundations of computer science and software development. You'll learn about computer programming, some vital mathematics, and you'll find out what makes good software good and bad software bad.

In your second year, you'll explore the core topics of computer science that are particularly relevant to games development such as, software engineering, databases, algorithms and data structures and computer graphics. You'll also develop the employability skills you need to find a work placement after your second year.

Your third year will be spent in industry on a managed work placement. This will give you valuable real-world experience, which will both inform your final year of study and give you a distinct employability advantage over other graduates who haven't had placement experience. It's an opportunity to work alongside other software professionals and see at first hand how the knowledge and skills you've learned are put in to practice. Some of our current students are on placement at Monumental Games, Kuju, Frontier Developments, Blitz Games and Sumo Digital. Our Placement Officer helps you find a position and support you throughout the placement period.

In your final year, you'll concentrate on advanced topics including enterprise systems (the basis for both large-multiplayer games and the corporate data management systems that support them), systems programming and games-specific topics like game behaviour and the combination of game physics and artificial intelligence. You'll also have the opportunity as part of your Independent Studies module to develop a large scale project or research study in an area you choose.

Industry standard approaches are taught throughout the course which ensures that you'll be able to make an immediate impact in the career you choose.  At every stage in the development of the course we've consulted with industry to ensure you develop the skills the industry needs for both games development and software engineering. The degree is taught in a studio style environment by both ex and current industry professionals in our high specification games labs, which are among the best found in academia and the envy of many games studios.

Find out more about what subjects and modules you'll be studying...

Your career

• You'll find there's a wide variety of opportunities for skilled games programmers, from small start-up companies to major multinational organisations. You might even want to start up your own company on graduating. 
• The course will equip you for roles such as Gameplay Programmer, Tools Developer and AI Programmer.
• The solid computing and software engineering focus of the programme ensures that employability prospects for our graduates are excellent across all software development roles within the computing industry.
• You can continue your study to masters level on the MSc Computer Graphics Production.
  

What our students say

Matt Henson spent his placement year at Playgen.

"Since starting my placement I've worked on three major projects, ranging from a small simulation to an educational game about nanotechnology. I've also been involved in every aspect of a game's creation including design ideas, program structure and research and development. I've learnt so much since arriving here and I've now had experience of public relations, programming, art, management, very tight deadlines and advertising.

I feel that I'm now well ahead of the competition but more importantly I've made contacts in the industry. I've been to conferences, met industry professionals and I've even had the responsibility of managing the office while my boss has been on trips around the country. "

How you'll learn

There are three modules studied per semester, each delivered through a mix of lectures, tutorials and laboratories, the majority delivered in our Next Generation Development Suite. A considerable amount of e-learning support material is provided.

Class contact varies from 10-15 hours per week, depending on the level of course.

How you're assessed

In the first year, assessment is largely by coursework, with the formal examined component increased in the final year.

There is a mixture of group and individual assignments. 25% of the final year is assessed through a personal project.

Work placements

The third year is spent on a supervised work placement. One of our recent students spent his year at Rare^® working on Kameo™: Elements of Power™.

Anything else?

Induction

You'll spend your first week at Derby having a comprehensive introduction to the university. You'll get to know lecturers, fellow students, your way around the labs and the campus and they type of work and study you'll be doing, so you'll be fully prepared when your lectures start the following week.

As part of your induction week you'll also go on a day trip with all of the other computing students out in to the Peak District. Find out more about what this involves

Student work

Take a look at some of the games that our students have created.

The Imagine Cup

The Imagine Cup is an annual student technology competition held by Mircosoft. The event begins with local and regional competitions and comes to an exciting finale at the worldwide finals.

In 2010 there were 56 entries from Great Britain. Of these 13 were selected to go through to the semi-final round, and 10 came from the University of Derby!

Find out more about the competition.

Comments from the industry

"The new Computer Games Programming Degree at Derby is harnessing leading edge technologies such as DirectX and .Net to teach their students fundamentals, coupled with tried and tested games development techniques and languages used in industry. We believe students graduating will have a solid background in games programming and general software development and will be very successful in their future careers."
Mark Johnston, Microsoft UK

"(The course) Provides the essential skill set we would be looking for in graduate games programmers new to the industry, rather than shying away from the more technically challenging aspects in favour of the currently trendier ones."
Peter Johnson, Venom Games

Site Map

Undergraduate courses
Postgraduate and professional courses
International students
Online courses
Services for business

Part time courses
Buxton College
School leavers 16+
About the University
Student life

Job vacancies
Research
Faculties
Departments
Press and Community

Designed and built by Silktide Studios