Computer Games Programming BSc (Hons)

This degree has been developed with input from industry experts and is regularly updated to fit the needs of the games industry. Our labs will help you to develop for multiple platforms, including consoles, phones, tablets and PCs. We also have a usability lab for testing how people interact with games, and a commercial games studio. Staffordshire University is also a member of TIGA, the games industry body. Our academics have experience in the industry and are engaged in research, so course content is always relevant. You’ll also get to hear our guest speakers discuss cutting-edge game development tools and processes. On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BSc (Hons) Computer Games Programming. As soon as you start the course, you’ll begin to develop a portfolio. This will include creating games, studying game artificial intelligence and physics, computer graphics using DirectX and OpenGL, and network programming for multiplayer game development. You’ll learn programming languages such as C++, Java and C# as well as the software engineering skills needed to develop large, efficient programs.

This course is recognised by Creative Skillset, Sector Skills Council and carries the Creative Skillset Tick for the purposes of indicating courses best suited to prepare for a Creative Industries career. You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and laboratory practicals. Seminars enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups of around 16-18 students. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor at least twice a year. You will be taught in first-class learning spaces throughout your course. Many of our courses are accredited or recognised by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies. Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally includes practice or ‘formative’ assessments, for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Many graduates have secured games programming roles in companies such as Codemasters, Activision, EA, TT Games, Exient, SEGA, Radiant Worlds and Rockstar Games. We also have graduates working in software development for companies such as Thomson Reuters, Transport for London, CERN, BAE Systems, BMW and IBM.