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UCAS code:
I600
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Institution code:
S82
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Location:
Ipswich
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Duration:
Three years full-time. Up to six years part-time.
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Typical Offer:
112 UCAS tariff points (or above) |
- Newly refurbished game facilities including new laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment that you will have extensive access to.
- Your tutors have industry experience and related backgrounds.
- Enhance your employability with practical experience and application.
- Graduates can progress in to a range of roles within games and software development.
Introduction
The BSc in Computer games programming at the University of Suffolk offers a dynamic and comprehensive syllabus that will equip you to enter the games industry with the confidence to succeed. Tutors with industry experience of both games programming and design will guide your studies.
You will work alongside colleagues on the Games Design BA developing the critical soft skills in team based game development while having the opportunity to specialise in a number of game related programming disciplines from networking to AI.
The degree is designed to build your skills as a graduate. You will develop a solid understanding of computer science and an expansive knowledge of game development. With this skill set you can go on to work in a range of roles at games and software development studios.
By providing you with not only a broad set of skills but also the chance to refine and enhance them through practical application, we aim to give you the best chance to get a job doing what you love.
All students on Games Programming are offered the opportunity to form their own independent games studios as part of their final year studies, this is through our collaboration with the Eastern Enterprise Hub.
Email: computergames@uos.ac.uk
Take a look at some of our current students games: www.waterfrontgames.com
Course modules
First year students are provided with a thorough grounding in software development tools and practices, with common computer science elements being introduced to ensure a solid understanding of the principles behind software development.
The second year introduces more focussed topics that put those principles into practice as students are introduced to subjects such as networking and game engine development.
Final year students engage in large scale individual and group projects, building a body of work to showcase to prospective employers.
Learn about producing games using modern game engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine 4.
Take part in a number of group projects, culminating in a 12 week project driven by industry standard project management techniques.
Learn a range of mathematical topics, including vectors, matrices, set theory and binary.
Using Python, this module introduces students to core programming topics such as flow control, variables and data types.
Learn how algorithms are designed and how to select the right algorithm for the job.
Study the processes behind building compicated software systems.
Undertake the management of group projects, driving them to successful completion.
Learn a range of AI techniques commonly used in the games industry including; path finding, finite state machines and behaviour trees.
Study the multitude of elements that make up a game engine, then design and develop your own 2D game engine.
Study the process of how graphics are rendered to your screen, with a focus on OpenGL and shader languages.
Explore technologies that offer exciting approaches to problem solving such as developing custom controllers for your games.
Study how computers communicate and build an application that puts the theory into practice.
Acting as the culmination of your study, you will negotiate the topic of your project and then spend the entire year working to complete it.
You will work with a group of your own choosing to undertake a game development project over the course of the entire academic year.
Learn how to develop an online portfolio and how to apply for relevant jobs, including writing a suitable CV and covering letter.
You will follow a brief provided by a third party client, undertaking work specified by them and responding to their feedback.
Career opportunities
After the course, students can apply for work within a range of programming disciplines, from gameplay programmers to graphics and shader developers. There is also scope for software development roles outside of the games industry or students can progress to postgraduate study.
Fees and finance
2020-21
- Full-time tuition fee: £9,250 p.a.
- Part-time tuition fee: £1,454 per 20 credits (Please contact the Infozone for further information)
- International tuition fee: £13,330 p.a.
Further Information
- Detailed information about Tuition Fees.
- Find out more about Financial Support eligibility.
- Also see Loans and Grants.
- At University of Suffolk, your tuition fees provide access to all the usual teaching and learning facilities that you would expect. However, there may be additional costs associated with your course that you will need to budget for. See Course Costs.
Entry requirements
112 UCAS tariff points (or above), BBC (A-Level), DMM (BTEC)
All applicants are required to hold GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above. Applicants who do not hold these qualifications may be considered on an individual basis based upon their overall application and the course applied for.
If you do not hold these qualifications please contact Admissions directly on 01473 338348 to discuss.
Also see How to Apply.
IELTS 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components) where English is not the students' first language.
Also see International and EU.
If you have previously studied at higher education level before you may be able to transfer credits to a related course at the University of Suffolk and reduce the period of study time necessary to achieve your degree.
Staff
Facilities and Resources
In September 2016 Game students occupied their new 75 seat Laboratories on the top floor of the Atrium Building at the main campus in Ipswich. As part of the £5.5 million investment, The Atrium includes a complete refurbishment of game facilities, with dedicated space for Computer Games Design and Programming.
The facilities for Games at University of Suffolk include everything you will need to succeed; Celsius m730 power workstations from Fujitsu, Wacom 13HD Cintiqs, Oculus Rift DK2 (Development Kit 2) headsets, a wide range of mobile devices for testing, Qualisys Opus camera setup for high speed motion capture, Artec Eva Professional 3D Scanners, Standard GoPro Hero action cameras.
