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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:
96 UCAS tariff points (or above) |
- Learn the skills and tools necessary to build games
- 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 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
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 artificial intelligence for games 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 relevant to games and software development, including vectors, matrices, set theory and binary.
Using C++, this module introduces students to core programming concepts and how to use them to solve problems.
An introduction to the range of algorithms and data structures that are used throughout programming.
A dive into the wealth of history and literature that the games industry is driven by.
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.
Learn how to build tools that support and aid in the development process.
Begin preparing for your honours project by looking at the wealth of research that comes out of the games industry while also learning how to conduct research of your own.
Acting as the culmination of your study, you will work independently to write a dissertation and associated artefact over the course of the final year.
Working with all of your final year peers, develop a game using industry standard tools and techniques.
As part of a small team or as a solo developer, you will design and build a polished game for a specific target market.
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.
Student profiles
Fees and finance
2022-23*
- Full-time tuition fee: £9,250 p.a
- Part-time tuition fee: £1,454 per 20 credits (please contact the Student Centre for further information)
- Full-time International tuition fee: £14,598 p.a
Further Information
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 you course that you will need to budget for.
* 2022-23 tuition fees are subject to change in line with inflation, or a government change in the fee cap.
Entry requirements
96 UCAS tariff points (or above), CCC (A-Level), MMM (BTEC)
Applicants are also required to have GCSE maths grade 4/C or above, or equivalent Level 2 qualification. 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.
IELTS 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components) where English is not the students' first language.
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
The games courses make use of two computer labs that between them can seat 75 students. The labs are fitted out with high end development workstations that provide all the processing power students need to get their work done. We also have a range of equipment that students can use during their studies, from Wacom drawing tablets to VR headsets and EEG headsets.
