Games Development

The BSc (Hons) Games Development course allows you to specialise in one of two key disciplines within the games industry: games software development or games design. The course will provide you with the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to excel as a graduate in the computer games field.

You will select one of two distinct paths within the course, ultimately graduating with either a BSc (Hons) Games Development (Design) or a BSc (Hons) Games Development (Software).

In year one of the course, you'll study the foundations of creating games. In addition, you'll develop the skills required to prototype games using technologies such as Unity and Unreal games engines. After year one you will select your specialisation choosing between one of two streams.

Games Design Stream: In years two-four you'll specialise in Games Design through a series of individual and collaborative modules. Individual modules will develop your expertise in areas such as Games Narrative, Game System Design, Game User Research, User Psychology, Serious Game Design, Engine Based Development, and facilitate the development of portfolio pieces. Collaborative modules will see you work together with students from other specialised courses within the Department of Applied Computer Games such as 3D Animation and Visualisation with pathways for Games and VFX and 3D Design for Visual Environments in order to produce games to either internal or industry-specified briefs.

Games Software Development Stream: In years two to four you'll specialise in Games Software Development through a series of individual, and collaborative modules. Individual modules will develop your expertise in areas such; Artificial Intelligence, Mobile Game Development, C++ and OpenGL, Network Game Development, Engine Based Development, and facilitate the development of portfolio pieces. Collaborative modules will see you work together with students from other specialised courses within the Department of Applied Computer Games such as 3D Animation and Visualisation with pathways for Games and VFX and 3D Design for Visual Environments in order to produce games to either internal or industry-specified briefs.

The course offers the possibility of undertaking an industry placement in a games company or studying abroad through Erasmus exchanges.

Students who have sat a secondary school qualification in Saudi Arabia are not generally able to join an undergraduate programme at the University and would be required to undertake a foundation programme before joining one of our undergraduate programmes at GCU. Contact international@gcu.ac.uk for further information on accepted foundation qualifications.

Graduates have gone on to work in companies such as Crytek, Electronic Arts, No Code, King, Media Molecule, Outplay Entertainment, Rockstar North and Sony.