The programme can be studied full-time over three years of study with the option of extending this to four years, by taking a sandwich year* in the form of an industrial training placement or study abroad between Years 2 and 3.*
We strongly encourage you to spend a year on industrial placement* and will provide assistance to help you find an appropriate placement. In the past, students have worked as a games developer for Microsoft Games Studio and Exient, to name but two.
Your personal tutor will review and discuss your progress with you and will be available for advice. We regularly invite guest speakers from industry* to bring you up-to-speed with the latest market trends and recent topics have included Virtual and Augmented Reality games as well as the rise of the independent mobile game developer.
You will be given lots of opportunities to work with new technology to help develop new design solutions, in the classroom and on real-life projects*, where you will have the chance to work with staff and other students on real-world computer gaming and design problems as you would in commercial, professional or research practice. This means that you have the chance to develop professional skills at the same time as you learn the technical content of your degree. In the past, projects have included a rhythm based car racing game in conjunction with Codemasters.
We also run a number of field trips*, both at home and abroad, to give you the chance to experience the industry ‘live’. In the past, students have participated in the Games Jam competitions in Brazil and Indonesia, as well as visiting China and, and closer to home the EGX Games Expo (in Birmingham).
Teaching methods include: series of lectures, with associated seminars, workshops and project based practical classes.
*Please note that we are unable to guarantee any trip, event, placement or study abroad opportunity and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.