BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development

UCAS CODE: GG46 (Full-time) or G46G (Foundation Year)
TARIFF: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Location: High Wycombe
  • Duration: Three or Four Years
  • Start Date: September 2024

On our practical BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development degree, you will have the opportunity to gain technical skills and theoretical knowledge to help you become a confident and competent Games Developer.

From programming, software design and asset development to character animation, this course will cover the industry latest to help you stay up-to-date, ensuring you’re ready for the working world upon graduation.

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No. 1 in England for Student Satisfaction*
*Measured by % of positivity across all questions within the larger providers only: taught or registered population (NSS 2023)
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No. 1 Students' Union in the UK*
*As ranked among taught students at non-specialist HEIs (NSS 2023)
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Top for our response to the cost-of-living-crisis*
*Whatuni Student Choice Awards 202
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5th for learning opportunities*
*NSS 2023
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Top 10 for student support*
*Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023
Why study this subject?

Love playing videogames? Why not be part of a team that develops them? A degree in Computer Games Development focuses on how to program games, from traditional software design and coding to the latest techniques employed within graphics and AI.

This course is also offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme.

BNU has been ranked 9th for Animation & Games Design in the UK (G.U.G. 2023).

The lecturers on my Games Development course covered such a wide range of topics and areas of development, as well as frequently getting in industry guest speakers. This meant I was able to develop my knowledge and skill set, making the transition from student into a junior position smooth.
Justin Leatherbarrow
Justin Leatherbarrow
Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Our BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development will help you gain a strong knowledge and competence in software development, focusing in particular on your development of software for computer games.

The course provides a balance of theory and practice in software engineering, systems, computing and games development, preparing you for employment in this exciting field.

While the course focuses on the teaching of software development within the context of games, the skills and knowledge you acquire are equally applicable to the production of software for sectors such as banking, manufacturing and retail.

The relevance of the degree is also underpinned by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Curriculum Framework (2008). This framework has been developed in collaboration with leading games companies and provides an indicative content of the course.

The lecturing team includes experienced professionals and there are regular visits from expert guest lectures who provide a context for the material being taught.

We are a member of the PlayStation® Vita Academic Development Programme run by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), which provides access to professional console development hardware and software tools.

We are an NVIDIA CUDA Teaching Centre. We are also a member of TIGA, the trade association representing the UK's games industry.

Our modules, connections, and teaching expertise will help you become more independent and confident of your expertise, ready for your exciting future within the field of Games Development.

Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers.

What facilities can I use?

We’ve invested in a range of state-of-the-art facilities across our campuses to support your learning.

Our computing facilities are packed with the latest equipment. We regularly upgrade our computer hardware and software, so you have the equipment and facilities to truly excel.

Our library is the perfect place to find the resources you need and a quiet place to study, filled with four floors of books, journals, computer suites and study rooms. Or, if you’d rather work off campus, e-Journals and resources are only a few clicks away using our Virtual Learning Environment.

What will I study?

During the first year you will develop your programming skills (C#) and apply them to the development of 2D mobile and console games and 3D levels within a commercial game engine.

Additional modules will provide a taste of other disciplines within the games industry, including an introduction to games design and 3D modelling.  Further modules provide a theoretical and practical understanding of the hardware on which games are deployed.

In the second year you will continue to develop your programming skills (C++) and apply them to the development of realistic AI and graphical applications using a graphics library.

You'll also be taught about the processes involved in managing the development of complex games within large teams and as a member of your own team, develop a game in collaboration with students on other courses, such as BA (Hons) 3D Game ArtBA (Hons) Audio and Music ProductionBA (Hons) Animation and BA (Hons) Visual Effects.

During your third year, you will develop a physics engine and integrate it into a games engine. You will also extend your understanding of the more complex AI techniques used within games and gain an insight into how games companies operate.

In your final year, you will also gain valuable tips on how to start a career in the industry, either as an employee of an established games studio or as an indie developer.

A major component of the final year is the project, which provides you with an opportunity to draw on the knowledge and skills gained in the previous years, to develop a game or related software application.

To help ensure you can appreciate the roles of others within a diverse team, this course also provides an insight into other disciplines within the industry, such as design, modelling animation and business.

Play games designed and created by our students 

How will I be taught and assessed?

We have a strong computing department at the University, with a dedicated team of academics and professionals delivering industry-relevant courses in a suite of well-equipped computer labs.

You’ll benefit from small class sizes that give you a chance to develop close working relationships with the tutors and other students. You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops with one-to-one and small group teaching, as well as written assignments and practical exercises. You will also learn from guest speakers and benefit from valuable networking opportunities. Course assignments reflect real-life problems because we believe that’s the best way to learn – and it’s more fun!

We also encourage you to gain work experience whilst studying and actively look for clients for your project work, which provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills in a work-base setting.

Where possible, assessments are tied to real-world contexts and constraints, allowing you to practically demonstrate the skills you have developed. You may also be assessed through projects, in-class assignments, workshops, presentations and formal written exams.

The Games Development course allowed me to explore a wide range of topics, with a range of expert lecturers, from AI to 3D modelling to Games Design. It allowed me to explore a lot of ideas and helped me figure out what my specialism would be.
Will Deeley
Headshot of a smiling Will Deeley, a Computer Games Development student at BNU.

BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development Programme Specification

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)

UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.

A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.

For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the three-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a degree course, can apply for a four-year programme including a Foundation Year; find out more.

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

This course has Opportunity modules.

Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers. Find out more.

What are the tuition fees

Home

Home, Academic Year 2024 - 2025

£9,250 per year

International

Overseas/International, Academic Year 2024 - 2025

£15,150 per year

Additional course costs and financial support

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.
You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

Questions about fees?

If you have any questions about the fees above, contact our Enquiries team by calling 0330 123 2023 or emailing advice@bnu.ac.uk.

What are my career prospects? 

Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.

Graduates of the course will be well placed to pursue a career within the growing games and media sectors as Tool, Engine, Level, Graphical or AI Programmers.

Alternatively, you may use the transferable knowledge and skills gained during the course to follow a career within the mainstream software industry as Software Engineers, Analysts or Application Developers.

You could also choose to stay on at Buckinghamshire New University and continue your studies at postgraduate level.

Games Development student work 3

Did you know?

We are one of the top 10 UK universities mostly likely to produce graduates who go on to own or manage a business (Capital on Tap, 2021), find out more about this excellent news.

Course leader

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Guy Walker
  • Senior Lecturer
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Dr Kevin Maher
  • Deputy Head of School (Creative and Digital Industries)
  • Associate Professor
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Michael Everett
  • Associate Professor
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Justin Luker
  • Senior Lecturer
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Hilary Mullen
  • Senior Lecturer
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Mario Rui Oliveira Dos Santos
  • Senior Lecturer
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BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development
BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development with Foundation Year