BSc (Hons) Games Programming

• 104 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
• Your Level 3 subjects must include at least one relevant subject; for instance, A-level Mathematics, Computing or Physics or BTEC Extended Diploma in Computing or Engineering.
• You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
• If you don’t meet the standard entry requirements but have a technical computing background, we’ll be happy to consider your application. You’ll need to attain a minimum mark from a diagnostic mathematics test and attend an interview.
• You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
• If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

A Games Programming graduate will be able to demonstrate the programming skills required to work on games and entertainment software. The technical skills you’ll develop include the ability to develop interactive software including graphics and sound, an understanding of programming language, including the use of artificial intelligence techniques, and multi-user and multi-processor programming.

What can I do with this qualification?

The computer games industry has grown dramatically in recent years and there’s now a demand for highly technical programmers with a good knowledge of mathematics, physics, artificial intelligence and code optimisation. Games programming graduates can pursue careers as games programmers, artificial intelligence programmers, graphics programmers, 3D modellers and web systems developers, across a range of sectors in the games industry such as mobile and social media games.

Many programmers start in junior programming positions. As you develop your programming skills, you can choose a specific area of video game programming to specialise in. Each aspect of a video game requires a detailed set of code, so a programmer may work on audio, physics, artificial intelligence, graphics, or any other single area required to make a video game function. Once programmers become more experienced, they may consider pursuing a lead programmer position, which involves leadership and management duties in addition to programming.

Alternative career options

The knowledge and skills developed on this degree programme will underpin a number of other areas of computing such as mainstream programming jobs, mobile app development or web development. Other career areas associated with this degree include:

• Software development
• Systems analysis
• Computer and information systems management

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2020-2021 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

For 2020-2021 entry, the maximum government approved undergraduate tuition fee for UK students is £9,250 per year. The University is able to charge this fee subject to an approved Access and Participation Plan for 2020-2021 and its current rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

Bursaries

Click here for more information about the scholarships and bursaries available to University of Bolton students.

We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you achieve your potential. The core concepts and theoretical aspects of programming, maths and physics are introduced and developed through lectures, seminars, tutorials and critiques, as well as online sessions and support. These types of sessions also offer insights into the business and financial sides of the games industry.

Helping you learn how to apply this knowledge to practical games programming problems, design projects and in the development, analysis and testing of game elements is an important focus of our tuition. We support and guide you through technical introduction and support classes, laboratory and workshop sessions, demonstrations and activity-based assignments.

Practical activities and projects also offer opportunities for you to develop softer skills such as team working, problem solving, organisation and communication that are highly valued in the games and interactive entertainment industry. Guided independent study and self-directed learning are also essential to your success; for instance, library research and background reading, preparing for practical activities and working on projects.

In terms of formal assessment, you can expect assignments, projects, in-class tests, examinations, presentations, and others. These contribute to your final module mark and allow you to demonstrate that you’ve met the learning outcomes. We also use other forms of assessment to help you learn, provide you with feedback and inform your development, though these don’t count towards your final module mark.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Introduction to Games Programming and Analysis
• Introduction to Games Design
• Object Orientated Games Programming
• Level Design
• Data structures and Software Engineering for Games
• Games Hardware Development
• Game Dynamics
• Portfolio
• Advanced Games Programming
• Group Portfolio Project
• Major Project

Assessment methods

Learning activities

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.