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BSc (Hons) - Games Development with Integrated Foundation Year

The BSc (Hons) Games Development degree focuses on the creative development, design, and production aspects of computer games development. Situated within the suite of creative digital programmes offering you the opportunity to collaborate in an authentic creative production pipeline environment working with games designers, animators, special effect students, along with the wider Media Arts and Institute of Arts community.

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Games Development with Integrated Foundation Year cover image

Course Overview

Working in multi-disciplinary (creative and technical) teams through the development of computer games. BSc Games Development combines technology and creativity in a multidisciplinary way. The game industry continues to be an expanding and challenging sector with continually evolving ideas and cutting-edge technologies. This course covers the major technical aspects of the computer game development process from design to production. It aims to prepare students for a career in Game Industry with a particular emphasis on computer game development. The course provides students with a solid understanding of game technologies including programming, computer graphics, and game engines.

On this course you will...

  • Work on industry-led briefs allowing you to develop your autonomy, creativity and professionalism for your chosen specialism.
  • Understand programming principles and their relation to coding development, and demonstrate developing games for new platforms and their associated operating systems.
  • Be encouraged to take a critical and analytical approach to gameplay narrative and storytelling through the simulation of collaborative studio working groups, lectures and group critique sessions.
  • Undertake group projects which will simulate the workflow of a professional studio, and be introduced to a range of research methodologies and approaches.
  • Attend workshops with guest speakers - adding value to your learning experience where you can share your work with the professionals through activities and screenings.
  • Be introduced to a range of new game interfaces and developing technologies, giving you confidence in new technical competencies with forms of interaction.
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Course Structure

What you will learn

Our foundation year will help you reach the right level for taking the rest of the degree, building a solid foundation of skills from which to expand upon.

BSc (Hons) Games Development is a programme that focusses on the creative development, design and production aspects of computer games development.

You will develop your own personal iconography and technical skills through a combination of practical work using traditional and digital technologies, study of the underpinning principles, work-based and collaborative learning, and authentic work-related assessments with industry led briefs/assignments. This course aims at the development of compelling interactive and immersive gaming experiences; as well as the development and design principles of gameplay mechanics and level design for a variety of game genres applied to the creation of rich narrative and emotional experiences.

Year one

The foundation year entry, gives you extra time to develop your experience and confidence, studying a broad range of subject specific Games Development modules and a broader range of media and creative industries modules that is designed to prepare you for the BSc. (Hons) Games Development degree. We ensure that you are taught how to focus your studies at undergraduate level, ensuring not only that you have the skills you need, but also a positive and ambitious approach to further study.

By successfully completing the foundation year you will learn all the necessary practical, technical and theoretical skills to help you automatically progress to degree level BSc (Hons) Games Development.

  • Introduction to Coding & Maths for Games Development
  • Creative Technologies for Game Developers
  • Media in Context
  • Media Narratives
  • Professional Practice
  • Published Media Products
Year two

A distinct feature of studying at the University of Cumbria is that in level 4, first year, you will study two modules with all level 4 students of the Institute of Art. These modules are Cultural Contexts and Collaborative Practice. Cultural Contexts introduces you to a range of approaches to reading a diverse range of visual creative arts, and Collaborative Practice is a module where you will work with other students and embark on a problem-solving project practising professional skills such as leadership, team-working and project management.

Also in the first year, we want you to engage in a series of core workshops and studio practice designed to introduce and develop key knowledge, technical skill set, and technique. Alongside this, and in definition of your production understanding, you will work collaboratively on a media arts live project.

  • Gaming For Game Designers
  • Coding for Games and Digital Media 1
  • Collaborative Practice
  • Creative Technologies
  • Cultural Contexts
Year three

This year will look to develop ideation and conceptual skills, and allow you to be experimental in production creation and thinking. It builds on the foundational practice of level 4 and will build your confidence while progressing skill set and technique.

In the second year, the development of key production skill set and research is in refinement of practice and a growing appreciation, and identification of specialism interests. Modules may include external collaboration and live brief. The focus on professional practice will support your production and conceptual thinking and help in your transition into independent research and preproduction for final year project. This is an opportunity for you to build a practice that interests them and identify long term plans. The course will turn production interest into expert knowledge.

  • Concept to Prototype
  • Games Creation – Design to Distribution
  • Coding for Games and Digital Media 2
  • Game Technologies Workshop
Year four

The final year will look to tailor projects to your individual interests, specialism in practice and professional opportunities, supporting your thinking with high level technical skills and the development of industry level production outcomes - the final year of the course allows you to apply all the skills and learning from previous modules in creating a games artefact based completely on your own ideas, aesthetic style, and technical skill set. Modules will support your production, research and development, , and experimentation with advanced techniques in definition of final major project – you will graduate with a professional level skill set, clear career goals and a comprehensive understanding of the contemporary games development industry.

  • Project Development & Experimentation
  • Group Game Project
  • Innovation, Enterprise & Distribution
  • Research Portfolio
  • Final Major Project

Attend an Open Day at Cumbria

An Open Day is your opportunity to explore one of 5 campuses, meet your lecturers, and find out how the University of Cumbria could become your new home.

Take the next step towards achieving your dreams.
A student stands in front of a wall splattered with paint.