Computer Games Technology
UCAS Code: GW46
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
UCAS Tariff Points accepted.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
3 GCSEs at grade C, or grade 4, or above, including English and Maths.
UCAS Tariff
UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of 2 A Levels (or equivalent.)
About this course
**Please note this replaces BSc (Hons) Computer Gaming Technology for September 2021 entry.**
Play, design and build games at our development studio as you create a portfolio to launch your career as a games developer, with our Computer Gaming Technology degree in Cambridge.
With our Computer Gaming Technology course, you’ll be able to turn your love of computer games into a career. Working at our development studio in Cambridge – close to the tech hub of ‘Silicon Fen’ - you’ll be located right at the heart of the computer gaming industry in the UK.
From the very beginning of your studies, you’ll create and develop your own games. Everything you design will build into a valuable portfolio to help you secure your dream job in the gaming industry when you graduate.
ARU is the place to be for studying Computer Gaming Technology. The East of England has 135 active games companies (link: https://gamesmap.uk/), with Cambridge home to developers including Jagex, Frontier Developments and Ninja Theory, who are currently building a new base on Newmarket Road complete with a gaming pub.
Based in Compass House, our gaming and technology hub, you'll enjoy having the latest technology at your fingertips and collaborating with other students on innovative projects.
You’ll get the chance to improve your prospects with live briefs and guest speakers from tech giants like Sony, Jagex and Frontier. There’s even the opportunity to take part in events with industry reps, too.
During your time at ARU, you’ll also have the opportunity to get a head-start in the computer gaming industry and in recent times, ARM, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Frontier and Just Flight have all offered internships and work opportunities to ARU students. There are lots of placement opportunities with an optional placement year to develop your practical experience.
We're also partners with the Global Science & Technology Forum, giving you access to cutting-edge research materials.
**Careers**
81% of the UK computer games industry is educated to at least undergraduate level, rising to 88% for core games production roles in art or programming.
The skills and knowledge you acquire on our Computer Gaming Technology degree course will not only help you land a career in the gaming industry, but will also equip you with core programming skills transferable to the wider I.T. industry or a career in teaching.
Through work-based projects, internships and placements, you will be offered hands-on practical opportunities to develop your professional experience. In recent times, ARM, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Frontier and Just Flight have all offered internships and work opportunities to ARU students.
During your studies, you’ll get the chance to take part in our annual festival, Brains Eden. Co-organised by local gaming network Games Eden, this four-day event includes a 48-hour games jam in which teams of students and major studio reps compete to create a game – the perfect way to raise your profile in the industry.
Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and continue your computer gaming studies with our MSc Computer Games Development ( Computing). Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.
Modules
Year one, core modules
Analytical Techniques for Games Developers
Introduction to Game-Engine Technology
Introduction to Programming
Introduction to Computer Gaming
Quality Assurance in Game Development
Year one, optional modules
Simulation in Games
Acoustics, Sound and Music
Year two, core modules
3D Modelling and Animation
Software Design and Implementation
Object Oriented C++
Games Design and Development
Year two, optional modules
Interaction and Usability
Audio for Games
Advanced Acoustics and Psycho-Acoustics
Year three, core modules
Artificial Intelligence
Professional Issues: Video Games and Society
Emergent Gaming Technologies
Final Project
Professional and Entrepreneurial Portfolio
Year three, optional modules
Data Structures and Algorithms
Mobile Technology
Audio Programming
Assessment methods
Throughout the course, we’ll use a range of assessment methods to help measure your progress. You’ll demonstrate your learning through the games you produce, but there will also be a mix of exams, personal learning plans and projects.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Cambridge Campus
Computing and Technology
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Computer games and animation
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Games
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
This is a relatively new subject area for this kind of data, so we don’t currently have very much information to display or analyse yet. Gaming is a growing industry, and if it continues to grow we should see the rather high unemployment rate coming down over the next few years. Much the most common jobs for graduates who do get work after six months are in programming roles - but as things stand, be aware that jobs in the field are very competitive and personal contacts - either through family, friends or via specialist employment agencies - are a crucial way into the industry so be prepared to talk as well as code!
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Computing
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£21k
£25k
£29k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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