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Computer Games Programming

Entry requirements


Pass in the QAA accredited Access to HE with English and Mathematics GCSE required as a separate qualification. We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

26

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DMM

BTEC National Diploma / Extended Diploma

T Level

M

UCAS Tariff

112

from at least two A-levels. Plus, five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Mathematics or equivalent

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

4 years | Sandwich | 2024

Subject

Computer games programming

A constantly evolving sector, the multibillion-pound computer games industry is now worth more than double its value in 2007. This offers graduates extensive career opportunities in a rapidly expanding field.

This course provides an opportunity to develop your interest in computer games into a set of skills which will help you start a career in this exciting industry.

You will study the latest techniques and resources for developing standalone, web-based and mobile games, featuring exciting graphics and animation, becoming familiar with the basic architecture and design elements of computer games and programming languages relevant to games development.

**Key features**
- Use specialist software such as Unity3D and Unreal engines.

- Become part of a vibrant community by joining our Game Society or E-Sports Society. You can build on what you learn on the course by playing games, taking trips to professional gaming events, and competing in tournaments. Our Games Development Society will give you the chance to work alongside Game Art students in games jams.

- Explore professional opportunities with a placement year. Recent Computer Games Programming students have spent a year in industry working as Intern Software Engineers and Programmers for companies including immersive tech company, Virtual Arts.

- Gain valuable international experience as part of your studies with our DMU Global programme. Students have been able to visit top tech companies in San Francisco and test out their espionage and surveillance skills in New York.

- Benefit from Education 2030, where a simplified ‘block learning’ timetable means you will study one subject at a time and have more time to engage with your learning, receive faster feedback and enjoy a better study-life balance.

Modules

First year
Block 1: Game Design & Development
Block 2: Markup Languages & Scripting
Block 3: Maths & Computer Systems
Block 4: C++ Fundamentals
Second Year
Block 1: 3D Modelling & Shader Fundamentals
Block 2: Mobile Games and AI for Simulation
Block 3: Applied Mechanics and Progressive Game Engines
Block 4: Production Level C++
Third Year
Block 1: Advanced Game Engine Application
Block 2: Advanced Shader Programming
Block 3: Performant Rendering with C++
Block 4: Game Development Project

Assessment methods

On this course, you will benefit from Education 2030 - DMU’s new way of delivering courses. Through block teaching, you will focus on one subject at a time instead of several at once.

The programme will use a combination of lectures, seminars and interactive large group discussions to transfer many of the major topics. Laboratory tutorials will provide the students with the opportunity to practice and develop skills and techniques under guidance and obtain feedback for each of the defined blocks. The directly interactive sessions will be supplemented by self-study.

Assessments can be formative as well as summative and could include practical software development exercises, structured exercises, group and individual projects, and tests. Projects offer the opportunity for students to develop their ability to conduct a sustained individual development exercise. Group projects also allow students to develop their ability to work in teams, to appraise group performance and deal with group problems.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£16,250
per year
International
£16,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Leicester Campus

Department:

Computing, Engineering and Media

Read full university profile

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.

70%
Computer games programming

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

65%
Staff make the subject interesting
80%
Staff are good at explaining things
60%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
90%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

79%
Library resources
63%
IT resources
70%
Course specific equipment and facilities
60%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

85%
UK students
15%
International students
91%
Male students
9%
Female students
79%
2:1 or above
28%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
B
C

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.

Computer games and animation

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.

£21,360
med
Average annual salary
96%
high
Employed or in further education
76%
high
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

67%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
6%
Business, research and administrative professionals
6%
Information technology technicians

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.

Computer games and animation

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£23k

£23k

£28k

£28k

£34k

£34k

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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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

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:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here