Computer Games (Design)
Glasgow Caledonian University
UCAS Code: GWK2 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
Scottish HND
HND in Computer Games Development (with a design-heavy delivery model). HND must include an A in Graded Units. Must include one of the following mathematics units in the HND; Mathematics for Interactive Computing: Essential Techniques, Mathematics: Calculus and Matrices for Computing or Computer Programming: Applied Mathematics (level 7) or Mathematics for Computing 2 (level 8). HND must also include three from the following units (or equivalent): 2D Animation; 3D Level Editing; Games Interface Design; Game Design Theory; Designing and developing an interactive product games; Narrative and Genre in Computer Games; Game Customisation & Scripting or Game Design: Pitch to Treatment
About this course
The computer games industry continues to grow as more people play games on their consoles, PCs, tablets and smart phones and on social media sites.
The BSc Computer Games programmes aim to produce graduates with the right mix of practical skills and technical knowledge to enter this sector, which currently has a high demand for qualified practitioners.
The University has excellent studio facilities including HD Video Production Suite, Art Studio, Digital Audio Recording Studio, Game Design Studio featuring 3D Laser Scanning tools, Motion Capture tools and a Rapid Prototyping machine. There is also a User Experience lab where games can be tested and evaluated.
The Design and Software Development degree programmes are accredited by the Chartered Institute for IT (BCS), and students enjoy the benefit of guest lectures by industry experts. Games Design covers Player Centred Design Principles where the player is the focus of the Game Design Process. This approach covers practices taken from Human Computer Interaction (HCI) where students learn various tools and techniques which are applied to all stages of the player centered design lifecycle, such as conceptulisation and evaluation. Students apply this theory by iterating and evaluating physical and digital prototypes around Human behaviour. Students also study Game Narrative, Serious Games Design and Player Psychology.
In Years 1, 2 and 3 the student in all Games Programmes will take part in an Integrated Project, this is an opportunity for the students from different disciplines to come together to make games. Often the briefs for the projects have been generated in partnership with Industry, this gives students some 'real world' experience. The design element covers computer arts – specialist media design and creation, and game asset integration. After Year 3, there is an option to complete a one-year, paid work placement.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
Glasgow Caledonian University
Computer, Communications and Interactive Systems
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.
Design studies
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)
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.
Design studies
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
Computing
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.
Creative arts and design
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£18k
£22k
£25k
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.
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.
£22k
£26k
£27k
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.
- What's it like studying a degree in Computing
- What's it like studying a degree in Computer games and animation
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- What's it like studying a degree in Computer games design and programming
- What's it like studying a degree in Computer games design
- What's it like studying a degree in Design, and creative and performing arts
- What's it like studying a degree in Design studies
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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:
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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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