Games Programming
Goldsmiths, University of London
UCAS Code: I610 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
If you do not have a Science or Mathematics-based A-level, you should normally have at least Grade B/Grade 6 at GCSE Mathematics.
Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 45 Level 3 credits including 30 Distinctions and a number of merits/passes in subject specific modules. If you do not have a Science or Mathematics-based A-level equivalent, you should normally have at least Grade B/Grade 6 at GCSE Mathematics.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
With three Higher Level subjects at 655. If you do not have a Science or Mathematics-based Higher Level, you should normally have at least Grade B/Grade 6 at GCSE Mathematics equivalent.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
If you do not have a Science or Mathematics-based Higher Level, you should normally have at least Grade B/Grade 6 at GCSE Mathematics or equivalent.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
If you do not have a Science or Mathematics-based A-level equivalent, you should normally have at least Grade B/Grade 6 at GCSE Mathematics.
Scottish Advanced Higher
If you do not have a Science or Mathematics-based Advanced Higher, you should normally have at least Grade B/Grade 6 at GCSE Mathematics or equivalent.
Scottish Higher
If you do not have a Science or Mathematics-based Higher, you should normally have at least Grade B/Grade 6 at GCSE Mathematics or equivalent.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
Whether you’re interested in indie games or AAA console game development, this course prepares you for a creative career in the games industry.
You’ll be developing mobile, casual, indie, and AAA console games from day one. We’ll help you harness your creativity, expand your technical programming skills, and get to grips with the software and working practices used in the games industry.
You’ll learn how to program games using industry-specific tools, study game design processes, and explore how games reflect and affect contemporary society. You'll also learn to build games to professional briefs, as well as to invent and build games from your own imagination.
**Build a portfolio from scratch**
You don’t need to know how to code before you start. We begin from the basics and bring you to a professional level over the course of your degree. You'll have the option of taking an industrial placement year between the second and final year - an invaluable experience which enhances your career prospects.
By your final year you will have developed a portfolio of games you can present to potential employers. The skills taught on this programme are also applicable to other areas of computing such as mainstream programming jobs, mobile app development, or web development.
**Learn key industry-specific skills**
We will teach you the technical skills you need to create games. You’ll program in multiple languages, use industry-standard tools, learn about graphics programming, physics for games, and procedural content generation. You’ll also develop professional working practices such as design documentation, testing cycles, issue tracking and version control.
You’ll also learn how to think creatively about game design, studying skills such as interaction design and games aesthetics. You will become a well-rounded addition to any professional game design team within a highly competitive industry.
Please note the BSc Games Programming only accepts applications for first year entry.
Modules
Overview
From the start of your degree, you’ll be creating your own games, and these projects will increase in scale and ambition as you progress. By the end of your degree, you will have built a portfolio of work to kick start your career in the games industry.
As your degree progresses you’ll personalise your studies via our wide range of optional modules which include many games specialisms such as artificial intelligence, VR and AR, machine learning, and pervasive gaming.
Year 1 compulsory modules:
Introduction to Programming
Generative Drawing
Numerical Mathematics
Symbolic Mathematics
Graphics 1
Front End Web
Introduction to Games Design and Development
Games Project 1
Year 2 Compulsory modules:
C++ for Creative Practice
Algorithms 1
Perception and Multimedia Computing
Games Project 2
You will also study 3 modules from the following list:
Physical Computing
Graphics 2
Extended C++
Algorithms 2
Optional placement year
Our degrees include an optional industrial placement year between the second and final year of study. You will be responsible for securing a placement, but we can support you through this process.
Although we encourage you to take the opportunity of a placement year, you can also complete your degree in a straight three years.
Year 3 (or Year 4 with placement)
You will take the following two compulsory modules, as well as 45 credits of option modules from a list annually approved by the department.
Final Project in Games Programming
Expressive Game Design
Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
Assessment methods
You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your module choices. These include coursework, examinations, group work and projects. If you opt for an industrial placement year, your placement tutor will assess your work. If you complete the placement year successfully, you earn the endorsement 'with work experience' on your degree certificate.
The Uni
Goldsmiths, University of London
Computing
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.
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.
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.
£24k
£32k
£33k
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.
Explore these similar courses...
Lower entry requirements
Nearby University
Higher entry requirementsSame UniversityThis is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Course location and department:
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
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.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
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.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
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.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
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
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
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
