Computer Games Technology
Entry requirements
A level
To include AS Maths at grade B or A Level Math at grade C Entry into Year 2 with AAB to include Maths and Computing
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
To include Maths: Analysis & Approaches Entry into Year 2 with 34 Points with 3 Higher subjects to include Maths: Analysis & Approaches and Computing
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
To include Maths
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Creative Media Production Electrical/Electronic Engineering Engineering IT Art & Design Must include A Level Maths at B Entry into Year 2 with D*D*D Creative Media Production (Games Development) to include A Level Maths at B
Scottish Advanced Higher
Entry into Year 2 to include Maths and Computing
Scottish HNC
Entry into Year 2 with an HNC in one of the following:- Computer Games Development - Graded Unit B plus Scottish Higher Maths at B or Open University Essential Mathematics 1 at 60% or Bespoke Maths for D&A College Computing - Graded Unit B plus Scottish Higher Maths at B or Open University Essential Mathematics 1 at 60% Next Gen Computing - Graded Unit M plus Scottish Higher Maths at B or Open University Essential Mathematics 1 at 60% or Bespoke Maths for D&A College
Scottish HND
Entry into Year 2 with HND Computer Games Development - Graded Unit B plus Advanced Higher Maths at B and National 5 Physics (or equivalent) Entry into Year 1 with an HND in one of the following:- Computer Science - Graded Unit B plus Scottish Higher Maths at B or Open University Essential Mathematics 1 at 60% Computing: Networking - Graded Unit B plus Scottish Higher Maths at B or Open University Essential Mathematics 1 at 60% Computing: Software Development - Graded Unit B plus Scottish Higher Maths at B or Open University Essential Mathematics 1 at 60% Computing: Technical Support - Graded Unit B plus Scottish Higher Maths at B or Open University Essential Mathematics 1 at 60%
Scottish Higher
To include Maths
T Level
Digital courses with A Level Maths at grade B
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
This world-leading course provides you with the essential skills and knowledge required to develop computer games software, and enter a cutting-edge, high-growth industry.
Learn to develop the engines that make computer games work in the School of Design and Informatics within Abertay University, one of the most prestigious institutions for videogames education in the world. The BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology is accredited by ScreenSkills, the UK Sector Skills Council for Creative Media Industries, and by TIGA, the trade association representing the UK video games industry.
Learn games programming, graphics and artificial intelligence in addition to games hardware, programming animation systems and procedural generation. You will have the opportunity to be part of a multi-disciplinary team working with game artists and designers on project briefs set by media and computer games companies.
Having launched the world's first computer games degree in 1997, Abertay has been instrumental in building the city of Dundee as a global hub for computing and gaming.
Abertay is ranked:
• Top university in the UK and throughout Europe for Videogames Education (Princeton Review 2015, 2016. 2017. 2018, 2019, 2020)
• UK University of the Year 2021 - Teaching Quality (The Times/ Sunday Times Good University Guide)
• UK Top 10 - Student Satisfaction & Teaching (Guardian Good University Guide 2021)
• UK Top 10 - Student Satisfaction (National Student Survey 2020)
Modules
Year 1 core modules (subject to change over time) - CMP104 Programming with C++; CMP101 Computer Hardware Architecture & Operating Systems; MAT101 Applied Mathematics 1; CMP102 Software Design; CMP105 Games Programming.
You will also be required to select one elective module. For detailed module information please check our website.
Assessment methods
You will spend around 12-15 hours per week in lectures, tutorials and laboratories. Lectures are used to present key concepts, theories and techniques. Tutorials and laboratory-based activities increase your understanding of the subject and allow you to develop your competence and confidence in technological and theoretical work. During the course you will be required to actively participate in group work, discussions, seminars, and private study. There is a mixed assessment strategy used on the course. Most modules are assessed through coursework, which may include project work and student-led presentations. Some modules use a mixture of coursework and formal examination.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Abertay Campus
School of Design and Informatics
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.
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.
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.
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.
£26k
£30k
£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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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
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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?
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