Wrexham University
UCAS Code: GE17 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
Accepted alongside A-Levels as part of overall 96-112 UCAS Tariff requirement.
Access to HE Diploma
96-112 UCAS Tariff points
96-112 UCAS Tariff points
Accepted as part of overall 96-112 UCAS Tariff requirement.
96-112 UCAS Tariff points from International Baccalaureate Certificates
96-112 UCAS Tariff points
Accepted alongside Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Level as part of overall 96-112 UCAS Tariff requirement. Where GCSE Maths, English and/or Science are required these must be at O4 or above.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Scottish Advanced Higher
96-112 UCAS Tariff points
Scottish Higher
96-112 UCAS Tariff points
UCAS Tariff
Accepted as part of overall 96-112 UCAS Tariff point requirement.
About this course
Why choose this course?
Join a UK leading course designed to develop strong technical game design, business and production skills so you can be a future industry leader.
The team work closely with organisations such as UK Games Fund, Games Wales, BAFTA Cymru and the British Computing Society to ensure that our students always have access to cutting-edge industry-related training and knowledge.
We are home to the innovative Games Talent Wales programme and a UK regional Tranzfuser hub that is sponsored and supported by the UK Games Fund and UK Games Talent. Our business incubation centre is home to several award-winning student-owned game studios.
Students on this course will:
- Develop essential game design and business start-up and management skills.
- Learn about the workings of the games industry and the tools and platforms that are critical to success.
- Gain valuable experience and insight into the game development process and the management of an independent game studio.
- Enjoys the benefits of close industry engagement with regular visits, guest speakers, presentations, discussion groups and social events.
- Work with a personal mentor with games development experience to help develop your skills and knowledge.
- Have access to our in-house business incubation centre and the latest tools and technology in a specialist game development studio.
- Develop a professional game development portfolio and critical employability skills.
- *Study a course that is part of a subject area rated 2nd in the UK and 1st in Wales for satisfaction with the course in the Computer Science and Information Systems subject league tables, The Guardian University Guide 2022.
- *Study a course that is part of a subject area rated joint 2nd in Wales for teaching quality and 4th in UK for student experience in the Computer Science subject league tables, Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.
- *Study a course that is part of a CHA3 subject group ranked 2nd out of Welsh universities for the teaching on my course in the National Student Survey 2022.
This course is also available to study with industrial placement UCAS Code: CEIP - or with foundation year UCAS Code: GEFY (both are four year degrees)
Key Course Features:
- Regular contact with games and media industry professionals through guest lectures, seminars and local & national events
- You will be taught by an award-winning teaching team with professional industry backgrounds and experience
- Engage with an active indie game development community and national talent development programme
- Learn how to manage a professional game development team using industry-standard methodologies and practice
- The course is an official BAFTA Cymru Games Awards partner and sponsor
- Access to our in-house games business incubation centre
- Work with the latest tools and technology in two specialist game development studios dedicated to designing, production, motion capture and VR
- The optional Industrial Placement Year gives students the opportunity to experience the workplace first-hand and gain valuable employment experience for the future.
Modules
What you will study
YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4)
Level 4 introduces both theoretical and practical skills as you will work as part of a small game development team and learn the basics of 2D & 3D design and development along with an understanding of the hardware used for gaming and media. There is a strong emphasis on production management along with building knowledge of business processes and entrepreneurship.
You will also explore the broader context of game development and the critical issues facing the industry today.
MODULES
Game Design & Interaction
Real-Time Environmental Art for Game Engines
Game Asset Development
Game Environments & Narrative Design
Game Industry & Agile Production Methodologies
Professional Development in Computing: Information Engineering
YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5)
Level 5 builds on and expands your portfolio of skills to focus on product innovation and commercialisation along with an understanding of digital publication platforms and their associated business models. You will also develop your knowledge of digital sculpting and 3D modelling.
Critically, during the second semester you will further enhance your development and management skills by working on two substantial group game projects utilising industry-standard management methodologies and supporting tools. You will be expected to employ your management skills by acting as a scrum master during these development phases.
MODULES
Serious Games Technology
3D Modelling & Animation For Game Engines
Game Production & Distribution Technology
Real-time Environmental Art for Game Engines
Group Project
Indie Studio Management & Game Production
Optional Industrial Placement Year
YEAR 3 (LEVEL 6)
Level 6 further expands on the previous skills acquired, with a focus on professional quality and management alongside advanced practical skills.
The innovative final year group project is designed to deepen your understanding of your chosen role and responsibilities as a professional developer, further preparing you for the workplace. You will form a game development team and specialise in a technical role of your own choosing for a full academic year. You and your team will present the finished game at the annual LeveL Up Expo event attended by both members of the public and industry representatives.
Through our Business Accelerator programme, you will have the opportunity to work closely with Business undergraduate students and access to our business incubation centre with a view to starting and managing your own game development studio.
There is an emphasis on independent study throughout, developing a professional portfolio and pursuing exciting career prospects through continual assessment and dedicated project supervision.
MODULES
Project
Game Design, Marketing & Monetisation
Advanced 3D Modelling & Animation for Games
Future Technology
Games Enterprise
The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.
Assessment methods
Teaching & Assessment
This course is portfolio focused and as such, there are no formal exams. Instead, students will focus on developing technical design, business and theoretical skills via practical assignments and research & development activities.
Assessment methods include the production of digital (and non-digital) games, writing technical and academic reports, compiling and analysing production data, giving presentations, writing business plans, producing 3D models and game assets.
At higher levels of the course, students will also be required to provide statistical evidence of work hours with supporting evidence as part of key assessment outcomes.
Independent learning is an important aspect of all modules, as it enables students to develop both their subject-specific and key skills. Independent learning is promoted through the use of digital management tools such as Jira, and through feedback given to students, which takes several forms including small group and one-to-one discussions.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Wrexham University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.
We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.
In terms of particular needs, the University’s Inclusion Services can provide appropriate guidance and support should any students require reasonable adjustments to be made because of a recognised prevailing disability, medical condition, or specific learning difference.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Wrexham (Main Campus)
School of Applied Science, Computing and Engineering
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.
£22k
£27k
£24k
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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