Masters Degrees (Game Development)

*Subject to validation

• APPLICATIONS OPEN. Contact course leader, Dan Mayers, on [email protected] if you have any questions.
• Gain industry specific experience by using real world workflow methodologies, deadlines and constraints.
• Work on projects with a range of industry partners including Ubisoft, Dreadnaught Studios, Miracle Tea Studios, Ipswich Games Hub.
• Unique partnership with Iron Crown Enterprises, publishers of the Rolemaster, Spacemaster, HARP and HARP-SF role play systems.
• Widen your career opportunities with links and project briefs from companies including Derivco, Coderus, Conga and Orbital Media.
• Open to graduates from a variety of backgrounds.

Introduction

The Msc Games Development course provides students with a higher-level understanding and direct professional experience through a multidisciplinary approach across commercial game projects. 

This course is ideal for graduates who have completed our BA (Hons) Computer Games Design or BSc (Hons) Computer Games Programming undergraduates degree, as well as those who have graduated from other related technical and creative subject areas who are wanting to enter the video games industry.

We have collaborative partnerships in place with community organisations and employers including commercial and third sector organisations. 

Students will be exposed to work on commercial games, providing them with an understanding of business and enterprise as well as preparing students for working within a commercial studio setting. 

One of our modules allows students to link up with the Ipswich Waterfront Innovation Centre (IWIC), providing them with access to more facilities and covering a range of business-related topics in connection with games development.

Course modules

Development Management (mandatory)

This module provides students with industry standard management methodologies and tools used to run team game developments. 

Visual Scripting (mandatory)

In this module. students learn how to develop games using visual scripting tools at high and low levels, depending on their discipline and background.

Group Project 1 - Multiple Rapid Prototyping (mandatory)

For this group project, students concept and rapidly develop game ideas, learning how to work efficiently as a team.

Group Project 2 (mandatory)

In this module, students will work on a longer 12-week development project. 

Business Development (mandatory)

This moduled covers a range of core business skills relevant to both the independent and large scale development studios. This will be delivered by the Ipswich Waterfront Innovation Centre (IWIC) where students will have access to the Entrepreneurial Programme as well as unlimited access to the IWIC facilities. 

Final Project (mandatory)

The Final Project involves independent learning as an extended dissertation covering a detailed exploration of an element of the games industry. 

Research Methods (mandatory)

In this module, students will learn rigorous academic and commercial research skills.

Career opportunities

Work-based practice is embedded throughout the duration of the course. All modules will relate to work-based learning, relating to commercial management processes or understanding production within a working environment. This will enhance employability and give graduates a greater understanding of games development within the work place. 

Graudates can progress in to a range of careers including: Game Programmer, Games Designer, Games Artist, Quality Assurance, Serious Games Developer and Gamification Developer to name a few.

Facilities and Resources

The MSc Game Development course will have access to the Eclipse Suite where students can access the facilities on specific days for independent working and group projects.

Students can benefit from a dedicated lab, access to two other game development labs and a range of game development hardware including, Oculus Rift, Emotive EPOC+ Brain interface, Leap motion, Myo, Phidget components for building custom game controllers, a range of mobile phones and tablets to test your games on.

Students will also have access to a common room area for MSc students and a custom games cabinet in which to run student games.

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This course, one of a suite of digital media courses, enables you to study professional digital media practice in a microstudio environment with a focus on the design skills necessary for the field of games development. Through a student-centred project-based curriculum, you work as a games designer to develop your specialist skills while working as part of an interdisciplinary team with students from across the full programme.

-This course has been developed in consultation with our industry panel, which includes representatives from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, DreamWorks and Samsung Design Europe. We are also an active member of TIGA, the games industry's representative body, and the British Interactive Media Association (BIMA).
-This course has been designed to utilise the best digital media expertise and resources from across the University, and will prepare you for employment in the digital media industry, where teams of specialists work together to develop and author innovative digital media projects.

What will you study?

Students on both courses will design and create computer games, alone and in teams, using industry-standard production management tools and techniques that stimulate a professional environment of collaboration to deliver a product on time. You will also develop vertical-slice prototypes using new technologies, such as computer vision and stereoscopy, and will learn how to present yourself to potential employers through your professional presence and portfolio.

Assessment

Vertical slices, prototypes, demos, videos, presentations, design documents, essays.

Work placement scheme

Kingston University has set up a scheme that allows postgraduate students in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing to include a work placement element in their course starting from September 2017. The placement scheme is available for both international and home/EU students.

-The work placement, up to 12 months; is optional.
-The work placement takes place after postgraduate students have successfully completed the taught portion of their degree.
-The responsibility for finding the placement is with the student. We cannot guarantee the placement, just the opportunity to undertake it.
-As the work placement is an assessed part of the course for international students, this is covered by a student's tier 4 visa.

Details on how to apply will be confirmed shortly.

PlayStation First

Kingston University is an educational partner of Sony through PlayStation First.

Course structure

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules.

Modules
-Digital Studio Practice
-Media Specialist Practice
-Game Design
-User Experience Design (Content)
-Digital Media Final Project

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This course, one of a suite of digital media courses, enables you to study professional digital media practice in a microstudio environment with a focus on the programming skills necessary for the field of games development. Through a student-centred project-based curriculum, you work as a games programmer to develop your specialist skills while working as part of an interdisciplinary team with students from across the full programme.

-This course has been developed in consultation with our industry panel, which includes representatives from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, DreamWorks and Samsung Design Europe. We are also an active member of TIGA, the games industry's representative body, and the British Interactive Media Association (BIMA).
-This course has been designed to utilise the best digital media expertise and resources from across the University, and will prepare you for employment in the digital media industry, where teams of specialists work together to develop and author innovative digital media projects.

What will you study?

You will design and create computer games, alone and in teams, using industry-standard production management tools and techniques that stimulate a professional environment of collaboration to deliver a product on time. You will also develop vertical-slice prototypes using new technologies, such as computer vision and stereoscopy, and will learn how to present yourself to potential employers through your professional presence and portfolio.

Assessment

Vertical slices, prototypes, demos, videos, presentations, design documents, essays.

Work placement scheme

Kingston University has set up a scheme that allows postgraduate students in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing to include a work placement element in their course starting from September 2017. The placement scheme is available for both international and home/EU students.

-The work placement, up to 12 months; is optional.
-The work placement takes place after postgraduate students have successfully completed the taught portion of their degree.
-The responsibility for finding the placement is with the student. We cannot guarantee the placement, just the opportunity to undertake it.
-As the work placement is an assessed part of the course for international students, this is covered by a student's tier 4 visa.

Details on how to apply will be confirmed shortly.

PlayStation First

Kingston University is an educational partner of Sony through PlayStation First.

Course structure

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules.

Modules
-Digital Studio Practice
-Media Specialist Practice
-Real-time Programming
-3D Game Programming
-Digital Media Final Project

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Program overview

The master of science degree in game design and development explores the entertainment technology landscape, along with other related areas of software development. The program has its technical roots in the computing and information science disciplines, while simultaneously covering the breadth of the game development field through course work in topics such as computer graphics, game engines, interactive narrative, and game design. The degree is specifically for students who aspire to careers within the professional gaming industry or a related field such as simulation, edutainment, or visualization.

This is a two-year, on-campus, cohort-based program in which students are admitted through a portfolio review process. During the second year, students form development teams that construct a working game engine and software title as the program capstone experience. This requirement includes both individual and group expectations. The capstone culminates in a defense before program faculty, as well as a public exhibition. Combined, these requirements provide a unique and comprehensive educational experience for individuals who aspire to a career in the game development industry.

Plan of study

The program's curriculum consists of required courses, a choice of five advanced electives, and a capstone experience.

Capstone experience

During the second year, students complete a team-based capstone experience where students present and defend their work. This presentation includes a faculty review, which constitutes the capstone defense, a public presentation, and a demonstration.

Curriculum

Game design and development, MS degree, typical course sequence:
First Year
-Game Development Processes
-Game Design
-Gameplay and Prototyping
-Colloquium in Game Design and Development
-Game Industry Themes and Perspectives
-Advanced Electives
Second Year
-Capstone Design
-Advanced Electives
-Game Industry Themes and Perspectives
-Capstone Development

See website for further details of available electives: https://www.rit.edu/programs/game-design-and-development-ms

Other admission requirements

-Submission of a portfolio and/or scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required. If you choose to submit a portfolio it should include evidence of individual and group projects (clearly marked as such) relevant to the area you wish to study within the degree program.
-Complete a graduate application.
-International applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 570 (paper-based) or 88 (Internet-based) is required. International applicants also are required to submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

Due to the cohort nature of the program, students are admitted in the fall semester only. Admission to the program is highly competitive. While GRE scores are not required for domestic students, students may submit scores to strengthen their application. Those applicants with a GPA below 3.25 are required to submit GRE scores.

Additional information

Prerequisites:
Students are expected to have at least one year of significant programming experience in a current object-oriented language—preferably C++ or Java—and a solid working knowledge of website development and interactive multimedia concepts. If students do not have these prerequisites, additional course work may be recommended to bridge any educational gaps.

Maximum time limit:
University policy requires that graduate programs be completed within seven years of the student's initial registration for courses in the program. Bridge courses are excluded.

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This new Masters is designed to bridge the gap between economics and development, providing strong training in quantitative and policy analysis in development economics.

Who is it for?

The Development Economics MSc course at City is designed for those looking to gain an understanding of key issues in economic development and provide you with rigorous economic theory and statistical tools to be able to analyse policies and assess their impact on economic and human development.

Objectives

The aim of this course is to develop your critical and analytical abilities in economics, with particular reference to development. By the time you graduate, you should be able to:
-Demonstrate that modern economic theory is relevant to development economics.
-Critically interpret current research in development economics and evaluate its relevance to development practice and policy analysis.
-Understand the enduring determinants of poverty.
-Analyse the issues of fertility, education, health, work, migration and microfinance and their contribution to economic development.
-Develop microeconomic models to explain how people make such decisions and how policy is likely to affect their choices.
-Assess policies designed towards helping the poor by taking into account how people react to policy interventions, and statistically assess the success of such policies.
-Undertake empirical investigations in development economics, using appropriate quantitative methods.

Academic facilities

You will benefit from City's London location, and our proximity to the centres of decision-making in development economics. (We are six tube stops away from the Department for International Development, for example.).

Teaching and learning

The Development Economics MSc course is designed to be flexible in the range of teaching methods used. You learn through a mixture of lecturing, discussions, analysis of case studies, student presentations and particularly for the quantitative elements of the course, interactive computer-based exercises. You are encouraged to participate actively in the classes.

The taught modules usually run for a term and have three hours of teaching each week. This time may include workshops and tutorials as well as lectures.

Outside your timetabled hours you have access to City’s library and computing facilities for independent study. Your independent study will include reading recommended books and papers, and “reading around” the field to develop a deeper understanding.

In your third term we organise for experts from outside City to come in and present current research on both methodological and applied topics.

For the dissertation or literature survey, each student is allocated a supervisor, who will guide you in your research and writing for this module. We also offer pre-sessional induction courses covering topics such as probability, microeconomics and the Stata software.

Assessment

For each taught module in the Department of Economics, you are assessed through a combination of coursework and one final examination. For most modules the coursework contributes 30% of the overall mark and the examination contributes 70%. The nature of the coursework which the lecturer assigns varies according to the module, for example essays, presentations or computer-based data analysis and calculations. Modules taught in the Department of International Politics are usually assessed solely by coursework.

Overall assessment is based on your performance in the taught modules and a dissertation or literature survey. Students require 180 credits to pass the MSc. The weighting of each module within the overall mark is determined by the credit value assigned to that module.

Modules

You will complete 180 credits. This includes taught modules worth 120 credits plus 60 credits through either of the below paths.
-Literature Survey: two extra elective taught modules of 15 credits each and a Literature Survey worth 30 credits
-Dissertation: a 60 credit Economics Research Project.

Each module typically has a weekly two-hour lecture and a one-hour tutorial, but this may vary.

Note: It is not possible to give exact hours per week because these can vary from one term to the other, depending on which electives you choose.

Dissertation Path
Core modules
-The Economics of Micro-Finance (15 credits)
-Development Economics (15 credits)
-Microeconomic Theory (30 credits)
-Econometrics (30 credits)
-Dissertation (60 credits)
Elective modules
-Asset Pricing (15 credits)
-Macroeconomics (15 credits)

Literature Survey Path
Core modules
-The Economics of Micro-Finance (15 credits)
-Development Economics (15 credits)
-Microeconomic Analysis (30 credits)
-Quantitative Methods (30 credits)
-Literature Survey (30 credits)
Elective modules
-Welfare Economics (15 credits)

Elective modules for both paths
-International Macroeconomics (15 credits)
-Economics of Regulation and Competition (15 credits)
-Health Economics (15 credits)
-History of Economic Thought (15 credits)
-Corporate Finance (15 credits)
-Experimental Economics and Game Theory (15 credits)
-Development and World Politics (15 credits)*
-Political Economy of Global Finance (15 credits)*
-The Politics of Forced Migration (15 credits)*

*Students on the Dissertation Path can take only 1 of these modules, which are taught in the Department of International Politics. Students on the Literature Survey Path can take up to 2 of these modules.

Career prospects

Upon completion of this course you will have the skills to work in:
-Consulting firms specialising in development.
-Governmental bodies such as the Department for International Development (DFID).
-Major international financial and development institutions such as World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations or the Overseas Development Institute, which regularly recruits MSc graduates for overseas postings.

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Course Duration

Full-time (Sep): 12 months

Course Summary

MSc Video Game Enterprise and Production is a year-long Masters-level course for the next generation of games industry entrepreneurs and producers. We give people who want to work in games an in-depth experience of the full game development process combined with all the hard-edged business skills they need to run a small games business or manage a studio production. Employers of our graduates include Rockstar North, Traveller’s Tales, Creative Assembly and Exient.

You'll get specialist skills training, mentoring and support from leading game developers, artists, producers and business owners, with experience at such big-name developers as Eurocom, Electronic Arts and Freestyle Games, while Programme Director Zuby Ahmed founded his own company, SmashMouth Games. The course is delivered in a series of ‘boot camps’ followed by one-to-one support, studio based game development and project delivery.

Employment Oppportunity

Successful students will be prepared for roles in production and design; more specifically as project managers, scrum masters and assistant producers within the games industry. They will also be able to work in product development, as product owners, as designers/scripters or in game and business analytics, and will also be confident and able to set up their own video games business.

Previous graduates now work in roles including mission scripter at Rockstar North, associate producer at Rockstar London, assistant producer at Exient and assistant producer at Traveller’s Tales.

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Objectives

This program is available on the Grenoble campus

The program is aimed at students wishing to pursue an international management career in a global context and:

- Acquire a specific knowledge and the understanding needed to work in HRM in an international context and to contribute to its development
- Experience a unique learning environment in working with people from different nationalities, culture and academic backgrounds and sharing the same interest in international people management
- Acquire an understanding of global business and culture and extend their international network.

The mission of the MSc International Human Resource Management and Organizational Development is to build the abilities and skills necessary for future managers to recruit, manage and enhance talent while facilitating change in multicultural and international environments. The program provides an understanding of the approach to handling international human resource management operations and the differences in international and domestic HRM.

Through a blending of theory and practice, using case studies and applied learning, students will develop the competencies to understand the HR issues facing business today and positively impact organizational structure and dynamics.

The MSc International Human Resource Management and Organizational Development focuses on the human resource and organizational issues facing companies that operate in the global market. It aims to train managers able to contribute to corporate performance and social responsibility through the effective management of the company's most valuable asset: its men and women.

A WORD FROM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR

"The MSc in International Human Resource Management and Organizational Development combines theoretical knowledge with a strong technical and practical orientation to enable students to master key operational know-how and soft skills. Students will be able to apply this knowledge to decision-making in HR and organizational development within different geographical contexts. The program has an international focus, as an ever-increasing globalization of business impacts HRM.

Program delivery relies on a mixture of pedagogical methods and techniques from traditional to interactive lectures, e-learning activities, readings, exercises, case studies, presentations, simulations, individual and multicultural team-based work.

Students will also experiment a course based on a new pedagogy: serious games.

The Final Management Project - a supervised research paper of 20,000 words - allows students to become experts in an HR-related topic of their choice covering not only technical concepts, but also professional practices and implications."

Sabine Lauria

Program

The program explores how HR strategy fits into overall corporate strategy, the key differences between International Human Resource Management (IHRM) and domestic HRM, and the skills required to recruit, manage and enhance talent. It is designed for graduates who wish to pursue management careers at national and international levels.

Participants will develop the know-how and competencies to identify and understand the HR issues facing business today and develop appropriate strategies to ensure that effective people management strategies create competitive advantage and sources of value.

This program also emphasizes organizational development, as it is one of the new challenges in HR.

INTRODUCTION WEEK

- Introduction to the Program and to the role of HRM today.
- Study Skills and Techniques (Case Study Methodology, Academic and Professional Writing, Presentation Skills etc.)
- Team Building and integration activities
- Moodle e-learning platform user training
- Introduction to the Library and Computing Services at GGSB
- Student Administrative Issues
- Alumni Association information

THE FIVE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM

1) Business Environment

- Global Business Environment and Strategic Management
- International Labor Economics
- Finance and Accounting for HR Managers

2) Fundamentals of HRM

- Fundamentals of Human Resource Management
- Compensation and Benefits
- HR Reporting
- Information Systems for HR Managers
- Staffing
- Recruitment Process and e-Recruitment
- Personality Tests and Interview Techniques

3) International HR Management and Contemporary Issues

- Strategic IHRM
- HR as a Business Partner
- HR Innovations (Serious Game)
- Managing an HR Department (Simulation)
- Legal Context
- Employee Relations, Grievances and Representation
- Comparative Legal Contexts of International HRM
- People Development
- Talent Development and Performance Management
- International Career Path and Expatriation
- Social Management
- Creating and Managing a Well-Balanced Workplace
- Managing Diversity and Ethics

4) International Organizational Development

- International Team Behavior
- Leadership, Group and Team Dynamics
- Intercultural Management
- Organizational Development
- Managing Corporate Culture and Structure
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Change and Lean Management
- International Organization
- Company Profile

5) Research Methodology and Final Management Project Workshop

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

In addition to the core courses, students can attend personal and professional development workshops. These workshops cover current topics of interest, recent trends in management and career development. They serve as a complement to the core modules.

COMPANY ANALYSIS AND PROFILE

Students will select a company with international business located in different national culture. The purpose is to evaluate the impact of organization design on human resources roles and responsibilities. The objective is to gather public and internal information to develop their own analysis of the situation.

The program encourages effective teamwork as the major part of modules expects students to work in groups. These groups will consist of students of different nationalities and rhythms, as some students attend courses part-time.

RESEARCH TECHNIQUES AND PROJECT PROPOSAL

A research techniques module has been created to provide the skills required to effectively work on the Final Management Projects and on future professional projects.

FINAL MANAGEMENT PROJECT

The second year of the program is dedicated to the Final Management Project, a written work of approximately 20,000 words, conducted under the supervision of a tutor from GGSB. Students will choose an aspect of International HR Management and are encouraged to link the chosen subject matter to their future career. The project can be completed in parallel with full-time employment or an internship based in France or abroad.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Operating in an international environment requires foreign language fluency and therefore a foreign language module is an option on the program for all students.

Non-French speakers may study French (beginner to advanced level). This option is highly advised for those who are looking to become professionals in France. French speakers may choose from a number of other languages at beginner level.

Careers

Graduates of this MSc program will be qualified for posts in both multinational corporations and companies experiencing rapid expansion in international markets.

Graduates may equally enter the consulting field in the areas of HR and organizational development.

Admission

This postgraduate MSc program is open to both young and mature graduates from any field and with no or limited work experience. Candidates should have excellent interpersonal skills, good oral and communication written skills and a strong motivation for international relations and business.

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The Scottish Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education at the University of Abertay Dundee offers a unique postgraduate experience.

Postgraduate funding (tuition fee and living cost loan) may be available from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for those who meet the eligibility criteria.

Why choose this course?

-Develop core development skills through applied project work, supported by experienced industry practitioners
-Enhance skills in interdisciplinary communication and collaboration through team work with students and practitioners from other areas of games development
-Apply developing technologies and practices to your own projects, and demonstrate your work to leading industry figures
-Nurture relationships with fellow developers, industry professionals and companies through your demonstrable skill in the creation of games, industrial mentorships and published research.
-The Scottish Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education at Abertay University offers a unique postgraduate experience, specifically designed in discussion with game industry partners, and identified by one leading CEO as, ‘The course the Games Industry has been waiting for!’.

As postgraduate students, highly-talented individuals work within games development teams towards the production of innovative computer games solutions. Working closely with a team of full-time staff who are highly-experienced in both the games industry and in academic teaching, and under the guidance and mentorship of computer games industry representatives, you will develop professional skills and knowledge relevant to identified development roles within the industry.

During the course of your studies you will ultimately be expected to demonstrate applied excellence in your specialist area, as well as professionalism, flexibility, the ability to adapt in team working situations, and creativity and innovation towards product development.

Join our Graduate School

Our Graduate School is a dedicated facility providing support, training and professional development opportunities to our vibrant postgraduate community. Specially designed to promote integration and inculcation of interdisciplinary working in our next generation of researchers, postgraduates study and learn together at Abertay - from Environmental Management to Law, Psychology, Bioscience, Economics and Business, Cybersecurity and Computer Games Development.

When you join us as a postgraduate student or researcher, you’ll be joining a community of creative like-minded scholars and will automatically be provided with access to our dedicated study and social spaces – a forum in which you can meet, work and learn with other researchers and postgraduates from across the University. You’ll benefit from training and professional development opportunities as well as support with funding applications, placement opportunities, teaching support, public engagement and outreach activity.

What you study

The goal of the MProf in Games Development is to turn graduates into professional developers by placing them into development teams, with industry-relevant project goals and deliverables. The teams enjoy a high level of independence in how they meet the game design briefs and approach the development process.

Supervision, mentorship and academic support look to emphasise the consequences of their decisions and processes, allowing the students to experience an organic and logical development and evolution of best practices. In addition, students develop their awareness in areas of potential innovation and research, and are encouraged to publish their work.

The remaining core elements of the course seek to separate the myths from the realities of working in the games industry, and expand students’ awareness of design considerations with regards to the comparative importance and impact of narrative and gameplay theories. Uniquely, students select optional modules from across the entire university, allowing further development of their core skills if required, but more specifically allowing for a more individual and tailored learning experience through the additional study of areas of personal interest such as business, marketing, psychology and perception.

Open, flexible working spaces

We have developed a unique concept of learning environment and creative incubator, encompassing ways of teaching that focus on building general skills alongside the subject-specific knowledge to support your career and life objectives. It is designed to give you the edge in the global knowledge economy when you graduate.

This White Space environment is a thriving hub of activity, mixing the talents of undergraduates, postgraduates, lecturers, business people, artists and broadcasters, surrounding our students with the buzz of a real working environment, allowing them to share real-world knowledge and experience.

How you learn and are assessed

Assessment methods throughout the core modules focus on formative (constant) assessment through regular meetings and discussion sessions, rather than exams. This is to allow students to improve in confidence, communication skills and core discipline skills as they progress, allowing them to try new working practices and approaches as and when they may be required. An emphasis is placed on effective participation as a team player, and in correctly identifying and prioritising a project’s key requirements and challenges.

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This is a technically oriented course for programmers interested in the technology of games. It is suitable for people seeking employment in programming roles within the games industry.

The course focuses on the implementation of real-time 3D applications using the C++ programming language in order to develop your understanding of 3D rendering and shader programming techniques.

You also study low-level hardware architectures for optimisation, including the novel architectures of games consoles and how to exploit them. We teach you project management techniques, including the stages of game production and the structure and operation of the games industry.

This course benefits from strong industry links with companies like Sony Computer Entertainment and Sumo Digital and industry accreditation from Creative Skillset and PlayStation®First. The lecturers have many decades of commercial games industry experience between them and share a passion for developing the next generation of talent.

PlayStation®First

This course is part of the PlayStation®First Academic Partnership Programme offered by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) and has been awarded PlayStation®First status by fostering best practise in game related development skills across PlayStation® platforms. The programme provides unique access to PlayStation® professional development hardware (dev kits) and software (SDK) to equip students with industry relevant game development skills across PlayStation®4, PlayStation®3, PlayStation®Vita and PlayStation®Portable.

The Steel Minions

Sheffield Hallam University has its own commercially-licensed game studio which provides workplace simulation to students on the University's games degrees. It was the first university studio in the UK to release its own PlayStation® title and has a range of PlayStation, iOS and Android games in development.

Professional recognition

This course is accredited by Creative Skillset (the Creative Industries' Sector Skills Council) and TIGA (The Independent Game Developers Association).

Course structure

Postgraduate certificate modules

• C++ boot camp
• Graphics and animation
• Hardware-oriented software engineering
• Software studio planning

Postgraduate diploma modules

• Special techniques for graphics and animation
• Game development practice
• Multi-processing and parallel technologies

MSc modules

• Research methods
• Individual project

Assessment

• PgCert – continuous assessment
• PgDip – continuous assessment involving a large group-based industrial project
• MSc – 25% continuous assessment and 75% individual research project

Employability

Good games software graduates are in high demand, and our course has been developed to meet the needs of the booming entertainment software industry.

We actively support your collaboration with external companies on your practical software development projects. This gives you real experience while learning and could lead directly to you gaining a job with one of these companies.

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Overview

Games development is the fastest growing entertainment industry in the world. Our MSc gives you the highly specialised set of skills needed to stay at the forefront of this demanding and constantly evolving field. Created with involvement from industry professionals, the course programme focuses on the technical aspects of game development and the underlying fundamentals of computer science. We cover a range of core concepts, including C++ programming, physics simulation, concurrency, advanced graphics, artificial intelligence, and game engine architecture. You will have use of our dedicated games development lab, equipped with the latest console development kits and top-spec PCs, plus access to the HIVE — our multi-million pound virtual environment lab, which provides access to emerging and new technologies for computer interaction, data collection and visualisation.

The course begins in September each year and lasts twelve months. There are two trimesters of taught modules, followed by an individual dissertation project during the third trimester. There is an option to take an extra trimester – either immediately before or after the dissertation – gaining industrial experience through a module based in SEED, our software development unit working with commercial clients. This is unique to Hull.

The Department of Computer Science creates an excellent experience for students, with a supportive student community. We have an international reputation for our research activities, with a strong record of industrial and public grant funding. We are also affiliated with Microsoft’s DreamSpark programme, which allows you to access the latest Microsoft operating systems and development software for home use. Once registered with the department, you can download the software free of charge.

Industrial Experience

There is the option to take an Industrial Experience variant, with the opportunity to extend the period of study by a trimester, to gain experience of working alongside commercial software developers within a commercial software development facility on site (SEED), promoting real-world applications of the advanced concepts met in the course.

Study

The MSC is designed to support students with various levels of computing and programming practice experience. However, this programme is particularly suited to those with significant experience of writing code.
The modules in the first trimester include a range of materials designed to allow a smooth transition to postgraduate study, regardless of your background. As a route into research, the programme supports the development of postgraduate technical skills, alongside critical research, analysis and planning activities. In lectures you’ll benefit from a range of techniques, from interpreting complex ideas through interactive discussions, to live programming or other problem-solving demonstrations.

Core modules

• C++ Programming and Design
• Real Time Graphics
• Game Development Architecture
• Simulation and Concurrency
• Advanced Rendering and Artificial Intelligence for Games
• Development Project
Optional modules
• Computer Science Software Development Practice – pass/fail module
• Dissertation (There is the option of taking this module either in trimester 3 or trimester 4, depending on whether you take the Industrial Experience module.)
• The Industrial Experience optional 60-credit single trimester module allows students to gain significant commercial experience.

Teaching and learning

We place a strong emphasis on practical laboratory sessions. This will significantly develop your core computer science skills, and enhance your employability through exposure to commercial projects.
As teamwork plays a key role in commercial software development and has great value as an employable skill, group work is used in a number of modules.

Assessment

Practical coursework is the main form of assessment, and you will design, build and test software solutions to a variety of problems. This is complemented by written coursework.
The largest assessment is the dissertation of up to 20,000 words, which is based on the work done in the third trimester.

Careers

The MSc programme supports career development in a number of ways. These include a mix of modules focused on professional skills and a project involving group work, CV development and personal reflection. We have strong links with many of the UK's top game studios, including Electronics Arts, Sony and Microsoft, many of which recruit straight from our labs.
We also have a range of inspirational extra-curricular activities including the Three Thing Game, Imagine Cup Worldwide Software Development Challenge, Really Useful Seminars and Global Game Jam. They are designed to boost your CV and employability, and taking part costs very little.

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This course is one of the first of its kind in the UK and has a graduate employment rate of 97%. It prepares you for careers as software architects, project managers or software developers. You may also operate as a software consultant or do further research.

In collaboration with a number of high profile industrial leaders and computer game innovators, we have created an advanced course producing graduates with the potential to become future leaders in the global computer games industry.

The course is for honours graduates in computing science or a discipline with significant computing and/or mathematical content, such as computing, information systems, mathematics, engineering, systems engineering or physics.

You will benefit from:
-An industrial advisory board made up from high profile UK games companies
-Industrial placements at leading game studios
-Industry-sponsored prizes each year in categories such as Best Team, Best Project and Best Student
-A technical focus on game engineering

Newcastle has a first class record of research related to the development of computer game technologies and 97% of our graduates are in employment following graduation. Our graduates have gone on to work as programmers for a wide range of companies including:
-Ubisoft Reflections
-Fluid Pixel
-Nosebleed Interactive

The staff delivering this course have international reputations for their contributions to the fields of online gaming, graphics and simulation, artificial intelligence, programming and human computer interaction.

You will be encouraged to play a full part in the life of the School, participating in seminars delivered by distinguished external speakers. The experienced and helpful staff at Newcastle will be happy to offer support with all aspects of your course from admissions to graduation and developing your career beyond.

Delivery

The course is available over one year full time, leading to an MSc award. We will equip you with the skills and knowledge required to develop computer game software. We will also provide an international perspective on advancements in computer game development.

There are three phases in the course. Phase one (60 credits) consists of 20 hours per week of lectures. We will introduce core knowledge and skills through modules in:
-Programming
-Graphics
-Game technologies

You will also undertake a substantial amount of supervised and unsupervised practical work.

During phase two (30 credits), we emphasise the practice of computer game development through modules in:
-Research methods for gaming innovations
-Entrepreneurial skills for the game industry
-The development and assessment of an actual computer game (team exercise)

Phase three (90 credits) is the individual system development or research project.

Accreditation

We have a policy of seeking British Computer Society (BCS) accreditation for all of our degrees, so you can be assured that you will graduate with a degree that meets the standards set out by the IT industry. Studying a BCS-accredited degree provides the foundation for professional membership of the BCS on graduation and is the first step to becoming a chartered IT professional.

Our Computer Game Engineering MSc has Creative Skillset Accreditation as well as being officially recognised as a NVidia CUDA Training Center.

The School of Computing Science at Newcastle University is an accredited and a recognised Partner in the Network of Teaching Excellence in Computer Science.

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Take your computer game development skills to the next level. Study, plan, produce and test games in our specialist studios. Working alongside students from our Computer Games Development Art course, you’ll gain experience in multi-disciplinary working and create an advanced portfolio.

Your course will have a new home in Compass House, which will extend our campus along East Road. You’ll have the latest technology at your fingertips and be able to collaborate with other students on innovative projects to hone your skills.

The UK video games industry is worth £3.78 billion and there’s currently a recognised skills shortage of skilled games designers. If you have a first degree in computer science or a similar technical degree, our course will give you the skills to confidently create advanced level games.

Based in Cambridge, the heart of the UK’s games development industry, you’ll work in our Computer Game Development studio and hub, where you’ll create games both on your own and in teams, and gain the technical design skills to publish successfully across a range of platforms.

As well as furthering your development skills, you’ll also focus on games programming and tailor your research project so that you can concentrate on developing skills in an area that you’re passionate about.

We constantly focus on entrepreneurial opportunities, and sharing modules with our MA Computer Games Development (Art) means you’ll work with different strands of the games industry and meet and build your contacts ready for your career. Everything you design will also build into a valuable portfolio to help you secure your dream job when you graduate.

See the website http://www.anglia.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/computer-games-development-computing

Careers

It can take up to three years to create a game, all the way from initial concept to the finished product. One game can involve up to 200 professionals working as a team.

As a game developer, you could design the visual styling as well as how it plays. You could be involved with animating characters and objects, creating audio, programming, testing and producing.

Besides working in the leisure/entertainment sector, you could use your skills to develop ‘serious’ games. These are used in rehabilitation, education and training, defence, science, health, city planning and engineering.

You could also go into a career in marketing, teaching or general technology.

You’re also in the perfect position to continue your academic career and move up to our Computer Science PhD.

Modules & Assessment

Core modules:
• Games Programming
• Portfolio
• Games Development 1
• Games Development 2
• Research Methods
• Major Project

Assessment

We’ll ensure you’re on track through a combination of written and practical work, both as an individual and as team activities.

Where you'll study

The Faculty of Science & Technology is one of the largest of five faculties at Anglia Ruskin University. Whether you choose to study with us full- or part-time, on campus or at a distance, there’s an option whatever your level – from a foundation degree, to a BSc, MSc, PhD or professional doctorate.

Whichever course you pick, you’ll gain the theory and practical skills needed to progress with confidence. Join us and you could find yourself learning in the very latest laboratories or on field trips or work placements with well-known and respected companies. You may even have the opportunity to study abroad.

Everything we do in the faculty has a singular purpose: to provide a world-class environment to create, share and advance knowledge in science and technology fields. This is key to all of our futures.

Visit your faculty - http://www.anglia.ac.uk/science-and-technology

Where can I study?

Cambridge - Our campus is close to the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.
http://www.anglia.ac.uk/student-life/life-on-campus/cambridge-campus

Specialist facilities

You’ll spend plenty of time in our Games Development Studio, which simulates a commercial working studio and features up-to-date hardware and software. We currently have a range of industry standard software including Unity 3D, Unreal Engine 4, Maya, 3ds Max, Microsoft Visual Studio and Photoshop, as well as GameMaker, 3DGameStudio, Adobe Flash and Action Script, Microsoft XNA Game Studio, GIMP, Blender, Fusion, and Audacity.

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This course is aimed at creative graduates who want to develop the skills to work in the exciting area of games design. On this course you develop specialist skills to produce real-time game art with the latest 3D software used by industry. Areas include 3D modelling, asset design for props, environments and characters. The course is designed to allow you to specialise in the area of games design that is the most interest to you.

You focus on art and design fundamentals to underpin your 3D game designs as well as engaging with theory to develop your awareness of game mechanics and what makes games fun. These skills can be applied through game development projects undertaken in small teams with ‘Games Software Development’ students. You work in an ‘industry simulation’ style environment to produce game prototypes which could be released through our commercial studio ‘Steel Minions’. This gives you the opportunity to experience commercial team development practices in preparation for entering the industry.

Course structure

Modules

• 3D fundamentals
• Asset creation
• Game development practice

Also • games design futures project • creative media research and development proposal • creative media professional practice project • creative media masters project

Assessment

• coursework

Employability

Creative and skilled games artists and designers are in demand to meet the need for new and exciting products, as the industry relies on them to develop the next generation of games. Areas of work include • 2D and 3D art • animation • concept design • mobile, console and PC based platforms.

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Casual games studios now make up a high percentage of the UK games industry, producing games that are easy to pick up and play through websites, social networking sites, mobile phones, tablets and games consoles. Subject matter is typically non-violent, and gameplay often incorporates puzzle solving or an exciting twist on a simple mechanic.

Course details

This games development master’s course gives you the business, theoretical and practical skills needed to succeed in this rapidly growing industry. You learn to develop compelling games with exciting mechanics and strong gameplay, both as an individual and as part of a team. While the main focus is on casual games development, the skills we teach also apply to roles within the broader games industry. As well as developing core theoretical and practical design skills, you also develop your entrepreneurial abilities to equip you for work as an independent developer in the social, casual and mobile games field.

What you study

You advance your knowledge and understanding of business, design theory and technical issues within the field of computer game development and related industries. In lectures and seminars you examine the specialist skills necessary to design and construct strong games pitches, demos and prototypes, as well as advanced creative and business solutions to the problems involved in independently developing computer games.

Modules
-Game Development
-Game Mechanics
-Game Prototyping
-Master’s Project: Games Development
-Rapid Application Development
-Studio Development and Professional Practice

Modules offered may vary.

Teaching

You experience a number of different approaches to learning and teaching including:
-Lecture sessions
-Tutorial and practical sessions
-Workshops and studio sessions
-Freelance sessions and workshops
-Online and blended delivery
-Self-directed study

Critical reflection is key to successful problem solving and essential to the creative process. To develop your own reflective practice at an advanced level, you test and assess your solutions against criteria that you develop in the light of your research.

The programme includes a variety of assessment methods including presentations, peer review, critique, reports and production of artefacts.

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On City's MSc in Computer Games Technology you can develop specialist technical skills for a career in the Computer Games Industry.

Who is it for?

This course is aimed at students with a passion for computer games and a strong interest in programming. It is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in a numerate subject with substantial computing content, or those who wish to update their skills after a time in industry as a computing professional.

Objectives

The course is designed for you to develop:
-Strong technical skills suitable for professional programming roles in the game industry.
-Specialist knowledge in computer graphics, AI, physics and audio.
-The ability to design and build game engines from scratch in industry standard languages, including C++.
-Knowledge of the games development process, including the pitch, design, and use of a game engine to build a demo.
-Experience of the planning, management and execution of a major games technology project.

Academic facilities

With over 1,300 workstations, the on-campus computer rooms provide a valuable learning resource and give an opportunity for individuals to do coursework and projects. Computers have games development software including:
-Unity3D
-Unreal
-Microsoft Visual Studio
-Microsoft XNA Game Studio
-MonoDevelop
-MonoGame
-NShader
-FMOD Studio
-FMOD Studio API
-OGRE SDK
-WildMagic Geometric Tools
-Blender
-Adobe Photoshop.

City has recently invested in a new computer lab equipped with high specification NVidia GPUs.

Through City's Interaction Lab and the Department of Computing, there is hardware that can be used for student projects, including:
-Oculus Rift VR Headset
-Emotiv Epoc EEG Headset
-Neurosky Mindwave EEG Headset
-X-Box One Kinect Sensor
-X-Box 360 Kinect Sensor
-Leap Motion (Gestural input device)
-Affectiva Q Band Galvanic Skin Response sensor
-Tobii X-60 Eye Tracker

Placements

As a postgraduate student on a Computing and Information Systems course, you will have the opportunity to complete up to six months of professional experience as part of your degree.

Our longstanding internship scheme gives you the chance to apply the knowledge and skills gained from your taught modules within a real business environment. An internship also provides you with professional development opportunities that enhance your technical skills and business knowledge.

Internships delivered by City, University of London offer an exceptional opportunity to help you stand out in the competitive IT industry job market. The structure of the course extends the period for dissertation submission to January, allowing you to work full-time for up to six months. You will be supported by our outstanding Professional Liaison Unit (PLU) should you wish to consider undertaking this route.

Teaching and learning

The teaching and learning methods we use mean that your specialist knowledge and autonomy increase as you progress through each module. Active researchers guide your progress in the areas of Games Development, Computer Graphics, Artificial Intelligence and Audio, which culminates with an individual project. This is an original piece of research conducted with academic supervision, but largely independently and, where appropriate, in collaboration with industrial partners.

Taught modules are delivered through a series of 20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of tutorials/laboratory sessions. Lectures are normally used to:

present and exemplify the concepts underpinning a particular subject;
highlight the most significant aspects of the syllabus;
indicate additional topics and resources for private study.
Tutorials help you develop the skills to apply the concepts we have covered in the lectures. We normally achieve this through practical problem solving contexts.

Laboratory sessions give you the opportunity to apply concepts and techniques using state-of-the-art software, environments and development tools. In addition, City’s online learning environment Moodle contains resources for each of the modules from lecture notes and lab materials, to coursework feedback, model answers, and an interactive discussion forum.

We expect you to study independently and complete coursework for each module. This should amount to approximately 120 hours per module if you are studying full time. Modules are assessed through written examination and coursework, where you will need to answer theoretical and practical questions to demonstrate that you can analyse and apply computer games technology methods.

The individual project is a substantial task. It is your opportunity to develop an autonomous research-related topic under the supervision of an academic member of staff. This is the moment when you can apply your learning to solve a real-world problem, designing and implementing a solution and evaluating the result. At the end of the project you submit a substantial MSc project report, which becomes the mode of assessment for this part of the programme.

Modules

The programme is composed of eight taught modules and a final project.

The eight modules provide you with a firm grounding in computer games technology, including mathematics, programming, and game engines and architecture along with specialist topics in computer graphics, physics, AI, and audio.

The project component gives you an opportunity to carry out an extended piece of work under the supervision of one of our specialist academic and research staff, at the cutting edge of games technology, in an industrial or academic context.

Core Modules - there are eight Core Modules.
-Games development process
-Computer game architectures
-Computer graphics
-Game Physics and Artificial Intelligence
-Digital Signal Processing and Audio Programming
-Programming in C++
-Systems Specification
-Research, Methods and Professional Issues

Career prospects

Graduates are equipped with advanced knowledge and skills in a range of topics in games technology in preparation for a career in computer games development.

Alumni of the course are working in companies including Rockstar, Sony Computer Entertainment, Electronic Arts, and Codemasters, as well as start-ups and independent studios.

City has a dedicated incubation space, called the Hangout, located in the heart of Tech City that is specially designed for student entrepreneurs from City, University of London who want to get their idea off the ground.

Professional roles include:
-3D Graphics Programmer
-Audio Programmer
-Physics Programmer
-Artificial Intelligence Programmer
-Simulation and Game Engine Programmer
-User Interface Programmer
-Tools and Utility Programmer
-Scripting Languages Programmer
-Networking Specialist
-Porting Programmer

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