University of Westminster

Computer Games Development BSc Honours

Our Computer Games Development course combines technology and creativity in a multidisciplinary way.

The games industry is an expanding and challenging sector with continually evolving ideas and cutting-edge technologies. It requires practitioners to exercise more flexibility in software specifications and functionality, through adapting their approaches to design and management while keeping abreast of broad changes to technology.

This course covers all major technical aspects of the games development process, from design to production. It aims to prepare you for a career in software development with a particular emphasis on computer games. The course provides you with a solid understanding of game technologies, including programming, applied maths, computer graphics and game engines. You'll develop a broad range of knowledge and skills including mobile and web application development, 3D modelling and animation, and human-computer interaction. To enhance student employability, the course offers a number of talks from the creative industry and will support your participation in prestige game competitions and digital fairs, as well as industrial placements and internships.

The primary language you'll learn is C++, but you'll also have the opportunity to engage with other languages and software, such as C#, Python (Machine Learning, Algorithms), JavaScript and Swift for Android and iOS development. For character development we use Adobe Maya, Photoshop, 3DS Max and 3D Coat. The course focuses on using Unreal Engine 4 and Blueprints technology, but students will have the opportunity to engage with any of the commercial engines across the course.

The course will prepare you for work in an increasingly challenging and rewarding field by giving you a clear perspective on the current nature and practice of game development. You'll be equipped with the required technical and creative skills for the new era of game developers. You'll gain a thorough knowledge of programming, computer graphics and game project management, together with an appreciation of the industrial environment. The course also includes opportunities to work on group productions, including multidisciplinary game projects that simulate a real game industry environment.

The course offers a short-term, work-based learning experience that will give you the opportunity to work on a real-life problem, which is normally set by an external organisation as a small-scale project. This experience will allow you to put theory into practice by applying knowledge and skills gained from various modules to address a real-life situation, usually within the context of a business-related problem.

In previous years, there have been opportunities to travel and engage with students from other universities across Europe. Trips have included Distant Horizons in Seville, Spain, as well as our annual Wmin-Graz Hackthon.

In addition, you'll have the opportunity to undertake a year in industry (work placement) after completing Year 2. This will help you gain work experience and enhance your employability after you graduate. You'll be offered help and support to find and secure placement opportunities through various workshops and events organised by the Careers and Employability Service and the course team. Typically, you'll be assigned to roles involving tasks related to various aspects of computer game development.

Top reasons to study with us

• Valuable industry insights – our strong links to the sector ensure the course is taught with the games development industry in mind. Our teaching staff includes academics with experience in the games industry, alongside industry advisors who support the course on all work-based learning projects and competitions
• Work experience before graduation – as part of the course, you'll have the option to work for a year in the industry, gaining valuable work experience and boosting your employability
• Successful alumni – our alumni have found positions in companies including Microsoft, Sega, and Marmalade
• Outstanding facilities – you'll benefit from a brand-new XRLab facility, our upgraded Motion Capture lab, and our Games Development Project Lab
• Extra-curricula activities – students can take part in industrial networking opportunities (EGX, PocketGamer, Aardvark Swift Game Careers Talks) and Game Jams to improve students' portfolios and experience (Global Game Jam, Tranzfuser, UKIE)
• Discover our student projects – our dynamic, collaborative environment is displayed in our students' work
• You'll qualify for free British Computer Society (BCS) academic membership for the duration of your studies. The BCS supports those working in the IT industry and has a commitment to making IT good for society. The organisation has over 60,000 members in 150 countries, and a wider community of business leaders, educators, practitioners and policy-makers. Membership of the BCS will allow you to continue your professional development and enjoy a range of valuable networking opportunities.

Why study this course?

• Gain industry experience
  You'll have the option to take part in a year in the industry, helping you gain work experience and increasing your employability after you graduate.
• Teaching
  93% of students on our Computer Games Development BSc agreed that staff are good at explaining things.
  Source: Discover Uni – site accessed in November 2020.
• Extra-curricula activities
  Students are encouraged to take part in national and international game jams, including the University of Westminster's own Games Jam, to improve their portfolios and experience (Global Game Jam, Tranzfuser, UKIE).

Professional accreditation

Our course is intended to fulfil the requirements of the British Computer Society (BCS), which means it complies with rigorous academic and professional standards as set out by the BCS. It also allows graduates to gain registration as a Chartered IT Professional (CITP) and partial registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).