Computer Games Technology Degrees and Courses

Computer gaming is a global pastime, and it’s always innovating, challenging, expanding and evolving.

The UK is already a hotbed of design, production and animation talent, so if you’re keen on artwork, music composition, storyboarding or conceptual thinking, one of our Computer Games Technology degrees could be the perfect stepping-stone to a successful career.

We’ve got an impressive reputation for Computing and we have close ties with industry so we’ll make sure you learn all the important stuff, whether your future lies in complex high polygon modelling for PC or console games, low-polygon modelling for handheld consoles, massive multiplayer online games, or serious real-life simulations for healthcare, Military and Police.

• BSc(Hons) Computer Games Design
• BEng(Hons)/MEng Computer Games Design
• BSc(Hons) Computer Gameplay Design and Production
• BEng(Hons)/MEng Computer Gameplay Design and Production
• BSc(Hons) Computer Games Design and Programming
• BSc(Hons) Game Technical Art (PDF, file size: 433.53KB)
• BSc(Hons) Games Audio Design
• BSc(Hons) Computer Games Design (Extended)
• BSc(Hons) Computer Games Design (Top-up)

Our key Computer Games Technology degrees are accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

At Staffs, you’ll be studying at one of the most prestigious Computing Faculties in the UK.
We were one of the first universities to offer a Computing degree back in the 1960s and we were similarly pioneering with Games Degrees, offering them from 2004 onwards. Not only that, but all our courses are designed in conjunction with the Games Industry.

Passionate, inspired, enthusiastic and never afraid to innovate, our staff make sure the courses are continually reviewed and updated to satisfy the latest demands of the Games Design and 3D modelling sectors.

We’ve got strong links to some of computer gaming’s biggest names, including RARE, which has its motion capture studio on site.

We are also a proud member of the Trade and Industry Games Association (TIGA) and participate in the shaping and future of the UK Games Industry.

We are involved with Monumental Games Ltd in the cutting edge development of a browser based multiplayer online games engine, which is unique, an affiliation that’s led to us being given a £150,000 games development engine for training.

Then there’s local games company Astraware, helping to develop our Computer Games Design and Programming award. Astraware creates games for handheld PDAs and Smartphones including Apple® iPhone™, Palm OS® and Windows Mobile®.

We’ve got 11 full time enthusiastic and friendly academic Games Design staff as well as student advisors and a student welfare network so we’re on hand for anything you need.

Our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) gives you access to a huge range of study resources from home and for those enrolled as distance learning students we have a tailor made Distance Learning Games Academy online to help you connect with your tutors and fellow students.

Our Personal Development Planning (PDP) system can help with study management, career planning and personal development.

Our Computer Games Design lecturers really are leading experts in their fields.

One third of the tutors have previously worked in the Games Industry from large Games Companies such as Kuju Entertainment to smaller ones such as Jester Games, making a variety of genre from puzzle to TT Racing games.

Many staff also work in research or consultancy in a wide field from games engine design and selection to collaborative game design and production methodologies.

Our primary objective is to prepare you for a long and successful career in the computer games industry. That’s why our study environments reflect the real world of work as much as possible and why we’ve built strong ties with local, national and international companies.

Our approach means we’re always fully up-to-date with the latest industry trends, and we can anticipate and embrace new thinking beyond the conventional academic world.

Whichever degree course you choose, it will be closely modelled on workplace practice, right down to working in industry-sized development teams and using the same pipelines and design methodologies to create vital game assets.

Our training is varied too, with everything from games industry guest speakers to a full workplace placement year, a major final-year project, whole-class lectures, hands-on practicals and problem-solving tutorials.

You’ll have the chance to develop a portfolio of work throughout the course and we’re even flexible enough to count occasional freelancing (like games modification or new level/world creation) towards your studies.

Our Computer Games Technology degrees can be studied over three years full-time without a placement or four years full-time with a placement.

To really make the most of your studies here, we recommend taking advantage of our placement scheme, which could see you enjoying a year’s full-time paid work in a computing job between your second and final years.

Past students have taken plenty away from the placement experience: 96 per cent of students surveyed in 2006 said they enjoyed themselves and 91 per cent said they would recommend it to others.

A work placement gives you a real-world education in Computer Games Technology and, perhaps more importantly still, it can improve your future employment opportunities. In fact, our placements are so well-thought-of that two of our top experts have recently been invited to Europe to help the European University Enterprise Cooperation Network.

We’ve got one of Europe’s finest purpose-built computing facilities, where you’ll be treated to some of the very best learning facilities around.

We’ve got over 150 computers dedicated to games design, a RARE motion capture studio and suite, a games lab and 3D modelling rooms with software including 3DSMAX and Z-Brush.

We have numerous Nintendo Wiis, Xbox 360s, Playstation 3s, PSPs and high-end PCs.

Previous Games Design graduates have found employment at the following places: Rock Star (North), Naughty Dog (USA), Astraware, Asylum Entertainment, Blitz Games, Climax, Codemasters, Endrant, Gusto Games, i2Ltd., Jagex, Jester, Juice Games and Kuju Entertainment.

They have secured positions in a variety of roles such as level designer, environment artist, 3D character modeller, games designer, games production assistant, games technical artist.

• Computer Games Programming
• Digital Applications for Creative Technology
• Web and Multimedia

“Upon graduation, there’ll be no aspect of games design language that you do not understand.
Our Computer Games Technology graduates have gone on to work for some of the biggest names in the business.”
Dr Bobbie Fletcher, Award Programme Manager, Computer Games Design

• To see a range of videos and interviews visit the StaffsUni YouTube channel
• Order a Prospectus
• Downloadable version of this subject guide (PDF, file size: 444.93KB)