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Computer Games Technology

Entry requirements


A level

B,C,C

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

29

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)

H2,H3,H3,H3

To include Maths

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DMM

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

A,A,B

Entry into Year 2 to include Maths and Computing

Scottish HNC

Pass

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

Pass

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

A,B,B,B

To include Maths

T Level

M

Digital courses with A Level Maths at grade B

UCAS Tariff

104-160

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Computer games programming

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:

England
£9,250
per year
EU
£15,000
per year
International
£15,000
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£1,820
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Abertay Campus

Department:

School of Design and Informatics

Read full university profile

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.

76%
Computer games programming

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

83%
Staff make the subject interesting
89%
Staff are good at explaining things
79%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
83%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

74%
Library resources
64%
IT resources
79%
Course specific equipment and facilities
59%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

84%
UK students
16%
International students
92%
Male students
8%
Female students
58%
2:1 or above
6%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
C
A

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.

£21,000
med
Average annual salary
91%
med
Employed or in further education
68%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

69%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
13%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
6%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals

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

£26k

£30k

£30k

£34k

£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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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the 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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here