Games Production BSc (Hons)

Develop the practical skills needed for a career in the booming video games industry, from learning to use different game engines to gaining valuable vocational experience.

Entry Criteria
Structure and assessment
Facilities and features
Opportunities and careers
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Overview

Video games have eclipsed the film, music and video industries as the dominant entertainment sector in the UK.

Our course is designed to equip you for roles that require a vocational aptitude in gaming technologies and tools.

You will gain industry-relevant experience in using different game engines, such as Unity3D, Unreal, CryEngine and Godot. You will develop your skills in sound engineering and cross-platform development, such as Console, Mobile, Virtual and Augmented Reality.

Study a diverse range of practical topics such as Audio for Games, Game Engine Scripting and AI for Simulation, and develop a comprehensive set of transferable skills that you can apply to the areas of games development that interest you the most. You will also have the opportunity to make a short game using an engine of your choice.

Games Production BSc shares a common first year and some later modules with Computer Games Programming BSc. This shared focus means you have the flexibility to decide which direction you wish to specialise in once you have gained some experience of each area.

Key features

Benefit from an engaging curriculum that develops your skills in using a range of game engines, 3D modelling software and design IDEs, so you can graduate as a confident and industry-ready computer games producer. Graduates from the related Computer Games Programming BSc are working for gaming companies such as Codemasters and Rockstar North.
Study specialised topics, such as normal mapping and shader programming inside the Unity3D and Unreal engines, as well as exporting models in FBX and OBJ formats from 3D modelling integrated design environments (IDEs,) such as Maya, 3DS MAX and Blender, into your games.
Access our dedicated game development studios, featuring some of the latest technologies for playing and developing games on a range of platforms. Our studios are equipped with a mixture of high-spec gaming computers & hardware and games development software.

Join our thriving gaming societies to build on what you learn on the course by playing games, taking trips to professional gaming events and competing in tournaments. Our Games Development Society gives you the opportunity to work alongside Game Art students in games jams.
Enhance your employability by taking part in industry-focused scenarios such as a task during the Game Prototype Development module, developing your own portfolio and producing your own short game as part of your studies.
Apply for a year-long placement opportunity with support from our dedicated faculty placement team. DMU students have landed roles with companies including Havok, DIGIT, Riot, Black Shamrock and Microsoft.
Enjoy an international experience with our DMU Global programme. During previous trips, students from related courses have gained key insights into San Francisco’s tech industry and visited New York’s Spyscape Museum.

More courses like this

Computer Games Programming BSc (Hons)

Computer Science BSc (Hons)

Artificial Intelligence BSc (Hons)

UK
EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: I453

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Find out about additional costs and optional extras.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Book an Open Day

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: I453

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £16,250

Find out more about available funding for international students.

Find out about additional costs and optional extras.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

104 UCAS points from at least two A-levels, or
BTEC National Diploma/ Extended Diploma at DMM

Plus, five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Mathematics or equivalent.

Alternative qualifications include:

Pass in the QAA accredited Access to HE with English and Mathematics GCSE required as a separate qualification.

We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.

International Baccalaureate: 24+ points
Foundation Year in Computing: Pass Foundation, progression is at the discretion of the programme leader. Refer to the Foundation team for further guidance.

Portfolio Required: No

Interview Required: No

Mature students

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

English language

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential. English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

UCAS tariff information

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Contextual offer

To make sure you get fair and equal access to higher education, when looking at your application, we consider more than just your grades. So if you are eligible, you may receive a contextual offer. Find our more about contextual offers.

Structure and assessment

First year

Introduction to C++ Programming
Introduction to Object Oriented Programming in C++
Computer Ethics
Computer Law and Cyber Security
Computer Systems
Computer Networks
Game Architecture and Design
Game Prototype Development

Second year

Introduction to 3D Modelling
Mobile Games Development
Game Engine Scripting
Advanced 3D Modelling
AI for Simulation
Progressive Games
Game Engine Group Project

Third year

Advanced Game Engines
Quality Assurance for Games
Games Platforms
Audio for Games
3D Set Design, Architecture and Lighting
Final Year Project

See more detailed module information.

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Your first year modules are shared with Computer Games Programming BSc, so you can decide which course to follow at the end of the year. You will normally attend around 12-16 hours of timetabled taught sessions each week, split across a variety of lectures, small group activities and practical Games Lab sessions. You will also be expected to undertake at least 24 further hours of directed independent study and assignments as required.

All modules are assessed by course-work submission, in the form of a practical Final Project and some are assessed by phase test, such as the 3D Modelling module.

All second-year modules are assessed by course-work submission, in the form of a practical Final Project. There will also be a Group Project, which will be shared with Computer Games Programming, as part of the assessment.

All third-year modules are assessed by course-work submission, in the form of a practical Final Project. You will also be required to submit a Final Year Project.

Facilities and features

Game Development Studios

Games Production and Computer Games Programming students have access to three dedicated Games Lab facilities, with Alienware computers with i7 processers, enabling you to develop Games to a highly professional standard. As part of these facilities, you will also have access to licenses for Unity3D, Maya, Unreal, Adobe and Visual Studio.

Our Computer Science laboratories provide computer workstations for students to use, with four interconnected computing laboratories with HP PCs running Windows/Linux.

All the machines are connected to a dedicated, high-performance file server for storage and backup of students' work. Many of the software packages are open source, which means students can download and run the software needed for their course work while at home. The laboratories also include study spaces where you can work individually or in groups.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available.

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub.

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Graduate careers

Game Production graduates will be equipped with the skills needed to work in careers as games developers, graphics programmers, 3D modellers and aerospace engineers.

Graduates from this course can also work in a variety of related fields including Computer-aided Design, Engineering. VFX and Animation. Graduates can also continue their academic careers by embarking on postgraduate study in either research or taught areas, which provides opportunities for further specialisation and the enhancement of existing skills.

DMU Global

Our innovative international experience programme aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world. Through #DMUglobal, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Games Production students may be able to take part in our annual trip to the Dublin Silicon Docks. Here students are given tours of the leading Game Development and Software studios and attend a conference where industry leaders, such as Olivier Masclef (Alone in the Dark, Sing Star Studio), Travis George (League of Legends), Stephen Howell (HoloLens, Havok) and Anton Gerdalan (Shader Programming Specialist) give talks and hold networking opportunities with the students.

Placements

There is potential for industry placements for Games Production students, with world-renowned industry leaders such as Riot, DIGIT, Black Shamrock, Setanta and Havok.

Graduates from the related Computer Games Programming Course have undertaken placements at a number of local and national companies, including Team17 Digital Ltd, PII Pipeline Solutions, NEXT and Stormburst Studios.