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MComp

Computer Games Development (Foundation Entry)

Attendance

Campus

Start

Book an Autumn Open Day

Duration

5 Years

Start

September 2024

UCAS Code

G738

Delivery

Campus Taught

Channel your love of computer games into your dream career starting with our Foundation Entry degree in Computer Games Development. It will prepare you to work as part of a multi-skilled team, producing high quality, innovative and exciting games to tight deadlines.

Foundation Entry degree courses are ideal if you’ve got the ability to study for a degree, but don’t have the necessary formal qualifications to directly join an honours programme. It’s a great stepping stone to a full degree.

Throughout this course you’ll develop all the skills you need to implement a complex, interactive video game. You’ll benefit from being taught by enthusiastic and experienced lecturers. Many of them are still active and influential in the games industry.

We offer a three-year BSc (Hons) degree as well as a four-year MComp (Hons) degree, with an optional additional sandwich year in industry. Both degrees emphasise software development for computer games, brilliant preparation for any career in software engineering.

Why study with us

You’ll learn by doing, using the high-performance kit in our purpose-built Games Laboratory and the University's general computer rooms.
Where possible, we make software available for use on your own PC so you can develop your own games.
Our laboratories allow you to use specialist software and to do things that wouldn’t be allowed on the public network (such as configuring networks, exploring computer viruses or testing system security).

Interested?

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Discover our Computer Science courses

What you'll do

Our Computer Games Development course is supported by excellent facilities and industry-active staff.
You’ll work in specialist laboratories, alongside staff with a wealth of computer games development experience.
Develop your programming expertise using C++, maths and problem solving, as well as studying computer graphics, AI, game mechanics and effective practical software development.

Module overview

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Year 0

Compulsory modules

COC001: Introduction to Software Development
COC002: Investigating IT
COC003: Problem-solving for Computing
COC004: Study Skills 1 - Learning How to Learn
COC005: Study Skills 2 - Developing Academic Skills
MAC101: Foundation Mathematics

COC001: Introduction to Software Development

We aim to introduce you to a range of software development concepts including, problem analysis, specification, design, implementation, testing, and debugging, and also develop your confidence in applying essential programming skills.

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Year 1

Compulsory modules

CO1301: Games Concepts
CO1409: Programming
CO1508: Computer Systems and Security
CO1605: Systems Analysis and Database Design

CO1301: Games Concepts

We aim to encourage your interest in game analysis and to foster your creative thinking in the development of computer games. We will also develop your understanding of commercial practices in game development, introduce you to methods and technologies for game development, and provide the necessary mathematical foundation for computer game development.

CO1409: Programming

This module will develop your ability to analyse a simple problem with a view to implementing a software solution. You will be provided with core skills in computer programming and debugging necessary to implement a readable and maintainable solution to a given problem. You will develop your software design skills and you'll be introduced to advanced programming techniques in preparation for study of an advanced programming module.

CO1508: Computer Systems and Security

In this module you'll explore the fundamentals of computer architecture and operating systems, exploring the nature and consequences of security threats and data breaches, as well as countermeasures. You'll examine the legal, ethical and privacy issues associated with collected data and discuss issues arising with emerging technologies such as smart cities, smart vehicles, the Internet of Things (IoT) and online shopping.

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Year 2

Compulsory modules

CO2301: Games Development 1
CO2401: Software Development
CO2402: Advanced Programming with C++
CO2409: Computer Graphics
CO2412: Computational Thinking

CO2301: Games Development 1

Develop your understanding of games-specific algorithms and the ability to apply these using traditional languages and games-specific tools. You'll apply general programming skills in a game-specific context and enhance your ability to evaluate games and development environments.

CO2409: Computer Graphics

Computer graphics are a vital part of modern human-computer interaction, but are highly resource intensive. You'll explore the algorithms and hardware that attempt to meet the demands of real-time rendering of 2D and 3D graphics. You'll be introduced to mathematical techniques used to represent and manipulate images, and explore how graphics libraries are used to produce more complex and realistic graphics. You'll be able to extend your programming skills to the generation, manipulation and display of graphical images using a popular graphics library.

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Year 3

Compulsory modules

CO3301: Games Development 2
CO3303: Mathematics and Technologies for Games
CO3519: Artificial Intelligence

Optional modules

CO2404: Cross Platform Development
CO2702: Human-Computer Interaction
CO3722: Data Science

CO3301: Games Development 2

In this module you will explore management, development and implementation techniques and tools used within the modern game industry. This is all building on the content learned in previous games development modules.

CO2404: Cross Platform Development

In this module, you will develop an understanding of modern mobile development platforms and the skills you need to develop cross-platform applications for mobile devices. You will be able to explore a range of technical problems and solutions inherent in developing coss platform applications for ubiquitous computing platforms such as mobile, desktop, wearable and smart devices.

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Year 4

Compulsory modules

CO4301: Advanced Games Development
CO4302: Computer Games Engineering
CO4303: Computer Games Team Project
CO4304: Computer Games Masters Project

CO4301: Advanced Games Development

This module will help you develop a detailed understanding of computer games, including the various components of how a gam fits together, alongside the theoretical underpinnings of games programming.

Course delivery

Following the pandemic, we have found that some courses benefit from a blended learning and teaching approach. Therefore, the majority of your teaching will be face-to-face on campus aside from a small amount of online teaching where we have learnt it works best.

90%Face-to-face

10%Online

Please note the delivery information for this course is accurate for the academic year 2023/24. The information displayed in this section may not yet accurately reflect how the course will be delivered in 2024/25 but this information will be updated by October 2023.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Visit us this autumn

Discover our facilities, explore campus and talk to academic staff and students about the courses you want to study at one of our autumn Open Days.

Book an Open Day

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You can take a one-year industrial placement during your studies to increase your employability. Most placements are UK-based, but opportunities exist for global placements.

Learn more

Accreditations and Memberships

The CITP provides independent recognition for professionals in the IT industry. This course has accreditation leading to BCS Professional Member (MBCS), Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) and partial CEng exemption from the BCS, the professional computing body.
We are an Educational Member of the British Computer Society providing benefits to our students such a free BCS membership for the duration of their Computer Science course. This help connections with the tech industry through BCS mentors, enables access to bespoke events with industry experts, as well as interactive career tools include CV writer, interview simulator, personal assessments and e-learning.

Future careers

Our Computer Games Development Foundation Entry MComp is a stepping stone to a career working as part of a multi-skilled team to produce high quality, innovative and exciting products to tight deadlines.

Fees and funding

2023/24

First year£6,500 for the first year

Full-time£9,250 per year

International

First year£11,000 for the first year

Full-time£14,900 per year

2024/25

First year£9,250 for the first year

Full-time£9,250 per year

International

First year£16,400 for the first year

Full-time£16,500 per year

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

Select your country/region

Care Leaver Bursary
Our Care Leaver Bursary is for students who need extra support because they have been in care or are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Care Leaver Bursary
Estranged student support
Estranged Student Support Bursary is for students who need extra support because they are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Estranged student support
Dependants Bursary
Students with financially dependent children may be eligible for our Dependants Bursary as part of our financial support package. 
Find out more about Dependants Bursary
Foundation Year Bursary
Our Foundation Year Bursary Scheme is for students starting a 4 or 5 year Undergraduate Degree programme.
Find out more about Foundation Year Bursary

You’ll use an online learning environment to facilitate flexible learning. This environment enhances traditional face-to-face lectures, tutorials and practical sessions by providing additional, resource-rich, online materials allowing you to continue learning independently.

There are individual coursework assignments, group work, seminar presentations and examinations (either seen or unseen).

There’s a practical emphasis on coursework rather than exams.

MComp (Hons) Computer Games Development incorporates the three years of the BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development degree. If you begin study on the MComp degree then you can subsequently choose to just do the first three years of the course and receive the BSc level award.

You’ll develop expertise in programming using C++, maths and problem solving - qualities that games companies want from graduates, but which are equally sought after in the wider software development industry.

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This course is based in the School of Engineering and Computing

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Central Lancashire on our student contract page

Book your place

Computer Games Development (Foundation Entry)

Why study with us

What you'll do

Module overview

Year 0

COC001: Introduction to Software Development

Course delivery

Visit us this autumn

View the course facilities

You can take a one-year industrial placement during your studies to increase your employability. Most placements are UK-based, but opportunities exist for global placements.

Accreditations and Memberships

Future careers

Fees and funding

Course Specific Optional Costs

Course Specific Optional Costs

Scholarships and bursaries

Care Leaver Bursary

Estranged student support

Dependants Bursary

Foundation Year Bursary

Learning and assessment

Further information