Game Development BSc (Hons)

Dive into the world of gameplay programming with engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine 4. Develop games for PC, mobile and PlayStation from day one. Work in a simulated game studio environment by collaborating with talented games artists and acquire the skills to join the next generation of game developers.

Register your interest

Overview

This course equips you with the necessary technical skills to develop games both independently and within a multidisciplinary environment, backed by industry standard practices. You will have the opportunity to develop games for platforms such as PC, mobile and console. With a focus on programming, you will become adept in games programming using industry relevant languages (e.g. C#, C++) and mathematical concepts through popular game engines such as Unity, and the Unreal Engine. You'll work with other students to develop games as part of a games studio environment, simulated in our specialised games lab.

Why us?

Learn in the state-of-the-art games lab with gaming rigs comprised of i7 processors and RTX 3060 Ti graphics cards. The lab has a playtesting zone and offers access to official console controllers, an arcade machine, and VR headsets

Sunderland was named Smart City of the Year 2020 (Digital Leaders UK). Boasting the second-fastest growth in digital turnover outside of London, Sunderland is the ideal city to study computing and set up a business

Course structure

Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, seminars and laboratory sessions. You will be encouraged to develop independent study skills as well as work with other students on group projects.

As well as assessments that count towards your degree, there are also ongoing opportunities for feedback and consolidating your learning.

Year 1 (national level 4):

Software Engineering (20 credits)

Explore a wide range of software engineering techniques and industry practices, designed to promote the production of high-quality, efficient, reliable, and secure software. Examine how software is created and the various stages of the software development lifecycle, together with consideration of social, ethical, professional, and legal issues. Evaluate software products to ensure that they are functioning correctly, and conclude their strengths and weaknesses.

Computer Systems, Architectures and Networks (20 credits)

Gain an overview of how a computer works, from the moment it is switched on. Explore what happens inside the machine, including how computers process input, generate output and store data. Install and configure a modern operating system, and troubleshoot hardware and software problems using real equipment and simulations.

Introduction to Programming (20 credits)

Learn about the fundamental programming concepts, including how to write computer programs using a high-level programming language such as Python or C#. Develop an understanding of debugging techniques to find and resolve defects. Select and implement appropriate structures for file handling, data manipulation, and error handling within a program.

Full Stack Development (20 credits)

Explore both front-end and back-end web development, and use frameworks to create a fully dynamic web application. Consider the development of the modern web and review the underlying technologies and standards. Create programs that run on a live web server and use a modern programming language.

Specialist Project (20 credits)

Explore and develop an individual project based around your preferred area of study. Work directly with subject specialists in workshop-style sessions to explore your specialism. Appreciate the social, ethical, professional, and legal issues as they apply to computer-based systems.

Game Development (20 credits)

Gain hands-on experience using an industry-standard game engine. Plan and design a game using relevant principles and techniques, and incorporate the fundamentals of level design. Apply game programming techniques using an established set of relevant game-related technologies.

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Year 2 (national level 5):

Rapid Game Prototyping (20 credits)

Get practical experience and experiment with the tools and techniques used in game development. Rapidly design and develop a series of game artifacts, with a particular focus on gameplay mechanics. Critically reflect on the rapid prototyping approach to game development.

Agile Development and DevOps (20 credits)

Learn how to use Agile and DevOps practices in modern software development, using a range of modern tools and technologies. Apply SCM concepts and GIT commands to a range of developer situations. Design, develop and deploy a workflow on a remote repository that automatically builds, tests and deploy a software product.

Advanced Programming (20 credits)

Propose solutions to programming problems through OO software design modeling, using UML diagrams, notations, and techniques. Apply advanced OO programming constructs to the development of professional-standard software. Select appropriate software design patterns, data structures and algorithms to provide efficient solutions to complex programming problems.

Enterprise Project (20 credits)

Participate in the organising, running, controlling, and monitoring of a team tasked to produce a computer-based solution to a client-posed problem. Respond to client analysis and feedback to progress and complete your prototype solution. Appreciate enterprise approaches for software project determination, selection, development, implementation, and criteria-based evaluation.

Immersive Application Development (20 credits)

Explore the use and effectiveness of current immersive technologies, including Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Mixed Reality. Learn how immersive technologies are being used and embraced in the industry and consider these technologies in the context of entertainment. Examine and evaluate an application prototype for its immersive and interactive qualities.

C++ Programming (20 credits)

Enhance your knowledge of the C++ language and develop your programming skills. Delve into data structures and algorithms and other C++ techniques such as memory management and overloading. Compare and contrast the usage of C++ development frameworks or engines in a gaming context.

Optional placement:

Industrial Placement (120 credits)

Spend 48 weeks on placement working within the industry. Refine, plan, schedule and produce an individual project based on your experience. Critically reflect on the skills and experience gained as part of your placement.

Final year (national level 6):

Computing Project (40 credits)

Articulate an in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of your chosen research topic. Develop your professional skills, such as problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, self-reflection, and time management. Collect, organise, and present your body of work, including a critical evaluation and correct citation and reference of appropriate research sources.

Artificial Intelligence (20 credits)

Examine a range of AI techniques and their application to problem-solving within society, industry, and research. Develop an awareness of the contemporary developments in the field of AI and their application and potential implications. Critically assess real-world problems and determine which AI approaches are suitable for their solutions.

UX Design (20 credits)

Translate research user and contextual data into human-centered design tools such as user stories, personas, and scenarios. Design and develop digital prototypes for a given problem specification. Critically evaluate the usability and user experience of a given interactive system.

Collaborative VR Applications (20 credits)

Develop a collaborative VR application using network programming and industry-standard tools. Consider what makes an interactive artefact collaborative and investigate the limitations of multi-user VR applications. Devise appropriate technical design documentation for a collaborative VR application using industry-standard diagrams and or illustrations.

Game Showpiece (20 credits)

Critically evaluate and select appropriate contemporary tools and techniques to design a showpiece game. Enhance your transferable skills in presenting, planning, and time management. Evaluate the success of the game with respect to potential or actual end users and reflect on the development process.

Facilities

This course is based at the David Goldman Technology Centre, a high-tech computing environment with strong links to software companies and a constant exchange of ideas and people.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

Qualification	Minimum grade
High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade - SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement	GPA 3.0 or above and: Sat score of 1250/1600 from SATs AP (Grades 3+ in at least 3 subjects) ACT (score of 30+)

If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.

If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.

If English is not your first language, please see our English language requirements.

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

The annual fee for this course is:

£9,250 if you are from the UK/*Europe
£14,000 if you are an international student

*European Union (EU), EEA (European Economic Area), and Swiss nationals who do not qualify for the EU Settlement Scheme are classed as international, however, for 23/24 admission you will receive a European student fee scholarship and will pay the home tuition fee rate for the duration of your studies. The discounted fee will be reflected in your offer letter. Learn more in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

This course has a strong emphasis on real-world learning that boosts employability and equips you to make a bigger contribution in the workplace. You will acquire a high level of software related transferable skills that will make you attractive to local, regional, national and international companies.

Graduate success

In your final year of the course, you will undertake a major individual project with research-active staff. This adds to your hands-on experience and, in some cases, leads to a job offer that can be taken up as soon as the course ends.

Career options

Our graduates have gone on to become web programmers, IT managers, information analysts and software developers. Employers that have taken on our graduates include Sage, British Airways and the NHS. Other graduates have started their own businesses or become software contractors earning over £50,000 a year.

Meet the students

I came here to change my hobby and passion into my job and successfully achieved that goal.

Emanuel Gheorghe

Related courses

Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Technology.

Page last updated: 06 March 2023

We aim to provide clear, accurate and timely information to prospective and current students. We continuously review and enhance course content in consultation with our students and the information provided on our website is the latest available. If you have received an offer from us to start a course, we will communicate any important changes to you in writing. We will always seek to ensure that our prospective students are fully aware of the basis on which they are accepting an offer.

Sign up to receive emails about your subject area.

I am currently serving or have previously served in the armed forces, including reserves.

Keep me up to date relating to my interest in the University of Sunderland via:

Email

You may unsubscribe at any time.

Using Your Personal Information
The University of Sunderland is collecting this data in order for you to receive information on your chosen subject(s). Your information will be stored securely in our Customer Relationship Management system which is provided by a 3rd party and used only for the administration and provision of this information. Should you choose to opt in to further communications we will also use your information to facilitate other useful marketing information based on your preferences. Further information on how your data is stored and used can be found in our Privacy notice - marketing.