Computer Science (Game Engineering) BSc Honours

Design and create your own games with our game engineering bsc degree. You'll learn about the latest technology and techniques in the games industry. 

Our Game Engineering degree will teach you how to create computer games.

• You’ll learn to design, develop and use computer graphics software on different platforms, including game consoles and advanced 3D reality environments.

We’ll focus on the design, development and implementation of software that drives computer games, including:

• Gaming simulations
• Computer game development
• Additional information
• Flexible degree structure

All our Computer Science students study the same modules for the first two years. Once you have a good foundation, you'll specialise later in your course. This means you can transfer between our degrees, until the end of your second year.

Modules and learning

• The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
• Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 
• Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Stage 1

• Learn about the fundamentals of Computer Science. There’s an emphasis on developing your skills in program design and implementation.
• You'll get experience in Java programming, develop your problem-solving skills, and get a broad view of hardware and software architectures.
• During this year, you’ll get an insight into what it’s like working in the digital sector.

Stage 2

• You'll study modules in software engineering, algorithm design and the fundamental principles that govern the operation of the internet.
• We'll introduce you to requirements analysis and databases, and the formal specification of software systems.
• You'll also work in a team to engineer a substantial software product, developing practical teamwork skills.

Stage 3

• In your final year, you'll start to specialise in Game Engineering. You’ll study computer game programming, graphical representation, and the latest artificial intelligence techniques. You’ll learn to create immersive and realistic games and experiences.

Teaching methods include:

• Lectures, including guest lectures from visiting professionals
• Tutorials from our expert staff
• Supervised practical work, which will account for most of your time
• Project work to help you develop real-world business skills, such as teamwork and project management
• During your project work in Stage 2, you'll work as a team to develop a software product.
• In Stage 3, you'll work on a major individual project and a dissertation

Assessment methods
You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Coursework
• Examinations – practical or online
• Practical sessions
• Projects
• Dissertation or research project
• Group work
• Presentations

Business skills

• In addition to your academic work, employers look for evidence of skills and experience. Our degrees have been created with industry needs in mind.
• In Stage 2, you will gain a realistic preview into industry life, being taught in a team environment with real-life industry briefs. You will pick a problem, identified by industry, and develop a project to find a solution. The projects are marked by industry representatives, lecturers and the project sponsor.

Opportunities
Industrial placement year

• Spend a year working in the industry with our Computer Science (Game Engineering) with Industrial Placement BSc degree. It’s the same as our Computer Science (Game Engineering) BSc degree, with an extra year for a paid industrial placement. The placement starts in Stage 3.
• Your placement is a great opportunity to gain practical experience, key business skills and industry contacts. This practical experience can help you develop in a non-university setting.
• You'll be part of the School of Computing, based in the Urban Sciences Building on our Newcastle Helix campus.

This brand new £58m building offers great facilities for our students, including:

• Cyber-physical systems laboratory
• Decision theatre for data visualisation
• Flat floor teaching facilities
• 315 PCs with a Raspberry Pi3 on every desk
• The building and the surrounding area is becoming a living laboratory, underpinning research to make urban centres more sustainable for future generations.
• The Newcastle Helix is an innovation district in the heart of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Research across the Newcastle Helix focuses on:

• Cyber-physical systems
• Infrastructure
• Smart grids
• Future of our city
• Big data

Support

• To help you with academic and personal issues during your course, you'll have the support of an academic staff member. They'll be your personal tutor throughout your studies.
• Our peer mentors will help you adjust to life at university during your first year. Our peer mentors are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you might have.

Join a network of successful graduates
Recent graduates have taken the following roles after graduation:

• Game programmer at Coconut Lizard
• Artificial intelligence programmer at Ubisoft
• Graduate software developer at Accenture
• Trainee audio programmer at Creative Assembly

Preparing you for career success

• In the present job market, computing science graduates are better placed than many others to obtain employment in a challenging and fulfilling career, and the employability of Newcastle graduates is particularly high.
• An increasing number of employers require digital skills, meaning our graduates are highly sought after. They move into bespoke software development roles in software houses and computer manufacturers and also into corporate organisations that use computers on a larger scale, such as banking, insurance and manufacturing companies and public sector institutions.

Benefit from strong industry links

As a hub for games development, the North East of England is an exciting place to kick-start your career and you'll benefit from strong links with companies such as:

• Epic (Fortnite)
• Activision (Call of Duty)
• Ubisoft (Assassins Creed)
• Rockstar North (Grand Theft Auto)
• TT Games (Lego Star Wars)
• Creative Assembly (Total War)
• NVidia (graphics cards)
• Sony (Horizon Zero Dawn)
• Microsoft Playground Games (Forza)
• Microsoft Ninja Theory (Devil May Cry)
• Rebellion (Judge Dredd)

You can also gain work experience with local businesses. Many local businesses approach our School to advertise short, part-time or voluntary work opportunities.

Careers support

• We want all our students to succeed in their careers. That’s why we’ve designed our courses to give you the skills employers are looking for. You can also go to guest lectures from industry professionals, mock interviews, and professional skills workshops.

Every year, the school hosts a week of career events. In the past, these have included:

• Hackathon workshops
• Placement discussions
• Coding and enterprise challenges
• Employer talks
• Networking events

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.