BSc (Hons) Games Programming Degree
Study Games Programming to develop advanced skills in industry-standard software packages such as Unreal Engine 5, Unity3D, C++ and C#. Work across film, audio, and animation projects at SAE to graduate with a portfolio, work experience, and a network of fellow creatives. Next start date: January 2024
Available at
London,
Leamington Spa,
Liverpool,
Glasgow
Fees
BSc (Hons) Games Programming Degree
Domestic Fees
London
£11,100 per year
The annual tuition fee is fully funded via Student Finance England for eligible home-fee students.
For UK/Irish students commencing their studies from January 2024.
Glasgow
£9,000 per year
Partial funding is available for eligible home fee applicants who are residents of Scotland via the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
For UK/Irish students commencing their studies from January 2024.
Liverpool
£11,100 per year
The annual tuition fee is fully funded via Student Finance England for eligible home-fee students.
For UK/Irish students commencing their studies from January 2024.
Leamington Spa
£11,100 per year
The annual tuition fee is fully funded via Student Finance England for eligible home-fee students.
For UK/Irish students commencing their studies from January 2024.
BSc (Hons) Games Programming Degree
International Fees
London
For international students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*, £15,000 per year
For EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £11,100 per year
*Student visa required
For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.
Glasgow
For international students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*, £13,000 per year
For EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £9,000 per year
*Student visa required
For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.
Liverpool
For international students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*, £15,000 per year
For EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £11,100 per year
*Student visa required
For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.
Leamington Spa
For international students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*, £15,000 per year
For EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £11,100 per year
*Student visa required
For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.
Duration(s)
2 years full-time
BSc (Hons) Games Programming Degree
Course Durations
2 years full-time
Start Date(s)
January and September 2024
BSc (Hons) Games Programming Degree
Start Dates
London
January and September 2024
Leamington Spa
January and September 2024
Liverpool
January and September 2024
Glasgow
January and September 2024
Entry Requirements
BSc (Hons) Games Programming Degree
Domestic Entry Requirements
Domestic students must meet one of the following criteria:
Degree entry
Offers will be made to applicants who are expected to meet, or exceed the entry requirements below, in addition to supplying a personal statement:
72 UCAS points
GCSE level A* - C in English AND Mathematics
9 - 4 (or equivalent).
For students studying in Scotland this is equivalent to National 5, C grade
Personal statement
Non-standard entry routes
SAE Institute will accept non-standard entry applications, which do not meet the 72 UCAS points or equivalent, and/or maths/English at level 2 or equivalent as required:
Portfolio of related work -
This could include recordings, films, sketch books, a blog or any suitable medium that gives you the best opportunity to show us your creative potential.
Successful pass mark achieved via the SAE UK Maths test
Academic Essay
BSc (Hons) Games Programming Degree
International Entry Requirements
English language requirements
Students whose first language is not English will need a qualification that demonstrates competence in English, equivalent to UK GCSE (Level 2) grade 4 (c) or above.
Equivalent qualifications can be accepted, where these qualifications have been verified by ENIC and are adopted widely within the UK Higher Education sector, including:
Cambridge English: Level 1 Certificate in ESOL International (B2 First) – minimum grade C
TOEFL (IBT or IBT Home Edition online) 72 overall with the following component scores:
- Listening – 17
- Writing – 17
- Speaking – 20
- Reading – 18
LanguageCert ESOL examinations:
- International ESOL C1 Expert – pass in all four components
- International ESOL SELT B2 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) – minimum 33 in all components
- ESOL Integrated Skills in English II – pass in all components
YOUR CAREER IN GAMES BEGINS NOW
Study gaming in a collaborative, studio-based environment where your teachers are also your mentors.
You'll be producing real-world gaming projects in small creative teams meaning you'll have a real competitive edge and an impressive portfolio when entering the workplace.
Learn advanced-level game industry-standard software like Unreal Engine 5, Unity3D, Autodesk 3D Studio Max and Maya.
Develop advanced game design skills in industry-standard software packages
Unreal Engine 5, Unity3D, Autodesk 3D Studio Max and Maya
Practical, immersive games programming training
Practical skills are vital. Our learning approach is a blend of vocational and academic from day one.
Cross discipline collaboration
Work across film, audio, and animation projects at SAE.
Become a game developer
Graduate with a portfolio, work experience, employability and entrepreneurial skills and a network of fellow creatives.
Games Development Skills
Gameplay programming
Game engine programming
Game design
C++ and C# programming language
Tools development
Games Programming Degree Course Structure
BSc (Hons) Games Programming is divided into three stages, each designed to develop different skills.
Trimester 1
You will begin your learning journey by developing fundamental knowledge and skills in Game Programming and Game Development that will provide the foundations for future modules.
The first module provides fundamental knowledge and skills and you will be introduced to object-oriented programming (OOP) and common algorithms used for games, while practising practical applications. Core mathematics and other programming fundamentals are also explored, such as logic operations, algorithms, and basic vector mathematics.
Topics include:
Topics include:
- Programming Basics
- Structured Programming
- Object-Oriented Programming
- Introduction to Algorithms
- Boolean Algebra, Numeral Systems
- Vector Arithmetic
- Version Control
This module complements the Programming Basics by giving you an overview of the concepts and practice of games design. You will research elements of game design and learn to create your own game designs; learn about game mechanics and game mechanisms; and explore the functionality and operation of game engines.
The implementation and tweaking of game mechanics and mechanisms in common game engines are applied to a game project.
Topics include:
The implementation and tweaking of game mechanics and mechanisms in common game engines are applied to a game project.
Topics include:
- Game Design Fundamentals
- Game Engine Basics
- Game Mechanics
- Game Mechanisms
Trimester 2
The second teaching period explores structured game development and game dynamics as you are introduced to artificial intelligence algorithms that enrich the game world, and develop robust programming techniques.
In ‘Structured Game Development’ you will further develop your technical programming skills, learning to distinguish and implement different software architectures. You will learn about code optimisation and implement it to develop your own game projects. Copyright and intellectual property in the creative industries will also be discussed.
Topics include:
Topics include:
- Design Patterns
- Data Structures
- Software-Architecture (Entity Component System)
- Copyright Basics
- Game Production Basics
- Optimisation (Profiling)
Game Dynamics introduces you to the concepts of procedural content development and artificial intelligence (AI). With a basis in statistics and heuristics, you will learn to develop generative and procedural content for a game world, and to develop basic AI systems and implement them through non-playable characters (NPCs) within a game project. You will also develop your academic writing skills.
Topics include:
Topics include:
- Statistics
- Heuristics
- AI Basics, e.g.
- Pathfinding
- Behaviour Trees
- Finite State Machines
- Needs Based
- Composition Algorithms, e.g.
- Maze
- Dungeon
- Landscape
Trimester 3
Trimester 3 introduces you to a professional working environment where you will undertake a number of prescribed project briefs using a project based ‘creative studio’ approach.
Game programmers, in collaboration with game designers, are critical to meeting the technical needs of the game project. In this studio module, you will learn how to design a level and then develop all the necessary systems and tools for a functional immersive dynamic world such as shaders and special effects, level lighting, tools extending the current functionality of a game engine, and producing dynamic content through the use of advanced procedural content algorithms.
Topics you may draw upon in Creative Studio 1 include:
Topics you may draw upon in Creative Studio 1 include:
- Level Design
- Computer Graphics
- Shader Programming
- Lighting
- Animation Programming (IK, FK)
- PCG Advanced (L System, Generative Algorithms) Tools Development
- Persistent Data
Trimester 4
In this trimester, you will develop an understanding of professional workflows for environment creation and real-time games programming.
Creative studio 2 introduces network fundamentals and examines operations for multiplayer games. You will be introduced to the mobile development process while optimising and improving the performance of the project.
A key aim of the module is to identify a target market and develop a product that can be distributed to a paying audience. Collaboration opportunities may also exist with students from other programmes, including Game Art & Animation.
Topics you may draw upon in Creative Studio 2 include:
A key aim of the module is to identify a target market and develop a product that can be distributed to a paying audience. Collaboration opportunities may also exist with students from other programmes, including Game Art & Animation.
Topics you may draw upon in Creative Studio 2 include:
- Network Programming
- Server-Client Communication
- Lag Compensation
- Back-End Development
- Mobile Development
- Performance Optimizations
- Multithreading
- Performance Analysis
- Business Planning
- Marketing
Trimester 5
The aim of these modules is to enable students to identify their area of professional interest and develop a deep and sound knowledge in this field.
Research is key to the successful outcome of any creative project, and as part of creative studio 3 you’ll learn qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and their application for both artistic and scientific research. You’ll advance your knowledge, planning and implementation of research-based inquiry to address specific questions, while deepening your understanding of the creative media industries and your potential role as a creative media practitioner. The culmination of Creative Studio 3 will be your major project proposal.
Topics you may draw upon in Creative Studio 3 include:
Topics you may draw upon in Creative Studio 3 include:
- Machine Learning
- AI Advanced (GOAP, Utility AI)
- ECS
- Compute Shaders
- VR/AR Development
- Physics
- Research Methodologies and their Application in the Creative Media Industries
- Scientific Research and Practice
- Contemporary Issues Surrounding Research
- Developing a Research Question / Hypothesis
- Gathering, Analysis, Interpretation and Presentation of Data
- Literature Review and Critical Analysis of Existing Research
- Research Ethics
The Advanced Specialised Production provides you with an opportunity to build on the skills and knowledge that you have previously developed, and push yourself in creating professional standard work in your chosen field. Some students use the opportunity to engage in live projects through work placements or through collaborations with peers from other disciplines; other students work on simulated briefs, or develop their own projects. It can be a fantastic opportunity to refine skills that will be required for your Final Major Project, develop connections with industry professionals and create a body of work that showcases your knowledge and skills.
Topics that you may drawn upon in this module include:
Topics that you may drawn upon in this module include:
- Machine Learning
- AI Advanced (GOAP, Utility AI)
- ECS
- Compute Shaders
- VR/AR Development
- Physics
This module prepares you for your final Major Project. You will be guided through the creation of your Major project Proposal, and will develop a variety of academic and professional skills as you prepare yourself to enter the world of work, or progress to postgraduate studies.
Trimester 6
This final module enables students pursuing the Games Programming award to demonstrate their skills in a large scale, advanced level project.
During your final trimester you will work to the completion of your final Major Project, which will have been designed, scoped and approved through the preceding term. This project gives you the opportunity to focus and advance your knowledge and skills in your chosen specialism within your field, and serves as the culmination of your learning journey with SAE. Previously, students have used their Major Project as a springboard into industry, creating award winning projects, establishing their own businesses or making connections with industry professionals that have led to employment.
UCAS Course Codes
BA (Hons) Games Programming
G620
University of Hertfordshire
Level 6
This program was developed and is delivered and assessed by SAE Institute, awarded by and quality assured by University of Hertfordshire.
Career Outcomes
What jobs will this course lead to?
- Game Designer
- Game Economy Designer
- Level Designer
- Simulation Specialists
- Analysts
- Community Managers
- Systems Designer
- User Experience Designer
- Graphics Programmer
- Games Writer
Student Spotlight
Course FAQs
We will use a wide range of tools and software including Unity Engine (2D and 3D), Direct X / Open GL, Blender, C# programming language, Photoshop, Illustrator and Visual Studio.
Yes, you will learn how to design and develop Multiplayer Games using network programming, client-server communication and file I/O.
Yes, we are excited to teach our students the latest technologies such as AI to create an effective immersive experience for the player.
YOUR DREAM CAREER BEGINS NOW
With our industry connections, specialised teachers and personalised education in world-class facilities, you can unleash your creative future with confidence.
Apply now
