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Computer Games Technology at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

University of Portsmouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

7Dec
University of Portsmouth Open Day
Undergraduate

Course summary

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course. Overview As a student on our TIGA-accredited BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology degree, you'll develop the skills to turn ideas and concepts into reality, using industry-standard design and development techniques. Our graduates are working on big titles at Rockstar and Electronic Arts, classics at Rare, and developing homegrown Indie Games. This is your opportunity to join them. Course highlights

  • Learn from computer games development experts with extensive knowledge, experience and industry connections
  • Stand out from other graduates by studying specialist modules such as psychological theory for game designers and artificial intelligence (AI) in gaming
  • Enhance your CV as you apply your skills on real client briefs – past projects have included training simulations for the Royal Navy and virtual reality experiences
  • Use the same software as the professionals in some of the most advanced gaming development facilities at any university in the country
  • Showcase your skills to employers and network with professionals in the computer games industry by taking part in our annual GameJam event
  • Have the chance to set up a company and sell your own games
TIGA accreditation This course is accredited by TIGA (The Independent Game Developers' Association). This means it has been examined by a panel of industry and academic experts to make sure you develop relevant and up-to-date skills needed by the games and related industries. Careers and opportunities With 95% of our graduates finding work within a year after university, you'll be confident to graduate with sought-after skills and knowledge for various careers. Besides the gaming industry, you can apply the skills you develop to other areas using such technologies – including virtual production, virtual/alternative reality (VR/AR), simulation training and healthcare. Graduate destinations Our graduates work at some of the biggest industry names, including:
  • Rockstar Games
  • Naughty Dog
  • Frontier
  • Cloud Imperium
  • Unity
  • Rare
  • Codemasters
  • Electronic Arts
  • Rebellion
  • Jagex
  • Creative Assembly
  • Sumo Digital
  • Climax
  • Stainless Games
  • Playstation Studios

Modules

Year 1 Core modules in this year include:

  • 3D Modelling (20 credits)
  • Art Skills for Games (20 credits)
  • Code Studio (20 credits)
  • Coding and Scripting for Games (20 credits)
  • Game Development (20 credits)
  • Games Design and Context (20 credits)
There are no optional modules in this year. Year 2 Core modules in this year include:
  • Creative Research and Project Initiation (20 credits)
  • Gameplay Programming (20 credits)
  • Maths for Games (20 credits)
  • Programming Application Programming Interfaces (20 credits)
  • Student Enterprise for Games (20 credits)
Optional modules in this year include:
  • Creative Technologies Study Exchange (60 credits)
  • Creative Technologies Study Exchange (60 credits)
  • Engaged Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Practice (20 credits)
  • Professional Experience (20 credits)
  • Program Consoles (20 credits)
Year 3 Core modules in this year include:
  • Final Year Project (40 credits)
  • Real-Time Interactive Group Project: Stage One (20 credits)
  • Real-Time Interactive Group Project: Stage Two (20 credits)
Optional modules in this year include:
  • Advanced Graphics Techniques (20 credits)
  • Designing User Experiences and Interfaces (20 credits)
  • Games Research (20 credits)
  • Implementing Game Audio (20 credits)
  • Motion Capture Applications (20 credits)
  • Programming AI for Games (20 credits)
  • Psychological Theory for Game Designers (20 credits)
  • Targeting Platforms (20 credits)
Placement year (optional) On this course, you can do an optional work placement year after your 2nd or 3rd year to get valuable experience working in industry. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year. We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies. Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment method

You'll be assessed through:

  • practical projects
  • work portfolios
  • academic and evaluative essays
  • multiple choice tests
  • oral presentations
  • examinations
  • case studies
You'll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future. The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows:
  • Year 1 students: 12% by written exams, 8% by practical exams and 80% by coursework
  • Year 2 students: 17% by written exams, 15% by practical exams and 68% by coursework
- Year 3 students: 23% by practical exams and 77% by coursework

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • The Independent Game Developers' Association

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your UCAS application.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
PTE Academic62An overall score of 62 with a minimum of 59 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
70%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
90%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9535 Year 1
England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
International £17900 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad (at the time of publishing for 2024/25): UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 EU – £1,385 (including Transition Scholarship) International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. All fees are subject to annual increase. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Computer Games Technology at University of Portsmouth - UCAS