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Overview
Are you ready to take your game development skills and knowledge of computers to the next level? An MSc Computer Games Technology degree course is an important next step towards a rewarding career in one of the world's most exciting creative industries.
The course is project-based, so you'll define the focus and scope of your own work, while building your technological expertise. You'll also get plenty of hands-on experience designing, creating, and managing your own research study.
When you graduate, you'll have all the tools you need to put your programming skills to work in both games and other creative industries.
Course highlights
- Design and develop software, systems, 2D and 3D assets, and innovative solutions for a major project of your choice
- Use the latest professional game content creation software and console development equipment
- Have access to our Virtual Reality Lab, featuring stereoscopic 3D projectors, Oculus Rifts, virtual treadmills and Leap Motion equipment, along with Motion capture facilities that include facial capture and a real-time feed into Unreal Engine 4
- Carry out client-based research
- Receive tutoring and support from experts
Memberships
Our membership of TIGA (the UK games industry's trade association) means we're committed to providing you with the skills you'll need for a successful career. The quality of our courses and teaching was acknowledged when we won the 2014 TIGA Award for 'Best Educational Institution'.
The University of Portsmouth is also a member of the PlayStation® First Academic Program run by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), which provides access to professional development hardware, such as PlayStation 4 development kits, and software tools to get your hands on.
What you'll study
Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.
You need to study modules worth a total of 180 credits. For example, 4 modules worth 30 credits and 1 module worth 60 credits.
Full-time
Core modules
All modules in Year 1 of this course are core.
Additional content
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Critically evaluate their professional and academic and personal development skills and reflect on ways in which weaknesses might be improved and strengths enhanced.
- Develop skills to professionally and confidently present to an informed audience.
- Evaluate their skills and interests and how they relate to possible career plans (including entrepreneurship and/or business start-up.) and reflexively define the process for achievement of academic, professional and career aspirations.
- Reflexively demonstrate the synthesis of personal experience, written information and critical thinking in order to define a coherent, contextualised and argued position in an accepted written format.
Additional content
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Systematically synthesise exploratory research into a clearly focused project definition.
- Creatively explore and conceptualise a coherent body of supporting material on the basis of a clearly defined project programme area.
- Critically evaluate appropriate sources and provide evidence of the theoretical, critical and historical contexts and knowledge frameworks, which inform the project programme.
- Evaluate how selected methodologies will facilitate the exploration of the project programme and derive suitable research questions or development requirements.
- Systematically articulate the project programme, its sources, its contextual framework, its methodologies and the basis upon which it may be innovative.
- Systematically examine the relevant social, professional and legal factors related to project programme.
Additional content
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Synthesise a diverse range of information and requirements to systematically conceptualise the solution to a significant practical, creative or research problem.
- Evaluate and systematically implement appropriate methodologies to design an innovative resolution to a clearly defined project.
- Analyse the theoretical inter-relationship of concept and method, and reflect on the practical instantiation in the achievement of an innovative resolution.
- Critically evaluate the project programme and its progression to take account of the relationship between research and professional practice.
Part-time
Core modules
All modules in Year 1 of this course are core.
Additional content
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Critically evaluate their professional and academic and personal development skills and reflect on ways in which weaknesses might be improved and strengths enhanced.
- Develop skills to professionally and confidently present to an informed audience.
- Evaluate their skills and interests and how they relate to possible career plans (including entrepreneurship and/or business start-up.) and reflexively define the process for achievement of academic, professional and career aspirations.
- Reflexively demonstrate the synthesis of personal experience, written information and critical thinking in order to define a coherent, contextualised and argued position in an accepted written format.
Additional content
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Systematically synthesise exploratory research into a clearly focused project definition.
- Creatively explore and conceptualise a coherent body of supporting material on the basis of a clearly defined project programme area.
- Critically evaluate appropriate sources and provide evidence of the theoretical, critical and historical contexts and knowledge frameworks, which inform the project programme.
- Evaluate how selected methodologies will facilitate the exploration of the project programme and derive suitable research questions or development requirements.
- Systematically articulate the project programme, its sources, its contextual framework, its methodologies and the basis upon which it may be innovative.
- Systematically examine the relevant social, professional and legal factors related to project programme.
Core modules
All modules in Year 2 of this course are core.
Additional content
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Synthesise a diverse range of information and requirements to systematically conceptualise the solution to a significant practical, creative or research problem.
- Evaluate and systematically implement appropriate methodologies to design an innovative resolution to a clearly defined project.
- Analyse the theoretical inter-relationship of concept and method, and reflect on the practical instantiation in the achievement of an innovative resolution.
- Critically evaluate the project programme and its progression to take account of the relationship between research and professional practice.
Careers and opportunities
You'll graduate from the MSc Computer Games Technology degree course with the specialist knowledge and focused research skills you need to pursue a technology-related career, specifically in computer games.
Depending on your project choice, you can expect to find employment at home or internationally within the computer games industry, or in other areas where computer games technology is making an impact, such as Virtual Reality and simulation, film and television, training, and healthcare.
Work experience and career planning
We'll help you to identify internships, voluntary roles and opportunities that will complement your studies.
When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work in the computer games industry.
After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.
Changes to course content
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. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
How you'll spend your time
We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.
We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.
Term dates
September start
The Master's academic year runs from September to the following September. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter. Over the summer you'll be writing your project/dissertation.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees
UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man students
- Full time: £8,900
- Part time: £5,930 (Year 1), £2,970 (Year 2)
EU students
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Full-time: £8,900
- Part-time: £5,930 (Year 1), £2,970 (Year 2)
International students
- Full time: £18,800
- Part time: £12,530 (Year 1), £6,270 in (Year 2)
University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount.
Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.
You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Tuition fees terms and conditions
Funding your studies
Find out more how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government postgraduate loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.
Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students and our international student scholarships.
Loans, scholarships and bursaries
Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.
Funding for international students
Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.
Fees and funding for Master's courses
Discover how you can fund your Master's study at Portsmouth – including loans, scholarships and bursaries – and read our guidance on topics like how to budget, and how to get support if you're disabled or have dependents.
Additional costs
These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:
- Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
- Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
- General costs: Such as photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
- Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Entry requirements
This qualification is an option on the Creative Technologies Master's course. You'll select MSc Creative Technologies when you apply, then choose Computer Games Technology as your pathway project after you start the course. You'll graduate with MSc Computer Games Technology.
These are the entry requirements for the MSc Creative Technologies course.
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
September 2024 start
An upper second-class honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant subject or a master's degree in an appropriate subject.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Exceptionally, equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.
To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.
English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English-speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English-speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English-speaking countries will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
An online portfolio submission will be required as part of the selection process.
For more information on how to put together a portfolio, read our MSc Creative Technologies portfolio guide.
How to apply
Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.
There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start date in September, as long as there are places available. If you wait until September to apply, you may find that the course is full.
If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.
You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.
Extra information for international students
If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.
You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Ready to apply?
I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate
If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2023, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:
- a shorter application form to complete
- access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
- a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.