Computer Games ProductionBSc Hons

Our award-winning Computer Games Production degree course will help you achieve your dream of becoming a computer games producer or project manager.

You’ll also develop the essential business expertise to start your own indie games studio and tackle the challenges that arise – from funding and protecting your innovative ideas, to team and project management, marketing, and leadership. By working with fellow students from our Computer Games Technology degree course, you’ll gain experience in all areas of game development.

Our course emphasises collaboration and has strong ties with the South Coast games industry, so you'll have many opportunities to work with games companies, culminating in a year-long shippable development project in your final year.

The independent games industry is skyrocketing. According to Ukie, the trade body for the UK games industry, video games contributed a record £2.91 billion to the UK economy in 2019 and the pandemic has created a huge revenue opportunity. Now’s the golden time to make your mark.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by TIGA (The Independent Game Developers’ Association) as delivering skills relevant to the games industry. TIGA accreditation is applicable to courses meeting any of a range of games industry needs, such as programming, art, design and entrepreneurship.

In 2021, the University of Portsmouth was awarded Best Educational Institution at the TIGA Games Industry Awards.

The UK games industry has boomed despite the pandemic. Between 2019 and 2020, its generated revenue increased by 20% to £907 million, accelerating the UK's gross domestic profit to £2.2 billion (£4 million more than the previous year). In addition, almost 31,000 new jobs related to games studios were created – over 4,000 more than before the pandemic (TIGA, 2020).

Over the next few years, revenue and job opportunities in the UK games industry are expected to rise, so as a graduate, you'll be well-positioned to help further expand this exciting, innovative industry.

Graduate destinations

Our graduates have worked at some of the biggest names in the games industry, including:

• Black Rock
• Climax
• Codemasters
• Creative Assembly
• d3t
• Electronic Arts
• Frontier
• Jagex
• Kwalee
• Rebellion
• Sony

Ongoing careers support

Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.

Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.

Placement year (optional)

Between your second and third year (full-time), you can complete an optional work placement to gain professional experience and enhance your skills. It also makes a great incentive for employers once you graduate.

You can work for a company, organisation or agency, or you can go self-employed and start your own business with fellow students or by yourself.

Whatever you decide – or even if you just want some employability advice – our exclusive Creative Careers team can support you every step of the way.

Creative Careers

Our in-faculty Creative Careers team has extensive recruitment experience and knows the creative sector well, making it easier for students to find placements within the creative industries.

They can guide you through every step of the application process, including:

• Searching for the ideal job through their database of vacancies
• Giving tips on how to write an interesting CV that will catch employers' attention, no matter the role
• Organising mock interviews, so you can hone your technique and familiarise yourself with the recruitment environment
• Writing your startup business proposal – if you're going down the self-employment route

The team will continue to give you support throughout your placement year.

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits. You'll need to study modules worth a total of 360 credits.

If you're studying full time, you'll complete modules worth 120 credits each year for 3 years, with an optional placement year.

If you're studying part time, you'll complete modules worth 60 credits each year for 6 years.

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're assessed

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.

Teaching

Teaching methods on this course include:

• lectures
• seminars
• tutorials
• digital lab sessions
• online lessons
• project work

We work with game developers and professional bodies such as The Independent Game Developers Association (TIGA) to make sure the course content stays up-to-date with industry trends and developments. So your skills will be up to date when you finish the course.

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies.  As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

Term dates

The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.

See term dates

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Tuition fees (2023 start)

Full-time

• UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU students – £9,250 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
• International (non-EU) students – £17,900 per year (subject to annual increase)

Part-time

• UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £3,080 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU students – £3,080 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
• International (non-EU) students – £8,950 per year (subject to annual increase)

Funding your studies

Find out 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.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Tuition fees terms and conditions

Additional course 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.

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.