Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,535 per year
International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year) -
How long will I study?
4/5 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
D049
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When do I start?
September 2025
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Placement year available?
Yes
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Course summary
- Learn skills needed for contemporary game development.
- Gain a deep understanding of a range of theories, techniques and ethical issues required to work in game development related fields.
- Learn how to develop computer games using rigorous methods and processes.
- Develop a portfolio of commercial-quality work in the computer games and related industries.
- Prepare for the degree with an extra foundation year at the start
You will be equipped with the skills required by industry to make computer games. Such games may be based on mobile platforms or work on traditional PC computers. You will work on the latest game development platforms, use the latest software, and work with like-minded people to achieve your career goals.
How you learn
The course is suitable if you don’t meet the entry requirements for our BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technologies course. You share the first year with other computing foundation year students, then move on to the degree. During the first year of study, you will enhance your skills to maximise your academic potential ready to start your learning against the content of the main degree.
This course is carefully structured to help you develop your skills and experience in the development of computer games. You’ll gain skills in critical thinking as well, so you can successfully reflect on your own work and appraise other people’s. This will give you the ability to evaluate your own progress and determine your own career goals.
We’ll begin by providing you with game development techniques – such as basic programming using C# and how to create games with 2D graphics. You’ll use industry-standard game development platforms including Unity and Unreal Engine, and you’ll explore game scripting and game development processes.
In your second year, you’ll apply your learning to solve the kinds of problems game developers face. Here you’ll learn about the technologies used to develop 3D games, as well as developing your own substantial game products. Then in your final year you’ll explore more advanced game development techniques and programming skills. You’ll also be encouraged to develop a substantial product that reflects your learning.
You learn through
- group work
- lectures and seminars
- technical workshops in computer labs
- independent learning
- practice-based learning and group work
You will be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate level employment through several key areas. These include:
- access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development
- access to our Skills Centre with one to ones and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments
- industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities
Course leaders and tutors
Paul Parry
Subject Group Leader for Applied ComputingAt present I teach C++ programming at final year undergraduate and masters levels. I also teach game software project management methods on the BSc Game Software De … Read more
Applied learning
Work placements
You’ll have the opportunity to complete a year-long work placement between your third and fourth year. A placement is widely recognised as the gold standard opportunity to gain personal and professional development through real-world experience.
You will be encouraged to take up this opportunity, as it will benefit your long-term career prospects and salary level, as well as your academic achievements and degree classification. Your course will prepare you to succeed in your placement and you will be supported throughout it.
Your placement will allow you to apply the knowledge and skills gained on your course in the areas of game development and gameplay programming.
Students from similar courses have worked with companies such as
- Sony (SIEE)
- Sumo Digital
- Team17
- SN Systems
- SI Games
- Autodesk
Your placement year will allow you to gain an Applied Professional Diploma in addition to your degree which will enhance your graduate profile and give you the edge with future employers.
You’ll also be supported to take advantage of work experience opportunities throughout your course, through access to a range of support activities, resources, and employer events from your Employability Team. This will further enhance your employability skillset, confidence, and opportunity-awareness to help you succeed in your career after graduating.
Live projects
The Steel Minions Development Studio is an in-house games publishing company run by course tutors and staffed by students. Here students release their own projects commercially and connect with external publishers, research and commercial clients.
Steel Minions provides commercial and research projects for you to work on – either internally or for external clients. Examples range from research projects in ballistics impact visualisation and educational games, through to commercial games on PlayStation 4, PC and mobile devices for companies like Sumo Digital, Sony and Owlerton Stadium.
Steel Minions also provides mentoring to students who decide to create their own game development company during their placement year – and gives feedback to students working on game projects throughout the course.
Networking opportunities
In addition to learning in classrooms and computer labs, you’ll be able to engage with industry professionals and practitioners. They’ll give a variety of live talks on technical topics, career building and employability advice.
Competitions
You’ll be encouraged and supported to enter your work into student competitions – such as the TIGA Games Industry Awards – where we have a proven track record of competition success. These competitions provide valuable experience in interacting with games industry professionals.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in
- game development
- game design
- gameplay programming
- quality assurance testing
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course you work with
- high-spec computers and graphics cards in our dedicated games laboratories
- PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 development kits
- State-of-the-art-machine software and application development environments
- modern Virtual Reality headsets
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 80
This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC qualifications. For example:
- CDD at A Level
- MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma
- Pass overall from a T level qualification with C from core
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language or English Literature at grade C or 4
- Maths at grade C or 4
• Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
We may also accept you, if you have limited qualifications but can show evidence of ability and a genuine commitment to studying the subject.
Some applicants may be invited to attend an informal interview with the course leader to ensure that the programme is suitable for themselves and their aspirations.
UK students may be able to claim financial support for the course.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Foundations In Computing 1
Foundations In Computing 2
Maths For Foundation Computing
Study Skills For Computing Students
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Fundamentals Of Gameplay Programming
Fundamentals Of Mathematics And Computer Architectures
Game Design Theory
Programming 2D Games
Year 3
Compulsory modules
3D Game Development
Advanced Game Design Theory
Object Oriented Scripting
Python Programming
Elective modules
Study Abroad - Computing And Digital Technologies
Year 4
Optional modules
Placement Year
Final year
Compulsory modules
Advanced Games Console Projects
Development Project
Mobile Game Scripting
Virtual And Augmented Reality Applications
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate degree courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year). These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years. We are currently reviewing our tuition fees for the foundation year stage of this course following the Government announcement of fee changes for some foundation year courses and will confirm fees as soon as possible.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for School of Computing and Digital Technologies (PDF, 131.3KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
