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Computer Games

Study level:
Undergraduate

Course options

Study mode:
Full-time
Qualification:
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Duration:
3 Years
Start date:
10/2025
Campus:
Colchester Campus
20242025
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Course summary

This is a degree in world-making. You craft stories, characters and plot in order to build imaginary worlds that a player can journey through. Our work is driven by creativity and imagination as well as technical excellence; at Essex you master both game design and computer programming, giving you total control over the worlds you want to create.

Our course gives you the skills to design and specify complex, non-trivial games through focusing on the following areas:

  • The mechanics of a game, including gameplay elements and the relationship with story

  • The concepts and techniques of computer game programming

  • Real and virtual worlds

  • Artificial intelligence behaviours for non-player characters

  • 2D and 3D graphic effects and game objects (e.g. weapon systems)

At the end of your course, you will be able to create the outline design specification for a computer game of your own design, and to implement a game using industry-standard techniques.

Our School is a community of scholars leading the way in technological research and development. Today’s computer scientists are creative people who are focused and committed, yet restless and experimental. We are home to many of the world’s top scientists, and our work is driven by creativity and imagination as well as technical excellence.

Both for entertainment and for more serious purposes such as virtual reality training, computer games, gamification and games intelligences are increasingly important in today’s world.

Programming at Essex

Teaching someone to programme is about opening a door. In your first year at Essex you will study a module that introduces you to programming using Python. We assess your ability to think in a programmatic way in the very first week of term and if you require additional support, we offer classes which will boost your skills and confidence with programming.

Modules

Many of our courses offer a choice of optional modules to tailor your learning experience. More information about these can be found on the University of Essex website.

Apply by
29 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
G610
Institution code:
E70
Campus name:
Colchester Campus
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2, 3

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

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

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How to apply

Apply by
29 January

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

Course code:
G610
Institution code:
E70
Campus name:
Colchester Campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 112 - 120 points

Offers will be made from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels

A level - BBB

Offers will be made in the range of BBB to BBC or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM

Offers will be made in the range of DDM to DMM or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels Entry requirements for students studying BTEC qualifications are dependent on subjects studied. Advice can be provided on an individual basis.

Access to HE Diploma - D: 6 credits M: 39 credits

We can only accept QAA approved Access to HE Diplomas

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 29 - 30 points

"Or three Higher Level certificates with 555-554. We are happy to consider a combination of separate IB Diploma Programmes at both Higher and Standard Level. Exact offer levels will vary depending on the range of subjects being taken at higher and standard level, and the course applied for. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information."

At Essex we consider your whole application – not just grades. If you don’t meet the exact grade requirements, you may still be considered.

We’re dedicated to helping students from underrepresented groups to access an Essex education. We may give you a Contextual Offer up to two A-Level grades below our standard conditional offer based on where you live, your school, and other details from your application. Involvement in our on-campus events may also support eligibility for a Contextual Offer.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At Essex we consider your whole application – not just grades. If you don’t meet the exact grade
requirements, you may still be considered.
We’re dedicated to helping students from underrepresented groups to access an Essex education.
We may give you a Contextual Offer up to two A-Level grades below our standard conditional offer
based on where you live, your school, and other details from your application. Involvement in our on-
campus events may also support eligibility for a Contextual Offer.

Learn more on the University of Essex website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades students were previously accepted with - learn more. It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Data from:
This course and 11 other computer science courses
Date range:
2022-2024

Grades held by accepted students

CDD Most common
  1. ABB
  2. Highest grades
  3. DDD
  4. Lowest grades

Offer rate for UK school & college leavers

98% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.

How do you compare?

See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

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

LocationFeeYear
England£9250Year 1
Northern Ireland£9250Year 1
Scotland£9250Year 1
Wales£9250Year 1
Channel Islands£9250Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9250Year 1
EU£22750Year 1
International£22750Year 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

Fees displayed are for 2024-25 entry. Fees may increase for each academic intake and each academic year of study.

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