Games Development (Programming) MSc

Take your computer game development skills to the next level. Gain experience in multi-disciplinary working in our specialist studios and create an advanced portfolio.

Skilled games designers are in high demand, with the value of the UK's games industry reaching £7.05 billion in 2022. (Source: UKIE)

If you have a first degree in computer science or a similar technical degree, our MSc Computer Games Development (Computing) will give you the skills and confidence to create advanced level games.

Accredited by TIGA, our course will allow you to study, plan, produce and test games, and gain the technical design skills to publish successfully across a range of platforms.

As a Computer Games Development (Computing) student at ARU, you’ll study in Cambridge, home to developers including Jagex, Frontier Developments and Ninja Theory. Learn from guest speakers and work on live briefs from companies such as Sony and Sumo Digital.

You’ll also attend games jams, industry talks, conferences and festivals, like our annual gaming-inspired event Gamebridge. At Gamebridge, students from across the country attend industry-led talks and 1-2-1 portfolio reviews, whilst showcasing their work and networking with companies such as Frontier and Jagex, as well as other like-minded students.

We’ll give you the opportunity to create games both on your own and working in multi-skilled teams alongside students on our MA Computer Games Development (Art).

As well as furthering your development skills, you’ll focus on games programming and tailor your research project so you can concentrate on developing skills in an area you’re passionate about.

Boost your career prospects. Everything you design will build into a portfolio to help you secure your dream job when you graduate. And with TIGA accreditation, this course gives you a badge of excellence to show future employers too.

The East of England has nearly 200 active games companies, with Cambridge itself home to 26 games companies, so ARU is a great place to study your postgraduate degree and build connections with major games developers. (Source: ukie.org.uk’s games map January 2024).

Teaching times 2024-25 (subject to change for 2025-6): Full time: Mondays and Tuesdays 9am-12pm

Careers

It can take up to three years to create a game, from initial concept to the finished product. One game can involve up to 200 professionals working as a team.

As a game developer, you could design the visual styling as well as how it plays. You could be involved with animation, creating audio, programming, testing and producing.

Our MSc Computer Games Development (Computing) will also equip you to develop ‘serious’ games. These are used in rehabilitation, education and training, defence, science, health, city planning and engineering.

You could also go into marketing, teaching or general technology.

While you’re studying here and after you graduate, you can access support through our dedicated Employability Service.

Graduation doesn’t have to be the end of your time with us. You could choose to continue your academic career with a research programme at ARU, such as our PhD Computer Science. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and save £400 on your fees.