BSc (Hons) Game Programming Bachelor's degree at the University of Derby

This module introduces the fundamental concepts and principles of programming. It develops the practical skills needed to design, implement and test computer programs. No prior computer programming experience is assumed, and all practical work is done using a standard programming language and software development environment. Module learning outcomes On successful completion of the module, you will be able to: Understand the fundamental principles of computer programming Apply problem solving skills to design, develop and test solutions against the target specifications Module content Programming Elements – Variables, Loops, Decision Statements Arrays and Sequence Data Functions – Built-in a

Assessment: Coursework, Exam

This module provides an introduction to modern game engines as a platform for developing cross-platform applications including games. These platforms provide code-based and visual scripting approaches to software development that allows for rapid iteration and development of applications. It equips students with a foundational understanding of a modern game engine, how to develop applications, and how to manage the development life-cycle including debugging. This module focuses on the development of applications using a modern game engine. The following is a list of topics that is indicative of what will be covered in the module though there may be changes to this to reflect current industri

Assessment: Coursework

This module introduces and reviews foundational mathematical concepts to develop skills in algebra, logic and discrete mathematics. Module learning outcomes On successful completion of the module, students will be able to: Understand basic topics in logic and discrete mathematics Apply techniques to solve discipline-specific problems Module content Indicative content: Numbers and sets Relations, functions, and types Boolean types, quantifiers, and normal forms Trigonometry, vectors, and complex numbers Matrices and applications Graphs, networks and trees

Assessment: Coursework, Exam

This module introduces the fundamental principles of Game Design, providing the theoretical and practical foundation for creative and technical development across the programme. It supports Games Design Practice 1 and Game Engines by encouraging you to explore how design thinking, systems, and player experience interconnect within contemporary game design and development. You will examine core game design concepts such as mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics, and how these combine to shape player interaction, motivation, and engagement. Emphasis is placed on developing professional communication skills through concise design documentation and small-scale collaborative exercises that mirror th

Assessment: Coursework

This module provides a introduction to 3D modelling within the context of game development and digital entertainment. You will develop core skills in creating and manipulating 3D assets using industry-standard software. The module covers basic modelling techniques, material application, and rendering workflows, with reference to practices used in games and related creative industries. Although not exclusively focused on games, the module includes game-specific techniques and considerations to help you understand how 3D assets are integrated into interactive environments. You will also explore the creative production pipeline, learning how to translate ideas into digital 3D forms. Considerati

Assessment: Coursework

This module introduces you to the core principles and practical methods of Level Design through the creation of Whitebox environments in a contemporary game engine. It develops foundational knowledge of spatial composition, player flow, and environmental readability, preparing you to design and evaluate playable spaces. You will learn how to plan, construct, and iterate upon level layouts using industry-standard workflows and technical constraints. Working individually and in small agile groups, you will explore how blockouts and prototype spaces inform gameplay experience in the early stages of development. Emerging generative AI pipelines will be referenced in relation to ideation and eval

Assessment: Coursework

This module simulates an authentic studio environment in which Art, Design, and Programming students collaborate to respond to a real-world games industry brief. Students form multidisciplinary teams, scope the project, establish workflows, and deliver a playable prototype that demonstrates the core game loop and feasibility. Emphasis is placed on employability foundations (communication, planning, scoping, Agile practices) and working professionally to a specification, including ethical and legal considerations (such as the ethical use of generative AI.) Module learning outcomes On successful completion, you will be able to: Deliver a playable prototype in response to a real-world industry

Assessment: Coursework

Building directly on GAMELAB 1, this module advances the prototype to a polished, playable game artefact. Teams run full production sprints, implement stakeholder feedback, and iterate on design, content, and technical stability. Focus areas include quality assurance, performance, content completeness, and client/user-facing polish. Students evidence decision-making, and iteration through industry-standard documentation and reflection. Module learning outcomes On successful completion, you will be able to: Finalise and deliver a playable game artefact that evidences iteration informed by stakeholder/user feedback Demonstrate advanced team-based professionalism under time and production press

Assessment: Coursework

This module is designed specifically for programmers and focuses on understanding how design and technical pipelines connect within professional game development. It builds on programming and engine knowledge to introduce how code interacts with environment design, gameplay systems, and player experience. Programmers will learn to interpret, and implement design workflows, gaining insight into the processes used by level and gameplay designers. You will create a functional prototype that demonstrates how technical systems, game logic, and mechanics are implemented collaboratively within a design pipeline. The focus of this module is on understanding how interdisciplinary production pipelines

Assessment: Coursework

Understanding the core components of game engines and how they interact is important to building modern games. A number of commercial games have modified the engine on which they run to provide better performance for their specific use cases. This module looks at the component subsystems of a modern game engine giving students an understanding of how these systems are implemented, how they can be used, and how they can be expanded upon. This module covers the understanding and use of game engine components and how to implement and/or extend these for a specific use case. To support this outcome the module will cover a wide range of topic areas related to game engine subsystem design and inte

Assessment: Coursework

This module introduces concepts and their applications in software modelling and maintenance for building high-quality scalable software. It provides students with theoretical and practical skills to apply software processes, tools and methodologies for the design and development of large systems and applications. The theory and practices covered in the module form the basis for a practical project, which entails the analysis, design, implementation, and testing of a software system. The module content may include: Development methodologies Requirements engineering Modelling tools and techniques Design patterns Software Testing Software Deployment and Maintenance Advanced Software Engineerin

Assessment: Coursework

This module explores the theory and application of rendering techniques and technologies. The module provides an understanding of low-level graphics rendering techniques explored via graphics APIs, and an introduction to modern rendering technologies and their implementation within modern games engines. Examples include 3D mathematics for graphics, the rendering pipeline, transformations, game engines, recent developments in graphics, etc. Lectures introduce the fundamental theory and provide practical examples of the main concepts and algorithms. Laboratory sessions provide the framework for the development and implementation of graphics applications. The module content covers the theory an

Assessment: Coursework

This module provides opportunities for students to acquire an understanding of the issues that may impact on industrial and professional practices relevant to a career within their chosen discipline. During this period of work experience, students gain a deep appreciation of the responsibilities arising from both corporate and individual responses to such issues, thus enabling them to relate to the wider world when exploring a personal direction for potential career development. Students will be expected to develop their professional knowledge and improve their CV and professional profile with an aim to becoming competent in the skills needed to succeed in their chosen industry. The students

Assessment: Coursework

In this module, teams of students will develop a computer game prototype from concept through implementation to gold release. Module learning outcomes On successful completion of the module, you will be able to: Develop a high-quality game prototype using a modern game engine Critically evaluate the games development pipeline and reflect on your personal experience Module content An indicative list of areas that you will be expected to encounter and explore includes: Game concept creation Narratives, world creation, level design, etc Game design Game architecture Game production process Toolchain process Game asset creation Game middleware Project management Analysing and evaluating results

Assessment: Coursework

The module enables students to independently develop a substantial piece of work related to their specialism combining the skills and knowledge gained through their degree. Work on the project is independent private study guided through regular meetings with a member of academic staff. Project topics can be selected from a list of projects offered by staff or industry collaborators or students can suggest their own topic for possible approval. The main goals to be achieved in the project are the writing of a dissertation and the development of a practical artefact. The precise content depends on the project topic chosen by the student. However, each project will involve aspects of planning,

Assessment: Coursework

XR technologies represent the current cutting edge of games development. The immersive experiences they provide represent not only a likely avenue for the future of gaming, but also the future of computer visualisation as the technology becomes increasingly accessible to the mainstream audience. This module seeks to prepare you not just for the current of games development, but also the future. You will confront the challenges of developing for specialist hardware and the unique benefits and limitations imposed by this. You will also explore the unique UX and UI design challenges imposed by these devices and how to design virtual environments specifically designed to take advantage the uniqu

Assessment: Coursework

This module examines the design and implementation of computer operating systems. Students study the design of modern operating systems and apply these ideas to the implementation of a multi-processor operating system. Module content includes: Types of operating system kernel Physical and virtual memory management Processes and threads File systems Protection levels and context switching Interrupts Device drivers System calls Inter-process communication Vulnerabilities in modern PC architectures and how to mitigate these in the design of the operating system

Assessment: Coursework

This module considers two closely related topics, Concurrent Systems and Distributed Systems. It introduces concurrency control concepts and their implications for system design and implementation. It also explores the fundamental characteristics of distributed systems, including their models and architectures; the implications for software design; some of the techniques that have been used to build them; and the resulting details of good distributed algorithms and applications. Module content includes: Introduction to concurrency, concurrent systems, concurrent algorithms Mechanisms for mutual exclusion: mutexes; critical sections; semaphores Issues arising in concurrent systems including s

Assessment: Coursework