Course Summary: December 8, 2020
Computer Science with Industrial Placement (Game Engineering)
MComp Honours
UCAS code: I612 Full time 5 years Next start date: September 2021
This degree in game engineering includes an industrial placement to give you practical work experience and boost your CV, as well as a year of study at master's level.
Fees (per year)
Home: £9250 International: £23400
Entry requirements
A Level: AAA-AAB IB: 34-35 points
Page 1 of 13 UCAS Institution name and code:
NEWC / N21
Course overview
You will develop the skills and knowledge required to develop computer game software and you will gain an international perspective on advancements in computer game development.
Explore different aspects of computing science – such as games design, bioinformatics, and security – in your first two years.
You'll spend a year on an accredited, paid industrial placement between Stages 2 and 3.
Study specialist modules in Stage 3, such as gaming simulations and computer games development.
Take modules from our MSc degree in Computer Game Engineering in Stage 4 to develop a deep understanding of game engineering.
About Game Engineering
Our degrees in Game Engineering focus on the design, development and implementation of software that drives computer games (rather than the artistic element of games development).
They enable you to design, develop and implement computer graphics software and applications on a variety of architectures including games consoles, graphic workstations and advanced 3D reality environments.
They also allow you to exploit such software and hardware in entertainment, engineering, design and scientific visualisation.
Page 2 of 13 The North East of England is a hub for games development, making it an exciting place to kick-start your career in the industry.
BSc or MComp?
Some of our degrees are offered at two levels:
three-year Bachelor of Science (BSc) four-year Master of Computing (MComp)
You can transfer between our degrees up to the end of Stage 2 (although transfer from a BSc to an MComp is dependent on your academic performance).
Our MComp degrees involve an additional year of advanced study during which you follow master's-level modules from one of our MSc programmes. This provides you with a deeper level of knowledge that some employers will look for when recruiting.
If you are unsure whether to apply for a BSc or an MComp, please contact us for more information.
COVID-19 Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to COVID-19.
See our terms and conditions for more information
View our Frequently Asked Questions
Additional information
Flexible degree structure
At Newcastle, all Computer Science students study the same modules for the
Page 3 of 13 first two years, before specialising in the later years. This gives you time to explore the subject and decide which area you want to specialise in. It means you can also transfer between our degrees up to the end of Stage 2.
Quality and ranking
top 20 in the UK (Computer Science Category) - Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020 9th overall in the UK for research – Research Excellence Framework 2014
Professional accreditation
Following a curriculum review, we are seeking British Computer Society (BCS) accreditation for our degrees so you can be assured that you will graduate with a degree that meets the standard set by the IT industry.
BCS is the Chartered Institute for IT. Studying a BCS-accredited degree provides the foundation for a chartered IT professional, engineer or scientist.
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.
Modules and learning
Modules
The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Page 4 of 13 Optional module availability Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
You'll learn the fundamentals of computer science, with an emphasis on developing your skills in program design and implementation. You'll gain experience in Java programming and develop a broad view of hardware and software architectures.
You'll develop an appreciation of what it is to be a professional working in the IT industry and develop your problem-solving skills.
Modules
Compulsory Modules Credits Fundamentals of Computing 20 Computer Systems Design and 20 Architectures Information Storage and Retrieval 20 Programming Portfolio 1 30 Programming Portfolio 2 30
You'll study modules in software engineering, algorithm design and the fundamental principles that govern the operation of the internet.
We'll introduce you to requirements analysis and databases, and the formal specification of software systems.
You'll also work in a team to engineer a substantial software product, developing
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Modules
Compulsory Modules Credits Security and Programming Paradigms 20 Algorithm Design and Analysis 10 Software Engineering Team Project 30 Introducing Contemporary Topics in 30 Computing Operating Systems and Networks 30
You'll spend a year on an approved work placement. You'll also complete a compulsory module.
Modules
Compulsory Modules Credits Intercalating Module for Computing 120 Science Programmes
You'll study specialist topics such as computer games programming, graphical representation, and the latest artificial intelligence techniques involved in making the gaming experience as realistic as possible, for example, making sure cars corner as they would in real life.
Modules
Compulsory Modules
Research Methods, Tools and Techniques Major Project in Computer Science
Page 6 of 13 Graphics for Games Gaming Technologies and Simulations
Optional Modules
Building Systems for People Real Time and Cyber-Physical Systems Programming Language Design and Verification Understanding Concurrency Introduction to BioDesign and Natural Computing Biomedical Data Analytics Cryptography System and Network Security Reliability and Fault Tolerance Human Computer Interaction: Interaction Design Human Computer Interaction: Applied Innovation Data Exploration Predictive Analytics and Machine Learning
You'll study topics from our Computer Game Engineering MSc. A challenging project also accounts for a quarter of your time, giving you the chance to develop your individual research skills under the guidance of our leading researchers.
Modules
Compulsory Modules Credits Project and Dissertation for MCOMP 30 Advanced Programming for Games 20 Advanced Graphics for Games 20 Advanced Game Technologies 20 Engineering Gaming Solutions within a 20 Team
Page 7 of 13 Optional Modules Credits Big Data Analytics 10 Security Analysis of Complex Systems 10
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
Teaching methods include:
lectures – including guest lectures by visiting IT professionals tutorials – from our expert staff supervised practical work – which accounts for a significant amount of your time project work – to help you develop real-world business skills such as teamworking and project management
Project work includes a team project in Stage 2 to develop a substantial software product and a major individual project in Stage 3.
Assessment methods
You'll be assessed through a combination of:
Coursework Dissertation or research project Examinations – practical or online Practical sessions Presentations Projects
Skills and experience
Business skills
In addition to your academic work, employers look for evidence of skills and experience. Our degrees have been created with industry need in mind. In Stage
Page 8 of 13 2, you will gain a realistic preview into industry life, being taught in a team environment with real-life industry briefs. You will pick a problem – identified by industry – and develop a project to find a solution. The projects are marked by industry representatives, lecturers and the project sponsor.
Research skills
In your final year, you'll complete a challenging project. This will give you the opportunity to develop your research skills under the guidance of our leading researchers.
Opportunities
Industrial placement year
Your paid placement year takes place in Stage 3 and provides you with the experience of seeking and securing a job. You'll also gain practical experience, key business skills and industry contacts that will benefit your academic study and longer-term career.
We assess your placement by a short report and presentation, though the assessment will not count towards your final mark.
Facilities and environment
Facilities
You will be part of the School of Computing, based in the Urban Sciences Building on our Newcastle Helix area of campus.
Our brand new £58m building offers great facilities for our students, including:
cyber-physical systems laboratory decision theatre for data visualisation
Page 9 of 13 flat floor teaching facilities 315 PCs with a Raspberry Pi3 on every desk
The building and its surrounding area is becoming a living laboratory, underpinning research to make urban centres more sustainable for future generations. Research at Newcastle Helix focusses on:
cyber-physical systems infrastructure smart grids future of our city big data
Support
You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.
Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.
Your future
Employability at Newcastle
97% of our Computer Science graduates are in graduate-level jobs or in further study within fifteen months of graduation*.
*Guardian University league tables 2021
Preparing you for career success
In the present job market, computing science graduates are better placed than many others to obtain employment in a challenging and fulfilling career, and the employability of Newcastle graduates is particularly high.
Page 10 of 13 An increasing number of employers require digital skills, meaning our graduates are highly sought after. They move into bespoke software development roles in software houses and computer manufacturers and also into corporate organisations that use computers on a larger scale, such as banking, insurance and manufacturing companies and public sector institutions.
Benefit from strong industry links
As a hub for games development, the North East of England is an exciting place to kick-start your career and you'll benefit from strong links with companies such as:
Epic (Fortnite) Activision (Call of Duty) Ubisoft (Assassins Creed) Rockstar North (Grand Theft Auto) TT Games (Lego Star Wars) Creative Assembly (Total War) NVidia (Graphics cards) Sony (Horizon) Microsoft Playground Games (Forza) Microsoft Ninja Theory (Devil May Cry) Rebellion (Judge Dredd)
Local businesses often approach the School to advertise small, part-time or voluntary work opportunities, giving you the chance to gain valuable work experience.
Careers support
Our degree programmes have been developed to ensure that you are gaining the transferable skills that employers like to see alongside your academic study. You will benefit from guest lectures from industry professionals, mock interviews and professional skills workshops.
The school annually hosts a week of intensive employability events. These have
Page 11 of 13 included:
hackathon workshops placement discussions coding and enterprise challenges employer talks networking events
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Visit our Careers Service website
Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme
This degree is approved by DTUS, a Ministry of Defence sponsorship programme for students who wish to join the Royal Navy, British Army, RAF, or Defence Engineering and Science Group (DESG) as technical officers after graduation.
Find out more about the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme
Page 12 of 13 Find out more...
Go online for information about our full range of degrees: www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate To watch videos about student life in Newcastle, visit www.ncl.ac.uk/lovenewcastle Visit www.ncl.ac.uk/tour to take virtual tours of the campus and city Book for an Open Day to come and see us in person www.ncl.ac.uk/openday Contact us online at www.ncl.ac.uk/enquiries or phone +44 (0)191 208 3333
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