Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computing for Games

at Falmouth University - Penryn Campus United Kingdom

As an independent performer, songwriter and self-producer, you’ll learn how to promote and release your own work, creating innovative portfolios based on experimentation, musicianship and a confident understanding of the industry. You'll study the audio-visual elements of pop and develop ways of critically conceiving and creating 'real' and 'virtual' presences. As someone invested in how pop makes meaning, you'll define a practice that's stylistically sophisticated and future facing.

You will:

• Develop songwriting techniques and performance and production skills.
• Establish innovative approaches to music making, the music business and technology.
• Perform and record in our high-spec AMATA studios.
• Forge industry links with studios, record labels, promotion companies and venues.
• Benefit from visiting lecturers like Bellatrix, Darcus Beese (Island Records), David Toop, Ed O'Brien (Radiohead), Mary Hampton, Jo Hamilton, Martha Tilston, Laura Snapes, Glen Roberts and Jerry Dammers (The Specials)

Taught by a dedicated team of artists, you’ll expand your understanding of contemporary art and explore the full spectrum of practice, from painting, drawing, sculpture, textiles, casting and printmaking, right though to new media, performance and 3D printing.

You will:

• Work in a Fine Art studio space from day one
• Collaborate with industry partners like Newlyn Art Gallery and the Tate St Ives
• Evolve your practice through opportunities such as field recordings, voice laboratories, self-publishing projects, specialist workshops, guest lectures and performances
• Access excellent studios, as well as 3D printmaking and time-based media workshops
• Have the opportunity to study abroad and to exhibit your work in major cities around the world 

You'll collaborate with other students in the Games Academy – from animators through to sound designers – to develop a multi-disciplinary approach with creativity at its heart. By the time you graduate, you'll be confident in pursuing a career in software development, in the games industry and beyond.

You will:

• Get under the hood of video game engines like Unity and Unreal while learning a range of programming languages like C#, Python, and C++
• Engage with the latest technologies, including procedural content generation, cloud systems and mixed reality to develop broadly transferable skills
• Blend art and science while developing teamwork and communication skills that are highly desired in the industry
• Develop an 'optimisation mindset' by learning to work within platform constraints
• Make games collaboratively with artists, animators, composers, designers, writers and other programmers

Through this fashion marketing degree, you'll learn to fuse skills in business, design and communication. You’ll gain an understanding of the need for a considered, conscious and sustainable approach in a fast-paced marketplace. And you’ll be part of a creative community preparing for an exciting career.

You will:

• Work on live projects with brands such as Fred Perry and John Lewis.
• Collaborate with photographers, designers and creators.
• Gain valuable experience through an optional placement year in industry (during the four-year course).
• Graduate from a course accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).

Working with academics from the Academy of Music & Theatre Arts and the School of Entrepreneurship, you’ll explore new music business models and future-facing practice.

Based in our purpose-built facilities – which include space for gigs, recording, rehearsals and business – you’ll be immersed in a hub of creativity and collaboration. You’ll have the opportunity to develop projects with video makers, photographers, fashion designers, graphic designs, dancers and choreographers from across the University. 

You will:

• Gain skills in marketing, publishing, contracts and project management 
• Be able to undertake industry-accredited short courses 
• Learn from lecturers with a wealth of industry experience covering everything from merchandising, music video production and managing micro-labels to international touring and major festivals 
• Develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills and apply this to live music business projects  
• Have the opportunity to interact with relevant music businesses, festivals, distributors and labels 
• Have access to the University’s wide range of professional facilities, equipment and creative spaces 

Throughout your studies we'll help you understand key business and marketing theories. From developing complex problem-solving skills to navigating consumer psychology, digging deep into big data to understand the ethics of your practice, you'll learn to harness creativity, cultural awareness and business acumen to deliver impactful marketing strategies across a range of digital platforms.

You will:

• Be an active part of Gallos, our thriving student-led agency
• Work on live briefs, building your industry network
• Collaborate with digital innovators across the region, including company founders in our award- winning Launchpad programme
• Work with industry connected and research active staff

Business & Digital Marketing BSc(Hons) is accredited by the leading professional marketing body, The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). This means students who successfully complete the full undergraduate degree are part-accredited for qualifications CIM offers professional marketing practitioners.

On this course you'll explore non-fiction, poetry, fiction, children's literature and writing for digital games – learning to draft, edit and pitch your creations. By working on literary, community and industry-engaged projects, a final portfolio and an online profile, you'll also develop industry-level confidence and outstanding creative work.

You will:

• Produce illustrated anthologies, organise mini-festivals, or work with a business as part of your third-year collaborative project
• Attend our exciting guest lecture series, where you'll build relationships and contacts within all facets of the literary world
• Have the opportunity to attend and participate in literary events such as The London Book Fair and the North Cornwall Book Festival
• Take inspiration from The Lighthouse – the glorious workspace at the heart of our community – which hosts everything from skills and craft workshops to board game sessions, literary quizzes and poetry readings
• Use the stunning natural surroundings as inspiration for the writing process
• Contribute to a vibrant, thriving, writing community
• Write for FalWriting, our student-led online magazine, or read your work at our literary evenings and feel the warmth of the applause

After establishing a firm foundation in developing software and hardware, you'll apply your skills to both individual projects and major collaborations. We'll provide you with exciting opportunities to bring your ideas to life by designing engaging human-robot interactions and working prototypes.

You will:

• Apply your skills to inspiring projects spanning creative and technical domains, on briefs set by industry partners
• Build robots that interact with people and environments in novel and interesting ways
• Develop an understanding of the environmental, societal and cultural context for robotics and the implications for the design, engineering, deployment and adoption of robotic technologies
• Implement robotic systems that leverage state-of-the-art artificial intelligence
• Obtain a mastery of programming and physical fabrication by working on practical problems in a bespoke social robotics lab

As a game artist, you'll be joining one of the fastest growing sectors of the games industry, and be in higher demand than ever before. On this course, you'll work within game development teams and graduate as a skilled, industry-ready game artist.

You will:

• Learn about concept art, character art and environment art as well as the pipelines and processes used to make games.
• Work in an industry-standard environment with access to Cintiqs.
• Make complete games by working in multidisciplinary teams and collaborating in engines like Unreal and Unity.
• Acquire the skills you need to make a successful career from your artistic talent.
• Be surrounded by people who live and breathe games.
• Master a range of industry-standard tools used to produce game art including ZBrush, Maya, Substance Painter and Marmoset.

Our academic team members are experienced practitioners, with broad industry backgrounds, who will teach you how to work collaboratively and take a creative approach to organising events, from cutting-edge fashion experiences and music festivals, to weddings, business events and product launches.

You will:

Organise at least four live events over the three-year course

• Study on one of the first courses in the world accredited by A Greener Festival
• Be involved in industry events and take part in workshops with organisations such as Attitude is Everything
• Take micro-placements throughout the course, with previous destinations ranging from Cornwall to California
• Explore the future of sustainable and digital event management
• Be supported to develop creative approaches and specialise in an area you’re passionate about
• Be part of a course in the hospitality, event management and tourism sector where Falmouth holds a top ten ranking in the Guardian University Guide 2021