Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computer Game Design and Enterprise with Foundation Year

at Wrexham Glyndwr University - Wrexham Campus United Kingdom

Computing specialists are in high demand as technology now plays a role in almost everything we do. Our computing degree combines the core principles of the field with a forward-looking approach to embracing and driving new developments.

The subject area is 1st in Wales for learning opportunities and academic support (WGU analysis of unpublished 2019 NSS data).

Students will

• be prepared for a career in an exciting industry with highly sought-after skills in computer programming, database development, networking, website development and information systems design
• develop practical skills useful in any field of business, such as problem-solving, teamwork, project management and how to use information technology effectively and understanding specialised software
• gain practical experience through work placements and working on real-life projects

Key Career Features

• These courses respond to identified skills gaps. They will provide you with the critical understanding, knowledge and skills needed for successful employment.
• Personal Development Planning is integrated throughout the course to develop the skills framework necessary for effective personal, academic and career management.
• The university is home to ARCLab, which specializes in research in the field of Computing and Computer Science.
• Newly refurbished IT labs.
• Host of biennial internet research conference attracting delegates from across the world.
• Optional Industrial Placement Year gives students the opportunity to experience the workplace first-hand and gain valuable employment experience for the future.
• *subject area is 1st in Wales for learning opportunities and academic support (WGU analysis of unpublished 2019 NSS data).

An MBA qualification continues to be the flagship qualification for post-graduate business students seeking to increase subject knowledge, build a portfolio of management skills and enhance future career prospects in a competitive and increasingly global arena. 

The MBA suite consists of a number of routes (see above) all of which encompass three core topics, which provide the foundation for a successful business, namely strategy, finance and leadership. 

MBA - There is a mix of traditional ‘hard core’ academic business Master’s modules consisting of Strategy, Finance, Marketing and HRM which continue to be the foundation for this type of programme. The programme routes offer other modules, drawing on a wide range of bodies of knowledge, which reflect the context within which an organisation is required to trade. The outcome is a rounded business outlook with insights into corporate governance, environmental concerns, marketing and HRM perspectives within a framework of effective and critical reflective practice.

MBA (Marketing) - The inclusion of the Marketing route is particularly distinctive and is readily embedded within the programme. The overarching teaching and learning strategy which encompasses current business and marketing issues together with issues arising within the students’ workplaces if, and where, appropriate. This ensures the three-fold framework of skills, mind-set and knowledge are oriented towards this particular body of knowledge throughout the duration of the taught element of the programme for students electing to take this route. When progressing to the dissertation route there would be a clear expectation for the student’s research questions to focus on a topic that would benefit from research into Marketing.

MBA (HRM) - Similarly, the HRM route is of increasing relevance where people are the foundation of a vibrant world economy and requires a mind-set that is supported by an understanding of HRM practices where transferable business knowledge and key management skills are important. During the generic taught modules students will be encouraged and supported to bring HRM issues into classroom debate as a pre-curser to including and emphasising current issues in their assignments. When reaching the dissertation stage, again there would be a clear expectation that HRM students would base their dissertations on a research topic that is of international relevance.

Key Features

• Focus on career development skills and knowledge in a supportive environment.
• MBA modules are aligned to the Institute of Directors Competency Framework which encompasses a range of skills, knowledge and mind-sets.
• Access to a network of aspiring business managers drawn from various sectors and organizations.
• Opportunity to attend Wrexham Glynd?r University on campus business related events.
• The research element of the programme enables students to identify, investigate, analyse and propose sound solutions in relation to a business problem. 
• Teaching is interactive and, where possible, based on contemporary business issues throughout the programme.

This course offers a practical programme of study, enabling you to bring characters to life. This specialised Animation programme will transform you into a versatile creative in the art of the moving image. Designed and developed from the ground up with employability as the core aim, you will develop skills in 2D, 3D and stop motion animation.

You will finish your studies with the professional skills and creative thinking strategies to pursue a career within animation studios, work as a freelance artist, or start your own studio.

Students will

• learn the principles of visual communication and drawing and apply them to character design, background design, storyboarding and scene layout
• explore the principles of animation with a focus on 2D techniques
• work in teams on an informative motion graphic project for a real client
• practice character animation using 3D techniques to build up a show reel
• specialise and develop a final degree project

Your studies will see you gain experience in digital skills and techniques used to bring your imagination from ideas to screen through, 2D Animation, 3D Animation, and stop motion animation, depending on which you choose to specialise in.

You can also choose to study this course as a four-year integrated masters option MDes Animation or as a foundation year BA (Hons) Animation (four years including foundation year)

Key course features

• Official partnership with http://TechUpandGo.com. With direct links to live 3D Animation projects.
• Latest industry standard software used such as Autodesk Maya, Toon Boom Harmony, Dragon Frame and the Creative Cloud suite.
• Access to Wacom Cintiq tablets and a purpose built stop motion studio.
• Industry-focused visits to gain first hand insight into how creative media companies function and the variety of employment opportunities that are available in the development of your career aspirations. There are also other study trips to festivals and expos.
• Opportunities to enter competitions.
• There is strong pastoral care within a friendly creative community with an emphasis on team building and collaborative work. Contact hours with tutors is high with enthusiastic and supportive sta? who are knowledgeable, research-active practitioners.

Join a UK leading course designed to develop strong technical game design, business and production skills so you can be a future industry leader.

The team work closely with organisations such as UK Games Fund, Games Wales, BAFTA Cymru and the British Computing Society to ensure that our students always have access to cutting-edge industry related training and knowledge.

We are home to the innovative Games Talent Wales programme and a UK regional Tranzfuser hub that is sponsored and supported by the UK Games Fund and UK Games Talent. Our business incubation centre is home to several award-winning student owned game studios.

Students on this course will

• Develop essential game design and business start-up and management skills
• Learn about the workings of the games industry and the tools and platforms that are critical to success
• Gain valuable experience and insight into the game development process and the management of an independent game studio
• Enjoys the benefits of close industry engagement with regular visits, guest speakers, presentations, discussion groups and social events
• Work with a personal mentor with games development experience to help develop your skills and knowledge
• Have access to our in-house business incubation centre and the latest tools and technology in a specialist game development studio
• Develop a professional game development portfolio and critical employability skills

This course can also be studied as a three year degree without the foundation year BSc (Hons) Computer Game Design and Enterprise 

At the heart of public health is helping people to enjoy healthier lives and preventing them from getting ill. In a society where the National Health Service is facing unprecedented demand, promoting good health and preventing poor health is of vital importance. There are many existing as well as new and exciting roles out there for public health and wellbeing graduates, from developing health promotion campaigns through to social prescribing and tackling health inequalities.

Students will

• Be introduced to a whole range of health challenges affecting the nation, including obesity, substance misuse, loneliness, mental illness and air pollution & will learn what we can do to address these challenges.
• Learn about health behaviours at different life-stages – childhood, youth, adulthood and old age – and how to help different populations adopt healthy behaviours and change damaging ones.
• Develop your self-awareness and emotional literacy, alongside reflective and interpersonal skills – all of which are crucial to working effectively in public health.

This course is also available for study with a foundation year BSc (Hons) Public Health & Wellbeing (four years including foundation year)

Key Course Features

• The programme team work with local employers to ensure that the theory taught is relevant to current practice in the sector
• Delivered by academics from a range of backgrounds, which means that you will be part of a diverse community of practice
• Established peer mentor scheme, so you can obtain support from students already undertaking the programme
• Innovative and flexible teaching methods are embedded throughout, including interactive lectures, tutorials, case studies, workshops, online activities and learning resources.
• Work based experience which you can tailor to your own area/s of interest in years two and three of the programme
• Opportunities to take part in additional relevant events and volunteering within the wider University, giving you a full portfolio of experience on graduation

This degree in Illustration will help you develop both your illustrative style and flair for creative image-making. The course covers the practical, professional and artistic sides of working as an illustrator with an individual artistic voice. The programme will equip you for a successful career in the creative industries.

Working with experienced and industry active staff, you will learn how to create compelling images, work to professional standards and understand how your work fits into the industry.

You will be introduced to professional creative processes and encouraged to expand your abilities through workshops and practical projects. You will learn how to interpret a brief, identify and solve problems, develop creative individuality and produce a professional portfolio.

As well as gaining personal, professional and entrepreneurial skills, our programmes introduce a broad range of creative skills, from the generation of ideas to their technical production through printmaking, bookbinding, 3D materials, life drawing, traditional and digital media, with an emphasis on drawing and the development of a unique personal style.

High-quality artwork and a unique illustrative voice are at the heart of the course. Opportunities to explore your style, the applications of your work, your use of media and technology are consistent throughout the programmes.

The business of working as a freelance artist is an important aspect of the course, covering practical advice from marketing and self-promotion to contracts, invoices and working with clients. Working on live briefs and competitions are available and encouraged.

Key Course Features

• The School of Creative Arts at Wrexham Glynd?r University was named as the best place in Wales to study Art in the 2017 Guardian University League Table.
• You will be part of a vibrant and creative community of commercial artists including children’s book artists, illustrators, animators, game artists and designers.
• You will be taught by a teaching team with a broad range of experience working professionally in the illustration and creative industries.
• We encourage our students to self-publish and learn how to produce high-quality production prototypes to pitch to the publishing industry through the use of our in-house Bindery.
• Our students have won illustration prizes and awards such as the Oxford University Press Illustration competition, the Macmillan Children’s Book competition, the Caldecott Society and D&AD awards and been nominated for prestigious Eisner and Silver Reuben Awards.

Take your hands-on computer networking skills to the next level with our industry-focused course. As the demand for specialists in the computer networking industry continues to grow, this course will support you to develop the specialist technical and consultative skills required to progress to higher technical and managerial positions within businesses, or work towards doctoral study.

Concentrating on practical networking rather than abstract concepts or theories in data communications, the programme is centred around real-world network problem-solving, the planning, design and development of network services and infrastructures,plus the  use and application of current and emerging hardware and protocols.

For your dissertation, you will be expected to investigate cutting-edge technologies, implement and test novel networking solutions, or develop or analyse original network applications.

Key Course Features

• Opportunity to study Computer Networking in-depth
• Lecture/tutorial and practical sessions are enhanced with additional, resource-rich online materials allowing you to continue independent learning through a variety of approaches
• Taught by staff leading research into the areas of the internet and computer networks
• Research activities are associated with the University’s research centre
• Learning progresses from design and building small networks to the techniques required for large public networks
• Options to complete external Cisco Certification qualifications

This exciting course is specially designed for those wanting to work positively with children, young people, marginalised groups and communities. It has been ranked first in Wales for overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2020.

• Learn youth work methods, values and engagement skills for working to support individuals and groups with their personal, social and political development
• Gain a professional youth work qualification endorsed by Education Training Standards Wales
• Spend over a third of your time in placement activities
• Be able to register with the Education Workforce Council in Wales as a Youth Worker upon successful completion of the course
• Have opportunities for a part-funded placement through the Erasmus programme
• Enjoy the benefits of studying in a department with 43 years’ experience, links with employers across North Wales, North West England, and the Midlands, and partnerships with organisations across the statutory, voluntary and third sector
• Have the option to study a faith-based route in the first year and exit with a Certificate in Higher Education Youth and Community Work (faith-based), or to top up to the full degree and JNC Qualification*.

You can also choose to study this course as a foundation year BA (Hons) Youth and Community Work (JNC) (with foundation year)

Key Career Features

• A degree programme with professional endorsement, and course content aligned with National Occupational and Professional Standards in the sector.
• Opportunities for continuing professional development through additional training opportunities and professional networking on a course with strong links with employers and local training providers.
• Learn and gain experience with 800 hours of supervised fieldwork practice, with a placement in each year of study. This can be in a variety of settings either in the UK or internationally.
• Start the academic year with a learning experience with a partner project to see youth work skills in action.
• 1st in Wales for learning community, (WGU analysis of National Survey of Students 2019)
• Option to study a faith-based route in the first year of study by completing an additional module
• Develop skills in team work, positive communication, working with groups and individuals, reflective practice and leading others.
• Develop knowledge and core skills for youth work practice and informal education that are transferable to work with children, young people and adults in a range of different settings.

Today’s businesses demand the ability to have computer systems and networks, which operate on a global scale – so there is a high demand for people with the skills to make this happen.

This subject area has been rated top in Wales for learning opportunities and academic support (WGU analysis of unpublished 2019 NSS data) and includes a mix of technology, security and networking modules with many hands-on practical opportunities.

Students will

• Develop critical skills and cutting edge thinking to gain the confidence to keep up with the fast pace of change in this field
• Develop technical knowledge of the installation, operation security, and maintenance of computer systems and networks used in business and industry
• Develop industry-critical key skills such as team working, communication and business skills
• Have opportunities to work on real-life projects
• Learn the fundamentals of data communications and how to apply this knowledge to manage, design, implement, configure and operate secure networks on a professional footing
• Learn how to identify a range of significant threats to network security and formulate and implement defence strategies.
• Have the opportunity to complete the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) qualification whilst studying for their degree
• Have access to Cisco Systems state-of-the-art equipment is used in practical sessions
• Have the option of an Industrial Placement Year 

Key Course Features

• Extensive PC and networked computer facilities with Internet access.
• A specialist computer laboratory dedicated to computer networking.
• The computing subject area is a recognised Cisco Academy. You have the opportunity to complete the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) qualification whilst studying for your degree.
• The optional Industrial Placement Year gives students the opportunity to experience the workplace first-hand and gain valuable employment experience for the future.
• This course responds to identified skills gaps and you will develop the critical understanding, knowledge and skills needed for successful employment.
• The University is home to ARCLab, which specializes in research in the field of Computing and Computer Science.
• The optional Industrial Placement Year gives students the opportunity to experience the workplace first-hand and gain valuable employment experience for the future.
• subject area is 1st in Wales for learning opportunities and academic support (WGU analysis of unpublished 2019 NSS data)

This course is available to study with an Industrial Placement year BSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security (with Industrial Placement)
You can also choose to study this course as a foundation year BSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security (four years including foundation year)

Learn and work in a real production environment – this Professional Sound and Video course is developed in close collaboration with the BBC, Skillset and leading industry experts.

The course, which focuses on exploring current and emerging technologies applicable to still and moving image production, also sound design for installations, and is different to many as students can engage in the day-to-day operation of the television studio and audio production facility, extending student participation beyond the lecture theatre.

Students will also develop a theoretical and practical understanding across a range of skills in pre-production, production, post-production, audio design and live sound.

The course centres around the use of the university’s audio recording and television studio where students explore single and multi-camera filmmaking in addition to lighting and acquisition for audio visual effects work. It is designed to teach and develop skills across disciplines and covers a broad range of technologies that will help in the development of your own portfolio.

As well as the television studio, the course is built around the practical use of the university’s Centre for the Creative Industries and its wide range of facilities.  The centre is home to BBC Cymru Wales in North East Wales.

You can also choose to study this course as a three year degree (without a foundation year) BSc (Hons) Professional Sound and Video

Key Course Features

• Includes a foundation year to prepare you for further years of study.
• The Centre for the Creative Industries supports work across a range of creative disciplines using the latest in television production technology.
• Wrexham Glyndwr’s Television Studio, which features 4K and High Definition cameras and equipment and multi camera control room.
• Post-production facilities both Mac and PC based with grading and finishing suite
• Students lead Glyndwr.tv live sessions, streamed live and featuring a mixture of high profile as well as local bands and performers.
• There are two audio post-production studios in the Wall Studio and TV studio respectively.
• Calon FM Community radio station is based in the creative industries building and offers volunteer and collaboration work. The University is one of only three higher education institutions to have such a facility on campus.
• Our graduates have collaborated with a range of local companies including NHS Wales, Wales Rugby League, Clwyd Theatre Cymru and numerous local organisations and productions.
• Past graduates have gone on to work with media companies such as the BBC, Universal Music, QVC and Technicolor and other students have taken on freelance roles and formed their own production companies.
• Previous Creative Industries events at the University have included Ffresh Student Moving Image Festival of Wales and an annual Creative Futures networking event.
• The IT facilities form a core part of course delivery, introducing a range of Non Linear Editing software such as Final Cut, Premiere and AVID as well as colour correction, compositing and 3D packages. The audio is catered for by use of Logic, Protools, MAX, MSP, Jitter and various bespoke packages. These IT facilities are also open access and are available to students in order to develop their skills.