Game Programming MSc

Development Practice

You’ll deepen your knowledge of game development practices. Working in interdisciplinary teams and employing specialist skills such as C++ programming and git versioning practices, you’ll devise small-scale artefacts. You’ll also carry out a personal reflective case study that will help to enrich and expand your practice.

(30 credits)

Digital Games Technology

Develop your knowledge of mathematics and the technology underpinning digital games by experimenting with low-level graphics APIs, such as OpenGL, to recreate the classics or demake modern titles. 

(30 credits)

Advanced Game Programming

Make use of industry-standard engines, such as Unreal 5, to implement original and compelling gameplay experiences using advanced game programming techniques. 

(30 credits)

Game Development Project

Work in a simulated studio environment in multidisciplinary teams – formed of artists, designers and programmers – to rapidly take a game idea from initial concept to a working demonstration that you can pitch for further funding. 

(30 credits)

Major Project

Pursue your own practice-based or empirical research and development efforts under the supervision of a subject-matter specialist. Many choose to situate this work in the game development project they commenced in the previous study block, in an effort to commercially publish their game. 

(60 credits)

With regularly timetabled support sessions from our course team and access to our studio throughout, you’ll be able to produce games to a high standard, learning to collaborate effectively as a member of a game development team as well as to conduct cutting-edge research and development. You'll learn through: 

• Demonstrations 
• Studio practice 
• Project supervision 
• Lectures 
• Seminars 
• Practical workshops 
• Crit sessions 
• Tutorials 
• Guest speakers 
• Mentoring 

Assessment is 100% coursework, with the learning situated in an environment that mirrors industry, helping to prepare you for what it’s like in a real game studio. 

Assessments are composed of practical activities underpinned by critical analyses of the workflows and practices applied in the module to further support your learning. 

Module leaders, supervisors and technicians will guide and support you through your assessments to enhance your relevant technical and academic skillsets. 

We welcome applicants with varied qualifications, but typically you’ll need an undergraduate degree. Our typical applicants hold an undergraduate degree of 2:2 or above, or equivalent experience. 

We’ll also welcome your application if you have formal or 'certified' learning (such as training courses not run by universities or colleges) and learning from work experience or self-study. This is called Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) and should have been gained within the last five years, and be equivalent to the learning outcomes of our minimum entry qualifications. 

APL applicants using experience to apply should note there is an application fee for entry with advanced standing or with exemption from specific modules or credit. 

Applicants should hold a Level 2 GCSE (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics. 

If English isn’t your first language, you'll need to demonstrate English language skills that are sufficiently developed for successful completion of your studies. We accept a range of recognised English language qualifications that are equivalent to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic minimum score of 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in Speaking, and a minimum of 5.5 in Reading, Writing, and Listening. 

International applicants who require a student visa to study in the UK must take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the University. Our Applicant Services Team can help with any questions you may have about study visas or suitable language tests. 

Welcome to Game Programming MSc. Here you will find information about any pre-course preparation, as well as confirmation of your tuition fees together with any other costs that you might incur throughout your course that are not covered by your student loan.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees for postgraduate students starting in September 2027

Course equipment and costs

Essential

At Falmouth, you can use industry-standard computers and kit on campus, with some IT suites open 24 hours during teaching weeks.

The latest advice about which computers we recommend you buy for your course is available here: https://github.com/Falmouth-Games-Academy/ga-computer-advice#readme

If you have any questions or want us to check your setup, just get in touch with us on games.support@falmouth.ac.uk

Headset with Microphone

You will need a headset with a microphone for some classes. We recommend purchasing a high-quality headset for your comfort. Manufacturers such as Sennheiser, Razer, HyperX and Corsair are rated highly by our current students. These can cost between £30 - £150.

Webcam

You may need a webcam in some teaching. Manufacturers such as Logitech, Microsoft, and Razer are rated highly by our current students. These can cost between £25 - £100.

Internet Access

It is important that you secure sufficient access to the Internet as some materials are made available to you through our virtual learning environment. We recommend a fibre broadband connection if available, but a minimum of at least 5Mbps will be suitable for livestreaming content.

If you have further questions, need more detailed advice or would like us to check the suitability of a particular model, then please email: games.support@falmouth.ac.uk

Pre-course preparation

The course will primarily focus on developing your practical problem-solving and programming skills, alongside fundamental knowledge of agile project management, computer science, mathematics, and game engine architecture.

There will be considerable emphasis on the challenges and opportunities presented by game programming in the context of multidisciplinary studio-based development of digital games. It is anticipated that you are a confident programmer, or willing to rapidly upskill, and so the course will immediately focus on practical development skills and the implementation of relevant programming techniques.

However, you may not have used the programming languages and tools that are typically used in the games industry. As such, you are encouraged to familiarise yourself with C++ alongside several frameworks and engines prior to your arrival.

Some free online resources are:

C++: https://www.learncpp.com
SDL: https://lazyfoo.net/tutorials/SDL3/index.php
OpenGL: https://learnopengl.com/
Unreal Engine: docs.unrealengine.com/en-us/Resources
You are also encouraged to watch:

Computing: www.youtube.com/user/computerphile
Mathematics: www.youtube.com/user/numberphile
Game Maths: www.youtube.com/user/BSVino
The best way to learn a programming language or tool is to use it to make something. Therefore, you are strongly encouraged to devise and work on a project to hone your skills prior to your arrival. A suggested first project is to re-imagine a classic 1980s arcade game and implement it in C++. While you are doing this project, you can engage with our online community. Please join our Discord channel, introduce yourself, and show us your work-in-progress: https://link.falmouth.games/discord