Games Development

Games development is the discipline that brings digital games to life. It encompasses programming, game engine architecture, level design, artificial intelligence, physics simulation, audio systems and the entire technical infrastructure that makes interactive digital experiences function. The global games industry is one of the most commercially successful creative sectors in the world, and the demand for developers who can contribute to complex game projects, manage technical challenges at scale and work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams is consistently high.

At Edinburgh Napier, which has a strong reputation for applied computing education and close industry links, this four-year programme provides comprehensive technical training in games development alongside the professional and collaborative skills that studio environments require. You will study programming, graphics and rendering, game engine design, physics and simulation, AI for games, audio programming, project management and games production workflows. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and work placement opportunities, making it one of the most professionally rounded games development degrees in Scotland.

The sandwich and placement experience gives you time working within a professional games studio or development team, applying your skills to real projects and building the portfolio and professional network that studio recruitment requires. The typical entry tariff is 168 UCAS points.

Graduates work as games programmers, technical artists, gameplay engineers, AI programmers, tools developers and technical directors in games studios of every size, from independent developers to major publishers. The technical skills developed in games development are also applicable in simulation, virtual reality, architectural visualisation, defence systems, film and television visual effects, and a range of other industries where interactive real-time graphics are used.