Explore our Games Engineering taught Master’s Degree.

We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history.

• P-H1SK

MSc

1 year full-time

30 September 2024

WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group)

University of Warwick

The Computer Games industry is one of the most exciting and dynamic growth industries today. Yet recruiting graduates with the specific skills required is one of the industry’s greatest challenges. Games Engineering MSc, taught in the interdisciplinary WMG department, is designed to address these challenges, and train the games engineers and developers of the future.

As a Master’s student of Games Engineering, you will be engaged in one of the most performance-driven elements of computer science, and will be well prepared to launch your career as an expert developer in the multi-billion pound computer games industry.

Video game development is a particularly complex software engineering process, requiring expertise in a number of wide ranging areas including high-performance graphics, programming, data structures, physics, acoustics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, networking, modelling and rendering.

Throughout the course, you will be trained in the complex game development process, learning the fundamental and theoretical aspects of how to create game engines from the ground up, as well as working with established game engines (i.e. Unreal, Unity) to understand the intricacies of their capabilities and limitations.

Fundamental to becoming an expert developer is having deep understanding of algorithmic concepts and high-level programming languages, so, through this degree, you will not only master languages like C++ and python, but will form a conceptual understanding of computing principles with programming as a vehicle to grasp these concepts.

Visual computing, specifically the domain of computer graphics, is a fundamental discipline for the development and implementation of video games. Not only is it key within games engineering, but is ubiquitous across modern commercial, industrial and education landscapes.

Developed in collaboration with Warwick’s Visualisation Research Group, this Master’s degree draws on particular expertise in Visual Computing, including computer graphics, vision, imaging, distributed and parallel systems, Human Computer Interaction, and AI.

It is delivered in the multidisciplinary WMG department, Warwick’s largest academic department with 1300 full-time MSc students across a portfolio of courses, and 34 research groups driving over 40% of all research conducted at the university.

This course has two components – a taught component accounting for two-thirds of your time and effort, and a research component accounting for one-third.

For the taught component, we blend synchronous and asynchronous learning delivered through lectures, seminars, lab work, syndicate exercises, simulations, case studies, and professional portfolio development.

Our teaching faculty has extensive industry and research experience, with guest speakers from industry bringing real-world insight into your learning experience.

In addition to your taught modules, you will undertake a major project as part of your Master's degree. This is nominally 600 hours (60 CATS points) of learning, mainly taking place during the Spring and Summer terms. You will be expected to engage regularly with your Project Supervisor and to provide progress updates and drafts of your work to an agreed schedule. The outputs of your academic year will also form the basis of an industry standard portfolio.

This course can accommodate around 25-30 students.

Module delivery patterns vary, but most will be delivered in a short learning block of up to 4 weeks, allowing you to focus on one module at a time.

Each 15 CATS module nominally accounts for 150 hours, which includes scheduled classroom and lab time, as well as your independent study and assessments.

Modules are predominantly assessed by way of written Post Module Assignments (PMA), but assessment can also be in other formats. Most modules will also have a degree of In-Module Assessment (IMA), which will vary by module and may take the form of presentations, on-line tests, self-reflection or a range of other methods.

For the research component, you will undertake a major project. Project submission is likely to include both a written and a presentation element, accounting for 33% of your overall academic grade.

Your timetable

Core modules will be allocated to students at the end of the first week of term - you will then be able to view your individual module schedule for the rest of the year via the WMG module selection system.

Your elective module will be bookable through the same system later in the term.

Modules will include scheduled classroom time and online sessions as well as your independent study and assessments, and will usually be delivered within a 4 week timeframe. Occasional classes and study skills sessions may be held at weekends or in the evenings.

As a Master's student, you are expected to manage your own time appropriately. On average, you are expected to commit 38-40 hours of study each week, in order to successfully achieve your Master’s degree.

This is a full-time postgraduate course - undergraduate term dates do not apply. Whilst there are no holidays as such, there will be no teaching scheduled when the University is officially closed, during the two weeks over Christmas and New Year.

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related STEM subject (Computer Science, Engineering, Technology, Maths).

• Band A
• IELTS overall score of 6.5, minimum component scores not below 6.0

Candidates with professional experience should include their CV with their application.

As part of the MSc in Games Engineering, all students are required to study the following core modules:

• Fundamentals of Games Research, Development and Management (30 CATS)
• Programming and Fundamental Algorithms (15 CATS)
• Computer Graphics (15 CATS)
• Advanced Computer Graphics (15 CATS)
• Games Engineering (15 CATS)
• Games Engine Design and Development (15 CATS)

Elective modules

Alongside your core modules, you will need to select an elective module so that your taught modules equate overall to 120 CATS (or 1200 hours of learning).

Your elective module list will be shared at the start of the academic year and will include modules such as:

• Innovative Simulation Design and Development (15 CATS)
• Machine Intelligence and Data Science (15 CATS)

Please refer to the departmental website for more information and module content for this courseLink opens in a new window.