MSc Computer Games Programming

Course information

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Course overview

For 2020–21, we have made some changes to how the teaching and assessment of this programme are delivered. Find out more

This industry facing course has been developed to address the needs of the computer games sector, a continuously growing worldwide market, now larger than the film and music sectors combined.

We combine an emphasis on technical skills such as advanced programming, mathematics, AI, and graphics with a solid grounding in IP protection, entrepreneurship, business planning, teamwork and project management.

You’ll be given the skills you need to build successful interactive experiences, whether you want to work at a start-up or as part of a large organisation.

Industry placements

We work with industry leaders to shape the course content, and work closely with the following studios to offer industry placements:

Goldsmiths is a member of TIGA

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Alan Zucconi.

What you'll study

Compulsory Modules	Module title	Credits
	Introduction to Programming for Games Introduction to Programming for Games 15 credits Introduction to Unity, Physics 2D and Collisions, Game Logic, Character Controller, Physically Based Rendering, Animator and Animation, Linear Interpolation.	15 credits
	Advanced Programming for Games Advanced Programming for Games 15 credits This one term long module (following the introduction module) is targeted directly at those who wish to work in the games industry. Technical and art positions at major or independent studios are difficult to secure, with many requiring tough tests and interviews. The approach is highly practical focusing on the key skills valued by employers in senior staff. As well as focusing on the required programming the module also teaches the organisational skills required to work at a high level. Artists talking this module will benefit from knowing how the asset pipeline works.	15 credits
	Mathematics & Graphics for Games 1 Mathematics & Graphics for Games 1 15 credits Linear algebra for games (vectors, matrices) with applications to 2D and 3D graphics, procedural generation of assets (L-systems), complex algebra (complex numbers, quaternions) and applications (fractals, 3D orientation).	15 credits
	Games Design and Games Analytics Games Design and Games Analytics 15 credits You'll study: Kinect, Freemium gameplay Level design Modding games Games Analytics techniques	15 credits
	Business and Practice Business and Practice 15 credits A single term module focused on imparting high quality post graduate entrepreneurial and employments skills. This module is lead by Richard Leinfellner; an industry veteran with 30 years of experience making commercially successful games. Richard has held executive roles as Executive Producer & Vice President at Electronic Arts as well as CEO of Babel Media, he started his career as an assembly language programmer & co-founder of Palace Software in 1984. The module focuses on the skills needed to build a viable / investment ready business plan and pitching it to investors/employers in a industry style Dragons Den. Topics include using LEAN rapid development methodologies & tools, assessing & mitigating real risks, copyright, business structure, writing compelling CV’s as well as supporting students in obtaining work placements. This course is also taught by Prof William Latham.	15 credits
	Final Project Final Project 60 credits You will complete your degree (typically during a long Summer term) with either: an Industry placemment (internship) a Research Project a small group-based project (e.g a game from A-Z) In all cases you will be required to write a dissertation and do a final presentation (viva voce).	60 credits

All MSc Computer Games Programming students must take a number of optional modules worth a total of 45 credits (typically three 15 credit modules).

Some examples of 15 credit modules currently on offer are:

Optional Modules	Module title	Credits
	AI for Games AI for Games 15 credits Modern games demand a lot in terms of complex computer-generated behaviour and content. This is a single term module that teaches you a set of core concepts that you can use to build your own state-of-the-art AI systems. It focuses on practical techniques and architectures that can be directly applied in game development: pathfinding, reactive movement, behaviour trees, HTN planning, procedural content generation. It will also give you an understanding of more advanced AI concepts that are increasingly finding their way into games, such as Monte Carlo Tree Search and techniques from Machine Learning, such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) and Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs).	15 credits
	Physics and Animation for Games Physics and Animation for Games 15 credits This module looks at how classic (Newtonian) physics is used in modern games engines. Example of typical subjects covered include: particle systems, collision detection, spring systems, rigid body transformations, deformations, body animation, fluid simulation with grids and particles.	15 credits
	Tools and Middleware for Games and Special Effects Tools and Middleware for Games and Special Effects 15 credits This single term module focuses on building asset pipelines for triple-A game studios and the film industry. There is a focus on cloud computing, Python scripting in servers and in art tools, automation of content delivery and Unix command line basics. Students who take this course will acquire an understanding of how to build and maintain art asset pipelines in commercial environments.	15 credits
	Introduction to Virtual Reality Introduction to Virtual Reality 15 credits The lectures will cover the following topics: Introduction to VR hardware and VR history VR applications (training, education, therapy, communication, entertainment) VR graphics The three illusions - the Psychology behind VR 3D interaction (navigation, object interaction) Virtual humans: body and face animation Embodiment Introduction to 3D audio The students will also gain practical experiences in the above areas with a game engine (Unity3D).	15 credits
	Mixed Realities Mixed Realities 15 credits Students will learn advanced techniques for immersively combined real world with virtual contents including augmented reality, photogrammetry, motion capture, and computer vision. In the lab, they will be able to apply these techniques to create a mixed reality application that combines real and virtual content appropriately, and leverage the body in this experience.	15 credits
	Data and Machine Learning for Artistic Practice Data and Machine Learning for Artistic Practice 15 credits This module will expose students to state-of-the-art techniques, tools, and open questions related to creative uses of data, signal processing, and machine learning. The emphasis will be on developing hands-on skills using these techniques in creative projects, and on exploring the creative potential of these techniques. Specifically, students will learn about topics including: Representations and feature engineering for sensor data, audio data, image and video data, social media data, etc. Signal processing techniques for working effectively with this data (e.g., perceptual audio and video features, smoothing filters, onset detection) Communication protocols for working with real-time data (e.g., OpenSoundControl, Web Sockets, serial) Applications of classification to creative and interactive contexts: e.g., human pose recognition, activity recognition, semantic audio analysis Applications of regression to creative and interactive contexts: e.g., creating continuous gestural controllers and multimodal mappings (such as music visualisations, gesturally-controlled instruments) Applications of temporal modeling to creative and interactive contexts: e.g., gesture recognition, temporal analysis of music or video Current topics in signal processing and machine learning in music, art, and other creative industries (e.g., Google's "Deep Dream," chat bots, image style transfer) Tools for working with data, signal processing, and machine learning in creative projects, including tools for real-time data analysis Reasoning about fundamental questions in machine learning and data mining, including e.g., how can an algorithm learn from data? What feature representations should we use for a given problem? How do we know whether one algorithm is better than another?	15 credits
	Introduction to Modelling and Animation Introduction to Modelling and Animation 15 credits The scope of this module includes a range of skills to be acquired, which will empower the students to create their own assets for their own game designs, and to work in a team on group projects during the course, giving them the necessary basic art, modelling and animation skills to work in industry. The aim is to train students in the basic use of software packages (for example, 2D paint packages such as Photoshop and 3D Modelling Packages such as 3D Studio Max, Blender and Maya) for the production of game and special effects assets and animation data sets ready for importing into computer games. Skills developed include 2D texturing and associated mapping for 3D worlds. Initially, the students’ work will involve “re-skinning” in-game art assets from existing games such as PacMan, Tetris, Space Invaders and Lemmings using paint packages to produce animating 2D Sprite texture maps, to enable students to get visually pleasing results quickly. Students will then learn how to use modelling software to create a range of 3D assets varying from buildings to cars to household objects to vegetation to roads and terrain etc. keeping within set polygon budgets, thereby creating the building blocks of a small 3D world with moveable elements ready for importing into a game engine (such as Unity or Unreal). Students will learn how to hand draw in a “game concept art style” suitable for production design and how to pitch to clients. They will learn how to storyboard and draw in cartoon / popular art style. Working from their concept art of simple moving human characters, students will learn how to model and “rig” them, to create animated walk and run cycles with blended set key moves. Advanced export pathways including intermediate formats will be also be covered. At the end of the module the students will take the assets they have created and integrate them into an actual simple prototype game for PC or tablet. Throughout the module you’ll be taught project planning, resource management, risk analysis in the context of computer games art development and design.	15 credits
	Mathematics & Graphics for Games 2 Mathematics & Graphics for Games 2 15 credits Interpolation and Approximation (linear, quadratic, cubic, splines, Bezier, B-splines, NURBs), Meshes (triangulations, Voronoi-Delaunay, simplifications, refinements), Light rendering, Maths for physics.	15 credits

Please note: The above list is neither exhaustive nor prescriptive. Other MA or MSc level computing modules may also be available to take (to be agreed with your tutor and the relevant lecturers.)

Seminars

We organise an industry-focused seminar series (shared with other postgraduate programmes), where we invite speakers from the games and creative industries.

Assessment

Mainly based on coursework (involving programming) and essays, as well as a final project and dissertation. Some lecturers may also conduct exams/quizzes.

Attendance

The taught programme is organised into three terms (full-time). The Autumn term runs from early October to mid-December, the Winter/Spring term from mid-January to the end of March, and the Summer term runs, typically, from late April to mid-September. Taught modules are given during the Autumn and Winter/Spring terms, while the Final Project takes place during a Summer term (in the second year for part-time students).

Download the programme specification. If you would like an earlier version of the programme specification, please contact the Quality Office.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Entry requirements

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in a relevant/related subject, such as Game Development, Computer Science or Mathematics. You will be required to demonstrate sufficient proficiency at programming in a major language, such as C, C#, C++ or Java, before being accepted on the programme.

You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

A portfolio of relevant work (such as programming samples, games programmed/designed or even alternative game controllers) will strengthen your application. If you have worked on other, non-games related creative projects, you are welcome to show that in your portfolio, as everything that can show your creativity and commitment is welcome.

In some instances, we may ask to see more of your work or to conduct a short interview.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.0 in writing to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.

Fees, funding & scholarships

Annual tuition fees

The fees for 2021 will be made available soon, but for reference these were the fees for 2020.

Home - full-time: £10450
Home - part-time: £5225
EU - full-time: £10450
EU - part-time: £5225
International - full-time: £15500

If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time if you require a Tier 4 student visa, however this is currently being reviewed and will be confirmed in the new year. Please read our visa guidance in the interim for more information. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.

If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.

Funding opportunities

Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities. If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

UK students offered a place on this degree are eligible to apply for the BAFTA Scholarship Programme.

How to apply

Apply now

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.

Before submitting your application you'll need to have:

Details of your education history, including the dates of all exams/assessments
The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online

Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement

If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

When to apply

We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September.

We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.

If you're applying for external funding from one of the Research Councils, make sure you submit your application by the deadline they've specified.

Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.

Selection process

You will be required to demonstrate sufficient proficiency at programming in a major language, such as C, C#, C++ or Java, before being accepted on the programme. This may take the form of test or – during an interview – a practical challenge to programme a well-known method or algorithm. A portfolio of relevant work (such as programming samples, art-based/sketch book, games assets, or games programmed/designed) will strengthen your application.

Find out more about applying.

Facilities

We encourage all MSc Computer Games Programming students to work closely with their fellow MA Computer Games Art and Design colleagues. We strive to provide an ideal environment for teamwork on games development projects and assignments, better preparing students to face a job in the game industry.

Students also have access to the Computing Department VR Studio containing HTC Vives, Oculus VR headsets, and a multi-camera motion capture studio for development work.

Seminar Series: Games & Entertainment Industries

Each year we bring guest speakers to Goldsmiths from the games and entertainment industries.

This is one of the ways we create more links with the industry and are able to offer to our students help in getting internships in various games studios during the summer term.

In the past our guest speakers have included:

Steve Goss, Creative Director, Supermassive Games
Richard Wilson, Head of TIGA
David Bishop, Head of Game Design, MindCandy
John Ribbins, Creative Director, Roll7
Jeff Wagner, Senior Technology and Production Consultant, SideFx
Russell Clarke, Director of Product Development, Ideaworks Game Studio
Sam Martin, Head of Technology, Geomerics

Staff

Professor William Latham, Co-director of MSc in Computer Games Programming

William is well known for his pioneering work with IBM (1987-93) in evolutionary art and computing at the IBM UK Scientific Centre in Winchester. He is co-author of the book 'Evolutionary Art and Computers', published in 1992, which covers the work during this period with the mathematician Stephen Todd. His award-winning organic computer animated films were shown at SIGGRAPH and many computer graphics events around the world, and he had major art exhibitions, touring the UK, Germany, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan for four years. During this period his work received much press and TV coverage and a number of IBM patents emerged from this work.

From 1993 to 2003, William was CEO of Computer Artworks Ltd, which initially worked with the music industry for two years (clients included BMG Music) then focused on producing computer games for Playstation 2, Xbox and PC. Employing around 90 people, clients included Microsoft, Nokia, Atari and Sony Computer Entertainment. Hit games developed included the award-winning ‘The Thing’ (PS2, Xbox, PC) for Vivendi Universal which was a number one hit in the UK and Germany. (The game is a sequel to the cult John Carpenter film of the same name.) Other products included the cult PC game Evolva for Virgin Interactive and Organic Art for Warner Interactive and Mattel. The average turnover was approximately £5m per annum, with two development studios in London and Brighton. William was responsible for negotiating and closing contracts valued at $100K to $5m with USA and European Publishers.

William is Director and Founder of Games Audit Ltd (2003), which is an Operational and Technical Due Diligence Company focusing on the development of Playstation3, Xbox360, Nintendo Wii, PC and MMO games for clients which include Banks, VCs and City Investment companies, Games Publishers and Developers. Games Audit clients include: Ingenious Ventures, Add Partners and IDG Ventures, ITI Techmedia (Scotland), Imprimatur Capital, IFG (International Film Guarantors), Add Zero, Nesta, NCC (National Computing Center; escrow provider).

Professor Frederic Fol Leymarie, Co-Director of MSc in Computer Games Programming

Frederic was previously the director and founder of the former MSc in Arts Computing (2004-7) and MSc Computer Games & Entertainment (2008-16; jointly with William Latham) at Goldsmiths. He received his BEng in Electrical Engineering, with honors in aeronautics, from the Polytechnic School of Montreal, his MEng from McGill University in Computer Vision and Biomedical Imagery, and his PhD from Brown University (in 3D shape representation). In the mid-nineties he was leading R&D projects in the industry of 3D Geographical Information Systems, with Thales – part of Thomson-CSF – based in Paris, France.

His current research interests incorporate ideas from computer vision, together with the physics of waves and shocks and their modelling in modern mathematics via singularity theory. Frederic is also working on perceptual models grounded in geometry, based in part on Gestalt theory. Frederic has initiated several 'shape-based' projects mixing the arts, humanities, social sciences, and computing, including CyberCity and CyberMonument, digital sculpting (with the Mid-Ocean Studio), digital archaeology (co-founder of the SHAPE lab at Brown University), and FoldSynthProtein Folding Visualisation Project (with William Latham and Stephen Todd at Goldsmiths and the Bioinformatics group at Imperial College, London).

Richard Leinfellner

Richard Leinfellner is co-founder of 80’s games company Palace Software, where he was responsible for a number of hit games for Commodore 64 and Amiga. Richard has held executive level production roles at a number of major developers including 11 years as Executive Producer and Vice President at Electronic Arts. During his career he has managed teams of upto 150 people and shipped a significant number of critically acclaimed and commercially successful games including Cauldron, Barbarian, Dark Omen, Populous 3, Theme Park World, F1 and Battleforge.

Prior to his move into academia Richard was the CEO of Babel Media, with office in the UK, India and Canada and a staff of 350 providing outsourced services for the interactive entertainment industry.

Whilst focusing mainly on games production and business in his spare time Richard is still a keen programmer with a focus on the IOT for which he design Bluetooth Low Energy devices and firmware.

He holds a BA from the Open University and is Visiting Professor for Digital Entertainment and Business at the University of Abertay.

Alan Zucconi

Alan Zucconi is the author of one of the most popular online educational blogs, which helped thousands of developers all over the world to ship their games. Following its success, he published one of the leading textbooks in the field of Shader Coding for Unity. Some of the most recent commercial titles he has worked on include Pikuniku (Nintendo Switch, published by Devolver Digital), Still Time (PS4 & PSVita, in collaboration with SONY) and 0RBITALIS. He has experience in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Analysis, both from an academic and professional point of view.

Alan Zucconi is also a Video Game STEM Ambassador, with a strong focus on intersectional feminism and the support of under-represented groups in the game industry. He is a passionate lecturer and developer, currently working in the intersection between Creativity and Education.

Recognised as one of Develop’s 30 Under 30, he is deeply interested in using new media to bring innovation in Higher Education.

Other Lecturers

Main programme lecturers will be suplemented by lectures from games industry professionals, as well as invited guest lecturers, also from the games industry.

Careers

This course is run by an experienced team of practitioners who have the knowledge and industry contacts to help you succeed in the computer games industry. As well as offering you the chance to do an internship as part of your course, we also host regular speakers and networking sessions.

Almost 100% of our graduates find work within four to five months of finishing the course. They now work for a number of major studios including Splash Damage, Ubisoft, SONY SCEE, Rebellion Studios, Mediatonic, Frontier, Supermassive and Roll7, as well as getting funded for startups such as Terrardhard. Find out what some of our alumni have to say about their time studying at Goldsmiths.

We also work with the following industry partners:

Sony

Many of our Alumni (from the previous MSc CGE) are working at Sony in London and abroad. You will be able to get in touch with them and get insider tips and feedback to better prepare yourself to join this giant of the industry.

Placement: Supermassive Games

"Following two years of successful placements at Supermassive Games, which resulted in full time jobs, we are looking forward to inviting Goldsmiths students to take part in our internship assessment day again this year."

Jonathan Amor, Director of Technology, Supermassive Games

Placement: Reflections - a Ubisoft studio

"We are delighted to announce that Reflections, a Ubisoft studio, will be taking on two Goldsmiths MSc Computer Games and Entertainment Programming students for Internship."

Dr Chris Jenner, Expert Programmer

Placement: Rebellion

"Having now placed four interns from Goldsmiths here at Rebellion, two of which have gone on to become permanent members of staff, we are very much looking forward to future applications from talented and creative Goldsmiths MSc Computer Games students” Jason Kingsley OBE, CEO and Creative Director of Rebellion

Rebellion is one of Europe’s largest independent game developer-publishers, with their own state of the art cross-platform games engine and toolset. Rebellion’s latest number one hit was Sniper Elite 3, and they also publish the legendary 2000AD comic featuring Judge Dredd.

Placement: The Creative Assembly (SEGA)

Following two continuous years of The Creative Assembly (SEGA) successfully taking Goldsmiths MSc Games Programming Students on placements we are pleased to announce that we have reserved a minimum of three placements for Goldsmiths MSc students starting the course in September 2013, on site during the period May to September 2014. Subject to interview/ portfolio process”. Martin Servantes Director of Operations & Finance

Leading UK Developer Creative Assembly is the developer of the hit game series Total War. They are currently working on a new cross-platform title based on the Alien IP. Based in Horsham.

Placement: Jagex Games Studio

"Jagex Games Studio in Cambridge is looking forward to receiving applications from Goldsmiths’ talented MSc Games and Entertainment students for their summer internships in 2014”.

Sue Stather, Graduate Recruitment Specialist, Jagex Games Studio (RuneScape and Transformers Universe MMO Development Studio)

Placement: Roll 7

Roll7 is a New Cross-based indie video games developer and has been offering placements to Goldsmiths MSc Games students for three years. Roll7 is just about to release its first console title OlliOll, exclusively for PSVita, and we are looking for another 1 or 2 Goldsmiths programming interns for 2014 to work on a Sony backed PS4/Vita cross-play title

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths

Student work

Exercise for the Maths&Gfx1—MSc CGE Course at Goldsmiths, with Prof. Fol Leymarie. A stochastic L-System implementation using the Octet framework (github.com/andy-thomason/octet), featuring a rendering mode with a spring-damper system.

BioBlox2D : development done at Goldsmiths by some of our past MSc games programming students. More details here: http://www.bioblox.org

BioBlox3D : development done at Goldsmiths by some of our past MSc games programming students. Details on the project: http://www.bioblox.org

BioBloxVR : development done at Goldsmiths, University of London, by some of our past MSc games programming students. More on the project here: http://www.bioblox.org

Similar programmes

MA Computer Games Art & Design

This MA responds to the pressing need for a high quality postgraduate degree serving the computer games and entertainment industries. The emphasis is on games design, art and animation, and will also develop the fundamentals of computer programming, entrepreneurship/business, and your own practice. You'll also be able to work with industry partners.

Course information

Department

Length

Course overview

Industry placements

Contact the department

What you'll study

Introduction to Programming for Games

Advanced Programming for Games

Mathematics & Graphics for Games 1

Games Design and Games Analytics

Business and Practice

Final Project

AI for Games

Physics and Animation for Games

Tools and Middleware for Games and Special Effects

Introduction to Virtual Reality

Mixed Realities

Data and Machine Learning for Artistic Practice

Introduction to Modelling and Animation

Mathematics & Graphics for Games 2