Master of Science - Game Development - Programming (Professional Placement)

This course focuses on the design skills necessary for the field of game development. Students will create and develop computer games both alone and as part of a team. Excellent facilities include Sony PlayStation 4 developer kits and software such as Unity Pro, Unreal and Maya. They will also have access to Kingston's new Centre for Virtual and Augmented Reality. There is regular input from industry practitioners, particularly through the games inKUbator, and the chance to participate in Game Jams and Hackathons. With a professional presence, portfolio and a range of skills, students will be ready to impress potential employers.

• This course has been developed in consultation with Kingston's industry panel, and they are an educational partner of Sony Interactive Entertainment through PlayStation First. Kingston University is also an active member of TIGA, the games industry's representative body.

• This course has been designed to utilise the best digital media expertise and resources from across the University, and will prepare students for employment in the digital media industry, where teams of specialists work together to develop and author innovative digital media projects.

Kingston University allow students to take the option of a 12-month work placement as part of their course. The responsibility for finding the work placement is with the student; the University cannot guarantee the placement, just the opportunity to undertake it. Students may find securing a professional placement difficult as they are highly competitive and challenging, but they are also incredibly rewarding. It is very important for students to prepare and apply themselves if this is the route they wish to take. Employers look for great written and oral communication skills and an excellent CV/portfolio. As the work placement is an assessed part of the course, it is covered by a student's Student Route visa.

Graduates of this course are suited to jobs in the games and media industries, but the core skills they will learn are also excellent preparation for a wide range of computing careers. These include game programmer, AI programmer, VR game developer, VR developer, software engineer and technical programmer.