Bachelor of Science in Computer Games Development

You will study the modules presented in Year 1 of the Common Entry route to Computer Games Development. The emphasis in Year 1 is on programming, an appreciation of its basis, and the study of the physical machine on which programs run. In the second year, and in the first semester of third year, the programme will extend your knowledge of general software development, while other modules are directly relevant to game development.

In semester two of year three, you will have an eight month cooperative education placement, either in Ireland or abroad, where you will get the opportunity to apply the knowledge you have learned, increase your awareness of the computer games work place and develop your social and business skills.

In the fourth year, you will undertake a significant independent project in the area. Normally this will involve development of one or more software components of a computer game, or developing a complete game using existing software components. In addition, you will continue to deepen your knowledge of general software development and to acquire deeper expertise in specialised aspects of game related issues.

Year 1

Semester 1    
 

• Representation and Modelling    
• Introduction to Programming    
• Foundations of Computer Science 1    
• Fundamentals of Computer Organisation    
• Discrete Mathematics    

Semester 2
 

• Games Modelling Design
• Software Development
• Foundations of Computer Science 2
• Computing System Organisation 
• Computer Maths 2

Year 2

Semester 3    
 

• Object Oriented Development    
• Operating Systems    
• Database Systems     
• Software Testing and Inspection    
• Games for Global Markets    

Semester 4
 

• Intelligent Systems
• Event Driven Programming
• Data Structures and Algorithms
• Computer Graphics
• Statistics for Computing

Year 3

Semester 5    
 

• Digital Modelling and Animation    
• Virtual and Augmented Reality Design    
• Mobile Application Development    
• Artificial Intelligence for Games    
• Machine Learning: Methods and Applications    

Semester 6
 

• Cooperative Education
• Cooperative Education

Year 4

Semester 7    
 

• Advanced Programming Concepts and Practices    
• Computer Graphics II: Tools and Techniques    
• Systems Analysis and Design    
• Neural Computing    
• Computer Games Development Project 1    

Semester 8
 

• Computer Games Development Project 2
• Software Design and Architecture
• Writing Games Analysis
• Data Mining
   

Minimum grades    
Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher Level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.

Subject requirements    
In addition, applicants must hold a minimum grade O2/H6 in Mathematics.

Tuition Fees

These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.

Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows
 

1. Residency
    
   • You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
      
2. Citizenship
    
   • You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
      
3. Course Requirements (all must be met)
    
   • You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
   • You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
   • You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)

Job titles for graduates with this degree

Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on the Graduate Outcomes Survey by graduates approximately one year after graduation:
 

• Graduate Programme Intern
• IT Technician
• Junior IT Consultant
• Junior Software Engineer
• Marketing Executive
• Mission Scripter
• Programming Engineer
• QA Engineer
• Research Assistant
• Service Engineer
• Social Localisation Programmer
• Software Developer
• Software Engineer
• Software Programmer
• Software QA Tester
• System Document Author
• Systems Software Engineer
• Systems Technician
• Technical Support
• Technology Analyst (Consulting Department)