Introduction
Take your computer game development skills to the next level. Gain experience in multi-disciplinary working in our specialist studios and create an advanced portfolio.
Already have an ARU degree? You may be eligible for our Alumni Scholarship for students starting postgraduate courses.
Skilled games designers are in high demand, with the value of the UK's games industry reaching £7.05 billion in 2022. (Source: UKIE)
If you have a first degree in computer science or a similar technical degree, our MSc Computer Games Development (Computing) will give you the skills and confidence to create advanced level games.
Accredited by TIGA, our course will allow you to study, plan, produce and test games, and gain the technical design skills to publish successfully across a range of platforms.
Course options
Key facts
Student work
Hexagonal map generator - Jack Silva, 2024
A Unity tool that procedural generates hexagonal map with customisable properties.
Island Guardian - MA/MSc group project, 2024
Main menu of a collaborative game development project by MA and MSc students.
Island Guardian - MA/MSc group project, 2024
Scene from a collaborative game development project by MA and MSc students.
Entry Requirements
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Fees and Paying for University
Facilities and showcase
Industry-standard facilities
As a Computer Games student at ARU, you’ll benefit from:
- High-end computers with graphic tablets
- Motion capture equipment
- Render farm
- Industry-standard SLRs (for HDRI capture)
- HD cameras
- Top of the range 3D modelling, animation, and compositing software including Maya, Motion Builder, 3DS Max, Mudbox, ZBrush and Unity 3D
- Podcast and video capture system
Our dedicated Computer Graphics Technical Officer will be on hand to offer training and support. You can also get training in the use of all our creative facilities.
Futures Lab and workshop equipment
Our new digital workshop includes a variety of computer aided manufacturing machines, helping you learn up to date manufacturing and design processes as well as supporting many traditional techniques. These technologies include:
- 3D printers and scanners - FDM printers; material-specific extruders; SLA Formlabs printers; SLS Formlabs Fuse1; structured light 3D scanners
- 2D printing and cutting machines - laser cutters; Roland BN20 vinyl printer & cutter; Gerber substrate cutter; Mimaki TX300P sublimation printer.
Outstanding student support
Join our postgraduate student community and:
- benefit from award-winning learning facilities, including extensive library and IT resources
- learn from expert staff who will guide your research interests and career development
- receive full support from our Employability Service, while you're studying with us and after you graduate
- access support, should you need it, with study skills, health and wellbeing, and more.
Take a closer look
Our Creative Showcase shines a spotlight on what makes ARU creative and cultural – our spaces, places and people. Find out more about our community, the difference we make, the stories we tell, and the things that inspire us. You can also explore the work of our graduating students in our digital graduate showcase.
Accreditation
TIGA accredited
Our course is accredited by TIGA, the trade association representing the gaming industry in the UK.
Lecturers
Ian Brown
Senior Lecturer Practitioner
Barış Işıkgüner
Associate Professor
Careers
It can take up to three years to create a game, from initial concept to the finished product. One game can involve up to 200 professionals working as a team.
As a game developer, you could design the visual styling as well as how it plays. You could be involved with animation, creating audio, programming, testing and producing.
Our MSc Computer Games Development (Computing) will also equip you to develop ‘serious’ games. These are used in rehabilitation, education and training, defence, science, health, city planning and engineering.
You could also go into marketing, teaching or general technology.
While you’re studying here and after you graduate, you can access support through our dedicated Employability Service.
Graduation doesn’t have to be the end of your time with us. You could choose to continue your academic career with a research programme at ARU, such as our PhD Computer Science. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and save £400 on your fees.
Want to talk to someone?
Do you have a question that we haven't answered so far? Talk to our application experts. You can also ask our Student Ambassadors about life at ARU.
We're here Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training), and Friday 9am-4.30pm.
Benefits of postgraduate study
Improve your employability, progress in your career, and take on an intellectual challenge with our flexible postgraduate degrees.
Postgraduate study at ARU
Life in Cambridge
Our friendly, bustling campus is a stone’s throw from the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.
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