Careers Brief - Computer Games Technology FdSc

Overview

The Foundation degree in Computer Games Technology offers you the opportunity for progression onto an Honours degree Top-up programme or direct job entry.

Computer gaming within the interactive entertainment industry is a dynamic, fast moving and expanding market with increasing sophistication. It is essential to keep up to date with relevant software and be able to adapt to change.

A good games designer needs to be multi-talented with an all-round knowledge: technical understanding, able to use software packages and demonstrate creativity and imagination.

You are likely to be working in a large multi disciplinary team and could be involved in both the initial concept design and the more lengthy development design stage. You will need to be able to effectively communicate ideas, information, problems and solutions.

A sound knowledge base of programming and gaming software is essential to get into computer games design.

Despite a shortage of skills within the computer games and leisure software industry, computer gaming is a popular career and there are a large number of colleges/universities producing graduates from gaming-related courses. Few employers are able to train new entrants and without the right skills and a passion for games, you are unlikely to break into this competitive career.

For an overview of the industry sector, go to National Guidance Research Forum for 'LMI Future trends' and 'Sectors covered'.

Go to the website links below to find out more.

Further Study

You will be able to apply for a Top-up degree. Top-up degrees are designed as direct progression from Foundation degree to achieve an Honours (or Ordinary) degree, though entry may be selective.

Alternatively, you could transfer onto a related Honours degree. Entry point would depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses but could be the final year.

Go to http://onlineservices.bournemouth.ac.uk/courses/ for information on the BSc (Hons) Games Technology and computing top-up degree courses.

There are very few institutions offering a specific Top-up course with 'Games Technology'. These include: University of Huddersfield; University of Portsmouth; Sheffield Hallam University; Staffordshire University; University of the Arts London; University of Wolverhampton.

To search degree courses go to www.ucas.com/ (UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK). Use the university/college links for course details.

You will need to use UCAS to apply for courses. Contact the Course Tutor of your chosen course to find out your position, before you make your formal application.

Find out how much this will cost you. Where is your funding coming from? Go to the university/college links for information on course costs and finance and to the Financial support section for additional help .

Alternatively, you could consider 'topping up' your Foundation degree to Honours through distance learning with the Open University. You could be awarded up to 240 credits and then only need 120 credits of OU study at level 3 to achieve an Honours degree. This would also offer you the opportunity to take up employment. Go to www.open.ac.uk/ to search undergraduate courses and credit transfer.

With a good Honours degree (First or 2.1), you may progress onto an appropriate higher level degree to attain a Masters and/or PhD doctorate. This could be to develop your area of study to a more in-depth practical and/or academic level or to gain other specialist training.

For information on postgraduate study and finance, go to the national online directory at www.prospects.ac.uk/study.htm .

Useful Links

http://mycareerhub.bournemouth.ac.uk/

Bournemouth University Graduate Employment Service - job news, campus events, part-time work, placement, graduate jobs, ask a question, book an appointment

www.blitzgamesstudios.com/

Go to Divisions 'Blitz Academy Career Advice' - for a career in games

www.bigambition.co.uk/Games/

e-skills UK careers site for young people

www.skillset.org/careers/

The Sector Skills Council for the Creative Media - Careers section

Go to sub-heading title 'Computer Games'

www.creative-choices.co.uk/

Creative Choices developing your career in the creative & cultural industries

www.e-skills.com/careers

e-skills UK - Sector Skills Council for IT and Telecoms

http://nextstep.direct.gov.uk/

Next Step careers site - go to sub-headings 'Planning your career' and 'Job Profiles' for section link 'Information Technology and Information Management'

www.bcs.org/

BCS The Chartered Institute for IT

Drop down sub-heading 'Qualifications, Training, Careers' and go to section 'Careers' + 'Students'

www.prospects.ac.uk/starting_out.htm

Graduate Prospects - national careers website for HE students studying in the UK:

Drop down 'Job sectors' to go to 'IT and information services' for 'Games developer'

Drop down 'Jobs and work experience' for 'What jobs would suit me?' using Prospects Planner

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/computergames.htm

University of Kent Careers Service - 'I want to work in...Computer Games'

www.pact.co.uk/

Pact - UK trade association promoting interests of independent feature film, TV, digital, children's and animation companies

www.insidecareers.co.uk/