Course Title: HNC Computer Games Development

Group Award Code: GM09 15

Modes of Study:

• Classroom Learning Full Time  & Part Time
• Distance Learning – Full Time & Part Time

Starting from: January & August

Course Introduction

Students will study a selection of appropriate computer games and computing units designed to develop student skills and competencies in the computer games area.

Computer games developers use their expertise to design and implement games or high performance real-time simulation involving a high standard of programming and mathematical skills. As such, many of the traditional core software engineering topics are addressed in the programme but are given a different emphasis with significantly more focus on interactive computer graphics.

These technologies can be learned and mastered by completing the both HNC & HND.

What will you study?

Courses include subjects such as Games Technology, Level Design and Editing, Modelling and Animation and Web Design and Development and are taught in computer labs with modern hardware and industry standard software.

Students will study a selection of Games Development units designed to develop student’s skills and competencies to enable further study in HND Games Development.

Topics may include:

 Games Technology

 Computer Games Development

 Object Oriented Programming

 Digital Imaging

 Level Design and Editing

 Modelling and Animation

 Computing Planning

 Mathematics

 Working within a Project Team

Entry Requirements

Minimum Entry Requirements is likely to include at least one of the following:

1. One Higher pass – maths or computer science preferred,
2. 2 Standard Grades at band 1 to 3 OR Intermediate 2 at  band A to C
3. National Certificate in Computer games at SCQF level 5 or level 6 or a combination of both OR
4. Any two relevant National Courses at Higher together with three Standard Grade/Intermediate passes OR
5. Relevant National Progression Awards OR
6. National Units at appropriate levels combined with any of the above OR
7. IT Professional Training recognises that many students come to the institutes with a wide range of expertise, skills and knowledge that has never been officially assessed. This may have been gained through a variety of personal situations OR
8. If you do not have the relevant qualifications for the course you applied for, you will be required to provide details of your previous learning experiences that are of the same level as the entry qualifications for your selected course. Applicants with relevant experience but without formal qualifications may be accepted via interview OR
9. Other equivalent qualifications or computing experience will also be considered OR
10. Vendor qualifications (certificates) will also be accepted such as from Microsoft C#, Oracle, CIW, Adobe, etc.

Additional Selection Requirements: 

All applications are subject to an interview to assess suitability in terms of academic qualifications and motivation. Reference will also be considered.

Students will be invited for a group and/or individual interview where they will get the opportunity to find out more about the course and to tell us why they are interested in this particular area.

Course Development Routes:

This course integrates learning materials from industry standard vendors such as Oracle, Microsoft, and Adobe which can help to prepare students for a variety of vendor certification exams.

On completion of this certificate or during the course, units relevant to any particular vendor’s certification students can appear to equip themselves with the global recognised and employers demand qualification from any of the following:

1. Microsoft C # Programming (based on Windows)
2. Oracle: Database Design & Programming (OOP)
3. Adobe

In HND, there will be more opportunity to learn further vendors based SQA units which will help students to attain further vendors specific certificate which is today’s employers demand.

Career Prospects:

Graduates from this programme will be well-positioned to apply for industry jobs such as;

1. Systems Software Administrator
2. Junior Software Developer
3. Software Administrator
4. Games Modeller
5. Junior Games Developer

Progression route on course completion:

On completion of this course, candidates will move on to the following:

1. 2^nd year in HND Computer Games Development
2. Entry into the first year of related Degree programmes at most UK universities.

Target Audience:

Learners are likely to come from the following target groups:

1. School leavers
2. Adult returners to education
3. Those in employment who wish to enhance their career prospects

Application Forms
The forms are available to download from our website. HNC Application Form can be collected from the Admissions Office.

Funding Available:

1. Full Time: https://www.saas.gov.uk/full-time

2. Part Time: https://www.saas.gov.uk/part-time

For Students who don’t qualify for the above fundings:

How much HNC/HND course will cost?

For students living (domiciled) in Scotland or the European Union and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees will apply:

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

We also provide flexible fee instalments to help students in paying their fee.

There are a number of other funding opportunities available to UK and EU students to help them to pay for their studies and also to cover cost of living whilst studying. Contact the college for more details.