Games and Virtual Reality

Key Facts

Staff

Programme Overview

How to Apply

Institution Name: GSA
Institution Code: G43
UCAS Code: G450

Award

BSc (Hons) Immersive Systems Design. All GSA degree programmes are validated by the University of Glasgow. Established in 1451, the University of Glasgow is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading UK research universities and a founder member of Universitas 21, an international grouping of universities dedicated to setting worldwide standards for higher education.

Assessment

Formative assessments take place at key points throughout the year with summative assessments at the end of each academic year. Summative assessments will principally comprise of project work, individual and group-based, and a range of written work. This written work will comprise of essays, reflective documents, log-books and role analyses/evaluations and a final dissertation.

Facilities
The School of Innovation and Technology has a base at the Hub at Pacific Quay where there are extensive digital facilities and equipment including two 5.1 Surround Sound Dubbing Studios and a periphonic ambisonics SoundLab.

Indicative Additional Costs
Individual departments levy material fees as indicated on this page. You should budget for each year of your programme of study and should allow for costs over and above your fees and maintenance, particularly if expensive materials or projects are chosen.

Head of School
Dr. Gordon Hush

Head of Postgraduate Programmes
Dr Daniel Livingstone

Head of Undergraduate Programmes
Dr Sandy Louchart

Tutors
Danny Buksh
Brian Loranger
Michael Marriott
Victor Portela
Dr Matthieu Poyade
Gillian Moffat
Daisy Abbott
Claire Eaglesham
Fraser Dougan
Prof Steve Love
Dr Daniel Livingstone

Programme Overview

Games and VR is a specialist pathway of the BSc in Immersive Systems Design. You can learn more about both this and the 3D modelling pathway and see examples of student projects in the Immersive Systems Design Portfolio site.

This programme is based at the School of Innovation and Technology, with a specialist pathway in Games and Virtual Reality. The programme provides graduates with a highly relevant skill set in practical software and immersive systems (Augmented and Virtual Reality) development, an understanding of how people and technology interact, combined with the creative insight essential to help create the future in immersive systems. This is a technology focused degree with a strong art-school foundation, combining rigorous taught components with studio based learning and critical thinking. 

Visualisation and Virtual Reality has been an area of excellence for the School of Simulation and Visualisation since its formation (as the Digital Design Studio) almost 20 years ago, and is an area that is now seeing a surge of rapid development and adoption worldwide. With the entertainment market driving costs down, new opportunities are emerging for VR in broadcast and entertainment, medical, engineering and other domains, with major investments from companies as varied as Sky Broadcasting, Sony, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft.

Through the programme students will gain an understanding of major issues around application development for games and virtual reality alongside practical skills for creating engaging and immersive interactive experiences.

The programme will provide students with a foundation in theory and practical understanding of the methods, tools and techniques required to conceive, design and evaluate new interactive and immersive systems for traditional and mobile platforms.

Students will specialise in application development for Games and Virtual Reality, while gaining a broader range of technical skills for the emerging VR market. Students will combine knowledge of how software and hardware digital systems function with game design skills. Games and VR developers are highly valued team members on many Immersive Systems projects, due to their strong understanding of technical issues, problems and solutions related to real-time rendering and application development. An understanding of user experience and user evaluation further enriches and augments students abilities in modelling and design for specific activities.

A pathway in 3D Modelling is also available on the BSc (Hons) Immersive Systems Design programme - information here.