Game Development @ British Universities: Polycount students assemble!
If you're a student studying game development, or a similar degree: I need your help.
I'm Tom, I'm a college student in the UK looking to go to university in September 2012. My problem is as such: I've been to quite a few open days, and been impressed by a number of universities, but I'm worried I may have overlooked a few possible courses, or not have heard the whole story, so I ask of you, the people who know what you're talking about, to lend a hand.
I've been looking at the following courses, and I wanted to know if you had any more you could recommend I have a look at, or if there are any I should definitely keep clear of?
Here's what I'm looking at already:
I'm Tom, I'm a college student in the UK looking to go to university in September 2012. My problem is as such: I've been to quite a few open days, and been impressed by a number of universities, but I'm worried I may have overlooked a few possible courses, or not have heard the whole story, so I ask of you, the people who know what you're talking about, to lend a hand.
I've been looking at the following courses, and I wanted to know if you had any more you could recommend I have a look at, or if there are any I should definitely keep clear of?
Here's what I'm looking at already:
- Abertay University - Computer Game Application Development
- University of Glamorgan - Computer Games Development
- Plymouth University - Computing & Game Development
- Staffordshire University - Computer Games Design
- University of Wolverhampton - Computer Games Design
- University of Wolverhampton - Computer Science (Game Development)
- University of Worcester - Computer Games Design & Documentation
Replies
I'm currently studying Computer Game Development at Glyndwr University.
http://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/Undergraduatecourses/ComputerGameDevelopment/
I will be lookin at Abertay when i graduate next year as the offer paid postitions for graduates to work on projects.
http://www.tees.ac.uk/undergraduate_courses/Animation_Games_&_Computer_Graphics/
I know people from both Teeside and Abertay, But i expect Abertay is the better choice.
Basically, if you can't afford to pay off the loans with the employment you have now, don't do it. Get some books, read tutorials, buy training DVDs, and talk to people here at PC instead. You also have to be committed to the task of going to school because you're investing in yourself. If you can't meet the demand, you're making a poor investment that won't pay off in the future.
Being a former game school student with tons of loans I can't afford to pay back, I'm telling you it's not worth it unless you are certain beyond a doubt that you can do the work and afford the loans. For me, it wasn't, but it had to do with the school as much as me. Today, a degree in anything doesn't even come close to promising you a career in that field, so you might be buying a worthless piece of paper. Too many people are getting degrees because they're told it's compulsory only to find that it's gets you nothing. A lot of college students have found this out the hard way, including me.
I hope by sharing my insight on this you make the most equitable decision for you, because it would suck to have one more person lamenting the worst choice in their life.
That would help a bit. I'm on my final year of a more "general" games design course. Knowing what I know now I wish I had just gone on a games art course. But the great thing about a more open course is that it does allow you to be exposed to different areas. One problem can be that some of these courses are waaay too broad and don't narrow down towards the end - leaving people with a real mix-match of skills (I knew one guy who's course left them with skills of database management, web-development and some basic knowledge of 3D applications).
@greevar, did you study in the US? In the UK there's a pretty decent system of tuition fees and loans that don't have such a huge impact on graduates once they've graduated.
God damnit Greevar you gonna troll every damn thread in GD? Yes, he should go to college. This was not one of those damn threads until you decided to start shit. College is nowhere near as expensive in the UK as it is in the US, do your homework. Reported, cause your post was OT in a way thats just gonna start 5 pages of back and forth flaming between those that have the sheet and those who don't.
I got job upon graduating from there and so did like 11 other people in my year at various studios around the country. I recommend.
Yeah, I'm a US student. I didn't know it was a better deal in terms of cost, but I do stand by my original points considering how things are going with the value and utility of college these days, for-profit colleges especially.
@Andreas report yourself, I gave reasonable and factual advice. I didn't start anything. It's entirely in your mind. The cost issue might not apply to UK students exactly, but it's no reason to go ape-shit on me. You need to cool your temper. I came here to help, not troll (by the way, having an opposing viewpoint is not trolling, but treating me like one is). College is a dicey issue these days. Completion doesn't guarantee you a career anymore. It's not worth it if you can't afford it on your current income and/or meet the demand of the classwork. If you fail out, can't handle the work, or graduate into a saturated job market, you're going to be saddled with lots of debt and no job to pay it off. I found this out the hard way and I want to make sure other know what they might be getting into. Good for him that it's cheaper in the UK. I wish him the best of luck if he decides to attend.
He asked and I'm qualified to answer the question based on my experience as a former game dev student. I said my piece and I'm done. You should be too unless you have some advice for him. Good bye.
Yeah, I went to Abertay open day on Wednesday, but I was slightly underwhelmed by how the course sounded. It seems to isolate programmers from artists, and I wanted to stay at least a little bit generalised until 3rd/4th year. Other than that, I was very much impressed by their facilities.
I will look into Teeside, Glyndwr, Bournmouth & Leicester.
Cheers so far, guys.
This is a big problem with all schools that are not directly (and I mean directly) related to video-game development. When you look at a school that you might want to go to , you should look if their teachers have actual games/movies experience AND if they school actually have contacts within certain game-companies.
It's definitely not worth it for you to spend loads and loads on student loans to end up without a job in the end. Then you're better off taking a regular job and try to work as hard has you can at home to break in.
In Sweden we have several schools aimed directly at video-games development (2 - 2½ years long), they have their internships at the big studios and if you are promising, you'll get a spot in the internship. Plus most educations in Sweden are free, you only pay for material, like books and of course the cost of living which can be supported with loans as well, but more often than not there is no tuition.
If you're looking at becoming a video-game developer, you should def try to look at schools in other countries as well, because when you are ready to get professional, chances are that you'll someday have to move out of country to become one.
I still believe that college is way overrated these days, however it'll come in handy if you're moving to another country in the future and for networking. Just be sure that the school you're going to actually have contacts. In the end it's still up to you how good you'll become and how to prepare for the job. College shows the way (tools, networking, workflow), but most of them don't do it right. It's a highly specialized industry, and the schools should reflect that.
I went to Newcastle College did a foundation course in animation for 2 years then had the option of doing a "top up" year to earn a full BA Hons in "creative practice". What that mean is I pretty much choose which area of art I wanted to specialise in and the course works around that. The course also had fashion, sculpture, photgraphy, etc students.
Now, while I would NEVER EVER recommend the course I was on. When I started the degree year I was one of the few who secured a work placement arranged through the college. So for the entire year I was working and trying to do a degree at the same time. At the time work placements didn't go toward my final year mark so my course work suffered and I didnt get as high a grade as I'd have. (btw, proper games course usually do a year out for placements, 3rd yr I think. So it becomes a 4 yr course)
BUT, and this is the important bit, the course got me into the industry and no one has ever cared about my piss poor degree. My portfolio is what counts. So I look at it like this. All my loans and stuff got me a job that I doubt i'd have got otherwise.
Look for a courses that has good work placement schemes and strong connections with the industry. That's more important than any degree IMO. Work hard, get recognition and you'll be head of the line for any work placements.
I went to Abertay, and I know of people who have studied in pretty much every games course across the UK so I have a good idea of what the general opinion is of them.
Now, the best thing about Abertay isn't the course itself, it's the fact that you're surrounded by people from all different areas. You'll have Producers, Designers, Artists, Programmers, and Audio peeps which makes it an ideal situation to form teams for projects and Dare to be Digital. Most other universities just have a single course whether it be Game Art or Programming. Some have both but it's rare to find so many courses under one university.
Industry links don't matter much since you can network in your spare time. As for Dare being run from Abertay; anybody can apply to it and being an Abertay student doesn't really matter. Abertay has close links with the industry but as someone mentioned above - the games industry in Dundee isn't as good as it used to be. Saying that, Abertay has links with companies such as BBC, Chunk, Tag Games, Outplay Entertainment, Proper Games, Sony, Ruffian Games and Disney. Although you don't get a 'year in the industry', I worked alongside BBC for a year, as well as being given a summer job through opportunities at Abertay. In your 3rd year you get to work on a module where you have the option to work with a company, and some of the companies above are given as options.
Crappy website (English button on the left side): http://www.mas.h-da.de/Digital_Media_Home_%281%29/
Degrees in Scotland are 4 years compared to 3 years in England. Correct me if I'm wrong?
Stringer88: If you were born in Scotland then tuition is free in Scotland.
It depends on what discipline you're interested in. I've experienced a few courses and found the most technically challenging was the programming course at Derby. I find it difficult to recommend an art related course though. For example, my experience dealing with UCLAN's game design course was absolutely shocking, even if their technical course (game development) is pretty reasonable.
I'm doing Game Design at Leeds Met at the moment and it seems pretty decent, but it's more heavily focused on design than art (obviously).
Teesside's courses are awful. I speak from personal experience. Don't even think about going there - you'll waste your time and your money.
From what I hear Bournemouth's not up to much either unless you're doing non-game CG/animation.
Stinger88: Your uni fees are only paid in Scotland if you're Scottish.
The people who get jobs after graduating are the people who don't rely on having a degree / good grades on their CV; they're the ones who have gained experience and have a portfolio showing potential.
Don't put anything in your folio that's part of your coursework (barring your final year project).
+1 :thumbup:
completely agree!
im in my final year and have done loads of extra work with tutorials etc, dont expect to just do the work on your course and walk into a job its no where near good enough except for your final year stuff which should be as professional as possible.
Abertay was ok, but as people have stated, it's what you do in your own time that really counts.
And maybe pick somewhere you actually think you will have a fun social experience at too, uni is about more than just education in my opinion.
Being close to Dare to be Digital is a big plus point, although students from all over can apply. (I took part and it was awesome)
You're not paying for them to make you an artist, you're paying for them to give you the guidance to become an artist. University teaches you a multitude of skills that come in useful, public speaking, teaching peers, meeting deadlines to name a few.
You're paying for an education - not for a successful career.