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Remember the days when people thought avid video gamers would amount to nothing? Or that having a passion for playing these virtual explorations would distract you from realistic job prospects? It is safe to say that those days are well in the past.
Today, computer games engineering is a lucrative and thriving field, one that’s constantly evolving because of the many rapid technological advancements. “Our focus and drive is to mould and shape the next generation of games engineers who will redefine the gaming industry of the future,” says Associate Professor and MSc Games Engineering course director at the University of Warwick, Dr. Thomas Bashford-Rogers.
As the gaming sector grows, skilled engineers are in extremely high demand. “After having consulted industry leaders within this landscape, we know that there are huge gaps in terms of skills for technically proficient games engineers. With the surge in demand over the past 10 years, we feel we’re best positioned to up-skill and create the next generation of games engineers at Warwick, in order to solve one of the industry’s biggest challenges,” says Bashford-Rogers.
The Russell Group institution’s MSc in Games Engineering is unique: according to Bashford-Rogers, “there is no comparable pure technical Master’s degree that focuses on games engineering.” Students get a balance of theoretical and practical learning in this programme and by the end they will have a strong understanding of the process of modern games development. Practically, students will make a wide range of games in addition to their own game engines with state-of-the-art features, giving them a wide range of industrially desirable skills.
What will you gain from the University of Warwick’s MSc Games Engineering programme?
Students will get to develop their skills, picking up expert insights on high-performance graphics, programming, data structures, physics, acoustics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, networking, modelling and rendering. This learning is led by experienced engineers and scientists who combine relevant academic research with industry expertise, ensuring both proficiency and professionalism. The course content is crafted with the latest research and relevant tricks of the trade.
A key highlight of this programme is its focus on employability. The university engages directly with industry experts, examining how game studios work, the roles in that space, as well as the connection between the complicated software components and the games development pipeline. “The course content is shaped by the demands of key industry players, like hiring managers and senior developers,” says Bashford-Rogers.
The interdisciplinary WMG department is the largest at Warwick, and it brings together technology and engineering with business and management. Students benefit from the best facilities, including industry-standard hardware. Between these benefits and the impressive reputation the university has earned — it is one of the UK’s leading universities for teaching, industry engagement and research — students leave university as career-ready graduates armed with prestigious degrees.
As cutting-edge research is incorporated into their programme, these graduates can be confident they’ll hit the ground running upon joining the dynamic industry. This master’s degree is developed in collaboration with Warwick’s Visualisation Research Group, drawing on their expertise in visual computing, which includes computer graphics, vision, imaging, distributed and parallel systems, human-computer interaction, and artificial intelligence. The WMG department has 1,300 full-time MSc students across thirteen different disciplines, and 34 research groups that spearhead 40% of all research carried out at the university. “Through the dissertation project, students address both current and future industry challenges, giving them valuable insight into the requirements and demands of the sector,” says Bashford-Rogers.
Source: University of Warwick – WMG
While there is great demand for talented game developers, Warwick’s MSc in Games Engineering will certainly provide the competitive advantage. Students will develop an industry standard portfolio throughout the course, and have the chance to take part in networking, engagement and feedback from a range of industry professionals.
The University of Warwick is perfectly situated as well, in terms of resources and its physical whereabouts. It is located next to Leamington Spa, also known as “The Silicon Spa,” which is the heart of the UK gaming industry, housing companies such as Codemasters, SEGA and Ubisoft. You cannot be better placed to ensure a bright future with leading companies right at your doorstep.
The skills students pick up from this master’s programme are versatile. They can be applied across numerous other sectors, including film, finance, and software engineering. “Warwick is looking to develop a broad range of students, with the MSc in Games Engineering, equipping students with a wide set of transferable skills,” says Bashford-Rogers.
More profound still is how the MSc makes students adaptable. They are able to explore different sectors and industries, ensuring their hireability no matter the climate. “We know that technical expertise will be increasingly essential, even in the age of AI — ‘Coders are the Future’ — and we want to be part of that journey of equipping our students in the best way possible wherever they go,” he says.
A career in games engineering is made not only possible, but lucrative and enviable with an MSc Games Engineering degree. “Warwick wants to be part of the solution and has the ability and know-how to plug that gap — producing graduates with world-class skills that will be future-proof, so they’re equipped for the rest of their career,” says Bashford-Rogers.
To earn an MSc Games Engineering at the University of Warwick, click here.
WMG has a number of fascinating courses for candidates with a keen technical background. See also MSc in Cyber Security Engineering, MSc in Smart, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, and MSc in Intelligent Manufacturing Systems.
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