Programme Overview - Degree: Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Games Design and Programming (Awarded by Staffordshire University)
- Duration: 3 years (Full-time)
- Intake: January and September
Blending core programming skills with design
State-of-the-art educational technology and facilities
Based on industry standard software and industry methods of games asset creation
Many career opportunities
The Computer Games Design and Programming Degree is awarded by Staffordshire University – the top provider in the UK for games courses with flagship games courses rated the number 1 in the country by the video games industry. This award aims to give graduates the opportunity to gain the skills to advantage them in the Games Industry and develop them as confident well-informed and well-rounded individuals.
The goal of this programme is to produce graduates who have strong games production skills and an understanding of both games designing and games programming. Throughout the course, students will develop:
- Programming both polished games and rapid prototypes with a specialism in AI for games
- Games production workflow, games documentation and project management skills.
- Ability to understand the business, marketing, and legal issues surrounding the different types of games contracts.
Course structure 
Year 1
Year 1 – Introduction to Games Design
– Introduction to 3D Games Engines
– Games Engine Creation
– Rapid Games Prototyping
Year 2 
Year 3 – Introduction to Games Design
– Introduction to 3D Games Engines
– Games Engine Creation
– Rapid Games Prototyping
– Junior Collaborative Game Development and Testing
– Advanced 3D Games Engines and Scripting
– Indie Games Development
– Gameplay Applications
– Senior Collaborative Games Development and Testing
– A.I. Scripting for Games
– Individual Games Technology Project
– Individual Games Technology Portfolio
Programme outcomes At the end of your studies you should be able to:
Knowledge & Understanding
Understand how established games design techniques and programming physics used by others may be used for original production and show a systematic approach to the analysis of the games industry using these skills.
Learning
Set realistic goals for learning and become a confident independent learner who could impart their knowledge to others.
Enquiry
Understand of the methods and avenues of enquiry in the field of games design and technology and show a professional approach to research and information gathering.
Analysis
Show the ability to analyse a problem through critical thinking and constructive argument backed by data and research. Analyse the effectiveness of techniques and technologies in terms of usefulness and the effectiveness of the way others use technology and techniques for specific production situations.
Problem Solving
Identify the problem and use skills of decision making to choose the appropriate method to obtain the best solution and have the ability to discern between a complete and incomplete solution to a technological or theoretical problem.
Communication
Communicate interpersonally either in the form of written or oral expression in a professional manner to a variety of audiences in order to communicate ideas, problems or solutions.
Application
Apply critical reasoning and argument to show the ability to apply concepts in different contexts and apply in a practical and flexible manner a workflow pipeline to produce parts or a complete computer games.
Reflection
Demonstrate the ability to realistically reflect on the quality of their work and put in to place a plan of action to improve upon their work in the future.
Employability The computer games industry is a global business worth billions of dollars a year. Graduates will understand this worldwide marketplace, along with the multinational publishers and developers who produce some of the most successful games. A wide range of job opportunities is available from international and local tech corporations, game companies to independent and home studios.
The Computer Games Design and Programming course at BUV will create the opportunity for students to have up to a total of 18 months of internship and 2 published games by the time they graduate. BUV’s partner network includes industry-leading games and tech organisations in Vietnam and in the region such as VNG, Gameloft, Garena, Koei, or Microsoft.
Admission requirements Academic Requirements:
- Aged 17 or over
- One of the following qualifications:
– Vietnamese High School Diploma and Pathway to Staffordshire University Programme
– Pass 2 subjects at Advanced GCE (A-Level)
– An access programme passed at the required QAA-recognised standard for entry to Higher Education
– An award of the European Baccalaureate Diploma, with at least 60 percent overall; English at 60 percent
– An award of the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 24 points; English at 4 points
English Language Requirements:
One of the following:
- A proficiency test within the last 2 years:
– IELTS (non UKVI): 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component; or
– TOEFL IBT: Listening: 17; Speaking: 20; Reading: 18; Writing: 17
- A proficiency test within the last 5 years:
– International Baccalaureate (taught in English) Pass in English B at Standard Level grade 5 or High Level grade 4; or
– IGCSE English: IGCSE English as a first or second language: Grade C; or
– Cambridge International English GCE O-Level/GCSE: English Language grade A – C
If you have not met one of the above requirements you need to complete IELTS Upper-Intermediate Course at BUV or equivalent.
You don’t need to provide evidence of English language proficiency if any of the following conditions apply: If you’re a UK national; If you’ve completed a full degree from a UK university.
What do our students say? 
1910 Computer Games Design and Programming Cohort
As a technophile, I wanted to choose a career related to computers such as IT or computer science. When I heard of CGDP, I knew it was the thing for me because how much I loved games and wanted to understand the process of how a game is developed. Just to be sure, I did some further research by reading the course information in which contained the modules of the programme and saw that the modules were relevant to what is used in the game industry. Furthermore, CGDP at BUV is the first game design and programming course in Vietnam that offers a BSc. I chose BUV because it was the only university in Vietnam that has a games design and programming degree from the UK.
Additionally, I really enjoy the cooperativeness and helpfulness of the staff as well as how hard they work to help us get internships since our first year. I think that BUV graduates will have an edge in finding a job comparing to the majority of applicants. Thanks to the internship break that BUV offers, BUV students will get more working experience and connections than most graduates.
Programme pass rate The first cohort will graduate in October 2022.
Fees & financial aid Tuition Fees
For the course starting on 1st January 2023 the tuition fees are:
| Tuition Fee | Other Fees* | Total Fee | |
| Pathway to SU | VND 76,210,000 | VND 13,340,000 | VND 89,550,000 |
| Degree | VND 625,254,000 | VND 156,342,000 | VND 781,596,000 |
*Other Fees include Educational Resource Fee and Student Affairs Fee.
Tuition Fee & Fee Policy
Financial Aid
The British University Vietnam (BUV) scholarship fund was established in 2018 with the goal of giving students the opportunity to study UK undergraduate and graduate programmes in an international learning environment. With an aim to improve and increase accessibility to high-quality education, BUV has officially launched the fund valued at 46 billion VND in 2022 with hundreds of scholarships and financial aid made available.
You can visit our Scholarship page to find out more and check your eligibility.