Department of Applied Computer Games

The department of Applied Computer Games covers the subject areas of Computer Games Design, Computer Games Development, Computer Games Art & Animation, Digital Design and 3D Animation and Visualisation.

We have a blended approach to teaching including lecture based with tutorials and seminars. All programmes related closely with industry and there are many opportunities for students work with industrial partners and getting the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge in a real world and work scenario. The department also runs a successful postgraduate programme which provides further opportunity for personal development. We have a number of studio and other facilities that are closely aligned with current industrial and commercial resources in some cases the department has unique resources in the University community and are an improvement on industry standards.

The department maintains regular contact with industrial partners and some our graduates go on to work with many of them. Many students from our programmes go on to develop their own business ideas and successfully start-up businesses in Glasgow Caledonian University’s dedicated business start-up accelerator UHatch.

Research

We are active researchers and have published a range of books and articles in leading international journals as well as holding a range of editorial board positions.

ERASMUS funded projects

  • GAME ON (Book about Serious Games – total budget about 50k Euros, GCU about 10k euros)
  • LEVEL (A mobile game to teach school children arithmetic – total budget about 220k EUROS, GCU about 55k EUROS

Mellon Foundation funded projects

  • Gaming Climate Futures – a collaboration with Purdue University and Utrecht University.  We helped develop a game that enables climate change negotiators and diplomats to ‘step through’ up to 100 years of the consequences of their national commitments and see how their decisions affect global carbon emissions and temperature gains as well as whether they trigger ‘tipping points’ such as the melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.  Was taken to Bonn and Katowice and played by international negotiators.
  • Total funding around 100k USDollars – GCU about 20k dollars

NIHR funded projects

  • Engaging Adolescents in Changing Behaviour (EACH-B) - Games for Health project.  We are part of complex multimode intervention in collaboration with the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit at Southampton University.  GCU is responsible for designing and implementing the digital aspect of the intervention.  We have a game that helps teenagers engage in more physical activity and make changes to their diet (think Pokemon Go meets My Fitness Pal).
  • Funding – 2.2 million GBP – GCU about 330k GBP

Horizon 2020 grant

  • We assisted other universities who were awarded a large grant to investigate possible futures of EU food security.

Further projects

GCU developed (with design from Oxford University) an interactive digital visualiser that uses game technology to enable users to explore possible food security scenarios in an HTML5 format and web page

Explore our research

Degree courses

3D Animation and Visualisation with pathways for Games and VFX
BSc (Hons)

3D Animation and Visualisation with pathways for Games and VFX
Mode of study Duration Start date Location UCAS code
Full Time
 4 Years Sep 25 Glasgow 3DAV

If you want to become one of the artists or animators that create the content for the next generation of games, apps, movies and streaming shows, this course will develop your art skills with the latest technologies.

3D Design for Virtual Environments
MSc

3D Design for Virtual Environments
Mode of study Duration Start date Location
Full Time
 1 Year Sep 25 Glasgow

Progress to a career in 3D design, virtual environments, architectural visualisation, computer games or visual effects. Develop advanced, postgraduate-level expertise in 3D modelling, lighting, rendering, animation and video production.

Digital Design (direct entry)
BSc (Hons)

Digital Design (direct entry)
Mode of study Duration Start date Location UCAS code
Full Time
 2 Years Sep 25 Glasgow 3K7Q

Study the creation of visual design, user experience for web, mobile and motion graphics at degree level. Solve complex problems with innovative, visually-creative solutions and progress as a digital designer or UI/UX designer.

Games Development
BSc (Hons)

Games Development
Mode of study Duration Start date Location UCAS code
Full Time
 2 - 4 Years Sep 25 Glasgow G750

Use your imagination and creativity to study the technology and techniques in computer games to degree level and progress to a career as a computer games software developer or designer.

User Experience and Interaction Design
MSc

User Experience and Interaction Design
Mode of study Duration Start date Location
Part Time
 2 Years Sep 25 Glasgow

Pursue a career in user experience design with a course that will equip you with multi-disciplinary knowledge and skills to design, develop and evaluate interactive systems that enable and enhance user experience.

View 1 other study options arrow_forward
Award Mode of study Duration Start date Location
MSc Full Time 1 Year Sep 25 Glasgow

Meet the department

Our teaching and support staff are here to help.

For Course and programme enquiries: T: +44 141 331 8630 / E: studentenquiries@gcu.ac.uk