Undergraduate Creative Industries Futures (Digital Arts) Games Programming
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Course overview
Games Programming Degree
Turn your love for games into a career and become part of a thriving global gaming industry.
Digital games are only possible because of the programming skills that turn imagination into reality. This specialism allows you to learn programming and apply that knowledge to the specific context of making games in a team. If games are your passion and you want to become a games programmer, rather than take a more generic computing degree, then this is the specialism for you. You’ll learn to program in C# and work with animators, artists, designers, sonic artists and writers to make completed games. Our programming course is designed to be highly accessible, and anyone with the desire to put in the work to learn to code can flourish in it. Certainly, a background in doing some IT, Computing or Maths will prove helpful if you choose this specialism.
Modules
Modules
ACM’s core validated learning provision. These are the building blocks of your degree, through which you will be assessed, accrue credits, and progress towards your final qualification. ACM’s module design blends the rigour of a high-quality academic framework and up-to-date industry knowledge. Students also develop critical professional competencies as they progress through their programme.
Skills Units
Skills units are ACM’s unique delivery model for up-to-date technical and industry knowledge. These are where you will learn everything you need to excel in your chosen discipline, and inform how you approach your assessments.
Modules & Skills Units
DAIF-407 Digital Arts Futures
Studying alongside students from across the Digital Arts disciplines, you’ll explore how creative technologies shape industries, disrupt markets and create new opportunities. From game engines in film and healthcare to AI, virtual production and emerging technologies, you’ll investigate why some innovations succeed while others fail, analyse the trends driving change, and develop the skills to spot future opportunities. You’ll finish the module by presenting an evidence-based industry pitch built around your own research and ideas.
DAIF-411 Specialist Creative Practice 1
Build on the practical skills developed in Specialist Creative Practice 1 as you explore more advanced programming principles, software development workflows and gameplay systems. Through hands-on Skills Labs, you’ll refine your coding practice, further develop your game projects and apply debugging, testing and optimisation techniques to create robust, scalable and technically accomplished game systems.
DAIF-412 Specialist Creative Practice 2
As you build on the foundations established in Specialist Creative Practice 1, you’ll refine your technical approach, strengthen your problem-solving skills and develop your programming expertise through increasingly complex interactive systems and gameplay mechanics. You’ll explore advanced programming principles, collaborative development practices and professional workflows, applying your skills to create robust, scalable game systems. Through your practical Skills Labs, you’ll develop more advanced techniques that support your ongoing growth as a games programmer.
DAIF-413 Digital Arts Culture & Communities
Games shape cultures, communities and the world around us. In this module, you’ll study alongside other Games disciplines and explore how games connect with society, identity and creative communities. Through discussion, research and shared perspectives, you’ll gain a broader understanding of the cultural impact of games while developing valuable research skills that will inform your own practice as a game programmer and help you create meaningful experiences that resonate with players and the wider games industry.
CIF-405 Preparing for Collaborative Work
During this module, you’ll develop the skills needed to work collaboratively with peers across all Games disciplines, applying your specialist knowledge to an interdisciplinary creative project while gaining experience of professional teamwork and creative collaboration.
CIF-406 Engaging in Collaborative Projects
Following on from CIF-405, you’ll work collaboratively on a shared project brief with students from other disciplines. You’ll build upon your skills to support larger projects with the digital arts industry and contribute your games programming skills to fulfilling a creative brief.
Modules & Skills Units
CIF-501 Specialist Collaborative Work
This module allows you to apply your programming skills within ambitious, cross-disciplinary creative projects. Working alongside students from across the Games degree, you’ll respond to industry-inspired briefs, taking on the role of a games programmer to develop gameplay systems, technical features and interactive experiences that contribute to collaborative outcomes. Along the way, you’ll strengthen your project management, communication and technical problem-solving skills.
CIF-502 Professional Collaboration Work
You’ll take your collaborative experience into a professional context by delivering a major games project that reflects the realities of the games industry. Working with students across the Games degree, you’ll apply your programming expertise to develop gameplay systems, technical features and interactive experiences, managing technical and creative challenges while developing the confidence, adaptability and professional mindset needed to succeed as a games programmer in today’s collaborative games industry.
CIF-503 Specialist Route Skills
Refine the skills needed to develop professional game software. Your Skills Labs will take you through the fundamentals of communication, documentation, collaborative development and technical planning, while supporting your programming skills through the creation of advanced gameplay systems and interactive features. Combining advanced technical practice with critical reflection, you’ll build the confidence, technical expertise and professional understanding required to develop industry-ready games.
CIF-504 Professional Route Skills
Building on your Specialist Route Skills, you’ll expand your programming expertise by applying your skills to a range of professional projects. Through advanced Skills Labs, you’ll further develop your ability to program to a brief while exploring software architecture, optimisation, collaborative development and professional programming workflows. By building a portfolio of professional work, you’ll demonstrate the technical ability, adaptability and critical thinking needed to succeed across the modern games industry.
Modules & Skills Units
CIF-601 Critical Review Preparation
Prepare for your dissertation by developing the research, analysis and critical thinking skills needed to investigate contemporary issues in games programming and software development. You’ll explore current debates, technologies and professional practice whilst learning how to evaluate sources, develop research questions and construct evidence-based arguments. This module will provide the foundation for independent research, helping you identify a topic that reflects your interests and future career ambitions.
CIF-601 Critical Review
Undertake an independent research project exploring an area of games programming that matters to you. Whether investigating emerging programming trends and technologies, software development practices, programming workflows, or the wider technical and creative impact of games, you’ll critically evaluate contemporary issues using academic research and professional evidence. You’ll produce a substantial piece of work that demonstrates your ability to think critically, conduct independent research and contribute to conversations shaping the future of games programming.
CIF-602 Leading Professional Collaborative Project
Bring together everything you’ve learned throughout your degree in your final major collaborative project that showcases your skills as a games programmer. Taking a leading role within an interdisciplinary team, you’ll manage the technical and creative demands of delivering a professional-standard body of work. Supported by specialised Skills Labs in the future of software development, player psychology and how to present your portfolio to different audiences, you’ll prepare to launch your career in the games industry.
CIF-603 Leadership & CPD
Prepare for life beyond your studies by developing the advanced technical skills and professional mindset expected of games programmers. Through specialist Skills Labs, you’ll explore the games industry and professional programming practices, focusing on the relevant fundamentals of professional practice for a games programmer. You will explore the necessary skills required to present your work and promote yourself as a professional programmer, alongside strategies to support your career development within the games industry. As you refine your technical expertise, you’ll reflect on your strengths and develop your leadership skills.
CIF-604 Independent Portfolio
You’ll prepare to launch your career by creating a professional portfolio that showcases your skills, creativity and technical expertise as a Programmer. In this module, you’ll curate your best work to develop a strong digital presence that reflects your creative identity.
CIF-701 Professional Practice Frameworks
Develop the professional expertise expected of senior practitioners in the games industry. You’ll critically evaluate your own creative practice, reflect on your professional experiences and benchmark your skills against recognised industry standards. This module helps you strengthen your credentials and prepare for leadership roles within the evolving games industry.
CIF-702 Applied Research
Undertake an in-depth research project centred on an area of games programming that aligns with your professional ambitions. Whether developing an advanced programming portfolio, investigating emerging programming technologies or exploring innovative software development practices, you’ll combine rigorous academic research with specialist practice to produce a substantial body of work that reflects your expertise and individual interests.
CIF-703 Ideas Into Action
Transform ambitious ideas into professionally realised projects. From initial concept through to delivery, you’ll refine your practice whilst building the organisational and entrepreneurial skills required to deliver projects in professional environments.
CIF-704 Making Connections
Success in the games industry is built on relationships as much as technical ability. This module helps you expand your professional network by connecting with industry professionals, games studios, creative organisations and potential collaborators. You’ll develop the confidence to build meaningful professional relationships, identify new opportunities and position yourself within the wider games industry.
Clearing 2026 is open at ACM
If your results didn’t go to plan, you’ve exceeded expectations, changed your mind or you’re applying for the first time, there’s still time to secure your place for September. Learn from industry professionals, gain hands-on experience in professional facilities and build the skills, portfolio and connections to turn your passion into a career with ACM.
Our Admissions Team is here to guide you through every step of the process and help you find the right course for you.
Fees & Entry requirements
- Minimum age 17+ for Foundation Learners and 18+ for our Accelerated Degree Courses.
- You will be expected to hold A Levels or Equivalent Level 3 Qualification(s) worth 104 UCAS Points or more **
- You will be expected to hold a GCSE in English Language / Literature at C grade/ 4 (or higher)
- Suitability for the programme will also be assessed through an audition. View audition guides
- Fees & financing information can be found on our Fees page
- Term dates can be found on the Term Dates page
If you do not have A-Levels and require moderation, please speak to our admissions team to explore the options available to you.
Progression
Contact our Admissions team to discuss the possibility of switching to an Integrated Masters program or explore a range of our Postgraduate programs here.