Bachelor of Games Development
SAE Institute UAE
Key Information
Campus location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
AED 51,975 / per year *
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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* per year. Tuition fees are available in flexible payment options
Scholarships
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Introduction
Undertake the Bachelor of Games Development at SAE and build your expertise in programming or game design. Apply skills and knowledge in this exciting industry in areas such as level design, social and mobile game development, game engine programming, gameplay programming, game design, project management, serious games, and much more. During your time at SAE you will work with industry-standard software and hardware, and learn to use industry-standard programming languages.
You will undertake specialised units designed for students to participate in real-world projects under the guidance of expert SAE staff. With this unique teaching style, you will demonstrate your skills and technical knowledge in a collaborative and creative studio-based learning environment.
Your Studies
Each degree programme is broken up into discrete stages, each designed to promote different skills.
Stage I – Foundational Skills Development
In Stage I, you will undertake a number of foundational units which will give you the essential technical skills and knowledge not only relevant to your discipline area but also give you the skills required to collaborate with other creative media students and professionals in later stages of the programme.
- Gameplay Scripting and Gameplay Programming
- Level Design and Development
- Principles of Game Design
- Project Management and Professional Etiquette
- Critical and creative thinking
- Contemporary industry overview
Stage II – Interdisciplinary Projects, Media and Cultural Studies
In Stage II you will be working in simulated project groups where you are working towards large-scale deliverables each trimester. Within Stage II we will not only get you to apply your Stage I skills in a deeper context but help you work within the contemporary creative media workforce.
In Stage II we show you how your work contributes to and interacts with broader culture and media practice. This knowledge will enable you to work with a variety of other disciplines and artists and expand your potential on the global stage.
You will complete a number of real-world projects with students not only in your own discipline but in all other SAE disciplines.
In Stage II, you will be given the opportunity to work as project specialists within the following areas. The types of projects and project roles you choose to undertake will determine what area of specialisation you fall within. Stage II has two studio modules with projects based on the following areas;
- Games Programming
The SAE Games Programming degree is a highly focused programme that delves deep into game-play and game engine programming. You will build your skills in existing software packages and frameworks such as Unreal Engine and Unity, using these to build your technical skillset and develop your own game tools, libraries, and engines. You will enhance your knowledge of C++ and object-oriented programming to build complex games and tools.
Throughout the programme, you will be working with students from all other disciplines to build a rich and high-quality portfolio of work. - Games Design
In the Game Design specialisation, you will work on a range of projects with your peers and SAE Facilitators which will build your skills and knowledge within the diverse scope of Game Design.
During the programme, you will be able to pursue all facets of Game Design such as level design, systems design, economy design, combat, and AI design, balancing, player psychology, and much more. Best of all, we will give you the tools you need to be able to articulate design ideas into real working games. You will also explore complex artistic ideas that lead to original, personal games that are artistically meaningful to you. Work alongside other like-minded students and staff from all SAE disciplines to build a massive portfolio of projects.
Stage III
Stage III is the final part of your studies. Here you will undertake an interdisciplinary project of your choice to be the final and most ambitious portfolio project that you will undertake.
You will also finalise your studies by undertaking an elective module and completing a compulsory internship.
By the time you graduate, you will have; a professional online presence that you will have begun building at the start of the programme, a wide range of interdisciplinary projects present in your portfolio, and a deeper understanding of the creative media fields and real-world experience.
Upon graduating from the programming or game design specialisation, you will have significant experience working in simulated production environments. You will have learned industry-standard workflow and product lifecycle. You will have a portfolio of game projects used to either begin your own startup or build your professional practice further.
Students in the programming specialisation will have a range of portfolio projects which demonstrate an applied knowledge of C++ in the context of game-play programming and game engine programming. You will also have a demonstrated knowledge of building tools for game engines in languages like C#.
Game design students will graduate with a strong technical understanding of the game development pipeline and tools such as Unity, UDK, 3D Studio Max, and Maya. Game design students will have the opportunity to engage in a diverse range of skills including visual arts, audio, story, or character development, and to explore artistic visions for what games could be. Designers will practice the creative development of games, working to be original, expressive, and innovative.
Qualification
Bachelor of Games Development
Your Learning Experience
SAE has implemented a remote flexible learning option for current and future students. The range of tools developed by SAE will not only allow students to collaborate online but also gain experience in remote working practices widely used within the creative industries.
- Learn the advanced-level industry-standard C++ programming language with a specialised focus on game development.
- Use industry-standard middleware and development packages such as Havoc, Direct X, Ogre, OpenGL, UDK, Unity, and many more.
- Experience a course designed in collaboration with industry partners, develop the skills the games industry wants.
- Learn gameplay programming, game engine programming, and tools development – you will be able to develop your own engines from the ground up and create your own tools including importers/exporters and scene managers.
- Learn the design and technical skills to be able to articulate and implement high-level games concepts – these are key professional attributes required by the games industry and often not addressed in other HE games courses.
- Develop high-level skills in games design, programming, 3D pipeline, games psychology, and working prototypes – learn how to make your ideas a reality.
- Start making games in your first trimester.
- Work with artists, designers, web and mobile developers, filmmakers, animators, and audio specialists.
Career Options
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Employers
SAE games graduates have been involved with many outstanding creative media companies, including:
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Entry Requirements
Applicants from all applicant groups who wish to study a Bachelor degree course must satisfy the following entry requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age (or turning 18 during your first year of studies) or 17y before the commencement of the first term.
- Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE) or equivalent; which is Grade/Year 12 according to the Australian curriculum.
- Completion of a Diploma level qualification or higher issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF); or other equivalent qualifications.
- Experience Based Entry - for applicants who do not meet the requirements of entry criteria 1 or 2. Please read the section below on Experience Based Entry, Higher Education Pathway or contact an SAE Course Advisor directly for more information.
- Required documents:
- High school Certificate
- High school transcript (Grade scale must be provided if not graduated in US, IB, UK or Indian curriculum), unless grades are mentioned as percentages (%)
- Proof of English language proficiency
SAE recognises industry experience and previous studies from accredited institutions.
For more information on SAE's entry requirements refer to the Student Selection, Admissions, Deferral, and Transfer policy.
English Language Requirements
International students have to provide additional evidence of language skills and complete one of the following:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): A band score of 6 or higher for a Higher Education (HE) course and 5.5 or higher for a VET course (only the Academic Test is accepted), OR
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): A score of 550 or higher (paper-based test), 60 or higher (internet-based test) for a Higher Education (HE) course, and a minimum score of 527 (paper-based test) or 46 (internet-based test) for a VET course, OR
- International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR): An overall rating of 3, OR
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic score of 50 (or higher) for a Higher Education (HE) course, and an Academic score of 42 (or higher) for a vocational education program, OR
- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) A B 2.1 level or higher.
- Completion of Year 12 English at an Australian secondary school or college or equivalent with a minimum result of “Satisfactory” or equivalent.
- An equivalent level from other approved secondary schooling English studies by providing a signed and stamped letter of confirmation from the High school stating that English was the language of instruction.
- Other evidence of English competency may be considered for review and will be accepted at the discretion of SAE Creative Media Institute. This can be either proof of mother tongue language or a signed and stamped letter of confirmation from a Higher education institution stating that English was the language of instruction.
English test scores more than two (2) years old at the time of application will not be accepted.
In case proof of English language proficiency cannot be obtained, SAE Dubai organises in collaboration with Eton institute, a CEFR test at the beginning of each term for which students can sign up