Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computer Game Design and Enterprise with Foundation Year

at Wrexham Glyndwr University - Wrexham Campus United Kingdom

This is an exciting course, specially designed for those wanting to work positively with children, young people, marginalised groups and communities. *It has been ranked first in Wales for learning community in the National Student Survey 2019 (WGU analysis of National Survey of Students 2019).

Successful completion of the Foundation Year will also lead to an Agored Cymru Level 2 & Level 3 Youth Work accreditation.

Through this course, you can gain a professional youth work qualification endorsed by Education Training Standards Wales with over a third of your time in placement activities.  Successful completion of the course will allow you to register with the Education Workforce Council in Wales as a Youth Worker. There is also the option to study a faith-based route in the first year and exit with a Certificate in Higher Education Youth and Community Work (faith-based), or to top up the full degree and JNC Qualification*.

As well as placement opportunities in Wales and the UK, there are also opportunities for a part-funded placement through the Erasmus programme with a university in Europe.
The youth and community department at Wrexham Glyndwr University is regarded as the “home of youth work in Wales”, having offered education and training to the youth and community sector for more than 43 years. As such the department has excellent links with employers across North Wales, North West England, and the Midlands, and it works in partnership with organisations across the statutory, voluntary and third sector.
Please be aware it may be necessary to work outside of normal working hours, e.g. during evenings or over weekends, whilst on placement due to the nature of this profession.

You can also choose to study this course as a three-year degree (without a foundation year) BA (Hons) Youth and Community Work (JNC)

Key Career Features

• Includes a foundation year to prepare you for further years of study.
• A degree programme with professional endorsement, and course content aligned with National Occupational and Professional Standards in the sector.
• Opportunities for continuing professional development through additional training opportunities and professional networking on a course with strong links with employers and local training providers.
• Learn and gain experience with 800 hours of supervised fieldwork practice, with a placement in each year of study. This can be in a variety of settings either in the UK or internationally.
• Start the academic year with a learning experience with a partner project to see youth work skills in action.
• Develop skills in teamwork, positive communication, working with groups and individuals, reflective practice and leading others.
• Develop knowledge and core skills for youth work practice and informal education that are transferable to work with children, young people and adults in a range of different settings.
• *1st in Wales for learning community in the National Student Survey 2019 (WGU analysis of National Survey of Students 2019).

Today’s businesses demand the ability to have computer systems and networks, which operate on a global scale – so there is a high demand for people with the skills to make this happen.

This is a technology-infused course that includes a mix of technology, security and networking modules with many hands-on practical opportunities.

Developing critical skills that are looked for in this industry is an emphasis throughout the course and is put to the test through practical hand-on projects. These help to ensure that your thinking remains cutting edge and gives you the confidence that you are going to be able to keep up with the fast pace of change in this field.

As well as developing technical knowledge our computer network and security course also develops key skills, which are critical in this industry such as team working, communication and business skills. These are developed through opportunities to work on real life projects.

There is an emphasis on the installation, operation security, and maintenance of computer systems and networks used in business and industry and you will learn the fundamentals of data communications and how to apply your knowledge to manage, design, implement, configure and operate secure networks on a professional footing as well as how to identify a range of significant threats to network security and formulate and implement defence strategies.

You will have the opportunity to complete the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) qualification whilst studying for your degree and Cisco Systems state-of-the-art equipment is used in practical sessions.

Key Career Features

• Includes a foundation year to prepare you for further years of study.
• Extensive PC and networked computer facilities with Internet access.
• A specialist computer laboratory dedicated to computer networking.
• The computing subject area is a recognised Cisco Academy. You have the opportunity to complete the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) qualification whilst studying for your degree.
• Accreditation is being sought for the honours degree from the British Computer Society (BCS), which would mean that you would gain exemption from part 1 and part 2 of the Society’s Professional Examinations.
• This course responds to identified skills gaps and you will develop the critical understanding, knowledge and skills needed for successful employment.
• The University is home to ARCLab, which specializes in research in the field of Computing and Computer Science.

You can also choose to study this course as a three year programme (without the foundation year) BSc Computer Networks and Security

Leading to a professional qualification in Social Work, Wrexham Glyndwr’s BA(Hons) Social Work course has been developed in close co-operation with social work partner agencies in the statutory and voluntary sectors, and in conjunction with individuals who are experts through experience.

Key Course Features

• is part of a subject area ranked first in Wales for overall student satisfaction, National Student Survey 2020.
• *is in a subject area ranked joint first in Wales for graduate outcomes, Complete University Guide 2021.
• Student Social Work students must be registered with Social Care Wales, which is the regulatory body for all Social Workers in Wales.
• This programme leads to a BA (Hons) degree with Qualified Social Worker status
• Many of our students are returners to education, sometimes after a long break, and we are experienced in offering appropriate support and study skills advice.
• Our local authority partners – Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire – are contracted to find and support student practice learning opportunities
• At least one of your second or third-year practice learning opportunities will be in a statutory setting The programme enjoys the participation of the focus group Outside In. Outside In’s members include those who’ve used social care and health services and who have expertise through experience. They take part in teaching, assessment, programme management and recruitment of students. We run an innovative project in which Outside In members are enrolled alongside students to study one module per year with them
• The teaching team is research-active, specialising, amongst other areas, in government policy evaluation, alcohol and other drugs, the participation of individuals in social work education and research. 
• Students are offered the opportunity to have tutorials, assignment submission and other learning opportunities in Welsh 

This course offers a practical programme of study, enabling you to bring characters to life. This specialised Animation programme will transform you into a versatile creative in the art of the moving image. Designed and developed from the ground up with employability as the core aim, you will develop skills in 2D, 3D and stop motion animation.

You will finish your studies with the professional skills and creative thinking strategies to pursue a career within animation studios, work as a freelance artist, or start your own studio.

Students will

• Learn the principles of visual communication and drawing and apply them to character design, background design, storyboarding and scene layout.
• Explore the principles of animation with a focus on 2D digital techniques.
• Work in teams on a short film to be submitted to film festivals, both nationally and internationally.
• Practice character animation using 3D techniques to build up a professional show reel.
• Specialise and develop a final degree project that will push on the boundaries of your skills to ensure you stand out from the crowd in the job market.

You can also choose to study this course as a three year degree (without the foundation year) BA (Hons) Animation or as a four-year integrated masters option MDes Animation

Key course features

• Official partnership with http://TechUpandGo.com. With direct links to live 3D Animation projects.
• Latest industry standard software used such as Autodesk Maya, Toon Boom Harmony, Dragon Frame and the Creative Cloud suite.
• Access to Wacom Cintiq tablets and a purpose built stop motion studio.
• Industry-focused visits to gain first hand insight into how creative media companies function and the variety of employment opportunities that are available in the development of your career aspirations. There are also other study trips to festivals and expos.
• Opportunities to enter competitions.
• There is strong pastoral care within a friendly creative community with an emphasis on team building and collaborative work. Contact hours with tutors is high with enthusiastic and supportive sta? who are knowledgeable, research-active practitioners.

This new idea-driven skill based course is about everything from concept art to 3D Modelling, 3D Sculpting character development and level creation.

You’ll be part of a degree with innovation, creativity and employability at its heart as you bring concept to reality through digital painting and 3D modelling; the perfect preparation for a career in an exciting, fast-paced industry worth billions each year.

Your studies will see you gain experience in the design skills and techniques used to bring projects from concept to screen through digital painting, 3D modelling, 3D sculpting, 3D animation and game engine.

This will involve a mix of design and technical skills like environment/character design and creation, 3D Modelling, texturing, level design, level creation, live briefs, and games production. The course provides a broad study of game and concept art, with an emphasis on innovation, design and creativity rather than the programming and technical aspects of the gaming industry using the latest industry standard software and much more. You’ll also have the opportunity to ?get hands-on and work with industry professionals on real-world projects to help develop your skills and experience.

You can also choose to study this course as a three year programme (without a foundation year) BA (Hons) Game Art

Key Course Features

• Includes a foundation year to prepare you for further years of study.
• Strong links with industry and professional bodies such as Skillset, NAHEMI and various associations. Our Creative Futures student conference plays host to a large range of visiting guest speakers from the creative industries.
• There are Industry-focused visits to gain first hand insight into how creative media companies function and the variety of employment opportunities that are available in the development of your career aspirations. There are also other study trips to festivals and Video Game expos.
• Opportunities to enter competitions.
• Our purpose-built Centre for the Creative Industries features specialist facilities, such as our TV studio with green screening, and software such as software such as Maya, Mudbox, Unreal Engine 4, Substance Painter/Designer and Creative Cloud for creating Game Art and playable levels.
• There is strong pastoral care within a friendly creative community with an emphasis on team building and collaborative work. Contact hours with tutors is high with enthusiastic and supportive sta? who are knowledgeable, research-active practitioners.

This popular degree is ideal for those interested in working with children and young people in informal and formal education settings. You'll learn the statutory requirements of curricula for primary education in both England and Wales, explore learning dispositions, and discover how to support pupils both academically and pastorally.

The course:

• Has a long history of providing a well-respected, successful and alternative pathway into mainstream primary teaching via a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE – Primary Education) or Post-compulsory qualification (PcET – Adult and Further Education ).
• Keeps options open for a range of other career opportunities that involve work with children and young people.
• Is predominantly geared towards working with children between the ages of 3-13 years of age.
• Combines academic study and work experience.
• Draws upon theoretical perspectives from a wide range of disciplines including education, sociology, psychology, philosophy, health and social welfare/justice.
• Considers educational policies, processes and perspectives relating to the statutory requirements of early years’ curricula and Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum in both England and Wales.
• Covers factors that impact the wellbeing and learning dispositions of children and young people.

Key Course Features

• Includes a foundation year to prepare you for university-level study.
• Study contemporary topics which are directly related to the education of children.
• Experience extended placements within the children’s workforce.
• Engage in research whilst out on placement, guided by experienced practitioners.
• Use your current relevant employment as your placement or seek exciting new experiences.
• Receive support from an experienced staff team and academic tutorial system.

Take your hands-on computer networking skills to the next level with our industry-focused course. As the demand for specialists in the computer networking industry continues to grow, this course will support you to develop the specialist technical and consultative skills required to progress to higher technical and managerial positions within businesses, or work towards doctoral study.

Concentrating on practical networking rather than abstract concepts or theories in data communications, the programme is centred around real-world network problem-solving, the planning, design and development of network services and infrastructures,plus the  use and application of current and emerging hardware and protocols.

For your dissertation, you will be expected to investigate cutting-edge technologies, implement and test novel networking solutions, or develop or analyse original network applications.

Key Course Features

• Opportunity to study Computer Networking in-depth
• Lecture/tutorial and practical sessions are enhanced with additional, resource-rich online materials allowing you to continue independent learning through a variety of approaches
• Taught by staff leading research into the areas of the internet and computer networks
• Research activities are associated with the University’s research centre
• Learning progresses from design and building small networks to the techniques required for large public networks
• Options to complete external Cisco Certification qualifications

Today’s businesses demand the ability to have computer systems and networks, which operate on a global scale – so there is a high demand for people with the skills to make this happen.

This subject area has been rated top in Wales for learning opportunities and academic support (WGU analysis of unpublished 2019 NSS data) and includes a mix of technology, security and networking modules with many hands-on practical opportunities.

Students will

• Develop critical skills and cutting edge thinking to gain the confidence to keep up with the fast pace of change in this field
• Develop technical knowledge of the installation, operation security, and maintenance of computer systems and networks used in business and industry
• Develop industry-critical key skills such as team working, communication and business skills
• Have opportunities to work on real-life projects
• Learn the fundamentals of data communications and how to apply this knowledge to manage, design, implement, configure and operate secure networks on a professional footing
• Learn how to identify a range of significant threats to network security and formulate and implement defence strategies.
• Have the opportunity to complete the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) qualification whilst studying for their degree
• Have access to Cisco Systems state-of-the-art equipment is used in practical sessions
• Have the option of an Industrial Placement Year 

Key Course Features

• Extensive PC and networked computer facilities with Internet access.
• A specialist computer laboratory dedicated to computer networking.
• The computing subject area is a recognised Cisco Academy. You have the opportunity to complete the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) qualification whilst studying for your degree.
• The optional Industrial Placement Year gives students the opportunity to experience the workplace first-hand and gain valuable employment experience for the future.
• This course responds to identified skills gaps and you will develop the critical understanding, knowledge and skills needed for successful employment.
• The University is home to ARCLab, which specializes in research in the field of Computing and Computer Science.
• The optional Industrial Placement Year gives students the opportunity to experience the workplace first-hand and gain valuable employment experience for the future.
• subject area is 1st in Wales for learning opportunities and academic support (WGU analysis of unpublished 2019 NSS data)

This course is available to study with an Industrial Placement year BSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security (with Industrial Placement)
You can also choose to study this course as a foundation year BSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security (four years including foundation year)

The foundation year programme is designed to gradually build the required mathematical skills and science and engineering knowledge for you to progress into your level-4 study. It is designed specifically for the candidates who do not have enough/required UCAS tariff points for their direct level-4 entry or strong enough science and engineering background or would like to build a more solid foundation for your degree studies.

Number one in the UK for course satisfaction (Guardian University League Table 2019), this course will ensure you have the key skills and thorough knowledge necessary for a successful career in aircraft and modern engineering.

The course is designed to fulfil industries’ requirements and benefits from strong industrial links.

• Design-focused course: develop a full understanding of engineering design concepts and the engineering design process.  
• Gain transferable knowledge and business skills to equip you for a broader job market.
• You’ll be trained to use a variety of computer-aided design tools, including industry-highly-required Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools.

You can also choose to study this course as a standard three year programme without the foundation year BEng (Hons) Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering. 

Key course features

• Includes foundation year to prepare you for further years of study.
• Strong links with companies such as Airbus and Raytheon.
• State-of-the-art Merlin Flight Simulator, design and test your own aircraft using engineering theory.
• Access to cutting-edge computer-aided design, analysis and simulation software, including ANSYS, Abaqus, MATLAB and Simulink.
• Subsonic and supersonic wind tunnel facilities.
• Access to flight simulation packages such as FLITE, RANT navaids trainer and Boeing 747.
• Work on jet engine aircraft in our aircraft hangar.
• Eligible to be a student member with the IMechE, RAeS, and/or IET.
• Rapid prototyping facility.
• Advanced composite training and development centre based in Broughton.
• Wrexham Glyndwr University is one of two education providers in the UK that are official Catia Certification centres. This means that students are able to gain Catia Certification in addition to their degree studies. (Students are required to pay a Certification fee of £50)

Join a UK leading course designed to develop strong technical game design, business and production skills so you can be a future industry leader.

The team work closely with organisations such as UK Games Fund, Games Wales, BAFTA Cymru and the British Computing Society to ensure that our students always have access to cutting-edge industry related training and knowledge.

We are home to the innovative Games Talent Wales programme and a UK regional Tranzfuser hub that is sponsored and supported by the UK Games Fund and UK Games Talent. Our business incubation centre is home to several award-winning student owned game studios.

Students on this course will

• Develop essential game design and business start-up and management skills
• Learn about the workings of the games industry and the tools and platforms that are critical to success
• Gain valuable experience and insight into the game development process and the management of an independent game studio
• Enjoys the benefits of close industry engagement with regular visits, guest speakers, presentations, discussion groups and social events
• Work with a personal mentor with games development experience to help develop your skills and knowledge
• Have access to our in-house business incubation centre and the latest tools and technology in a specialist game development studio
• Develop a professional game development portfolio and critical employability skills

Key Course Features

• Regular contact with games and media industry professionals through guest lectures, seminars and local & national events
• You will be taught by an award-winning teaching team with professional industry backgrounds and experience
• Engage with an active indie game development community and national talent development programme
• Learn how to manage a professional game development team using industry standard methodologies and practice
• The course is an official BAFTA Cymru Games Awards partner and sponsor
• Access to our in-house games business incubation centre
• Work with the latest tools and technology in two specialist game development studios dedicated to designing, production, motion capture and VR
• The optional Industrial Placement Year gives students the opportunity to experience the workplace first-hand and gain valuable employment experience for the future.

This course is also available to study with a foundation year BSc (Hons) Computer Game Design and Enterprise (four years including foundation year)