2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Programme Catalogue

MSc High-Performance Graphics and Games Engineering

Programme overview

Programme code: MSC-HPGGE
UCAS code
Duration: 12 Months
Method of Attendance: Full Time
Programme manager: Dr Rafael Kuffner Dor Anjos
Contact address: r.kuffnerdosanjos@leeds.ac.uk
Total credits: 180
School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme: School of Computer Science
Examination board through which the programme will be considered: School of Computer Science
Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups: All students will also meet the requirements set out in the QAA Computing Benchmark, being able to:
- present proficiently to a range of audiences (orally, electronically or in writing) rational and reasoned arguments that address a given information handling problem or opportunity.
- recognise the professional, economic, social, environmental, moral and ethical issues involved in the sustainable exploitation of computer technology and be guided by the adoption of appropriate professional, ethical and legal practices.
- evaluate systems in terms of general quality attributes and possible trade-offs presented within the given problem.
- proficiently analyse and apply a range of concepts, principles and practice of the subject in an appropriate manner in the context of loosely defined scenarios, showing effective judgement in the selection and use of tools and techniques
- produce work involving problem identification, the analysis, the design or the development of a system, with accompanying documentation, recognising the important relationships between these.
- apply appropriate practices within a professional, legal and ethical framework and identify mechanisms for continuing professional development and lifelong learning
- explain a wide range of applications based upon the body of knowledge.

Entry requirements

A minimum UK Upper Second Class Honours (2.1) degree or equivalent in computing or a scientific subject with significant computing component;
A pass at GCSE level English Language (grade C or above);
International students must have an English language qualification at a suitable level: IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

Programme specification

Games development is a major international industry with an annual turnover estimated £100B worldwide, with £2B in the UK. Compared to competitor nations (US, Canada, Australia), the UK has very few graphics groups in Universities, with even fewer in Russell Group institutions: one estimate is that there are ~20 research-active UK academics in graphics. The largest concentration of these is in UCL, Bath and Bournemouth whose programmes are primarily aligned with the visual effects (VFX) and production industry. While there is overlap in fundamental skills, the two industries also have quite distinct sets of training requirements.

This gap is critical, because changes in computer hardware and the need to deliver new experiences means that there is a skills shortage - worldwide - in graduates who have the expertise in graphics and parallel hardware to drive future success of the industry. The effect of this gap on the UK industry was highlighted back in 2011 by a NESTA report by the games and VFX industries, but the very low numbers of academics with the expertise to deliver in this space has limited the response from possible competitors.

Year 1

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

Code	Title	Credits	Semester
COMP5200M	MSc Project	60	1 Jan to 30 Sep
COMP5531M	Group Project	45	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun), Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
COMP5891M	Foundations of Computer Graphics	15	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
COMP5892M	Advanced Rendering	30	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
COMP5893M	Modelling and Animation	15	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
COMP5995M	Research Seminar	15	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Optional Modules

Last updated: 05/12/2024 09:23:39

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