Software Development and Gaming
Career-focused Software Development & Gaming Programme in London
The game industry is currently worth a staggering 95 billion, and according to studies it could be worth up to 169 billion by the end of 2025. For participants that are fascinated by the technology of gaming and VR, this course will shed more light into working within this exciting field.
Interactive projects and workshops offer the opportunity to engage with professionals from some of our fastest-growing gaming industries. Learning from those at the forefront of their field, participants receive practical feedback and personal career coaching to prepare them for future success.
Based in the heart of London, internationally renowned as a hub for innovation, culture and opportunity. Participants experience living in University of London accommodation, with everything the city has to offer on their doorstep.
Learn from exceptional institutions and industry leaders changing the world of Software Development & Gaming
One of the most exciting parts of the Career Insights programme is the unique opportunity for participants to attend inspiring industry visits whereby you can interact and learn from industry professionals in your field of study. Industry visits take learning out of the classroom and into the real world, where you can observe and explore how the skills and knowledge built throughout the programme apply to a career in your subject. This unique aspect of our programme ensures students also gain the chance to network directly with industry professionals who may share with you opportunities you hadn’t otherwise envisioned.
Discover unique industry insights
Through inspiring guidance by industry experts, you can expect a wide range of interactive tours to spark further curiosity about areas to pursue within the gaming industry. Workshops and visits include:
Otherworld VR
Otherworld is a virtual island paradise, home to sixteen unique VR experiences, accessed only from their growing network of city centre metaverse portals. You will take a 40-minute trip into ‘Otherworld’, experiencing the metaverse hands-on, and you’ll play through a series of games and experiences to fully understand what VR can offer.
National Videogame Museum
At the National Videogame Museum, you can explore how games are made, who makes them, and even why they are made. You can visit the fully playable gallery and attend award-winning workshops to learn how they are made.
Find out what it takes to work in the industry through real-world projects
You will explore concepts and share ideas in small groups of like-minded and ambitious peers from around the world. In classes averaging 7 students, you will be guided by expert project leads who offer an insight into their industry.
Our rigorous vetting process guarantees that all participants are taught by engaging and supportive educators who are, most of all, enthusiastic about sharing their expertise to ensure our summer school teaching is of the highest quality. Immerse™ is an unrivalled academic experience.
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Average class size of 7
Maximum class size of 10 students -
1:1 Career Coaching
Personal support and guidance for success -
Professional development workshops
Building essential skills for success -
World-class experience
Learn from experts leading the way
Example tutor:
Yasmin Fathy
Before joining Cambridge, she held various positions. She was a Software Development Engineer at Genomics Analytics Group at European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Research Associate in IoT and Machine Learning at Cambridge University, and a KTP Research Associate in Data Science and Machine Learning at UCL.
She obtained her PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Institute for Communication Systems (ICS) at the University of Surrey and an MSc in Applied Science and Engineering from Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lab at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Belgium.
Her research interests include machine learning, data analytics, and IoT.
Guest speakers from previous summers
Dr Nigel Warburton
Abi Oyepitan
Dr Lynda Shaw
I’ve enjoyed meeting new people with Immerse, people who have different passions than I do and are studying different courses – I have learned a lot from them.
Lady Margaret Hall, the college I’m staying in, is such a beautiful college. It’s got so many different areas we can study and play and have fun. I’ve also been learning so much about computer science, which is something I really enjoy.
I’m finding the course content extremely useful. I’ve learned so much in these two weeks and we’ve covered so many new topics that I hadn’t heard of. The relationship with my teacher has been fabulous – I can communicate with him very easily, and the teaching style is what I had expected, with university-style teaching methods.
I think this program has really helped me to to change my ideas about what I could expect from university, and it’s really helped me to make sure I enjoyed what I want to study in the future.
Experience London Life
Unbeatable excursions
The Career Insights timetable includes a fantastic social and cultural programme with the following excursions:
Experience London Life
Live and study in
London
Live in the Heart of London
Career Insights takes place in our capital city, renowned as a hub of creativity, innovation and vibrant culture.
Home to more iconic buildings and landmarks than any other place in the world, London is a place to be inspired and enjoy direct access to the industries of the future.
Dynamic and comfortable accommodation
Career Insights students will stay at Astor College. UCL’s award-winning student accommodation in the heart of Fitzrovia, with iconic London locations at walking distance in every direction.
The residence boasts of modern communal lounges a furnished outdoor courtyard and attractive open plan dining areas.
This will be your home away from home as you engage in an exciting industry-focussed programme to help shape your future.
World-class facilities
With accommodation perfectly placed to explore the sights and sounds of our capital city, living in London means being connected with world-famous universities and iconic landmarks.
Located between Bloomsbury and Kings Cross, we make the most of our great location with visits to industry hubs across the city, enjoying the incredible food, culture and history on offer.
Our accommodation offers a comfortable, convenient base from which to explore the city.
Pastoral care and safety
An accredited provider of academic short courses
Immerse Education is accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC), the leading mark of educational quality for the academic sector. Our accreditation with the BAC sends a positive and clear message to students and partners that they are studying with a trusted and reliable provider who has met a series of globally recognised quality assurance standards, both in terms of academic provision and student welfare.
The safety and well-being of our participants is our number one priority, and all staff undergo enhanced background checks and receive thorough safeguarding training before interacting with any students.
For more information, please visit our Pastoral Information page.
Meet Immerse's mentors and
college managers
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Eliza, CambridgeEliza's infectious enthusiasm - from the academic sessions to the talent show -means that she's a firm favourite amongst Immerse students. -
Dylan, CambridgeDylan has been both an Immerse Mentor and a College Manager twice! He's known for going the extra mile to make the Immerse experience exceptional.
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Ore, CambridgeOre participated in Immerse as a student before joining the team whilst studying at Cambridge, relating her Immerse experience to new students.
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Maia, CambridgeMaia is a Cambridge University Theology student who participated in the Immerse Philosophy programme.
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Murray, CambridgeMurray is an enthusiastic Medicine student at Cambridge University, who is always eager to help Immerse students make the best of their experience.
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Olivia, CambridgeOlivia studies Medicine at Cambridge and has a knack for making friends with each of her mentor 'family' - creating a home away from home.
Immerse™ Software Development & Gaming Sample Modules
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Module 1 - Introduction to Software Development and Gaming
Over the course of this module, you will form an understanding of the foundational principles of game design and how to apply them to real-world game creation. You will learn how to design game scenarios and characters, create game mechanics and dynamics, observe and learn from different game genres, create games and code using Construct 2, and publish your final results so that others can access your game. -
Module 2 - Introduction to Coding
Coding is the process of telling a computer what to do. You provide the computer instructions via ‘code’, the computer’s language, in order for it to perform a specific action - an integral part of the game design process. Using code can be as simple as adding a series of letters to change the background colour of your game to something more complex such as how a player progresses through the game narrative. The skill of coding is not only essential for game makers but it is now a highly sought-after skill in an array of industries, such as healthcare, business, and education. -
Module 3 - Roblox Coding
Roblox is an online multiplayer game where you can create your own virtual world. In this module, you will practice applying coding skills in Roblox using a programming language named Lua. Over the course of this module, you will learn the basics of Lua, know how to use variables, loops and conditionals, understand how to store users’ information, and program simple games. Skills in this module lead to a foundational understanding of game design, a good building block for forming a more comprehensive understanding of the world of game creation. -
Module 4 - Unity
In this module, you will encounter the world’s most widely-used game creation platform - Unity. You will learn to understand Unity’s interface, create a new project of your own, interpret visual scripting (and some C/C# knowledge), and manage the field. You will also learn how to interact with the different Unity environments and learn how to create 3D and 2D models. Knowing how to apply light and shadow effects as well as other materials, and manage images using GIMP to bring your game to life will also be an important part of your learning in this unit. -
Module 5 - Introduction to Python
Python is one of the most widely used programming languages when it comes to game design. Popular games like Tic-Tac-Toe and Hangman were both created using Python. In this module, you’ll learn all about Python, discover basic programming concepts, and learn how to read basic Python syntax and interpret error messages. You’ll use your new game design skills built in previous units along with your understanding of Python to create your own game. -
Module 6 - RPGMaker Masterclass
RPGMaker is a program which helps us to create 2D role-playing games without the need to code. RPGMaker uses Ruby or Javascript as programming languages and has an attractive interface which makes it user-friendly. The final results of using RPGMaker can be escalated to several platforms often it’s used in game design. In this module, you’ll discover how to install and run the TPGMaker environment, understand the RPGMaker games structure, and create game maps, characters, facilities and elements for the game. -
Module 7 - Scratch Game Design
Scratch is a visual programming environment designed to create and share animated stories all the while learning how to code. Scratch offers an intuitive interface which is easy to understand, ideal for beginners just starting out in the game design world. You will use scratch to start building your own games, bring your ideas to life to create a functional prototype, and contribute and experience different solutions to game design problems. -
Module 8 - Coding Languages
In this unit, we will take a brief look at the various coding languages available to use in computer programming for various purposes but closely in relation to game design. You will learn the differences between coding languages such as how some are easier to use and understand for programmers but may offer less control over computers. We’ll explore how some other languages are more machine-friendly, making them faster to execute and more memory-efficient, but harder for humans to understand. At the end of this module, you will have a firm understanding of the coding languages that are appropriate to use for different game design purposes.
Request syllabus overview
Request syllabus overview
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30th June – 13th July 2024
