HND in Computing Videogames ProgrammingHND in Computing

Stand out in the games industry

The HND in Computing (Videogames Programming) is a full studies program, focused on training both professional developers and experts in technology, who will be working in the Videogames industry. This program gives our students the opportunity to join up the last year of an Honours Bachelor Degree in British Universities, or to be part of a development team for Videogames producers. The studies are divided into 3 academic years.

The first year is an intensive course on Information Technology and the technological basis for video games, which serves as a prologue and introduction to the most advanced programming subjects studied in later courses. The second and third years are composed entirely of subjects related to the development of video games: both areas of production (such as project management or teamwork), game design and especially programming, emphasizing disciplines such as graphics programming, video game engines, artificial intelligence, networking or hardware architectures, and low-level programming.

All subjects are taught by professional experts in the Videogames Industry or Technological Investigation. In addition, each academic year relies on a school load dedicated to improving the technical, spoken and written English of our students, as well as preparing them to be able to accomplish English technical presentations and public speaking. Those students interested in learning Japanese, can also sign up for Japanese subjects to get familiar with the language and Japanese culture, which is well known to have a great influence in the industry and publication of Videogames. Students belonging to the third year must successfully complete a Videogame Project in order to graduate.

This project will be done together with students from the HND of Computer Game Animation. Students from both courses will form mixed teams and will be supervised by an instructor of the Videogames Industry, who acts as a mentor for each one of the teams and will guide them in order to obtain a high standard game developed by them.

Study Videogames Programming in ESAT

Work in the videogames sector

The Videogames Industry is an exciting sector. It is the entertainment sector with the highest income in the 21st century. Worldwide turnover exceeds 90,000 million dollars and has a growth rate of more than 10%. The generation of employment in Spain grows at a rate higher than 22% in the last year. In Spain alone, the turnover growth from 2015 to 2016 was 21%. The companies invoiced more than 617 million euros. It is a completely heterogeneous industry, where they can be accommodated from multi million dollar projects, carried out by large highly specialized teams, to independent proposals, developed by smaller and more dynamic multidisciplinary teams. Professional outings:

• Technology Programmer and Low Level.
•  Gameplay Programmer.
•  Graphic Programmer.
•  Network Administrator and Programmer.
•  Game Designer.
•  Level Designer.
•  Graphic Engine Programmer.
•  Serious Game Programmer focused on Health, Education and Safety.
•  Developer for Videogame Artificial Intelligence.
•  Interactive Applications Developer.

Meet the videogames created by our students

Testimonials from our Computing Videogames Programming alumni

Víctor ÁvilaRockstarEntré en la ESAT en 2015 recién salido de bachillerato y sin conocimientos previos de programación, pero con mucha curiosidad por el apartado técnico de los videojuegos. Lo que encontré fueron profesores muy dinámicos y profesionales capaces de convertir mi curiosidad en motivación por el medio y las distintas disciplinas. En especial, la programación gráfica me gustó tanto que dediqué todo mi último año de carrera en Sheffield Hallam University a ello, y he tenido la suerte de poder dedicarme a ello como Graphics Programmer en Rockstar North desde 2019, trabajando en algunos de los proyectos más ambiciosos de la industria.

Emili TarongerDigital Legends – UbisoftTras ser senior programmer en Digital Legends he sido fichado como Engine Programmer Lead para uno de los mejores proyectos de Ubisoft. ESAT fue la base de todo esto tan alucinante que me está ocurriendo.

Jose Manuel NaranjoUbisoftDesde pequeño he estado rodeado de juegos y consolas, algo que siempre generó en mí una profunda curiosidad en como se hacen videojuegos. Empecé mis estudios… [+]

Fran RuizSocial Point-King-ScopelyMi pasión por los videojuegos se vio colmada y consolidada con la gran base que me aportó ESAT, pudiendo entrar a trabajar automáticamente, al finalizar, en Social point, luego King, Scopely…
Me he convertido en el profesional que soñaba…

Sergio AlapontSumo DigitalComo otros muchos, estudié “Ingeniería informática” en la universidad con la esperanza de cumplir mi sueño de trabajar en la industria del videojuego. Sin embargo, al… [+]

Fernando FerrandoFuture LighthouseLlegué a la ESAT con la esperanza de poder dedicar mi vida a los videojuegos, desde pequeño siempre quise dedicarme a eso, pero no habían estudios… [+]

Dani SierraBohemia InteractiveDurante los 3 años de carrera de programación obtenemos un nivel muy alto de desarrollo videojuegos. Esto nos permite terminar la carrera en universidades de Reino… [+]

Lucas GonzálezTraveller’s Tales / ESATEmpecé mis estudios de videojegos con el HND in Computing en ESAT, la motivación que tenia de crear videojuegos me ayudo a trabajar bastante… [+]