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Abertay University is well renowned in the industry for offering the world’s first higher education game development degree back in 1997.
Since then many other educational institutions have followed suit, but the university has the highest number of Skillset accreditations for computer games courses in the UK, as well as holding Skillset Media Academy status.
It now offers courses covering computer art, game audio, design and production management and programming and technology, as well as also offering postgraduate courses such as its professional masters program in games development, launched as recently as 2009.
Academic director for Abertay’s institute for Arts, Media and Computer Games Louis Natanson says there are many benefits open to students who study at the campus, beyond the university’s reputation as a leading industry education hub.
“We’ve always worked very closely with the industry, to ensure our courses are developing the skills graduates need to get great jobs and be productive in a company from day one,” he says.
He adds that staff on the courses have worked for companies including Codemasters, DMA Design, Denki and EA, whilst the University brings in companies to meet students, mentor them and also provide advice and set real commercial briefs for student projects to help bring them a step closer to the real thing.
He also says that Abertay has “particularly close working relationships” with other companies such as Disney, Microsoft, Sony and Ubisoft, and has an industry advisory panel that helps keep Abertay up to date with the latest trends in the industry and what studios are in most need of, as well as helping guide the curriculum it delivers.
Natanson believes what sets the Scottish university apart is that it allows students to make games as part of a team, providing them with the skills needed to work on big projects with many other developers.
“Art, audio, game design and programming students work together on real projects, building real games,” he says.
“That’s how the industry works, so that’s how we teach.”
One student to have studied at the university is Dave Jones, creator of Grand Theft Auto, and Natanson claims that as well as this success story, most major games companies such as Rockstar, Sony and Codemasters and some new start-ups have a graduate from one of its courses employed.
As well as running its popular courses, Abertay also runs a multi-million pound ‘Prototype Fund’, which invests money into start-ups and small companies, sometimes set up by former students of the University, to help them expand their business and create new content.
In future, Natanson says Abertay will continue to listen to the industry and its students so that it can “keep delivering some of the world’s greatest computer games education”.
Abertay is no different from any other university, their focus is "bums on seats", crushing innovation and exploiting students for their own gain.
The only real training they provide is exposure to the politics that are ruining this industry.
So if u plan on attending...you better learn to pucker up X :) X
Well said I used to cringe when I read these articles seem the must pay develop some good cash to post their marketing BS and if they have not been paid you guys should do some research before plastering such glowing news. Alberta is not a up to industry standard training. It is run by largest non academic tutors from unrelated backgrounds ( architects and engineers ) who have interest the creative industries but no actual experience. That being said they do provide some good industry links and opportunity like dare to be digital but the training it provides for the art course will often leave students leaving no where near industry standards. Think twice before going there.
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I agree with the first two comments. Also, it's funny how the only successful student they name graduated in 1989. In addition to this, it states that the tutors worked at the companies listed above, however that was almost 10 years ago. Could you include a list of recent graduates who are success stories now?
I'm a 3rd year student at Abertay. I'm slightly different to most the fresh faced kids that go, I'm a 42 year old with 20 years military experience.
I agree that Abertay is funded by bums on seats, I have no need to point out to anyone that reads this site, that computers cost a LOT of money and need upgraded, regularly. Funding comes from bums on seats, so how else does it run. It was nearly closed for not being "business enough" .
It is NO different from any other university, it needs to survive in this current climate. With regard to paying Develop to advertise, erm, thats how it works. You really weren't listening in class !!!
With regard to the academic qualities of the staff. I am astounded that you are so critical. MY lecturers so far
Grant Clarke - DMA designs + indie developer
Gordon Brown _ Rockstar North (among others)
Iain Donald - Realtime Worlds, Ruffian, Iplay
Ken Fee - EA (MoH Lead Artist)
Thats just a few from the top of my head
I find that at university a larger problem is, many of the students were just not self motivated to work and couldn't organise a piss up in a distillery, no matter a brewery.
They are offered interesting projects to work on, from industry sources such as Outplay, Denki and Tesco, yet as is often the case, they show little enthusiasm to do well, although that is not true in all cases.
Dare to Be Digital isn't for everyone, some of us were more interested in other projects that were around. The game style is more limited due to the age range that you are aiming for and 12 weeks to get a game of industry standard with a team of 5 is an extremely hard thing to do, even after 3 years of uni.
Abertay has many faults , but the standard of the lecturers at Abertay and the inspiration they inspire in SOME of the students, is second to none.
You guys are wrong. I'm just finishing my third year at Abertay and have had several paid jobs working in the industry and I still have a year to go. If you never made something of your degree at Abertay, go blame yourself.
Well the only thing I can say to FormerStudent is you only get out of what you put in. I can imagine you were one of those people that didn't really put in.
I study creative sound in Abertay, and to be fair I have had some issues with the university. The good has out weighed the bad. Without repeating hardbastid, because his comment more than shows why it is a good choice to be in Abertay for someone wanting to start a career in the gaming industry.
As someone who wants to have a career in sound design I have been lucky enough to learn from great lecturers and had the chance to work with a company such as a certain Glasgow games company. I have also noticed a great improvement in the quality of my work while studying at Abertay. I also want a career in the film industry and my appreciation for film sound has went through the roof, thanks to my lecturer Dr. Kenny McAlpine.
The quality of work I have seen from other students too shows that Abertay is a great uni to be at.
As for the bums on seats comment, do you think a uni can run without students. C'mon FormerStudent think before you speak.
Anyone wanting a career in the games industry with art, programming and sound can do no bad in studying at Abertay.
As with all things in life, you get out what you put in. Abertay teaches you how to create, develop and essentially exist in the industry. They teach you how to think for yourself. You will occasionally get people who are unable to think for themselves and unwilling to put in the work but they seem to be in the minority. I've just finished 3rd year and the experience I have gained has been amazing.
@hardbastid - your age and military career is irrelevant but thanks for sharing, u must be a proudBastid too! I have no problem with the academic qualities of staff, more their alliances and attitude.I know student bills are one way all unis gets paid but they also receive ALOT of funding from elsewhere, that wasn't really the main point. Abertay in my opinion has a higher regard for malleable students, they are more than happy to take money from anyone but if they don't like you, they wont spend as much effort on you. That's what i meant by "bums on seats", but thanks for the business studies 101.
@Fran & MrMagoo - Every student i encountered there worked extremely hard, so i don't think " u get out of it what u put in" is fair to say... Essentially that's just mocking anyone who hasn't made anything of themselves yet, which is unreasonable considering everyone works at thier own pace(a 42 year old student is proof of that). Please don't rub peoples noses in your success... unnecessary.
Anyway one man's success is another man's failure,some people aren't willing to work just anywhere, what may be a dream for you is a nightmare for someone else.
You're wrong, it's not mocking anyone and was never intended to do so.
There are ample opportunities to find work in and around Dundee or to enter competitions. You also have all of the equipment and software you need to start your own projects. Wasting your time at uni is more about not making the best of the opportunities that are on offer, and spending your free time playing World of Warcraft instead of trying to make your ambitions a reality.
Also on your last point, the games industry is a business and the only way to get where you want to be, is to go through the parts of that business you don't like. If you're too picky as to where you will work, you'll never find employment. These dream jobs will very rarely ever fall at your doorstep as with any industry and take years of hard work and a lot of ambition and drive to attain.
