Bachelor of Game Programming

The Bachelor of Game Programming at Torrens University Australia is a three-year degree for people who want to build the systems inside games rather than just play them. You learn programming from the ground up: C++, C#, data structures, algorithms, maths for games, graphics programming, physics, artificial intelligence for non-player characters, networking and multiplayer systems, and the tools that studios use to ship titles. Alongside that you study game design fundamentals, so you understand why a mechanic works, not only how to code it. The degree sits under graphic design at Torrens, which means there is a visual and design thread running through it, you will think about player experience, interface and how code decisions shape what a player sees and feels.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are normally three years of full-time study, and this one follows that pattern. Torrens runs its courses on trimesters, so you take units of study across three study periods a year rather than the two semesters common at some universities. Each unit carries credit points, and you accumulate them until you meet the requirements for the award. Expect a mix of core programming and maths units, game specialisation units, and elective or design units. Later stages typically include a capstone project where you build a game or a substantial piece of game technology, often in a team, and present it as a finished product. Assessment is usually a combination of programming assignments, playable builds, written design and technical documentation, and exams or tests where the unit calls for them.

Skills you come out with

You graduate able to write and debug code in languages used by real studios, work with game engines, build and optimise gameplay systems, and reason about performance on the hardware a game actually runs on. Teamwork matters in this industry, so group projects and studio-style production units are where a lot of the learning happens, version control, code review, sprint planning and the discipline of hitting a build deadline. You also learn to communicate technical ideas to artists, designers and producers, which is the skill that separates a good programmer from someone who is difficult to work with.

Who it suits

This suits school leavers with a strong maths and computing background, and also people changing careers from software, IT or a design field who want to specialise in games. You should enjoy problem solving and be willing to spend long hours getting code to work. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia. English proficiency is required, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the usual undergraduate standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and Torrens' own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 119221K. Confirm current entry requirements, unit lists and fees on the official Torrens University Australia page before you apply.

• Gameplay programmer, building character control, combat, physics and interaction systems at studios in Australia and overseas.
• Graphics or engine programmer, working on rendering, shaders and performance for PC, console and mobile titles.
• Tools programmer, writing the in-house software that artists and designers use to make content.
• AI programmer, coding enemy behaviour, pathfinding and procedural systems.
• Mobile and indie game developer, shipping your own titles or working in small Australian teams.
• Simulation and serious games developer, defence, health, education and training organisations that use game technology.
• Software developer outside games, the programming and maths skills transfer to app development, data and general software engineering.
• QA and technical tester, a common entry point into studios before moving into a programming role.

Australian employers in this field include game studios, mobile and app developers, visual effects and animation houses, and government or defence simulation teams. Many graduates also work remotely for international studios.