Games Design

Entry requirements

• An honours degree or equivalent qualification in the subject or a related discipline; and/or
• Relevant work experience, demonstrating your ability to study at postgraduate level.

Entry requirements for international students can be found on the course page.

Months of entry

September

Course content

MA Games Design will challenge and expand your critical understanding and experiential design techniques for the dynamic games of tomorrow. You will explore different perspectives on game-play, developing compelling and exciting new work to take you to the next level.

You will have the opportunity to examine audience engagement through a variety of approaches to the widening field of games. You will also explore games through the expanding possibilities of interactive experiences.

You will investigate the context of contemporary games and games culture. You will also consider games in other contexts, such as Applied Games (also known as Serious Games), as well as research, education and healthcare together with how it can inform other creative disciplines like film and architecture.

You will apply your skills beyond just creating entertainment and explore other areas, such as avant-garde and games with purpose. You will explore the game mechanics of interaction and immersion, employ new technologies and creative approaches (Expanded Reality - XR), and build upon your existing digital design skills and technical knowledge. You will also be encouraged to take part in UCA Game Jams, as well as attending many external games events and festivals.

You will be taught in outstanding studios, with dedicated industry hardware and software. You will also have access VR development facilities, allowing games to be deployed to a variety of platforms, and have access to our unique library of console, PC, board and card games.

Delivering the course is a team of lecturers with games development experience and experience from related creative and research backgrounds. You will also have talks by and meet visiting lecturers from high-profile gaming companies and backgrounds.

The South East of England, where UCA Farnham is uniquely positioned, is home to a significant proportion of the UK games industry – including Rocksteady Studios, Supermassive Games, EA, Rebellion, Fireproof Games, nDreams, Two Point Studios, Gears For Breakfast, Supergonk, Failbetter Games and Weather Factory – offering many opportunities for off-site visits and trips, games networking events and other cross-course activities.

The campus is only 20 minutes away from Guildford – dubbed the Hollywood of computer games – and just 55 minutes from London, locating two of the three largest games industry hubs in the UK, as well as up-and-coming Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) industry. Studying so close to Guildford and London will give you access to the UK’s largest technology incubation and games industry start-ups.

Information for international students

UCA has a global student community and welcomes creatives from around the world.

Fees and funding

Please visit our website for information on fees and scholarships.