Games Design MA

Program Overview

This advanced games design program equips students with professional skills, problem-solving abilities, and practical experience in game design. Taught by industry professionals, the program emphasizes collaboration with external organizations and utilizes cutting-edge technologies like VR and AR. Graduates are prepared for careers in game design, level design, app development, and game testing, with opportunities for postgraduate research.

Program Outline

Outline:

• This program will allow you to develop a range of professional skills, problem-solving, and experiences in advanced games design practice.
• You will be taught by talented industry professionals who have worked on titles released on PC, Xbox and PlayStation.
• This course is taught by academic staff with a wealth of experience within the games industry.
• Students will be given valuable opportunities to collaborate and engage with external industry, cultural, and government bodies.
• At the conclusion of the course, you will have:
• Managed, designed and presented prototypes to professional standards utilising specialist game design and development tools and skills.
• Developed advanced proficiencies in a range of practical and technical skills (new technologies, contemporary design software, communications), that will enable direct entry into the games industry, specifically in the areas of design.
• Conducted substantial and significant research in areas specific to game design and development.
• Utilized new and emerging technologies such as Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality in the development of original and creative game design concepts.
• Developed advanced critical and analytical skills relating to the design of historical and contemporary games.
• Developed a comprehensive set of transferable skills, such as effective communication, organisation, group work and project management skills, pertinent to other sectors of the creative industries.

Teaching:

• An appropriate blend of established and effective teaching delivery methods will be employed to enhance your learning experience and to achieve the learning outcomes of the course.
• Typically, large group teaching will include lectures, studio practice, demonstrations and small group teaching will include seminars, teamwork /projects, critiques (feedback).
• The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
• Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (19%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (22%) or Lecturers (57%).
• We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher.
• Most academic and learning support staff (85%) are recognised as fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advance HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning.
• Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.
• The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff.
• This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.

Careers:

• This program is designed to prepare students for a career in a range of game development related fields such as game design, level design, app development and game testing.
• Postgraduate opportunities are available for students who wish to pursue a career in research.

Other:

• This course will allow you to develop a range of professional skills, problem-solving, and experiences in advanced games design practice.
• You will be taught by talented industry professionals who have worked on titles released on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.
• This course is taught by academic staff with a wealth of experience within the games industry.
• Students will be given valuable opportunities to collaborate and engage with external industry, cultural, and government bodies.
• At the conclusion of the course, you will have:
• Managed, designed and presented prototypes to professional standards utilising specialist game design and development tools and skills.
• Developed advanced proficiencies in a range of practical and technical skills (new technologies, contemporary design software, communications), that will enable direct entry into the games industry, specifically in the areas of design.
• Conducted substantial and significant research in areas specific to game design and development.
• Utilized new and emerging technologies such as Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality in the development of original and creative game design concepts.
• Developed advanced critical and analytical skills relating to the design of historical and contemporary games.
• Developed a comprehensive set of transferable skills, such as effective communication, organisation, group work, and project management skills, pertinent to other sectors of the creative industries.