University for the Creative Arts: Games Design

Summary

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.

Level	RQF Level 7
Entry requirements	A good honours degree (normally 2.1 or above) or equivalent qualification in your chosen subject or a related discipline and / or relevant work experience, demonstrating your ability to study at postgraduate level. For this course, we'll require an online portfolio for assessment. Further information on how to compile a portfolio and the process for submission of your work will be provided on the Applicant Portal.
Location	Farnham Falkner Road Farnham GU9 7DS

Fees

EU	8000 GBP for Whole course
England	8000 GBP for Whole course
Northern Ireland	8000 GBP for Whole course
Scotland	8000 GBP for Whole course
Wales	8000 GBP for Whole course
International	16250 GBP for Whole course
Channel Islands	16250 GBP for Whole course

Summary

Our MA Games Design course allows you to apply your skill and creativity within the growing computer games industry and beyond. We’ll encourage you to develop your creative and entrepreneurial attitude, whilst looking to challenge convention and inform the future of gaming.

Our dedicated computer games facilities include studios of high-end PCs with games systems and interactivity software (including XNA, Unity and Unreal 3D Editor), CGI Autodesk Entertainment suite (with Maya, 3D Studio Max, Motionbuilder and Mudbox), Adobe Master Collection, ZBrush, Android tablet development kits, Oculus Rift 2 development kits, a sound production studio with Pro Tools, and film and animation facilities, including production cameras, workshops and digital editing studios.

The course has dedicated access to iOS and Android development kits, as well as access to shared resources including 3D workshops, laser-cutting and rapid prototyping, as well as photography and printmaking.

The computer games industry is growing at a record pace – according to TIGA, The UK video games industry contributed £1.11 billion to the UK economy in 2014, up from £1.01bn in 2013. The number of UK games companies is growing at 22% per annum.

The South East of England holds approximately 48% of the UK games industry. At UCA Farnham, we’re right in the heart of the south east, only 20 minutes away from Guildford “the Hollywood of computer games”, and just 55 minutes from London Waterloo, through which the capital’s games and technology start-ups can be accessed.

Level	RQF Level 7
Entry requirements	A good honours degree (normally 2.1 or above) or equivalent qualification in your chosen subject or a related discipline and / or relevant work experience, demonstrating your ability to study at postgraduate level. For this course, we'll require an online portfolio for assessment. Further information on how to compile a portfolio and the process for submission of your work will be provided on the Applicant Portal.
Location	Farnham Falkner Road Farnham GU9 7DS

Fees

EU	6910 GBP for Year 1
England	6910 GBP for Year 1
Northern Ireland	6910 GBP for Year 1
Scotland	6910 GBP for Year 1
Wales	6910 GBP for Year 1
International	15500 GBP for Year 1