Our part-time MA in Computer Games Design is a new adventure in mastering game worlds and game realms, with explorations very much of your own devising.
Do you have a passion for pushing yourself to do your best character or level design work, with an open-mindedness and enthusiasm, grounded in high imagination, but capable of balancing art with practical applications and digital technology? Do you want to chart your learning with amazing conceptual designs and Unreal Engine navigation, going deep inside game structures with insights into the latest trends, at the frontier of new thinking on ludology? Do you want to explore new lands and new sounds of interactivity, and push boundaries in visionary, immersive terrains and transformative landscapes?
On this MA, we encourage innovation and curiosity, to forge new routes, developing the best characters that may need the best designed assets and tools when encountering ferocious, deadly, animated creatures in strange, bewitching, out-of-this-world environments. To meet these challenges, you will not journey alone. This MA is led by staff who have taught graduates who are working in the industry today. We know how to empower you to master your creativity, and will ask you, on Games, to collaborate with the other explorers on both the Animation and Film pathways. There will be specific Games modules, but our aim is to propel your experience further, incorporating a new production-based system of sharing your expertise and studio roles that will enhance and advance your projects and showreel.
Course details
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Why choose this course?
What you will learn
On this course, you will learn how to design game characters, levels, and worlds, using both creative thinking and modern technology. You will explore tools such as Unreal Engine, and learn about AR and VR workflows, narrative design, and game mechanics.
You will work both independently and as part of a team, sharing skills and ideas with students from the Animation and Film pathways. Teaching includes lectures, demonstrations, and hands on workshops, helping you build practical skills and a strong portfolio ready for the games industry.
(20 credits)
(10 credits)
(10 credits)
(20 credits)
(10 credits)
(10 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(60 credits)
Disclaimer
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The modules outlined above provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this course based on recent academic teaching. We continuously review our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
You’ll typically complete 120 credits per year of study on a full-time course. For more information visit our Student Agreement.
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Staff
Our People
You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Further information
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2:2 honours degree
- or UWTSD recognised equivalent.
Admissions Advice and Support
For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements.
English language requirementsIf English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.
Visit the International Applications section of our website to find out more about our English Language Requirements and pre-sessional English Language Courses.
Visa and funding requirements
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.
For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa.
International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship.
For full information read our visa application and guides.
Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
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Assessment on this course is based on practical work, not traditional exams.
You will take part in workshops, lectures, and demonstrations, where you build the skills needed to design and create modern video games. Coursework helps you develop strong visual design skills and confidence in your creative choices.
In the first part of your Master’s Project, you will pitch your own game idea to your tutors and fellow students. The strongest ideas are then chosen and developed further as a team, in the second part of the module.
You will work in a team, with each person taking on a specialist role, just like in a real games studio. This gives you genuine experience of how games are made, from idea to finished product.
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Some modules in this course are available to study through the medium of Welsh either fully or partially. In all cases students will be able to submit written assessments through the medium of Welsh.
If you choose to study your course either fully or partially through the medium of Welsh, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships and bursaries to support you with your studies.
We are continuously reviewing our Welsh medium provision, the precise availability of modules will vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course offers modules available through the medium of Welsh this may vary from year to year, and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific Welsh medium modules cannot be guaranteed.
Extracurricular Welsh OpportunitiesThere are many ways to engage with Welsh culture and life at UWTSD, including joining clubs and societies for Welsh speakers and becoming a member of our vibrant Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol branch.
Opportunities to Learn Welsh
We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills.
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Most of what you need for this course is provided. Our workshops and studios are equipped with the tools, software, and resources to support your work throughout the MA.
However, you may choose to spend extra money to build your own personal practice. Examples include:
Specialist software or hardware (optional): Some students buy their own software licences or equipment to use on personal projects outside of class.
Optional study trips (optional, cost varies): From time to time, optional trips may be available. These are never compulsory.
Printing (optional, cost varies): Some coursework may involve printing costs, depending on your chosen approach.
All optional costs are indicative and depend on your personal choices.
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You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit our Scholarships and Bursaries section.
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The potential career opportunities that the MA in Computer Games Design offers are found in:
- Computer Games Content
- Computer Games Promotion
- Corporate Sector Promotion
- Corporate Sector Training
- Education Sector Training
- TV Broadcast Content
- TV Commercials Content
- General Digital Media Content
- Feature Film Content