Study game design abroad

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Find your perfect game design programs abroad

Find game design programs you love that match your needs and aspirations, where you stand a high chance of acceptance.

Game Design degrees abroad

If you’re hoping to make a career out of your passion for video games, then game design could be the right program for you. You’ll learn how to design the next best selling game and market it to consumers across the world.

Once just a fun hobby, video games have now transformed into a multi-billion pound industry. You’ll study every stage of the game design process, including original concepts, prototype development, testing, and evaluation. As well as honing your technical skills in coding and programming, you’ll consider the theories behind successful games.

Studying abroad is the best way to truly understand the global scale and influence of the games industry. You’ll learn about the interests and behaviors of different cultural markets, and see how consumer trends vary around the world.

Game Design program structure

Bachelor’s degrees in games design require at least three years of full-time study. However, they can take longer depending on where you study and whether you complete a placement.

It’s possible to study games design as a BA or a BSc. BA courses concentrate more on the scripting and storytelling of games, while BSc programs focus on technical aspects like programming and testing. It’s important to choose the degree classification that suits your interests and ambitions.

If you’re keen to continue your education, you can enroll in a postgraduate program. Master’s degrees take between one and two years to finish, while PhDs usually last between four and six years.

You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, creative workshops, technical labs, seminars, and tutorials.

The exact content of your timetable will depend on your university and the modules you select, but here are some of the fundamental topics you’ll likely cover:

  • Character animation techniques
  • Scripting for games
  • Theory of games design
  • Concept and design
  • Prototype development
  • Games engine creation
  • Algorithms and data structures
  • 3D modeling
University surrounded by study materials

Best countries to study game design

Game Design study abroad programs

What are the top game design undergraduate programs abroad?

  • California State University, Monterey BayCommunication Design: Game Design & Interactive Media - BSc

    • 4 years
    • On campus
    • Full-time
    • Jan
    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Subject area
    Game Design, Printmaking
    Location
    Seaside, USA
    Next start date
    January 2025
    Annual tuition fee
    16,647USD
  • Full Sail UniversityInteractive Technology: Game Design - BSc

    • 9 months
    • On campus
    • Full-time
    • Nov, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Subject area
    Game Design
    Location
    Orlando, USA
    Next start date
    November 2024 +11 more
    Annual tuition fee
    88,500USD
  • Hampshire CollegeGame Design and Development - BA

    • 4 years
    • On campus
    • Full-time
    • Jan, Sep
    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Subject area
    Game Design
    Location
    Amherst, USA
    Next start date
    January 2025 +1 more
    Annual tuition fee
    57,158USD
  • New York Film AcademyGame Design - BFA

    • 3 years
    • On campus
    • Full-time
    • Jan, May, Aug
    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Subject area
    Game Design
    Location
    New York City, USA
    Next start date
    January 2025 +2 more
    Annual tuition fee
    30,878USD
  • Abertay UniversityGame Design and Production - BA (Hons)

    • 4 years
    • On campus
    • Full-time
    • Sep
    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Subject area
    Game Design, Production
    Location
    Dundee, UK
    Next start date
    September 2025
    Annual tuition fee
    15,500GBP

See all undergraduate degrees in game design

What are the top game design postgraduate programs abroad?

  • Full Sail UniversityGame Design - MSc

    • 1 year
    • On campus
    • Full-time
    • Nov, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
    Program type
    Master's
    Subject area
    Game Design
    Location
    Orlando, USA
    Next start date
    November 2024 +11 more
    Annual tuition fee
    36,000USD
  • American UniversityGame Design - MA

    • 2 years
    • On campus
    • Full-time
    • Jan, Sep
    Program type
    Master's
    Subject area
    Game Design
    Location
    Washington DC, USA
    Next start date
    January 2025 +1 more
    Annual tuition fee
    36,000USD
  • Falmouth UniversityGame Design - MA

    • 1 year
    • On campus
    • Full-time
    • Sep
    Program type
    Master's
    Subject area
    Game Design
    Location
    Falmouth, UK
    Next start date
    September 2025
    Annual tuition fee
    17,950GBP
  • DePaul UniversityGame Design - MFA

    • 2 years
    • On campus
    • Full-time
    • Jan, Mar, Sep
    Program type
    Master's
    Subject area
    Game Design
    Location
    Chicago, USA
    Next start date
    January 2025 +2 more
    Annual tuition fee
    22,032USD
  • Teesside University3D Games Art - MA

    • 1 year
    • On campus
    • Full-time
    • Sep, Jan
    Program type
    Master's
    Subject area
    Game Design
    Location
    Middlesbrough, UK
    Next start date
    September 2024 +2 more
    Annual tuition fee
    15,000GBP

See all postgraduate degrees in game design

Future game design careers

A degree in game design will propel you into one of the globe’s hottest industries. You’ll have the technical expertise and creative flair needed to launch an exciting and lucrative career.

You could apply your skills across several sectors and roles, but here are some of the positions you’d be most suited to:

  • Games developer
  • Games programmer
  • Games tester
  • Animator
  • Software developer
  • Web designer
  • Data scientist
  • Systems analyst

If you don’t know what to do after graduation, arrange an appointment with your university’s careers office. They can help you figure out your interests, find work experience, and perfect your resume.

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