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Study game design abroad

Find programs that match your eligibility and aspirations then apply with reduced application fees, a free assessment and access to a dedicated advisor.

Find your perfect game design programs abroad

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

Find other programs in game design

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.

Why use Studee?

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  1. Find your ideal program

    Filter 10,000s of programs down to a shortlist perfect for you, where you have a strong chance of getting admitted

  2. Apply online via Studee

    Complete our application form and enjoy reduced application fees and access to unique Studee scholarships for many universities

  3. We assess within 48hrs

    We complete an 85-point assessment within 2 business days, help you with improvements then submit to your university

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    We chase the university for your admission decision and keep you updated. We all celebrate your admission!

Carbon compensation - We'll plant trees in your name to compensate for the carbon generated by all your flights to and from university.

All our services are 100% free as we're funded by universities. You pay deposits and tuition fees directly to the university.

* Price based on similar application assessment services from other providers

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

Game Design study abroad programs

Game design undergraduate programs

Bachelor's in game design

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    Animation: Storyboarding and Character Design - BFA DePaul University, USA

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    43,665 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 43,665 USD

    Start date
    March, September, January
    Show program overview about Animation - Storyboarding and Character Design
  • false

    Art: Interaction & Game Design - BFA California State University, East Bay, USA

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    16,509 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 16,509 USD

    Start date
    August, January
    Show program overview about Art: Interaction & Game Design
  • false

    Game Design (Sydney Campus) - BGD (Top Up) AIT Academy of Interactive Technology, Australia
    • Blended learning

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    10,580 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 16,050 AUD

    Start date
    May, September, February
    Show program overview about Bachelor of Game Design
  • false

    Digital Game Design and Development - BFA Long Island University Post, USA

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    4 years
    Annual tuition fee
    39,458 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 39,458 USD

    Start date
    September, January
    Show program overview about BFA Digital Game Design & Development
  • false

    Game Design - BFA New York Film Academy, USA

    Program type
    Bachelor's
    Duration
    3 years
    Annual tuition fee
    29,408 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 29,408 USD

    Start date
    May, August, January
    Show program overview about BFA Game Design

Associate in game design

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    Game Design - AFA New York Film Academy, USA

    Program type
    Associate
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    37,226 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 37,226 USD

    Start date
    May, August, January
    Show program overview about AFA Game Design
  • false

    Animation and Game Design - AA Berkeley City College, USA

    Program type
    Associate
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    10,740 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 10,740 USD

    Start date
    August
    Show program overview about Animation and Game Design
  • false

    Game Design - AA Diablo Valley College, USA

    Program type
    Associate
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    9,840 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 9,840 USD

    Start date
    August
    Show program overview about Game Design

Diploma in game design

  • false

    Game Design (Sydney Campus) - DipHE AIT Academy of Interactive Technology, Australia
    • Blended learning

    Program type
    Undergraduate diploma
    Duration
    1 year
    Annual tuition fee
    10,580 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 16,050 AUD

    Start date
    May, September, February
    Show program overview about Diploma of Game Design
  • false

    Game - Design - Dip Conestoga College, Canada

    Program type
    Undergraduate diploma
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    12,488 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 16,942 CAD

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about Game - Design
  • false

    Game: Design - OCADip Mohawk College, Canada

    Program type
    Undergraduate diploma
    Duration
    3 years
    Annual tuition fee
    13,692 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 18,575 CAD

    Start date
    September, January
    Show program overview about Game - Design - 374
  • false

    Game: Design and Simulation - Dip Georgian College, Canada

    Program type
    Undergraduate diploma
    Duration
    16 months
    Annual tuition fee
    13,268 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 18,000 CAD

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about Game - Design and Simulation
  • false

    Game Design and Development - OCADip Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology, Canada

    Program type
    Undergraduate diploma
    Duration
    3 years
    Annual tuition fee
    13,201 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 17,908 CAD

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about Game Design and Development

Certificate in game design

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    Game Design Level II - Cert Berkeley City College, USA

    Program type
    Undergraduate certificate
    Duration
    1 year
    Annual tuition fee
    10,740 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 10,740 USD

    Start date
    August
    Show program overview about Game Design Level II

Game design graduate programs

Master's in game design

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    Game Design - MA American University, USA

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    34,596 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 34,596 USD

    Start date
    September, January
    Show program overview about Game Design
  • false

    Game Design, Practice and Theory by Research - MSc (Research) Abertay University, UK

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    16,704 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 13,250 GBP

    Start date
    June, October, February
    Show program overview about Game Design, Practice and Theory by Research
  • false

    Game Design - MA Falmouth University, UK

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    1 year
    Annual tuition fee
    22,012 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 17,460 GBP

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about Game Design
  • false

    Game Design - MFA DePaul University, USA

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    23,868 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 23,868 USD

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about Game Design
  • false

    Game Design - MSc Full Sail University, USA
    • Online

    Program type
    Master's
    Duration
    1 year
    Annual tuition fee
    35,000 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 35,000 USD

    Start date
    April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, January, February, March
    Show program overview about Game Design Master's

Doctorate in game design

  • false

    Game Design - PhD Abertay University, UK

    Program type
    Doctorate
    Duration
    3 years
    Annual tuition fee
    18,596 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 14,750 GBP

    Start date
    June, October, February
    Show program overview about Game Design

Certificate in game design

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    Digital Design: Game Design - OCGCert George Brown College, Canada

    Program type
    Postgraduate certificate
    Duration
    2 years
    Annual tuition fee
    23,646 USD

    Fee in university's local currency 32,078 CAD

    Start date
    September
    Show program overview about Digital Design – Game Design (Postgraduate) (G405)

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.