MA Game Design
Our interdisciplinary 18-month MA Game Design course—a dynamic and immersive programme tailored to elevate your expertise in the rapidly evolving world of interactive entertainment. Through advanced study, we aim to sharpen your research skills, cultivate a robust visual communication language, and empower you to specialise within the exciting field of game design.
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Programme Overview
Berlin School of Business and Innovation is in partnership with University for the Creative Arts (UCA). As a result of this partnership, BSBI is able to offer the MA Game Design programme. UCA is an acclaimed creative institution in the UK that ranks highly in all three of the major UK league tables. The university has also been ranked 13th out of all UK universities in the Guardian League Table 2020; and ranked no.7 in the 2021 Guardian League Tables for Business, Management & Marketing.
Your journey focuses on realising creative ideas and building a dynamic body of work. Whether as a solo developer or in a team, you'll develop a strong online profile and stay engaged with cutting-edge academic research in your specialisation, preparing you for success in the ever-evolving world of game design.
This course is perfect for:
- Individuals who aspire to become game designers and want to gain comprehensive knowledge and skills in game development.
- Those already working in the gaming industry who wish to enhance their expertise and stay abreast of the latest trends and technologies.
- Individuals with a background in multimedia programming seeking to specialise in game development.
- Artists, concept designers, and VFX artists looking to apply their creative skills in the context of game design.
- Individuals passionate about technology and software engineering who want to channel their interest into creating engaging digital games.
- Those interested in project management within the gaming industry, focusing on the unique challenges of game development projects.
- Individuals aiming to specialise in the marketing and public relations aspects of the gaming industry.
Programme Fee
Hamburg : Feb, October
Special offers effective until 31 December 2025: Up to 25% discount for International Students | 15% discount for EU Students
2025: February/October: International students Price: €13,250 | EU students Price: €8,450
Check out our offers. Find out more here.
Terms and conditions apply.
The School’s admissions process is subject to the Consumer Contracts (Terms and Conditions). Information on your Right of Withdrawal and our Refund Policy can be found in the BSBI study agreement.
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Programme Structure
This 18-month (Level 7) Game Design MA consists of three terms of study and six months dedicated to your dissertation.
The first two terms include a range of lectures and seminars and you’ll start to explore your creative practice in order to inform the detailed development of your project proposal later in the course.
In the third term you begin developing your MA project, evaluating and testing out the aims of your proposal over a sustained period of self-directed study.
The modules of this programme are offered and delivered 100% on campus.
Modules
Expressive Game Design: Games Research and Professional Contexts 1
Prototyping Lab: Genre and Affect Games Research and Professional Contexts 2
Games Design Project
Defining your practice
You’ll explore creative practices in order to inform the detailed development of your project proposal later in the course. The unit aims to provide a structured framework to allow you to investigate the potential of methods, ideas and themes in your discipline as well as helping inform and locate your practice.
Context and Method
Through a series of lectures and seminars, you’ll actively engage in a range of current debates which provide cultural and intellectual context for the consideration of ideas in visual communication. The programme addresses interdisciplinary issues through the discussion of theory and the consideration of specific design-led work and texts.
Project Development
In this unit, you will develop the themes and focus of your final project in the fields of illustration, graphic design, animation or visual communication. This will allow you to evaluate and test out the aims of your proposal over a sustained period of self-directed study. At this stage, the development of your project will be guided and questioned through tutorials, group critiques and presentations, which will support the progress of your work and provide rigorous critical appraisal from staff, peers and professional practitioners. While encouraging the continued exploration and questioning of your ideas, you will continue the process of developing appropriate methods and strategies for your project’s realisation as you begin to work more independently as a researcher and practitioner, refining your research questions and the research methods you are using.
Realisation and Dissemination
You’ll apply knowledge and experience gained in previous units to the realisation of your final MA project – the culmination and consolidation of your studies in the form of a resolved piece, or body of work. It should show coherence and innovation at a professional level of resolution. You’ll also be required to prepare a critical paper intended to reflect upon the specific practical outcome of the MA project, its interpretation and its success as a demonstration of your approach to creative practice through research.
Study in
Hamburg
- Delivery: On campus
- Duration: 18 months
- Intakes: February, October
- Campus: Hamburg, Germany
- Degree awarded by University for the Creative Arts
- Price 2024: October: €13,250 (international students) | €8,450 (EU students)
- Price 2025: February/October: €13,250 (international students) | €8,450 (EU students)
The School’s admissions process is subject to the Consumer Contracts (Terms and Conditions). Information on your Right of Withdrawal and our Refund Policy can be found in the BSBI study agreement
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course students should be able to:
- Develop the ability to create groundbreaking game concepts, design prototypes, and test ideas that push the boundaries of creativity, intersecting with genre and emotional impact.
- Gain practical and conceptual mastery across a diverse spectrum of game design and development concepts, principles, and techniques.
- Deconstruct games to analyse dynamics, mechanics, and aesthetics, proposing innovative solutions to elevate the overall gaming experience.
- Apply a range of methodologies to analyse the form and content of video games, enhancing your understanding and application of key concepts.
- Critically reflect on and evaluate game art and design practices using appropriate research methods, ensuring continuous growth and improvement.
- Acquire the skills to evaluate games in the professional context of game development, applying industry-standard practices.
- Understand and apply key concepts, theories, and debates shaping the dynamic landscape of game design.
- Develop the skills and attitudes necessary to make a meaningful impact in the creative industries and creative economy.
- Explore different ways to engage with the creative world, discovering practical approaches to create a lasting impact within your chosen creative industry.
Career Progression
Successful Graduates: Navigating Lucrative Careers in the Gaming Industry.
Our alumni have successfully transitioned into readily accessible avenues, leading them to rewarding and thriving positions within the dynamic field of game development:
- Concept designer
- Game designer
- Games developer
- Multimedia programmer
- Multimedia specialist
- Software engineer
- VFX artist
BSBI’s dedicated Careers Service helps visual communication students and alumni reach their career goals and realise their potential. The Service offers specialised support and aims to build long-lasting relationships with local and national employers.
Minimum age: 21
Academic qualifications
- Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university
- Consideration will also be given to applicants with a minimum of 3 years relevant managerial experience, demonstrating an ability to study at postgraduate level.
If you do not meet the academic requirements, you may be assessed based on 3 years of relevant work experience (illustration, animation, graphic design or general visual communication), demonstrating your ability to study at postgraduate level.
English Requirements
Access the Proof of English Guide (UCA) here.
You can apply now to study with BSBI! It’s quick and easy, here’s how it works:
- Create an account here
- Select the programme and intake you want to apply for
- Complete all sections of the online application
- Submit online application
- Our Admissions Team will liaise with you with regards to next steps
Computer Equipment
In recent developments of hybrid learning, we require each student to arrive equipped with a laptop. We, therefore, recommend the purchase of a design-friendly mobile laptop. Please click below to read more about the technical requirement.
Your Portfolio Submission
You are required to submit an online portfolio via our BSBI Applicant Portal. Before submitting your artwork, please have a look through the Portfolio Cookbook
What is a portfolio?
- Your portfolio is a collection of your best work. We want to see what inspires you, how you develop your work, your creative thinking processes, how and what you create and what makes you a unique creative individual.
What should my portfolio contain?
- Your portfolio might contain sketches and paintings, digital art and design. It might also contain sound work, short films.
- Upload up to 12 pieces of work which can include audio or video files.
How do I submit my portfolio?
- We’ll only be accepting portfolios digitally. You can do this once you’ve applied via our online submission system within the Applicant Portal.
- You can also link to external websites such as Vimeo and YouTube.
Further information on how to compile and upload your portfolio will be provided by our admissions team via our admissions portal once you have applied.
The Virtual Student Lounge
You’ll also be able to discover more about living and studying in Europe’s start-up capital, Berlin and find out more about the services on offer at BSBI.