MA Game Design

Overview

Our MA Game Design equips students for the dynamic digital games industry where rapid growth demands skilled practitioners to drive innovation. Taught by game studies academics and industry experts, this course delves into game development within an industrial context. You’ll build your portfolio as a solo developer or collaborator, culminating in a final major project to create a digital game product.

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.

What will the student experience?

This programme combines creative practice, academic research, and EDI principles, positioning you at the forefront of the global games industry. It emphasises technical skills, project management, and research, allowing you to experiment with the latest game technology, hone project management methodologies, and explore game design trends.​

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.

Who should take this programme?

The MA Game Design at the Berlin Business School of Innovation, Hamburg Campus is designed for a diverse range of individuals with a keen interest in game design, whether they are newcomers to the field or experienced professionals looking to advance their careers.

Why study this programme?

You will collaboratively build your portfolio within sizable teams, culminating in a final major project aimed at creating and launching a fully realised digital game product. This immersive experience goes beyond game production, providing you with a scholarly comprehension of the broader creative industries. You’ll also hone essential skills such as interdisciplinary communication, project management, and collaboration, as well as marketing and public relations. This holistic approach empowers you to not only gain practical expertise but also to cultivate a robust professional profile and establish a notable presence in your chosen field.

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.

In the final stage, you’ll apply the knowledge gained through your research to create a final body of work where you can either take a generic approach or select one of the following three specialisations in relation to our BA courses: Graphic Design, Illustration or Animation.

The modules of this programme are offered and delivered 100% on campus. Students will also have additional access to course and reading materials via the University for the Creative Arts platform.