Program Overview

Games and Extended Reality

Overview

The Games and Extended Reality (XR) postgraduate program is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge to break into the exciting and rapidly evolving field of gaming and XR field. The focus of this course is on the creative application of immersive and extended reality technologies to a wide range of design contexts.

Course Details

• Attendance: Full-time, Part-time
• Duration: One year (full-time), Two years (part-time)
• Next Enrolment: September 2025

Introduction

This program provides students with the skills and knowledge to become key innovators in the gaming and XR field. The growth of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality applications is driving radical transformations in the production and consumption of digital media products.

What You Will Do

• Explore and gain in-depth knowledge and skills on the technologies shaping the future
• Be part of an active and vibrant learning community that will boost your creative, technical, and entrepreneurial skills
• Have access to cutting-edge technologies and equipment
• Be guided by an enthusiastic team of active practitioners and leading scholars in games and XR
• Develop contacts and relationships with leading industries in Manchester

Course Structure

The program will be delivered across three trimesters using a combination of practical workshops, lectures, and tutorials.

Trimester One

• Games and XR Lab I: Develop expertise with game engines, asset production, and coding. Acquire practical skills in industry-standard techniques and pipelines for the production of 3D assets and environments.
• Creative Research Methods: Become a creative reflective practitioner, capable of proposing innovative solutions to complex problems using ludic and immersive development pipelines.

Trimester Two

• Games and XR Lab II: Develop expertise in Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality design and development. Work with Web XR, moving to more complex projects using game engines such as Unity and Unreal.
• Project Research and Proposal: Apply your skills to designing a solution for a real-world problem. This proposal will form the basis for your final project in Semester 3.

Trimester Three

• Final Project: Develop your project proposal. This project will provide you with the opportunity to critically engage in an action-research project, applying your skills to respond to a defined research problem.

Assessment

• Practical Projects: 70%
• Written Assessments: 30%

Teaching and Learning

• Based in our campus at MediaCity, this course uses a range of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, practical workshops, seminars, and tutorials.
• Independent learning is expected at a Master's level, with tutors guiding you through complex topics and encouraging you to take ownership of your process and decisions.

Employment and Stats

Graduates from this program will find professional opportunities in games design and development, XR development, instructional design, and software engineering. Entrepreneurial endeavor is also a potential path for graduates.

Career Links

This postgraduate degree course benefits from established partnerships and links with creative industries in the UK, including the BBC, Matmi New Media, Trunk Manchester, Yippee Entertainment, and Carbon Digital.

Requirements

• Standard Entry Requirements: A relevant undergraduate degree, normally at 2:1 or above, and supporting evidence of digital/games design experience.
• International Students: IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5.
• Alternative Entry Requirements: Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) may be used for entry.

Fees

• Full-time Home: £9,100 per year (2025/26)
• Full-time International: £17,000 per year (2025/26)

Additional Costs

You should also consider further costs, including books, stationery, printing, binding, and general subsistence on trips and visits.

Scholarships for International Students

If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Explore our international scholarships.