Program Overview

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Games MA

Combine creative flair and technical skill and work in multi-skilled teams within a studio environment to create innovative and arresting art for games.

Key information

• Course duration: Full-time 1 year, part-time 2 years
• Annual fees:
  • Home (full-time): £10,000
  • Home (part-time, over 2 years): £6,250 per year
  • Overseas (full-time): £18,500

Course overview

Our MA Games course seeks to nurture your aspirations of working in the games and wider creative industries. Game design is a dynamic and iterative process, you will be encouraged to adopt an attitude of curiosity and experimentation with ideas and processes. Our vibrant creative community offers a stimulating environment for understanding games as a cross-disciplinary endeavour, emphasising creativity over mere industry production.

You will be challenged to take creative risks, develop your aesthetic voice, and conceptually push the boundaries of game design, supported by theoretical, cultural, and historical research informing your practice-based approach. You’ll collaborate with peers and be guided by expert staff in interdisciplinary sessions helping you to refine your industry-ready skillset, specialising in Concept Art, Asset Production, or Indie Development.

Utilising cutting-edge technology, you will develop projects that showcase your unique aesthetic voice. The course boasts a track record of success, with graduates including BAFTA-winning designers and professionals at top studios like Sony Interactive Entertainment and Ubisoft.

Why study with us

• Project-Based Skills: The course emphasises hands-on, project-based learning. You'll engage with real-world projects and live briefs, enabling you to apply your skills in practical settings and preparing you for the complexities of the games industry.
• Experimental and Challenging Approach: The course fosters an experimental mindset, encouraging you to tackle complex issues such as sustainability, new technologies, inclusivity, and ethics in game design.
• Access to Professional-Level Resources: You’ll have access to our Media Labs, offering cutting-edge technology for game development. The 2D/3D Animation Studio provides advanced software and hardware for animation projects, while the Media Resource Centre offers a comprehensive library of digital and physical resources.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The course offers an interdisciplinary learning environment, reflecting industry practices. This integration of diverse concepts and technologies enhances your educational experience, preparing you for a dynamic and versatile career in the creative sectors.
• Expertise and Industry Recognition: Graduates of this course include three BAFTA-winning games designers, the V&A’s first Games Designer in Residence, six teams of Dare to Be Digital finalists, and employees at leading companies like Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe, Foundry 42, Rebellion, Crytek, Frontier Developments, Splash Damage, Ubisoft, and Rockstar Games.
• Preparation for Advanced Professional Roles: This course combines theoretical, cultural, and historical research with cutting-edge technology, accelerating your readiness to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving games industry, and preparing you for advanced roles and complex professional challenges.

Course details

This programme is a one-year course including 30 weeks of direct teaching time and a 15-week final project. You will need to complete three units and one 60-credit Major Project (180 credits in total). All units on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award. If you study part-time your modules will be split across two years.

• Core Practice and Context (60 Credits): This unit launches your Masters’ study experience at Norwich by exploring the cutting-edge practices and emerging research in the games discipline, enhancing both critical understanding and creative skills.
• Collaborative Challenge (30 credits): This unit is designed to address emerging and evolving issues in the games industry, including sustainability, new technologies, and inclusivity.
• Project Design and Development (30 credits): This unit equips students with the skills necessary to design and develop creative or research projects within the games industry.
• Major Project (60 Credits): This unit forms the culmination of your Master’s study in which you will design, develop, and execute a major project.

Learning and teaching

The course is delivered through a variety of engaging learning and teaching methods.

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Technical labs
• Independent and group work

Assessment

Our assessment methods will vary based on the unit you choose and provide a comprehensive measure of your learning and progress. These methods may include:

• Critically reflective essay
• Course work
• Presentations
• Learning journal
• Reflective evaluation
• Body of creative work
• Reflective research report
• Team project evaluation
• Major project
• Supporting documentation

Our facilities

Look around our city-centre campus, and you will find studios, media labs, and creative spaces in 13 buildings that sit among the cafés, bars, independent galleries and shops of Norwich’s cultural quarter.

• Media Labs
• 3D Workshop
• 2D / 3D Animation Studio
• Media Resource Centre

Entry Requirements

Entrants should normally have achieved a BA (Hons) / BSc Degree of 2:1 or above (or its equivalent), in a subject related to your proposed course of study.

Applicants who hold a Degree from another discipline may also be considered for entry, subject to the submission of a satisfactory portfolio of art, design or media-related work in support of their application.

Those with industry experience or relevant skills from non-traditional backgrounds are encouraged to apply, including individuals currently employed. If you’re unsure about your eligibility, please contact us for guidance before applying.

English language requirements (International/EU)

If English is not your first language, IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required, with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. We also accept other English language qualifications.

Portfolio requirement

When you apply for this course, we will ask you to prepare your portfolio and a written submission. We might also ask you to prepare for an interview. These methods are used to assess your suitability for the course. All three elements should clearly demonstrate your passion for the subject and your individual creativity.

Fees and funding

• Home: Full time: £10,000, Part time: £6250 per year
• International: Full time: £18,500

How to apply

Applications to our postgraduate courses should be made directly to Norwich University of the Arts using a Postgraduate Application Form.

Typical career paths

• Games Art
• Games Design
• Concept Art
• Creative Direction
• External Production
• Project Management
• Indie Games Development
• Teaching/Lecturing
• Research/PhD Study
• Illustration

Related courses

• Games Art and Design BA (Hons)
• Animation BA (Hons)
• Games Development BSc (Hons)