Program Overview

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Games Design - MA

2025/26 Full-time Postgraduate course

Overview

Passionate about Gaming? Learn how to design and develop your own using the latest tools and technologies.

Summary

MA Games Design is perfect for those passionate about the design and development of games. A highly creative and practical course you will be encouraged to develop innovative ideas to produce games across a range of platforms – both traditional and emerging.

About this course

About

The UK has a long history of making world-class video games and Northern Ireland is now host to many successful independent studios making it an ideal destination to study game design. This course will allow you to develop a range of professional skills, problem-solving, and experiences in advanced games design practice.

Attendance

The MA in Games Design is available as a full-time course over 1 year or part-time course over 3 years.

Start dates

• September 2025

Teaching, Learning, and Assessment

An appropriate blend of established and effective teaching delivery methods will be employed to enhance your learning experience and to achieve the learning outcomes of the course. Typically, large group teaching will include lectures, studio practice, demonstrations, and small group teaching will include seminars, teamwork/projects, critiques (feedback).

Academic profile

The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.

Modules

Year one

• Level and Narrative Development
• Game Design and Rapid Prototyping
• Contemporary Game Technologies
• Major Project
• Design Research and Development

Standard entry conditions

Entry Requirements

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course, you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

• Applicants must hold a degree (with at least 2:2 Honours standard) or equivalent or demonstrate their ability to undertake the course through the accreditation of prior learning.
• Applicants may be interviewed along with the presentation of a body of work that can take the form of, but is not limited to, a portfolio and/or showreel and proposal.
• Applications are welcomed from diverse backgrounds however where there is a discipline shift the applicant must represent a coherent rationale for this shift and evidence prerequisite knowledge, skills, and experience.

English Language Requirements

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Careers & opportunities

This programme is designed to prepare students for a career in a range of game development-related fields such as game design, level design, app development, and game testing. Postgraduate opportunities are also available for students who wish to pursue a career in research.

Fees and funding

10% Alumni Discount

Are you a graduate of Ulster University? Did you know you could be eligible for a 10% fees discount.

Tuition Fee Loans Available

Students domiciled in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, and UK students can apply to Student Finance NI for a Tuition Fee loan of up to £6,500 (subject to eligibility).

Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, and EU Settlement Status Fees

£7,240.00

International Fees

£17,810.00

Annual Increase Disclaimer

Fees illustrated are based on academic year 25/26 entry and are subject to an annual increase.

Additional mandatory costs

Tuition fees and costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges), and normal living are a part of university life.

While the School provides a range of resources including industry-standard computers, software, and contemporary hardware such as VR equipment, students will also need a laptop with minimum specifications of:

• 3060 graphics card
• 16GB RAM
• i7 Processor

Sustainability at Ulster

Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.

At Ulster, every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.

We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place, and Partnerships: Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.