Program Overview

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Introduction to the Coding for Game Design High School Summer Program

The Coding for Game Design High School Summer Program is a unique opportunity for high school students to learn about the principles of game design and gain hands-on experience with C# and Unity scripting. The program emphasizes team collaboration and close work with experienced game designers and developers.

Program Details

Age Requirement

The program is accepting students who will be entering sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school in Fall 2026.

Technical Skills

Applicants must already have an Intermediate level of understanding of code and programming, preferably with at least one formal coding class completed with a B+ or higher grade.

Program Dates

• Session 1: 07/06-07/17, 2026 (In person)
• Session 2: 07/27-08/07, 2026 (In person)
  • Please note that Sessions 1 and 2 share the same content.

Program Location

The program will be held at the NYU Downtown Brooklyn Campus.

Application Fees

There is a $50 non-refundable application fee upon submitting the application.

Program Costs

• Tuition: $2,845
• Other fees:
  • $100 UP Service Fee (for admitted students)
  • $100 summer extracurricular event fee to participate in events (for admitted students)
• Total program fees: $3,045

Optional Fees

• Student on-campus housing (reservation required):
  • Shared Room Traditional Style (NYU Campus): $376/week/person
  • Mandatory Summer Meal Plan for residents: 10 Meal Plan + $30 dining dollars/week: $206/week
• International Student Visa and Insurance

Admission and Enrollment

Admitted students are required to make 50% of tuition and fees as a deposit to secure their seat in the program. The deposit is non-refundable due to the program's running costs.

Scholarships

• The Deadline to Apply for Scholarships is April 30, 2026.
• Scholarships will fully or partially cover Tuition only. Students remain responsible for paying other fees.
• Eligibility:
  • Scholarships are needs-based and available to commuter students based in New York who are assessed as in financial need.
  • International students or students located outside of New York are ineligible for scholarships.
• Scholarship Instruction:
  • Instructions on how to apply for scholarships are automatically emailed to students 48 hours after completing and submitting the program application.

Housing

• Due to the renovation of NYU Brooklyn Residence Hall, students who decide to stay on campus during the program will be placed at NYU Residence Hall in Manhattan, while the program remains in Brooklyn.
• Students must be more than 15 years old on the Sunday before checking in at the residence hall.
• Housing reservation:
  • If interested in on-campus housing, please indicate so on the program application. Students will be communicated directly about the deadline and forms to complete the housing reservation.

Program Schedule

Daily Schedule

• 10:00 am: Welcome and daily recap
• 10:00 11:00 am: Game Design
• 11:00 12:00 pm: Theme-based Workshop Time
• 12:00 1:00 pm: Lunch break
• 1:00 4:00 pm: Critical Gameplay, Expert Debugging, and Development Time
• 4:00 5:00 pm: TA-Supervised Project Development Time (Optional)

Weekly Schedule

Week 1

• Each day starts with a game design lesson in the morning
• After the lunch break, students will reconvene for a coding lesson for the rest of the day
• Game design lesson themes: Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics, Rules & Play, Aesthetic Design, Level Design, Audio Design

Week 2

• Each day, students will work on production for the final game
• Design-based workshops will be introduced in the afternoons

Last Day: Game Showcase

• The day starts with wrapping up production for the final game
• In the afternoon, there will be a presentation from each team to showcase everyone's final game
• The program ends with a commencement ceremony, and awards are distributed

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I have already applied to the program. When can I expect an admission decision?

A: Admission decisions are released on a rolling basis and typically twice a month.

Q: What is the enrollment process, and is there any deposit?

A: Once you submit your application, it usually takes 1-2 weeks to receive an admission decision. If you decide to accept the offer and matriculate to the program, there's a 50% program fee as a deposit.

Q: How do I reserve housing?

A: On-campus housing is administered by NYU Housing for an additional fee. All admitted participants who indicate interest in housing in the application will receive an email with information on housing fees and how to apply.

Q: Are scholarships available?

A: Need-based scholarships are available for qualified students who are based in New York. If interested in a scholarship, please indicate so on your program application.

Q: When will I receive a bill for the program?

A: Students who have accepted their admission to the program will not be able to view and pay their bills immediately after their enrollment. Students will be asked to make a 50% program deposit to secure their participation.

Q: Can international students attend this program?

A: International students are eligible to apply for the program. They might need a Visa for entry. NYU Office of Global Services (OGS) is the resource hub and provides the necessary documentation to admitted students with Visa applications.