Master of Arts - Games Design

MA Games Design will challenge and expand students' critical understanding and experiential design techniques for the dynamic games of tomorrow. They will explore different perspectives on game-play, developing compelling and exciting new work to take them to the next level.

Students will have the opportunity to examine audience engagement through a variety of approaches to the widening field of games. They will also explore games through the expanding possibilities of interactive experiences.

Students will investigate the context of contemporary games and games culture. They will also consider games in other contexts, such as Applied Games (also known as Serious Games), as well as research, education and healthcare together with how it can inform other creative disciplines like film and architecture.

Students will apply their skills beyond just creating entertainment and explore other areas, such as avant-garde and games with purpose. Students will explore the game mechanics of interaction and immersion, employ new technologies and creative approaches (Expanded Reality - XR), and build upon their existing digital design skills and technical knowledge. Students will also be encouraged to take part in UCA Game Jams, as well as attending many external games events and festivals.

Students will be taught in outstanding studios, with dedicated industry hardware and software. They will also have access VR development facilities, allowing games to be deployed to a variety of platforms, and have access to UCA's unique library of console, PC, board and card games.

Delivering the course is a team of lecturers with games development experience and experience from related creative and research backgrounds. Students will also have talks by and meet visiting lecturers from high-profile gaming companies and backgrounds.

The South East of England, where UCA Farnham is uniquely positioned, is home to a significant proportion of the UK games industry – including Rocksteady Studios, Supermassive Games, EA, Rebellion, Fireproof Games, nDreams, Two Point Studios, Gears For Breakfast, Supergonk, Failbetter Games and Weather Factory – offering many opportunities for off-site visits and trips, games networking events and other cross-course activities.

The campus is only 20 minutes away from Guildford – dubbed the Hollywood of computer games – and just 55 minutes from London, locating two of the three largest games industry hubs in the UK, as well as up-and-coming Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) industry. Studying so close to Guildford and London will give students access to the UK’s largest technology incubation and games industry start-ups.