MA Games Development

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

This MA sets you up for exciting careers in the games industry and beyond. You'll gain skills in areas such as:

• Game Development – Specialising as a Programmer, Artist, Designer, Producer, or Technical systems expert.
• Indie Game Production & Entrepreneurship – Launch your own studio or freelance career with confidence.
• Gamification & Interactive Media – Apply game design to business, education, healthcare, and other industries.

What can I do with this qualification?

Alternative career options

Beyond games, your skills could open doors in film, animation, virtual reality, and digital media—or even board game design.

Home/EU Fees

Home students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Home fee of £8,496 for the academic year 2025/26.

Home students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Home fee of £8,496 for the academic year 2026/27.

International Fees

Overseas students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Overseas fee of £17,500 for the academic year 2025/26.

Bursaries

Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.

Important note regarding tuition fees: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

Home Undergraduate Tuition Fee Adjustment

The tuition fee applicable to the first year of your programme of study is confirmed in your offer letter. The tuition fee set is based on the regulations and guidance in force at the time of offer but remains subject to adjustment in accordance with any government-approved inflationary increase. The University reserves the right to amend tuition fees for all years of study, including the first year, by no more than the maximum increase permitted under legislation and regulatory guidance issued by the UK Government and the Office for Students.

Where such increases are approved, they will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by an appropriate index such as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or any successor measure specified by government. The University will apply any adjustment consistently across affected student cohorts and will give reasonable notice to students of any confirmed change to the published fee before the start of the relevant academic year.

This approach ensures that tuition fees remain compliant with applicable legislation, proportionate to inflationary changes, and consistent with government policy linking permitted fee uplifts to the maintenance of high-quality education and outcomes. For more information, please refer to the government guidance at: gov.uk – Universities to deliver better outcomes in return for full fees.

Postgraduate and International Tuition Fee Adjustment

The tuition fee applicable to the first year of your programme of study is confirmed in your offer letter. The University reserves the right to amend tuition fees for subsequent years of study in accordance with its Course Fees Policy. Where such increases are approved, they will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by an appropriate index such as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or any successor measure specified by government. The University will apply any adjustment consistently across affected student cohorts and will give reasonable notice to students of any confirmed change to the published fee before the start of the relevant academic year.

The course is project-based and highly practical. You will engage in a variety of projects designed for small groups of independent game developers or solo creators. Working closely with our expert Games Development Lecturers, you will receive tailored guidance, benefiting from a diverse range of insights and professional expertise.

New concepts, techniques, and tools will be introduced throughout the course, with dedicated teaching and learning support to help you integrate these skills effectively. This hands-on approach ensures that you develop both technical proficiency and creative confidence as you progress through your work.

Our assessment strategy is designed to be flexible and supportive. If you do not achieve a learning outcome in one module, you will have opportunities to demonstrate your understanding in subsequent modules. Assessments are primarily project-based, allowing you to showcase your development process and creative problem-solving skills. Reflection is a key component of the assessment, typically involving written reports and/or a viva presentation, ensuring that you critically evaluate your work and continuously refine your approach.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Work for Hire
• Target Markets and Product Criteria
• XR and Immersive Experiences
• Exhibition Project
• Games Development Masters Project

Assessment methods

Level	Assessment method
Level 1	Coursework 94% Practical exams 6%

Learning Activities

Level	Activity
Level 1	Guided independent study 84% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 16%

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.