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Term one
Thinking, Prototyping and Practice
You will examine advanced, specialist tools, methods, concepts and processes relevant to games, and develop your interactive development skills in order to prototype games, while exploring the interplay between concept and outcome. You will be encouraged to explore and challenge the expanding discipline through a range of practice-based projects.Narrative and Play
You’ll learn about the application of traditional story and narrative design and how it applies to games design and gameplay. This unit gives you an introduction to the art and craft of producing interactive fiction and storytelling techniques and structures for innovative games. It will provide you the opportunity to develop unique narrative and playable experiences for to expand the possibilities for gameplay using the tools and approaches available through Games. -
Term two
During term two you will experiment and develop game experiences with VR and AR technologies, exploring different prototype outcomes and, begin developing your MA project.
Real and Virtual Worlds
This unit examines the relationship between the real and virtual world and you will use different tools, methods, concepts and process to create your own virtual or mixed reality world. You will design unique and fully immersive and spatialised experiences specific to chosen audiences and consider the transition between worlds.Audiences and Experiences
Through seminars, projects and supporting workshops, you will critically examine gameplay, rules and mechanics and design experiences for specific audiences, having evaluated contemporary games culture in reference to a specific audience, their needs and interests. These experiences might entertain, educate, inform, augment or challenge your audience, with some of the themes explored through this unit being further developed later in the course. -
Term three
In the third term of the course, you will apply the knowledge gained through your research to create a final body of work and exit portfolio.
Realisation and Dissemination
This unit is the culmination of your studies and an exposition of the skills, understanding and creative approach you have developed through your MA. It leads directly from the previous unit, through which you have already defined your interests, tested your ideas, and planned the production of a body of work for this unit. Through this unit you will demonstrate your in-depth subject knowledge, understanding of context, creative independence, applied ideas and innovation, technical skills, resolution (appropriate to your intended audience) and personal strategy for presenting work. -
Fees and additional course costs
Tuition fees
The course fees per year for 2020 entry are:- UK and EU students full-time - £8,000
- International students full-time - £16,250 (standard fee)
- International students full-time - £15,600 (full early payment fee)
Additional course costs
In addition to the tuition fees please see the additional course costs for 2020 entry.Further information
Find out more about our course fees and any financial support you may be entitled to:These fees are correct for the stated academic year only. Costs may increase each year during a student’s period of continued registration on course in line with inflation (subject to any maximum regulated tuition fee limit). Any adjustment for continuing students will be at or below the RPI-X forecast rate.
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Fee discounts and scholarships
To support all of our current students and our recent UK and EU alumni to progress to the next level of study, we have developed a new range of fee discounts across a range of courses.
Games Design MA
UCA Farnham - 2020, 2021
Length of study:
One year full-time
Campus:
UCA Farnham
Course overview
MA Games Design will challenge and expand your critical understanding and experiential design techniques for the dynamic games of tomorrow. You will explore different perspectives on game-play, developing compelling and exciting new work to take you to the next level.
You will have the opportunity to examine audience engagement through a variety of approaches to the widening field of games. You will also explore games through the expanding possibilities of interactive experiences.
You will investigate the context of contemporary games and games culture. You 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.
You will apply your skills beyond just creating entertainment and explore other areas, such as avant-garde and games with purpose. You will explore the game mechanics of interaction and immersion, employ new technologies and creative approaches (Expanded Reality - XR), and build upon your existing digital design skills and technical knowledge. You will also be encouraged to take part in UCA Game Jams, as well as attending many external games events and festivals.
You will be taught in outstanding studios, with dedicated industry hardware and software. You will also have access VR development facilities, allowing games to be deployed to a variety of platforms, and have access to our 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. You 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 you access to the UK’s largest technology incubation and games industry start-ups.
Course details
Please note, syllabus content indicated is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change in line with our Student Terms and Conditions for example, as required by external professional bodies or to improve the quality of the course.
Facilities
Our outstanding computer games studios have high-end PCs dedicated to games design with games systems and interactivity software including Maya, Photoshop and Substance, and Unity and Unreal games engines. There are also sound production studios, a Foley studio and pro tools suites. There is a modern library with a wealth of books, journals, special collections and online resources.
Programme Director
Andy Bossom
Programme Director Games
Andy Bossom leads our undergraduate and postgraduate Games courses at UCA Farnham. He is a published author and currently writes about the games industry and games design process for Bloomsbury Publishing and Imprint Fairchild Books.
Apply now
UK/EU applications
Apply for full-time study - starting September 2020:
Apply for full-time study - starting September 2021:
International applications
Apply for full-time study - starting September 2021:
When to apply:
You can apply throughout the year but we recommend you try and apply as early as possible so you have time to arrange accommodation and visas, if required.
For more information visit our how to apply pagesEntry requirements
UK entry requirements
- An honours degree or equivalent qualification in the subject or a related discipline
and/or
- Relevant work experience, demonstrating your ability to study at postgraduate level.
Consideration will also be given to applicants who can make a strong case for admission in relation to a particular project and can demonstrate their potential to satisfactorily complete the course.
Don't meet the international entry requirements or English language requirements?
You may be able to enter the course through the following entry courses:
Pre-sessional English courses in the UK or China
Your portfolio
For this course we will require you to attend an Applicant Day and bring your portfolio for assessment. Further information on how to compile a portfolio and the specific requirements for examples of work to be included will be provided on the Applicant Portal after you apply.
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