Computer Games Design MSc

Duration

13 Months

22 Months

Location

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Get a flying start in the games industry! As a game creator and designer, this is an opportunity for you to enhance your skills and build a portfolio of work to make an impact in modern video game design.

Games designers have an impact on virtually every aspect of a game, from system design through to improving the immersive experience for players.

Our MSc in Computer Games Design will place you at the heart of the action. You’ll dive into design theory and practice, the latest research and industry trends, and learn how to manage your own projects.

You’ll also get to focus on the area you want to specialise in for a career. Whether it’s gameplay interactions, how characters move, quest design, open world environments or another aspect of design, the choice is yours.

Our multi award-winning games department is one of the largest in the UK and you’ll be taught by leading experts with years of experience in games design and academia. You will also be able to tap into our industry links, including guest talks from games designers.

In this popular industry, you’ll gain all the right skills to excel as a games designer and take your technical skills to the next level. Our course will teach you advanced techniques used in game design and creation, and develop further your skills in the field of game research.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MSc Computer Games Design

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MSc Computer Games Design

Part-time study

This course is available as a part time study course.

Part-time study

This course is available as a part time study course.

Course content

Every module is dedicated to design and all your assessments will feed into your professional portfolio. There are modules covering topics such as advanced research techniques, prototyping and professional practice. You will also explore game feel and polish - how to give players the best experience while navigating a game.

The course will culminate in the Games Master Project, an in-depth piece of work on your chosen theme. This could cover anything from a series of game prototypes or a framework for a computer game through to an academic paper.

Throughout your studies, you’ll also have access to our wide range of games facilities. Features include our hi-tech Vicon Motion Capture Studio, specialist Games Centre and hundreds of PCs. Our students also use industry-standard hardware and software such as Autodesk Creative Suite and the Unreal and Unity games engines.

Our core modules will equip you in advanced research techniques, design and implementation skills covering everything from system design to game feel and polish. The Negotiated Project will extend your understanding of a chosen subject, building on the practical skills and theory gained during the course. You’ll be supported by an academic supervisor to develop your ideas. Examples of this are a dissertation and academic paper, a game, a series of game prototypes, or a system or framework for a computer game.

Best educational institution for games - it's official!

News

University of Staffordshire have rounded off their 20 years of games celebrations with a significant industry win.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Advanced Game Design And Research 20 credits
Game Feel And Polish 20 credits
Professional Practice And Entrepreneurship 20 credits
Year 2 compulsory modules
Advanced Prototyping 20 credits
Game Engineering Project 40 credits
Gameplay System Design 20 credits
Project Management And Research Methods 20 credits

Entry requirements

2:2 or above undergraduate qualification (or equivalent) in a related subject area.

2:2 or above undergraduate qualification (or equivalent).We also have a portfolio entrance requirement:For technical designers, we’d ideally like to see an example of level designs, videos/demos of small games and examples of visual /c# scripting. We understand that you may not have used Unreal Engine and are lenient to those who come with other Game Engine experience.

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

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Facilities

Epic Games Centre

Home to the Epic Games sponsored Design Centre. A fully equipped space designed to nurture future industry developers studying with us on our Games courses.

Watch video View virtual tour

Motion Capture Studio

Realistically capture multiple human movements simultaneously for the creation of high-quality games, animation and VFX sequences. Our industry standard facility features a 24-camera rig, Vicon hardware and Cara facial performance capture headset. Read more

The Motion Capture Stage is located in the Cadman Building, working alongside The Smart Zone. This facility hosts sessions that show students how to set up and prepare shoots at a high industry level. The sessions provided give in-depth information that covers each stage, from preparation to exporting data for use within a project.

Our MoCap Studio is used by students from a wide range of subjects, including Film and Media, Games Design, Animation, Drama, Sports Therapy and CGI and Visual Effects. 

Find out more about our Motion Capture Stage.
Watch video View virtual tour

Careers

Computer games designers are in huge demand. We have graduates who’ve gone on to work for the likes of Ubisoft and have been involved in games like Grand Theft Auto V and the Rockstar North titles.

You can specialise in different aspects of design, such as becoming a quest designer, a gameplay mechanic designer who creates interactions, or a gameplay systems designer who looks at how characters interact with their environment.

Other roles include becoming a UI or experience designer, or specialising in designing multi-player games.

You’ll also be well equipped to work in the following roles:

  • Game designer
  • Level designer
  • Mission scripter
  • Game tester
  • Producer
  • User interface artist
  • Teaching games design/Games academic

Eager for more knowledge? Upon completion, you’ll be ideally placed for further academic study at PhD level. All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

We know that everyone learns differently. So not only do we use traditional ways of teaching like lectures, but we also use problem-based learning to help you apply your skills. For this course, you'll:

  • Work with others on group work
  • Delve deeper into subject areas in workshops
  • Be expected to study independently
  • Work on a project and portfolio

Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard. This means you can access a range of materials to support your lectures wherever you are. We’ll also assign you a supervisor to support you throughout your research project.

We know that everyone learns differently. So not only do we use traditional ways of teaching like lectures, but we also use problem-based learning to help you apply your skills.For this course, you'll:

  • Work with others on group work
  • Delve deeper into subject areas in workshops
  • Be expected to study independently
  • Work on a project and portfolio

Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard. This means you can access a range of materials to support your lectures wherever you are.We’ll also assign you a supervisor to support you throughout your research project.

Assessment

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally includes practice or ‘formative’ assessments, for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally includes practice or ‘formative’ assessments, for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills); written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy); academic writing (including how to reference); research skills; critical thinking and understanding arguments; and revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management).

Additional support

Our Student Inclusion Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

Feedback

We know that it’s important for you to be able to gauge your progress. So, your tutor will give you feedback on any practice assessments you do. You can also use our digital academy forum to post your work and gain feedback from staff. We usually give you feedback on formal assessments within 20 working days, but the format will vary for each module.

We know that it’s important for you to be able to gauge your progress. So, your tutor will give you feedback on any practice assessments you do. You can also use our digital academy forum to post your work and gain feedback from staff.We usually give you feedback on formal assessments within 20 working days, but the format will vary for each module.

Your study time will include scheduled classes, independent learning and assessments. It will vary depending on your module choices.

Your study time will include scheduled classes, independent learning and assessments. It will vary depending on your module choices.

Independent learning

Students will be expected to undertake independent learning activities in which they develop further the content taught in lecturer-led sessions. This will include the application of games design techniques, practising use of games engines, and independent research. 

Students will be expected to undertake independent learning activities in which they develop further the content taught in lecturer-led sessions. This will include the application of games design techniques, practicising use of games engines, and independent research.

Staff

You will be taught by an expert teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics and professional practitioners with industry experience. 

Daniel Webster

Senior Lecturer

Dan is a highly experienced 3D artist with professional skills in Character, Environment, Vehicular modelling, and Animation for the Games industry.

Daniel's profile

Dr Kieran Hicks

Course Director

Dr Kieran Hicks is a game design lecturer, they are the director of the DEMI research centre. Their research explores games from user-based and design-based lenses, using games as a tool to engage diverse groups in beneficial activity.

Kieran's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 22 September 2025 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £9,165 per course £16,750 per course

For the course starting on 22 September 2025 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Part-time £10,260 per course £16,740 per course

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

Alumni discount

If you've previously completed a University of Staffordshire undergraduate degree (excluding HND and foundation degrees) you may be entitled to a discount of up to 25% off your course fees for any subsequent postgraduate taught course (terms apply, see the alumni discount page for details). If you have any questions about how this relates to you, please contact feesandbursaries@staffs.ac.uk.

Not included in the fees:

The estimated cost of text books over the duration of the course. All essential text books are available from the library, but some students chose to purchase their own copies.

Travel, subsistence, entrance fees etc. incurred by optional trips and visits away from the University related to the course.

The cost of materials for the development of a student’s individual practice and work. Additional costs vary dependent upon student’s own choice of materials and approach to their practice.

Optional personal insurance when borrowing equipment such as cameras, lighting equipment etc. for extended period of use off campus [Approx. £50-£100]. It may be possible to add some items to home contents insurance.

The estimated cost of text books over the duration of the course. All essential text books are available from the library, but some students chose to purchase their own copies.Travel, subsistence, entrance fees etc. incurred by optional trips and visits away from the University related to the course.The cost of materials for the development of a student’s individual practice and work. Additional costs vary dependent upon student’s own choice of materials and approach to their practice.Optional personal insurance when borrowing equipment such as cameras, lighting equipment etc. for extended period of use off campus [Approx £50-£100]. It may be possible to add some items to home contents insurance.
Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £11,570 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options; part-time, full-time and distance learning. 

For more information and how to apply visit masters loan.

Apply

Location Award Study option Start date
Stoke-on-Trent campus MSc Full-time 22 September 2025 Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at University of Staffordshire, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of University of Staffordshire enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations. 

Have you considered?

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021