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Overview
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Develop your creative leadership and strategic expertise with the MA Games Design at Canterbury Christ Church University.
This Master’s degree bridges creative innovation with commercial game development, empowering you to lead teams, manage complex projects, and make strategic decisions that shape the future of interactive entertainment. Throughout the course, you’ll work on projects that reflect real-world production cycles, gaining the confidence and experience to succeed in a fast-paced, competitive industry.
What you’ll learn
- Develop strategic leadership and management skills to oversee creative and technical teams in game development.
- Apply advanced design and production techniques used in professional game studios worldwide.
- Integrate commercial awareness and creative innovation to deliver market-ready game experiences.
- Study topics such as VR/AR development with Unreal Engine, 3D asset creation, level design, narrative, and production.
- Build a professional portfolio showcasing your creative vision, leadership, and technical expertise for career progression in the games industry.
From day one, you’ll think and operate like a games industry professional, learning how to balance creativity with business strategy, production management, and technological innovation.
What's more, our studio approach integrates commercial practices with international collaboration, connecting you with partners worldwide on projects that address real-world challenges. You'll be part of a global conversation that challenges traditional gaming perspectives.
Whether your goal is to become a creative director, producer, or studio leader, this course provides the foundation to develop your unique design voice whilst building a portfolio that demonstrates your ability to lead and deliver.
This MA is an excellent way to build your skills in game design and development. Our focus on collaboration, professional skills, and a combination of long and short duration game projects, ensures that you learn through doing and can develop your creative vision.Will Henniker, MA Games Design Lead
Why study Games Design at CCCU?
Entry requirements
Undergraduate degree at 2:2 or above, or alternative qualifications and substantial relevant experience may be considered.
For more information on the IELTS (International English language Testing System) requirements for this course, please click here to visit our dedicated IELTS web page.
Module information
Core/optional modules
*Modules subject to approval
How you’ll learn
You'll be taught through a combination of practical workshops, lectures, tutorials which enable you to establish an individual approach, to your defined practice with support of a diverse cohort and creative community, benefiting from multiple perspectives and approaches.
Students will engage in research-led, practical work which simulates industry or takes place within it, which alongside regular industry engagement through networking and guest lecturers, results in adaptable graduates that have bespoke industry-aware portfolios.
Previous guest lecturers and engagement have come from a range of industry roles and jobs from independent table top designers, to EPIC games and JAGEX.
You’ll be taught by industry experts from a variety of professional and academic backgrounds who are passionate about supporting the next generation of game developers and helping you establish your own professional pathway within the games industry.
Our course offers an approach that allows students to develop their discipline through individual research-informed practices in a collaborative game development environment. Unlike a traditional skills pipeline approach, our course draws on the diverse nature of the wider university and creative arts to create a rich, cross-disciplinary learning experience. Each student is able to propose a pathway of learning relevant to their aims, ambitions, and interests, allowing for personalised development whilst maintaining professional standards.Will HennikerMA Games Design Lead
How you’ll be assessed
Throughout the course your knowledge and skills will be informally assessed through a variety of learning activities. You will be encouraged to engage in self-assessment and may be actively involved in peer assessment.
Formally, the course is assessed solely through coursework, including portfolio work, reports, essays and presentations.
Your future career
The MA Game Design course offers an approach that enables students to develop their discipline through individual, research-informed practices within a collaborative game development environment. Unlike traditional skills pipeline models, our course draws on the diverse expertise of the wider University and Creative Arts community to create a rich, cross-disciplinary learning experience.
Each student is encouraged to propose a personalised learning pathway that reflects their aims, ambitions, and interests - fostering creative independence while maintaining professional standards.
Graduates of this course will be able to pursue careers in a variety of roles related to the games industry, including setting up an indie studio or joining an established team, and within related creative agencies, branding, charities, the arts, education. Others may use this as a way to start their own studios.
Students completing this MA might also go on to undertake a PhD in Games Design or a teaching qualification to take their practice into a school, FE or HE setting.
The nature of this course requires students to be informed on the current trends and standards of their practice to help them identify a professional pathway to games. Students will engage in research-led, practical work which simulates industry or takes place within it, resulting in adaptable graduates that have bespoke industry-aware portfolios.Will HennikerMA Games Design Lead
Games Design
Fees
Government loans are available for some postgraduate Master’s courses. Loans are subject to both personal and course eligibility criteria.
The rules around course eligibility mean that in some cases it may depend on how you are studying (full-time or part-time) as to whether you can apply for a postgraduate loan. To check whether your course is eligible, you can email the Student Fees Team or call 01227 923 456.
Tuition Fees for 2026/27 have not yet been finalised. These course web pages will be updated with Tuition Fee information once they have been agreed.
- Read advice about funding your degree
- See information about the financial support available for postgraduate studies
- If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact accounts.receivable@canterbury.ac.uk
- For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
Industry links
Students will engage in research-led practical work that either simulates industry environments or takes place within them. Combined with regular industry engagement through networking events and guest lectures, this approach produces adaptable graduates with bespoke, industry-aware portfolios.
Previous guest speakers and collaborators have represented a wide range of roles across the games industry - from independent tabletop designers to professionals from major studios such as Epic Games and Jagex.
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Duration:
1 yearLocation(s):
Canterbury