The MSc in Digital Games brings together students from many backgrounds to create innovative and exciting digital games. You are encouraged to explore your personal approach to game creation by combining your game design education with either critical analysis or technology specialisations. In all cases, you will fully engage with the processes of game design and creation, as well as logistical concerns such as project and business management. The degree culminates in producing a completely developed digital game or a theory-based dissertation. The programme is taught by experts from a variety of fields, providing diverse perspectives on game creation and criticism. As digital games continue to evolve, the programme will also expand to provide the skills and knowledge needed in industry, independent development, and academic games research. The taught component will be covered during the first two years whilst the research component will be covered during the latter two years.
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Semester 1 | |||||
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Compulsory Units Stream A: Game Technology and Design | |||||
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IDG5156 | Game Design | 10 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG5301 | Game Artificial Intelligence | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
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Stream B: Game Analysis and Design | |||||
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IDG5158 | Methods for Games Research | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG5201 | Formal Properties of Games | 10 ECTS   |   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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DGA5010 | Research Methods in Art and Design | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5011 | Initiating a Digital Art Project | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5012 | 20th Century Art and Design | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5013 | Art and Critical Theory | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5015 | Professional Practice | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5017 | Reflective Writing | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG5631 | Game Programming Fundamentals | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 2 | |||||
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Compulsory UnitsStream A: Game Technology and Design | |||||
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IDG5157 | Game Development | 10 ECTS   |   | ||
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Compulsory UnitsStream B: Game Analysis and Design | |||||
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IDG5202 | Analysing Player Experience | 10 ECTS   |   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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ATS5002 | Film, Technology and the Literary Canon | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5014 | Perception and Consumption of Art | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5016 | Art Practice and the Production of Culture | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5301 | Drawing and Colour Workshops | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5302 | Digital Imaging, Photography and Illustration | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5304 | Digital Animation and Graphics | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5305 | Graphic Narrative and Storytelling | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG5152 | Games and Narrative | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG5252 | Experimental Game Design | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG5313 | Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Games | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS5411 | Critical Studies in Journalism | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 1 | |||||
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Compulsory UnitsStream A: Game Technology and Design | |||||
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IDG5158 | Methods for Games Research | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG5304 | Foundations of Game Studies | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG5631 | Game Programming Fundamentals | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
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Stream B: Game Analysis and Design | |||||
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IDG5156 | Game Design | 10 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG5160 | Designing Gameworlds | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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DGA5010 | Research Methods in Art and Design | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5011 | Initiating a Digital Art Project | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5012 | 20th Century Art and Design | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5013 | Art and Critical Theory | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5015 | Professional Practice | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5017 | Reflective Writing | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG5631 | Game Programming Fundamentals | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 2 | |||||
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Compulsory UnitsStream A: Game Technology and Design | |||||
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IDG5259 | Advanced Artificial Intelligence and Games | 10 ECTS   |   | ||
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Stream B: Game Analysis and Design | |||||
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IDG5157 | Game Development | 10 ECTS   |   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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ATS5002 | Film, Technology and the Literary Canon | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5014 | Perception and Consumption of Art | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5016 | Art Practice and the Production of Culture | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5301 | Drawing and Colour Workshops | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5302 | Digital Imaging, Photography and Illustration | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5304 | Digital Animation and Graphics | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
DGA5305 | Graphic Narrative and Storytelling | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG5152 | Games and Narrative | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG5252 | Experimental Game Design | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG5313 | Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Games | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS5411 | Critical Studies in Journalism | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
TTI5015 | Inclusive Arts and Media | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 1 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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IDG5000* | Dissertation | 60 ECTS   |   | ||
* Work on the dissertation is expected to start in semester 1 of academic year 2025-26 and continue up to semester 2 of academic year 2026-27.   |
This programme of study is governed by the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2021 and by the Bye-Laws for the award of the Degree of Master of Science in Digital Games - M.Sc. - under the auspices of the Institute of Digital Games.