The MSc in Digital Games brings together students from many backgrounds to create innovative and exciting digital games.
Students are encouraged to explore their personal approach to game creation by combining their game design education with either critical analysis or technology specializations. In all cases, students 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 students with 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 the industry, independent development, and academic games research.
Admission and progression requirements
The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of a Bachelor degree from this University or from a university recognized by Senate for the purpose, in the areas of Information Technology, Engineering, Communications, the Humanities, the Social Sciences, or in any other area which the Board deems as appropriate.
All applicants shall also submit a portfolio of recent works as well as a letter of motivation in order to demonstrate their experience and/or substantial talent and motivation.
The admission requirements are applicable for courses commencing in October 2018.
Information for applicants with international qualifications
UM currently hosts over 1,000 full-time international students and over 450 visiting students. The ever-increasing international students coming from various countries, in recent years, have transformed this 400-year old institution into an international campus.
Our international students generally describe Malta as a safe place, enjoying excellent weather and an all-year varied cultural programme. Malta is considered as the ideal place for students to study.
The International Office at UM provides information about admission, English language requirements, and comparability of qualifications. Dedicated personnel assists international students with visas, health tests, accommodation and other related issues.
Fees and funding
Local/EU/EEA Applicants:
Annual Enrolment Fee: Euro 400
Non-EU/Non-EEA Applicants:
Fee per academic year: Euro 13,400
Programme of Study
Year 1
In addition to the compulsorily taught study-units (25 ECTS credits), students are required to choose an elective stream of either 25 ECTS credits (Game Analysis and Design) or 30 ECTS credits (Game Technology and Design). They are required to choose from the rest of the elective study-units to get a total of 60 ECTS credits for the year. A dissertation of 60 ECTS credits will be covered during the second year of the course.
Stream A: Game Technology and Design
Stream B: Game Analysis and Design
Semester 1
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
| IDG5156 Game Design | 10 ECTS |
| IDG5158 Methods for Games Research |
Stream A: Game Technology and Design
| DGG5631 Game Engines | 5 ECTS |
| IDG5301 Game AI | 5 ECTS |
| IDG5304 Foundations of Game Studies | 5 ECTS |
Stream B: Game Analysis and Design
| IDG5102 Prototyping for Game Designers | 5 ECTS |
| IDG5201 Formal Properties of Games | 10 ECTS |
Semester 2
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
| IDG5157 Game Development | 10 ECTS |
Elective Units: Elective units are offered subject to timetable constraints.
| ATS5002 Film, Technology and the Literary Canon | 5 ECTS |
| CRC5001 Integrated Marketing Communications | 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 |
| DGG5633 Advanced Game Graphics | 5 ECTS |
| ENG5039 Electronic Literature | 10 ECTS |
| ENG5049 Style in Digital Media | 10 ECTS |
| IDG5151 Casual Game Design | 5 ECTS |
| IDG5152 Games and Narrative | 5 ECTS |
| MCS5411 Critical Studies in Journalism | 5 ECTS |
| MCS5422 Visual Thinking | 5 ECTS |
Stream A: Game Technology and Design
| IDG5155 Computational Game Creativity | 5 ECTS |
| IDG5159 Player Modeling: From Game Analytics to Affective Computing | 10 ECTS |
Stream B: Game Analysis and Design
| IDG5202 Analysing Player Experience | 10 ECTS |
Year 2
Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2)
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
| IDG5000 Dissertation | 60 ECTS |
Program taught in:
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Local/EU/EEA Applicants: Annual Enrolment Fee: Eur 400 Non-EU/Non-EEA Applicants: Fee per academic year: Eur 13,400
First deadline is end of April 2018 or until all places are filled