Introduction
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
