Game Design MSc by Research

UK

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What will I learn?

Overview

The UK video games sector is a highly dynamic and ever evolving global success story.

Abertay University continues to lead the development of games as an academic meta-discipline, incorporating computer science, computer art, digital design, sound and music, human computer interaction, and media studies.

Game Design at Abertay University covers a wide range of applied and theoretical research. As technologies evolve and audiences expand, now is an excellent time to engage with research in games, with research spanning novel game mechanics, multiplayer game balancing, narrative design and interaction design.

At Abertay, you will be supported to conduct this research by our world-leading expertise in computer games education, our connections with key industry partners such as Microsoft and Sony, and our specialist computer arts and game development facilities.

Our research is inherently cross- and inter-disciplinary, which is of particular importance for research in game design. We lead the InGAME project, one of the nine AHRC-funded Creative Industry Clusters Partnerships, which is a consortium of industrial and academic partners. This project will underpin growth of the regional games and media sector.

Dundee is one of the UK’s oldest and most successful games hubs. The city has longstanding relationships with local, national, and international game studios. Undertaking a research degree in game design at Abertay will prepare researchers for careers not only in academia, but also within wider society.

MSc by Research

The award of Master of Science by Research (MSc by Research) demonstrates a practical ability to undertake research studies, a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of current problems and/or the application of original thought.

How long is an MSc by Research?

If you are studying full-time, you will be expected to complete the award in 12 months. The minimum period to receive this award is 10 months and the maximum is 14 months.

If you are studying part-time, you will be expected to complete the award in 24 months. The minimum period to receive this award on a part-time basis is 20 months and the maximum is 28 months.

Which department am I in?

Abertay University

Study options

Full Time (1 year)

Tuition fees
£14,750.00 (16,07,104) per year
Continuation Fee for Masters by Research (additional 2 months) £150.

This is a fixed fee

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

June 2025

Venue

Abertay University

Bell Street,

Dundee,

Dundee, City Of,

DD1 1HG, SCOTLAND, Scotland

Full Time (1 year)

Tuition fees
£14,750.00 (16,07,104) per year
Continuation Fee for Masters by Research (additional 2 months) £150.

This is a fixed fee

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

February 2025

Venue

Abertay University

Bell Street,

Dundee,

Dundee, City Of,

DD1 1HG, SCOTLAND, Scotland

Entry requirements

For international students

The minimum entry requirement for all our research degrees is an Upper Second Class Honours degree (or equivalent) at undergraduate level in an appropriate discipline and/or a Master’s degree. In some cases, appropriate professional or experiential learning may be considered in combination with a lower classification of Honours degree. IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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About Abertay University

Abertay is the Top Modern University in Scotland for student satisfaction (NSS 2023) and UK Top 20 for teaching quality (Times and Sunday Times)

  • Based in the heart of beautiful Dundee on Scotland’s east
  • Excellent teaching quality ratings - UK Top 20 for teaching
  • Pioneers of videogame and cybersecurity education and research
  • 90% of graduates in work or further study 6 months after grad