Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries.

Aims

The Master Programme in Game Design aims to educate reflective practitioners that, based on their own vision, make games and/or knowledge with the goal to create meaningful experiences and improve society. After completing their studies, graduates should be equipped to intentionally design humane games, to work in creative industries, or for a career in game studies and game design research. Furthermore, the aim is that the student will acquire both a systematic understanding of game design as a discipline and the knowledge and skills to be able to independently formulate and solve scientific problems and critically examine the work of others.

Learning outcomes

For a master´s degree, the student should:

Knowledge and understanding

• independently analyse, evaluate and give an account of problems of central importance for game design research on the basis of a scientific and critical approach
• demonstrate in-depth knowledge of game design through scientific reflection on their own design process and that of others
• give an account of and use theories and methods in game design research that are relevant to a scientific issue and for in-depth design competence
• develope nuanced perspectives on the role games play in contemporary society
• show critical game literacy both throuhg making and analysis.

Competence and skills

• independently plan, lead and carry out an advanced research task in the form of a degree project within set time limits and in a way that contributes to the development of knowledge in the area
• independently communicate their results both orally and in writing in research and production environments, and, in doing so, give a clear account both of their conclusions and of the knowledge and arguments on which they are based
• demonstrate a basic understanding of how game design/game studies research works in practice.

Judgement and approach

• make assessments, taking relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects into account
• be able to formulate their creative and expressive goals for their design based on meaningful connection with others
• consider how games can be used to inspire and enrich our shared cultures while navigating risks and issues involved with games and their logics of production and distribution.

Layout of the programme

Year 1 (semester 1-2):

The programme begins with an introduction to games research, that also includes theory and method as well as scientific writing in preparation for the degree project in term four. The first term also approaches games from a critical, analytic, social, and practice-based perspective. The second term builds on this foundation, providing opportunities for students to challenge assumptions about what games are and to push the boundaries of what games can be. By exploring a variety of topics and themes students further reflect on their responsibilities as creators in a bigger, socio-cultural, technological, and economic context, and apply theoretical ideas and frameworks to practice. They get the possibility to consider what is meaningful to them and learn how they can bring these perspective into their design. This is done by way of harnessing design research approaches and applying rigorous methods of testing and, iteration to game design as practice.

Year 2 (semester 3-4):

In semester three the students are able to apply for elective courses - at first or second-cycle level - within or outside the department, for example on interactive storytelling and deep games, while also deepening their work on design and projects in a dedicated project course. It is also possible to participate in international student exchange within the framework of the University's or the department's exchange agreements. Moreover, students may look for workplaces and apply for an internship for the full semester (30 c). The whole of the fourth term is devoted to a final degree project where students can work in teams on creative and scientific topics, e.g. develop publications for resarch or continue work on and studying a game that they are making.

Degree

The programme studies lead to a Master of Arts (120 cr) in the main field of Game Design.