Games Studio Development MA

Postgraduate

Close up of a printing press with paint smudges on a drum

Explore the exciting world of digital games development in a studio learning model that prepares you for the workforce.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

AHT090

Start date

September 2025

How to apply

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Course overview

Launch your games industry career with this master’s course, designed for creatives from all backgrounds. Gain hands-on experience in the full game development process, collaborating with teams to design, build, and market innovative, playable games.

Key course content includes:

Studio-based learning and mentoring: collaborate in a studio model with guidance from industry and academic mentors to build professional skills and networks.
Industry engagement: gain insights through mandatory field trips to Royal Leamington Spa game studios, and optional field trips and masterclasses at game studios further afield.²
Comprehensive games production: experience the full development pipeline while honing specialist skills in your chosen area.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 11th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

Our holistic approach to real-world learning is designed to develop your agility as a practitioner. We’ll teach you how to flex across a range of roles in small, independent game studios and become a skillset-specific practitioner with an understanding of the wider workflow in large game studios.
You will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including experimental immersive studios and digital and electronic hacklabs.⁴
You will benefit from a strong academic base with links to gaming companies in ‘Silicon Spa’ - the nearby hub of game developers in Royal Leamington Spa.

Collaborations

We work in collaboration with The RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce), and upon successful completion of the 'Creative Futures and Social Change' module, you will receive RSA digital badging.

At UGLA our mission is to ready the next generation of talent for the video games sector. We’re very excited by this collaboration with Coventry University. We’re proud to forge a bond between industry and education, with an MA that will be as good for the industry itself as it will be for those wanting to break in.
Luke Richards, Course Director of UGLA, 2024.

Exterior view of the William Morris building

What you'll study

Underpinned by studio-based learning, this course provides a comprehensive exploration of the game development process from concept to completion. You will collaborate in interdisciplinary teams to design, prototype, and refine games, while developing industry-relevant skills in project management, pitching and quality assurance.

Modules

Games in Context – 10 credits

Understanding the game design and development journey from concept to quality assurance is crucial for those moving into the games industry. This module provides a broad understanding of the factors affecting the games development industry across independent (indie) and AAA games (high-profile games with a large budget, produced and distributed by large, well-known publishers). Explore key principles around the business of the games industry, the history of games development, intellectual property rights, and the different roles involved in the games development lifecycle.

Compulsory

How Games are Made – 40 credits

Explore the development and project-planning processes in video game design, working in a studio environment to explore ideas, develop skills and apply practices. The module covers both theory and practical approaches, helping you understand the entire game design process, using a flexible and iterative approach from conceptualising themes and mechanics through to workflow and processes. You’ll reflect on and establish your practice through the development of a Games Design Document (GDD) and Technical Design Document (TDD).

Compulsory

Researching and Pitching Games Concepts – 10 credits

Concept development in game design involves researching the market and positioning of a game concept and then pitching it for development. Develop your industry-related research skills, professional pitching and communication through the associated Game Design Document (GDD) and Technical Design Document (TDD).

Compulsory

Immersive Games Production Simulation – 60 credits

Dive into the game production process by creating a live game demo. Through 12 weeks of intensive studio-based projects, you will develop a game concept from the ‘Researching and Pitching Games Concepts’ phase, guided by industry professionals.

Explore the practical skills required for games development, whilst developing your collaborative leadership skills. You will be expected to work in interdisciplinary teams to develop project management and cross-communication skills expected by industry employers.

Compulsory

Springboard into Industry – 20 credits

Branding and positioning yourself in the games industry is vital in the early stages of your career. Explore the different roles and responsibilities in games development whilst evaluating your career aspirations as you transition from study to employment. You will develop a personal brand within your chosen area and tailor your portfolio to align with industry needs.

Compulsory

Polishing Your Game to Perfection – 30 credits

Quality assurance is a crucial part of games development and ensures that games are ready for release. Focus on post-production by performing quality assurance testing, refining through iterative development and enhancing the development cycle.

The practical approach allows you to take the outcomes from the ‘Immersive Games Production Simulation’ module and refine your game demos. You’ll look at playtesting, stress-testing, and quality assurance processes and refine the skills needed to address functionality, completeness and balance in the context of development work.

Compulsory

Creative Futures and Social Change – 10 credits

New technology and the changing global economy mean that jobs and skills are evolving quickly. Learn how to thrive in a changing work environment and participate in creating a better future for society. This module has been designed in collaboration with the RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce). You will explore the following key themes:

RSA Four Futures of Work
RSA Living Change Approach
Horizon scanning across sectors
Developing mindsets in leadership and systems thinking
Participatory foresight and collective imagination
Sustainability, regenerative thinking and the net zero economy
Industry and practice professional networks
Future Skills scanning and development planning

Upon successful completion of this module, you will receive RSA digital badging.

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

lectures
seminars
tutorials
presentations
group projects
workshops
practical laboratory sessions.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent study.

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent learning which will make up the required study hours per module. You will be undertaking a variety of activities, learning through guided background research, planning and preparation, studio activity, creative practice and making, reviewing what you have learned and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress towards the end of your studies, you will spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

Assessment methods may include:

presentations
group projects
live simulations
individual application development work
portfolios
written documentation.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Co-developed with industry, this course reflects the experience of a working games studio, drawing on expertise from industry and academia to develop graduates ready to explore the many opportunities of the growing and vibrant games sector. It provides students with the opportunity to explore new and emerging technologies relevant to games development in state-of-the-art facilities.
Dr Bianca Wright, Curriculum Lead: Immersive, 2023

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

An honours degree 2:2 or above in a related discipline or appropriate professional/industrial experience. You may be invited to interview or asked to provide a portfolio of work.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

An honours degree 2:2 or above in a related discipline or appropriate professional/industrial experience.

You may be invited to interview or asked to provide a portfolio of work.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	2025/26 fees TBC 2024/25 fees -£11,200	Not available
EU	2025/26 fees TBC 2024/25 fees -£11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary 2025/26 fees TBC 2024/25 fees -£18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	2025/26 fees TBC 2024/25 fees -£18,600	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³ and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see The University's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

You will have access to cutting-edge new facilities⁴ in the Delia Derbyshire building, which features post-production studios, games and animation studios, immersive studios and hack labs.

The high-end studios allow you to develop working playable versions of your games using state-of-the-art hardware and software used in the industry.
The immersive studios include performance capture, object tracking and audio capabilities allowing you to engage with development methods across the games design and development pipeline.
The electronic and digital hack labs allow you to experiment with new and emerging technologies and electronics in the context of games development.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

Successful graduates may seek positions in the following job roles: games designer, games developer, level designer, narrative designer, games artist, character designer, QA tester in games, animator, game director, UI/UX designer, games producer, 3D artist, concept artist and marketing executive.

Upon successful completion, you will be able to:

advance and refine creative, practical, and studio skills, demonstrating flexibility, initiative, and currency of knowledge in the development of games
demonstrate a sound and sophisticated knowledge of the variety of roles within the games industry, operational studio environments, agile development, and innovation processes at the forefront of the industry
critically understand and apply the video game development process and all its constituent components including the development lifecycle from concept to release through experiential processes
exercise high-level collaborative skills and complex decision-making in the context of creative and multi-disciplinary teams to maximise opportunity across sectors, locally, nationally, and internationally
practice inclusive leadership and entrepreneurship within and across the range of roles within the games industry through the articulation, application and evaluation of complex ideas, processes, and practices in a live industry context
demonstrate a systematic and critical awareness of the evolving business and technological landscape to make ethically, legally, and economically valid decisions when producing a commercially viable product.

Where our graduates work

Successful graduates of this course have gone on to work for companies such as Leisure concepts, BYG Systems Limited, Opus books and Country Wide groups.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.

Full-time applications

If this course has a part-time option, you can apply here.

Part-time applications

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

Full-time international students should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our international mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.