BA Game Design

Design and program your own games with a Bachelor's degree in Game Design

Computer, video, and mobile games are the medium of the future. Already today, more than 40 percent of Germans profess their love for them, with 90 percent of those people playing them multiple times a week. Games mean entertainment and business , yet they also reflect personal expression and global perspectives – and most of all, they're a lot of fun. As a game designer, you’ll create innovative game mechanics and shape game narratives . With your expertise, you’ll be involved in all stages of development: from the first idea through to the technical and creative conceptualization and finally the design of spaces and characters .

We’ve identified the artistic and cultural opportunities for computer games as a medium and will educate you with a view to practice in the real industry . As a game designer or game developer of tomorrow, you’ll learn all the key processes in the creation of new games, beginning with the first prototype for the game concept , through all the technical and creative decisions during the game’s development, and designing worlds and characters. Successful designers look outside the box and collaborate with people in other disciplines. At the University of Applied Sciences Europe, you’ll have the unique opportunity to put together your own individual combination of game design, programming, and art, which means that you’ll get familiar with the individual disciplines as well as their mutual influences.

Our university focuses on your development. That's why we teach in small learning groups and in a friendly and personal atmosphere . We’ll oversee your individual development process and help you define your talents and strengths while helping you develop your own visual signature. You will be taught by renowned lecturers from the gaming industry and study at a campus that is centrally located, equipped with the latest technology (game lab, VR equipment, MacPools, etc.), and that is known for its international and English-speaking character.

Game Design at our university is practice-oriented, in order to pave your way into the job from the very beginning. As a student, you will receive an overview of the economy, culture, and markets around computer games , from AAA over indie games to experimental formats . You are instructed in the areas of Game Design , Game Art , and Game Programming as well as their interplay. At the University of Applied Sciences Europe, you even get the possibility to actively shape your studies and your career path. Depending on your personal career goals, you will select your own specializations and choose from a range of interdisciplinary subjects . The programs taught at our university also include practical projects with top partners from the gaming industry , field trips, and workshops, which will prepare you perfectly for your dream job.

Course Requirements

Application requirements:

Please note: All documents in a different language require an official translation to English or German.

Application form High school/bachelor diploma and transcripts (Or equivalent occupational diploma officially translated to English or German.) Language Proficiency (or request to waive*) CV Copy of Passport Letter of motivation Non-EU applicants only: €3,000 deposit (This reservation fee will be deducted from the total amount of study fees) Portfolio

Portfolio Requirements: 5 - 10 work samples made by you: Concept sketches, storyboards, collages, renderings, and other design projects are welcome. Additionally either a digital game (.exe as ZIP) or a written game concept (1 page).

*Language Proficiency:

Please note: German-taught programs need both English/German language certificates.

• IELTS 5.5 overall
• TOEFL iBT72
• TOEFL ITP (paper based) 543
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 59
• Pearson Test of English (General) Level 1
• Cambridge English Advanced and Proficiency 160 overall
• Cambridge Exam First (FCE)
• TOEIC Listening/Reading 785, Speaking 160, Writing 150
• PASSWORD 5.5 (no less than 5.0 in each component)
• EF SET (50-minute Test) 51 (only for students applying with an MOI (Medium of Instruction) letter)
• Duolingo 90

Language Waiver:

To request a language test waiver, you must have studied in a country where the official first language is English:

• At least nine months in duration;
• Full-time;
• Undertaken at a recognized institution where teaching and assessment throughout the course are entirely in English;
• Has been completed within 2 years of the start date of the course to which you are applying;
• Medium of Instruction (MOI) should indicate English + EF SET or any accepted English proficiency certificate requested.

Facts:

• Degree:  Bachelor of Arts
• Campus: Berlin & Hamburg
• Language of instruction:
  • English (Berlin)
  • German (Hamburg)
• Starting semester:
  • Winter semester: September
  • Summer semester: March
• Internship semester / Semester abroad:  5th semester
• Credits:  210 ECTS
• Highlights:
  • Focus on individual development in small learning groups and a personal atmosphere. Creative freedom, professional equipment, and practical projects. Teaching by renowned lecturers from the gaming industry.

What makes studying at the University of Applied Sciences Europe outstanding?

The University of Applied Sciences Europe is accredited by the state, has received multiple awards, and is a worldwide leader among universities with an international approach. To apply, you need a high school diploma.

At our campuses, you'll study in small groups. That guarantees individual support and personal interaction with the lecturers. Our professors are successful experts in their businesses.

Besides the theory, our programs contain project weeks and a variety of interdisciplinary seminars, which allow you to determine the focus of your studies. The University of Applied Sciences Europe offers modern equipment, like a game lab, and more.

Internships and/or a semester abroad is mandatory, and exciting excursions give you the chance to see New York, Iceland, Vietnam, Paris, and other destinations, where you'll train your skills.

Studying at the University of Applied Sciences Europe in Germany

We put emphasis on internationality. That is why we were ranked among the top 25 performers in student mobility and international orientation worldwide (U-Multirank 2016). Our numerous international students come from all over the world to pursue a highly valued (state and ZEvA recognized) German degree that is entirely taught in English.

Germany, known as the country of innovators, is the perfect place to get your degree. Germany is a particularly safe and livable country with relatively low tuition fees and affordable living costs. Furthermore, Berlin is known as Europe's creative capital, a magnet for artists, and "place to be" for designers.

That's why we encourage international students to come here and study with us. You can apply with your national school degree now. We will then take a look at your application and guide you through the process.

The program: courses, internships, and semester abroad

In the Game Design program, your studies will focus on the development and creation of innovative and experimental games. As a student, you’ll receive an overview of the business, culture, and markets surrounding computer games, from AAA to indie games and experimental formats.

You’ll have classes in the areas of game design, game art, and game programming, as well as their interplay with each other. From the first semester on, you’ll learn how to master the development process in teams on a project basis. To round out the development of your own games and prototypes, you’ll learn about the theoretical aspects of gaming as a medium, receive an overview of the financial perspectives and get insight into the industry at the national and international levels.

In interdisciplinary seminars, workshops, and study trips, you’ll expand your horizons.

Your career options with a degree in Game Design

Game designers participate in every single decision process during the creation of a new game, starting with the first draft of the game idea through all the creative decisions during the development of the design of worlds and characters. They develop game mechanics and map out the narrative of a game.

This program gives students a high degree of autonomy so that they can work in developer studios while developing games themselves.

Typical areas of work include:

• Game designer, system designer, level designer, narrative designer, game writer
• Game artist, environmental artist, character artist, 3D modeler, texture artist, pixel artist
• Game programmer, gameplay programmer, prototype programmer, AI programmer
• Gaming journalist, gaming academic
• Freelance, self-employed, or full-time employment

Tuition fees & funding

As a private university, we are funded not by the state, but by tuition fees. For this reason, studying at the University of Applied Sciences Europe costs more than at a public university. But it’s worth it: UE graduates meet the essential requirements of careers in design, and this sets them apart from the graduates of many public universities.

All costs are included in the monthly tuition fee.

No additional costs will be incurred , such as a matriculation fee, exam fees, bachelor thesis fee, or similar, as long as the course is completed within the standard study period.

The costs for the semester abroad are not included in these fees, as there are substantial differences depending on the country and university.

We are happy to provide you with information on funding your studies and on any available scholarships. If you have any further questions, our Student Admissions Office can provide you with detailed information.

Apply today at the University of Applied Sciences Europe

You can apply a year in advance for your desired starting semester.

How to apply:

Please complete our online application form in its entirety. Upload a certified copy and a certified translation in German or English of your high school diploma or equivalent. In case you have already studied in the area of design, please also submit a copy and a certified translation of your transcript.

Once we have gone through your application and work samples, we can then evaluate whether you are suitable for studying at the University of Applied Sciences Europe. If yes, we will invite you to an interview.

Important: In the application phase, you must have already decided on which of our degree programs you would like to study. However, please note that you may change programs at a later time if desired.

What’s special about us

The University of Applied Sciences Europe (UE) educates tomorrow's designers and decision-makers in the areas of business, sports, media & events, and art & design. Our teaching approach: practical, international, interdisciplinary and focused on success. The UE also offers a family-like environment in which you can study. We want to create an environment in which you can develop a strong character. Five basic factors form the backbone of our university: You study in an informal atmosphere to enable you to grow as a person. Trust is placed in you. You experience success. You learn based on a hands-on approach. And think along international lines. To put this policy into practice, the UE creates an atmosphere of well-being and fosters a climate in which you can perform your best.

Our campuses

Berlin, Hamburg, and Iserlohn – the characters of these three cities could not be more different. You can choose a unique atmosphere in the capital, a northern German port city, or an American-style campus-based university, whichever you prefer. After all, deciding on a course and a university is also governed by place: The question “What do I want to be?” is closely linked with the question “Where do I want to be?” for many people. The three campuses cater to a wide range of wishes: For example, the campus in Berlin is situated in the heart of the city, just off Potsdamer Platz. The campus in Iserlohn is surrounded by green spaces and offers lots of leisure-time activities at Seilersee. The campus in Hamburg is located in the Altona district, right next to the port and the Elbe River.

Germany:

• Germany is the strongest economy in Europe and unemployment rates are low.
• Low crime rates.
• Relatively low cost of living.

Berlin:

• Low cost of living
• Buzzing international city with a great lifestyle.
• No German required (everyone speaks English).
• The campus in a great location (city center, well-connected).
• Headquarters of many international companies and start-ups.
• Great for entrepreneurs and freelancers.

Our programs

At UE we offer bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, both full-time and part-time while in employment. Two guiding principles apply to all programs: practical learning and thinking along international lines. Practical learning In addition to well-known scientists, many famous personalities from a variety of industries teaches at the “University of Applied Sciences Europe”. The university has close ties with business, and a lively exchange of information takes place. One priority is to incorporate as many of the requirements of the job into your studies as soon as possible. Our active exchange also gives you the opportunity to observe how successful people do business. Thinking along international lines National boundaries have long blurred in the world of business. Consequently, it is our policy to look beyond lines on a map. Thus, a semester of study abroad is a fixture of the bachelor’s degree program and the International Summer School of the master’s degree program. This stay abroad is organized in close collaboration with our partner universities in the Global University Systems (GUS) . In addition, meeting students from all over the world is part of everyday life at our university.

Focus on Employability:

• 93% of business graduates are employed within 1 year;
• Practical experience in real-life projects;
• Partnerships with renowned companies;
• International students are eligible for an 18-month post-study visa;
• Semester abroad/ work experience semester integrated into programs;
• Career center and international office to support students.

Our aims

Our most important aim is your success. We are there to see to it that you are ideally prepared to launch your professional career and to make your own way. With this in mind, we educate our students to become young professionals with an enterprising spirit and approach. How knowledge and skills are taught Today, you need a combination of abilities to forge a successful career. Substantive knowledge and social skills, management know-how, and confidence at an international level are the basis for a managerial career in the free economy. These days, enterprising young managers with a good theoretical education and who have acquired relevant practical experience both at home and abroad during their studies are sought-after in all fields of business. We equip you to meet these requirements. The results speak for themselves: Graduates of the “University of Applied Sciences Europe” enter employment very quickly.

Programs and student experience

• UE in Top 10 private universities for teaching quality in business studies;
• Students are taught in small groups;
• Highly qualified lecturers with real-life experience in their area of expertise;
• Unique choice of programs;
• Wide range of programs;
• Most programs are offered 100% in English;
• State-of-the-art equipment;
• Interdisciplinary learning;
• International excursions;
• Students from 100+ nationalities on campus.