Master of Science in
Games

ITU / Programmes / MSc Programmes / Games

The programme

Playing can be a form of communication, of learning, of social interaction, as well as entertainment. From video games to user experience design, from e-sports to gamification, our world is full of games and playfulness. With an MSc in Games, you create the future of play.

Based on a solid foundation of creative, technical, social, and analytical competences, you will realize the playful experiences of tomorrow. By understanding the complex creative process of game production, and how professional development teams work together, you will be able to make a difference in any project that uses game technology or playful design elements.

When studying Games, you are going to choose between two tracks:

The Technology Track
The Design Track

While both tracks give you an opportunity to work with developing games and playful experiences, The Technology Track gives you further skills that are necessary to implement specific technologies and demands a bachelor in computer science or the like.

The Design Track focuses on exploring playful design methods and does not demand any previous programming skills but the motivation to acquire them.

The MSc in Games is as much about making as it is about understanding. It provides you with practical and theoretical knowledge on how computer games are made, how they create meaning, and how they impact our social interactions and communities. You will work with some of the world’s leading games researchers, explore cutting edge technologies for their playful potential, and become an expert in how to realize creative projects in interdisciplinary teams. You will learn how to use design methods, technical experimentation, analytical tools, critical thinking, and scientific research to drive innovation.

The programme has an international perspective and is taught in English. There will be used cases and examples from both Danish and international organisations.

Non-curricular events at the university can be held in Danish.

Meet some Games students

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Is this programme for you?

As a student of Games, you want to be an innovator in the field of games and play. You are not afraid of getting your hands dirty when learning the applied skills of game design and programming. You bring curiosity in games as a cultural phenomenon, and you are ready to have your view of what can be done with games and playfulness radically expanded.

You have a university bachelor’s degree or a professional bachelor’s degree and you are either already able to write code or ready to learn programming while studying in the programme. There is a great deal of group work in this programme, so you should be motivated to collaborate with other students, especially across disciplines.

Programme structure

The foundation of the Games Programme is to provide a solid understanding of the design and development process of games, their technical basis, and their individual and cultural impact. Through extensive project work, you will learn to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams. You will also realize several of prototypes of games and playful experiences. You may choose one of two tracks in the Games programme:

The Technology Track
The Design Track

The IT University is in continuous dialogue and collaboration with the games industry, so the skills you learn in this education are highly applicable within and outside the games industry. While both tracks allow you to work in the development of games and playful experiences, The Technology Track provides additional skills needed to implement game-specific technologies and requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science or equivalent. The Design Track on the other hand focusses on exploring playful design methods and requires no prior programming skills but the readiness to acquire those.

See the curriculum for MSc in Games .

	Course of study for MSc in Games
1^st semester	Games & Culture 7,5 ECTS	Game Programming* 7.5 ECTS	Making Games 15 ECTS
1^st semester	Games & Culture 7,5 ECTS	Programming for Designers** 7.5 ECTS	Making Games 15 ECTS
2^nd semester	Data-Driven Design and Development 7,5 ECTS	Foundations of Game AI * 7,5 ECTS	Elective 7,5 ECTS	Specialisation Graphics Programming* 7,5 ECTS
2^nd semester	Data-Driven Design and Development 7,5 ECTS	Elective ** 7,5 ECTS	Elective 7,5 ECTS	Specialisation Psychology of Play and Games** 7,5 ECTS
3^rd semester	Elective 7,5 ECTS	Specialisation High-Performance Game Programming* 7,5 ECTS	Specialisation (including Thesis Prep) Artificial Intelligence for Games and Simulations* 15 ECTS
3^rd semester	Elective 7,5 ECTS	Specialisation Advanced Topics in Game Studies** 7,5 ECTS	Specialisation (including Thesis Prep) Play Lab** 15 ECTS
4^th semester	Thesis (30 ECTS)

* The Technology Track
** The Design Track

Mandatory courses

The mandatory content is distributed on the following courses:

Games & Culture: A course conveying the necessary tools for analysing games from a comprehensive variety of angles, ranging from classic play theories and semiotics to transmedia.
Game Programming/Programming for Designers: These courses teach programming for computer games on different levels.
Making Games: In this course you learn the basics of game production as a design and software development practice by making and testing a game in a multidisciplinary group.
Data-Driven Design and Development: This course teaches an analytical toolset for evaluating design decisions and techniques for developing analytical tools.
Games Tech - Foundations of Game AI: Through this course, you will learn about the aspects of game programming commonly involving artificial intelligence methods, which methods are used and how to implement them.

On your second semester, you will begin your specialisation.

Electives and Master's Thesis

The electives and the master’s thesis offer an opportunity to shape your own profile. You can choose between a number of courses offered at the IT University at master level for electives, or even take electives at a different Danish or international university. The master’s thesis can be done in groups or individually.

The course list offers descriptions of all courses offered at the IT University.

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Specialisations

Each track offers a particular specialisation for its students. A specialisation consists of three courses about a specific area of the field of games and prepares you for the master’s thesis.

Specialisation for the Technology Track

The Technology Track specialisation aims at introducing students to different concepts, methods, and algorithms within the area of Artificial Intelligence. These are all connected with and applicable in game production. You will learn to implement state of the art AI algorithms and how to use them to improve the gaming experience.

The specialisation consists of the following courses:

Graphics Programming
High-Performance Game Programming
Artificial Intelligence for Games and Simulations

Specialisation for the Design Track

The Design Track specialisation teaches you how to be creative with play design methods. From playfully exploring the potential of new technologies to the psychology of why and how we play, it provides a toolset and theoretical grounding for creating innovative interactive experiences.

The specialisation consists of the following courses:

Psychology of Play and Games
Advanced Topics in Game Studies
Play Lab

Specialisation at DADIU

All Games students can apply for taking part in DADIU in the third semester. DADIU (The Danish Academy of Digital, Interactive Entertainment) is a programme training you in making computer games. The programme is coordinated by the National Film School of Denmark and is a joint collaboration between a large number of universities and art schools in Denmark.

Individual specialisation and studying abroad

You are free to apply for an individual specialization that fits your own goals. Another interesting option, especially in the third semester, is to study abroad (see below).

Teaching

The teaching methods include lectures, group projects, individual projects, and exercises. Your teachers will be some of the world’s foremost experts on computer games. Through research-based teaching you will be exposed to contemporary games research.

The IT University has a close collaboration with the business community and the games industry, and the programme is designed to give you the opportunity to collaborate with private companies. This means you will be able to work with current real-world challenges, and you will have an opportunity to make a network in the games industry even before you graduate.

As a Games student, you will become part of a dynamic and creative environment. You might experience that your studies become a lifestyle. After all, lectures, teaching, and workshops are only half of student life.

The programme is taught in English. However, Danish as well as international cases and examples will be used in classes.

Activities for students on Games

Game Jams

The Games Programme regularly hosts game jams, for example Level One Jam and Global Game Jam. These events have been the starting point for commercial games, friendships, and entire companies.

Level One Jam is a yearly game jam that takes place at ITU. Lvl.1 is inclusive and beginner friendly. It is an entry level jam that is ideal for anyone who has never attended a game jam before. Lvl.1 gives the game jam experience to beginners and experts alike. The event does not just consist of the jam, but also have talks and workshop during the weekend.

The Global Game Jam is the world's largest game jam event taking place around the world at physical locations. It is the growth of the idea that in today’s heavily connected world, we could come together, be creative, share experiences, and express ourselves in a multitude of ways using video games – it is very universal. Every year, the ITU traditionally hosts a Global Game Jam location. Games students usually help running the event but also take part.

We also occasionally run student-only game jams with companies such as Lego or Unity.

Playtest Thursday

Every second Thursday, the Games Programme hosts a demo session, where unfinished prototypes get showcased and played together.

Study Lab

The Study Lab is a weekly meet-up for both cohorts where students meet to help each other. Facilitated by teaching assistants, it’s a place to meet fellow students from other tracks and cohorts, to team up and solve challenges of studying together.

Summer and Winter Games

Every semester, the IT University runs an exhibition of games made by you and your fellow students. We invite international guest speakers and enjoy an afternoon of play. The event started out as a physical exhibition but moving it online proved to be super successful because games are really well suited for streaming.

Women's mentorship programme

The IT University offer a mentorship programme specifically designed for female students. Here you have the opportunity to be matched with an experienced mentor from the gaming industry, who will serve as a role model and sparring partner. The mentorship programme aims to expand the professional networks for future female game developers. Read more about the programme.

Exchange

You have the opportunity to complete part of your programme at a university abroad. The 3rd semester is especially suited for an exchange stay. This is a chance for you to further specialise your education, gain work experience in a new environment, and explore a new country. For students enrolled in MSc in Games, we recommend:

Australia – Queensland University of Technology
Australia – University of Technology Sydney
Finland – Aalto University
Germany – Technical University of Munich
Netherlands – Maastricht University

Career opportunities

The competencies you acquire during your MSc in Games are highly applicable both within and outside the games industry. You will be able to seek a career in Denmark or internationally. Your profile is suited for a wide range of jobs in private companies as well as public institutions.

Your profile is also suited for a wide range of jobs in application development, consultancy, and in public institutions as well as for entrepreneurship.

If you choose The Technology Track, you will be qualified to apply for programming and data-science related jobs like:

Game Programmer
Gameplay Programmer
Engine Programmer
AI Engineer
Data Analyst

Examples of positions you can be qualified for after graduating in The Design Track include:

Game Designer
Gameplay Designer
Level Designer
Producer
QA-manager
Game researcher

Additionally, independent of your track you will be able to work e.g. with:

Gamification – designing and developing educational tools, public services or applications
Interaction Design – working on any engaging and highly interactive digital product or service
Analog games – aside from PC games and apps you can focus on the playfulness of board games, escape rooms, etc.

If you are interested in applying for a PhD at the IT University, please read more here.

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