B.A. in Game Design

Train to join the design team of a video game studio.

Disembodied, student project from U-tad videogame students.

Description

Participate as a designer in the reality of a studio to conceive and bring the gaming experience to life. Join a multidisciplinary team (also composed of fellow artists, programmers, and producers) to successfully develop projects, just as it happens in the industry.

As a designer, you will develop and propose features for video games to create a memorable gaming experience.

You will be able to understand gaming experience by learning to define functionality, interfaces, missions, levels, rules, interactions, mechanics, and dynamics of the video game.

You will optimize and simplify your game designs through in-depth learning of the video game engines.

You will create the narrative and the script for video games, ensuring that they align with the gameplay needs.

You will learn the principles of accessibility and usability that lead the interactive products such as video games.

You will develop analytical and critical skills to manage testing and quality control for your video games.

You will collaborate in project-based courses with the students from other U-tad video game degrees, simulating real industry workflows and production pipelines. To achieve this, you will first gain fundamental knowledge of the responsibilities and work processes of the other departments involved in video game creation: art, programming, and production

  • Location: U-tad Campus
  • Hours: Monday – Friday
  • ECTS: 240
  • Language: Spanish or English
  • Modality: In campus
  • Places: 90 on-site and 60 online

University affiliated to:

Career Opportunities for the Bachelor's Degree in Video Game Design

By studying the Bachelor’s Degree in Video Game Design, you will be able to work in the following professional fields:

  • Level Designer
  • Mission Designer
  • Game Mechanics Designer
  • UI/UX Designer
  • Serious Games Designer
  • Video Game Writer
  • Monetization Specialist
  • Interaction Designer
  • Technical Designer
  • Video Game Designer

Where our students work

Our students are highly valued by the industry. We have a Professional Development Service that helps facilitate their integration into various companies that contact us, seeking highly specialized professionals.

Our students are working at companies such as:

  • Black Forest Games
  • CI Games
  • Electronic Arts
  • Gameloft
  • King
  • Lingokids
  • Mercury Steam
  • Ninja Theory
  • Pendulo Studios
  • Rockstar Games
  • Saber Interactive
  • Scopely
  • Shapefarm
  • Tequila Works
  • Tessera Studios
  • Ubisoft

Partner Companies

Projects and Awards

Participate in a unique ecosystem of video game projects

Throughout the degree, you will participate in various video game projects, as every semester you will take a project-based course. In these courses, you will work in teams, coordinating with students from other video game degrees at U-tad. You will contribute to the design of the projects, while the artistic and programming contributions will be handled by students from other video game programs.

The three video game degrees at U-tad converge in project-based courses. Each degree corresponds to one of the three main professional profiles in video game studies: design, art, or programming. This structure allows for the formation of multidisciplinary teams, mentored by experts, who apply industry workflows to create high-quality video games.

This ecosystem has proven effective, as U-tad students’ video games have frequently won awards and reached commercial success. (Six student games from U-tad are now available for download on the PlayStation 4 store, and several are also available on Steam).

Talent Awards

U-tad is a Spanish educational institution with the highest number of PlayStation Awards: 16 in the last eight years. Additionally, U-tad video game students have won 9 consecutive BIG Awards, 4 SXSW awards in Austin (Texas), 3 Gamelab awards, and several Gamefest, IndieMad, Gamepolis, among others.

Students' feedback

We are very proud of our students because they stand out for their talent and effort. The training they have received at U-tad provides them with sound knowledge to develop their careers in a sector with a strong demand for professionals.

International mobility

At U-tad, we have an International Relations Department through which we coordinate and establish agreements with university institutions worldwide, as well as with official bodies responsible for international inter-university cooperation. We have agreements with prestigious universities across all five continents and are actively working to expand the number of institutions with exchange agreements, either through the Erasmus program or with bilateral exchange agreements.

Faculty

Study Plan

Course 1
SUBJECTCOURSEDURATIONTYPEECTS
Fundamentals of 2D and 3D for Video Games IB6
Fundamentals of Mathematics and PhysicsB6
Game TheoryB6
Fundamentals of Audiovisual LanguageOB3
Introduction to Video Games Industry and DesignB6
Artistic History and TraditionB6
Fundamentals of Literature and NarrativeB6
Fundamentals of ProgrammingB6
Graphic Design, Interface and User Experience for Video GamesOB3
History of GamesB6
Projects IAnnualOB6
Course 2
SUBJECTCOURSEDURATIONTYPEECTS
Fundamentals of 2D and 3D for Video Games IIB6
Psychology of GamingB6
Video Game Engines IOB6
Video Game Design IOB6
Theory of Art for Video GamesOB6
Video Game Design IIOB6
Narrative DesignOB6
Video Game Engines IIOB6
Level DesignOB6
Quality Assurance and PlaytestingOB3
Projects IIAnnualOB6
Course 3
SUBJECTCOURSEDURATIONTYPEECTS
Digital Models and BusinessesOB3
Accessibility and Usability for Video GamesOB3
Combat designOB6
Projects IVAnnualOB12
Digital Society and Sustainable DevelopmentAnnualOB6
Advanced Programming and Artificial Intelligence for Video GamesOP6
Scriptwriting and Dialogue for Video GamesOP6
Serious Game Design and GamificationOP6
Casual, Social and Multiplayer Game DesignOP6
Comunication and PresentationOP6
Training for employmentAnnualOP6
Choice of work environmentAnnualOP6
Bachelor’s Degree Final ProjectAnnualTFG6
Course 4
SUBJECTCOURSEDURATIONTYPEECTS
Digital Models and BusinessesOB3
Accessibility and Usability for Video GamesOB3
Combat designOB6
Projects IVAnnualOB12
Digital Society and Sustainable DevelopmentAnnualOB6
Advanced Programming and Artificial Intelligence for Video GamesOP6
Scriptwriting and Dialogue for Video GamesOP6
Serious Game Design and GamificationOP6
Casual, Social and Multiplayer Game DesignOP6
Comunication and PresentationOP6
Training for employmentAnnualOP6
External Academic InternshipsAnnualOP6
Bachelor’s Degree Final ProjectAnnualTFG6

Additional information & competencies

  • Year of implementation: 2025-2026
  • Spots for new students in the Degree: 90 in person + 60 online
  • Branch of knowledge: Art & Humanities
Minimum number of ECTS per type of registration and course:
Minimum Maximum
Full time 1st course 60 60
Full time rest of courses30 75
Part-time 1st course 25 30
Part-time rest of courses 18 45

Note: In order to offer a Minor for Enrollment the course will require a minimum of 20 Students for said Minor according to the University regulations. Minor subjects are optional for the rest of the itineraries.

* This degree is in the process of renewal of its accreditation. Any interested person can communicate to the evaluation panels their opinion on any aspect related to this official degree by filling out the form of Audiencia Abierta.

EXPLORE OTHER STUDIES

Request Information

This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
This may take a few seconds. Do not close or refresh the page.
To be able to send this form, you must fill in the fields that appear highlighted in red.

The data collected through this form will be processed by U-TAD, with the purpose of sending communications by any means, including e-mail, updates about U-TAD’s academic programs, activities and workshops organized by U-TAD, invitations to events, as well as other products, services and promotions that may be of interest to you in the fields of information, design, digital art, Internet, leisure, videogames, products and multimedia services, and new technologies in general. Furthermore, in order to evaluate and tailor said communications, U-TAD will adapt its offer to the user’s profile, based on their degree, level of studies, preferences and tastes. You can exercise your right of access, rectification, suppression, objection, limitation, data portability or revoke your consent, by sending a letter to postal mail to: C/ Rozabella 2 – 28290 Las Rozas, Madrid, providing a nationality card or an equivalent document, identifying yourself as a U-TAD subscriber and clearly stating your request. For more information concerning how your data will be managed, please visit our Privacy Policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is studied in the Game Design degree?
In the Bachelor’s Degree in Video Game Design at U-tad, you will learn to conceptualize and develop memorable gaming experiences. You’ll be trained in the design of game mechanics, levels, interfaces, and narrative, as well as in optimizing your creations using game engines like Unreal Engine and Unity. You’ll work in multidisciplinary teams alongside artists, programmers, and producers, replicating the professional environment of the industry. Preguntar a ChatGPT
What high school track should I take to study Game Design?
To access the Bachelor’s Degree in Video Game Design, it is recommended to have completed a high school program in the Arts or in Science and Technology. However, the most important factors are strong creative skills, an interest in designing interactive experiences, a willingness to work in a team, and analytical abilities
Is the U-tad Bachelor’s Degree in Game Design officially recognized?
Yes. U-tad’s Bachelor’s Degree in Video Game Design is an official degree with 240 ECTS credits and is recognized within the European Higher Education Area. U-tad is a University Center affiliated with Camilo José Cela University.
How many years does it take to study the degree in Game Design?
The Bachelor’s Degree in Video Game Design has a duration of four years, divided into eight semesters, with a total of 240 ECTS credits.
Why study Game Design at U-tad?
Studying at U-tad gives you access to specialized training with a practical, project-based approach. You’ll collaborate with students from the Bachelor’s Degrees in Game Art and Game Development to create professional-quality games. You’ll also benefit from the mentorship of a faculty made up of active industry professionals and have the opportunity to intern at prestigious companies and studios such as Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, CI Games, and Gameloft. With a hands-on, project-driven education, you’ll be prepared to work in areas such as graphic design, web development, art direction, interface design, and much more. In addition, U-tad offers you the chance to take part in high-level projects and gain real-world experience through internships in the industry