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.

I've worked at EA and Pyro Mobile, collaborating on games like FIFA 16 and Star Wars Battlefront. I won the King and Diversi scholarship and went on Erasmus to Norway, where my project Last Shark Standing won the NGA (Norwegian Game Awards). Now I'm at Novorama, where we've released the top selling game, Killsquad.

Victoria VeraGame Designer at Novorama

Thanks to U-tad, I discovered a totally new industry that I always dreamed of working in (and I didn't know I could do it).

Roberto PadrónLevel Designer at UbiSoft

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

Daniel Martínez Bofarull

Academic Director of Video Games Area
Stage Clear Studios Co-Founder and Game Director

Mercedes García Betegón

Coordinator of the Video Game Design Degree
Rigger, 3D Generalist

Mercedes García Betegón

Coordinator of the Video Game Design Degree
Rigger, 3D Generalist

Study Plan

Course 1

SUBJECT	COURSE	DURATION	TYPE	ECTS
Fundamentals of 2D and 3D for Video Games I	1º	1º	B	6
Fundamentals of Mathematics and Physics	1º	1º	B	6
Game Theory	1º	1º	B	6
Fundamentals of Audiovisual Language	1º	1º	OB	3
Introduction to Video Games Industry and Design	1º	1º	B	6
Artistic History and Tradition	1º	2º	B	6
Fundamentals of Literature and Narrative	1º	2º	B	6
Fundamentals of Programming	1º	2º	B	6
Graphic Design, Interface and User Experience for Video Games	1º	2º	OB	3
History of Games	1º	2º	B	6
Projects I	1º	Annual	OB	6

Course 2

SUBJECT	COURSE	DURATION	TYPE	ECTS
Fundamentals of 2D and 3D for Video Games II	2º	1º	B	6
Psychology of Gaming	2º	1º	B	6
Video Game Engines I	2º	1º	OB	6
Video Game Design I	2º	1º	OB	6
Theory of Art for Video Games	2º	1º	OB	6
Video Game Design II	2º	2º	OB	6
Narrative Design	2º	2º	OB	6
Video Game Engines II	2º	2º	OB	6
Level Design	2º	2º	OB	6
Quality Assurance and Playtesting	2º	2º	OB	3
Projects II	2º	Annual	OB	6

Course 3

SUBJECT	COURSE	DURATION	TYPE	ECTS
Digital Models and Businesses	4º	1º	OB	3
Accessibility and Usability for Video Games	4º	2º	OB	3
Combat design	4º	2º	OB	6
Projects IV	4º	Annual	OB	12
Digital Society and Sustainable Development	4º	Annual	OB	6
Advanced Programming and Artificial Intelligence for Video Games	4º	1º	OP	6
Scriptwriting and Dialogue for Video Games	4º	1º	OP	6
Serious Game Design and Gamification	4º	1º	OP	6
Casual, Social and Multiplayer Game Design	4º	2º	OP	6
Comunication and Presentation	4º	2º	OP	6
Training for employment	4º	Annual	OP	6
Choice of work environment	4º	Annual	OP	6
Bachelor’s Degree Final Project	4º	Annual	TFG	6

Course 4

SUBJECT	COURSE	DURATION	TYPE	ECTS
Digital Models and Businesses	4º	1º	OB	3
Accessibility and Usability for Video Games	4º	2º	OB	3
Combat design	4º	2º	OB	6
Projects IV	4º	Annual	OB	12
Digital Society and Sustainable Development	4º	Annual	OB	6
Advanced Programming and Artificial Intelligence for Video Games	4º	1º	OP	6
Scriptwriting and Dialogue for Video Games	4º	1º	OP	6
Serious Game Design and Gamification	4º	1º	OP	6
Casual, Social and Multiplayer Game Design	4º	2º	OP	6
Comunication and Presentation	4º	2º	OP	6
Training for employment	4º	Annual	OP	6
External Academic Internships	4º	Annual	OP	6
Bachelor’s Degree Final Project	4º	Annual	TFG	6

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 courses	30	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.

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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

B.A. in Game Design

Registration for the 2025-2026 academic year is now open.

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Description

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

Where our students work

Partner Companies

Projects and Awards

Participate in a unique ecosystem of video game projects

Talent Awards

Students' feedback

International mobility

Faculty

Daniel Martínez Bofarull

Mercedes García Betegón

Mercedes García Betegón

Study Plan

Minimum number of ECTS per type of registration and course:

EXPLORE OTHER STUDIES

Request Information

Frequently Asked Questions

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