MDes Games Design and Development
Heriot-Watt University
Student rating
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( 4.1)

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Qualification

MDes - Master of Design

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Location

Edinburgh Campus

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Study mode

Full Time

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Start date

SEP-25

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Duration

1 Year

Course info

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Qualification

MDes - Master of Design

Location

Edinburgh Campus

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

1 Year

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Computer Science
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Domestic
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Scotland
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Course info

Join Scotlands top game design programme at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. With industry-leading facilities and hands-on projects, our MDes in Games Design and Development offers you the opportunity to turn your game ideas into reality. Led by an award-winning indie developer, youll acquire sought-after skills in game design, 3D graphics, UI/UX, and more. Our expert faculty will guide you through gaining real-world experience in designing, building, and releasing your own games. Design ...Read more

Join Scotland's top game design programme at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. With industry-leading facilities and hands-on projects, our MDes in Games Design and Development offers you the opportunity to turn your game ideas into reality.

Led by an award-winning indie developer, you'll acquire sought-after skills in game design, 3D graphics, UI/UX, and more. Our expert faculty will guide you through gaining real-world experience in designing, building, and releasing your own games.

Design your own game

The Master of Design (MDes) programme in Games Design and Development provides students with a unique opportunity to design and develop their own computer game to the highest industry standards while gaining hands-on experience with the product lifecycle, gathering technical and professional skills, and further practical entrepreneurship knowledge. It is the perfect stepping stone to enable students to smoothly transition to design and programming roles in the games industry.

Our Games Design Studio

This Masters degree benefits from the utilisation of our purpose-built Games Studio inside our £19m innovation and entrepreneurship GRID building. As there are only a handful of universities worldwide capable of offering such design-led programmes, this studio will provide students with a unique mixture of practical supervised studio learning experience, technical know-how, and an interdisciplinary entrepreneurship approach to Games production.

Studying in Edinburgh, the key to for Your Success

  • Edinburgh's Gaming Legacy: Edinburgh has a rich gaming legacy, home to a multitude of gaming companies, studios, and indie developers. It's a city where innovation, creativity, and technology converge, making it the perfect backdrop for your journey into the gaming world.
  • Networking Opportunities: Being in Edinburgh means you're in the heart of the action. You'll have unparalleled networking opportunities, with regular industry events, conferences, and meetups that allow you to connect with professionals and potential employers in the gaming field.
  • Inspiration All Around: Edinburgh's stunning landscapes, historical architecture, and vibrant cultural scene provide boundless inspiration for game design and storytelling. The city's unique blend of tradition and modernity is the perfect environment for nurturing your creativity.
  • Internship and Job Prospects: Many gaming companies and startups in Edinburgh actively seek fresh talent. The proximity to these opportunities enhances your chances of securing internships and job placements during and after your studies, setting you on a path to a successful career in the gaming industry.

Key stats

WUSCA ranking:
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2024 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
90/101
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
42nd
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
42nd

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
IDP Connect

Entry requirements

An honours degree in an appropriate discipline (e.g. Computer Science, Electrical Engineering Mathematics) with programming as a component of their degree or equivalent at the 2:2 level. Reasonable experience in programming and University level Maths, and some familiarity with games is preferable.

Tuition fees

Students living in

Domestic

£12,192 per year

This information is updated by IDP Connect, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: The fees might vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Domestic

This is the fee you pay if the University is in the same country that you live in (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

This is the fee you pay if the University is in the same country that you live in (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

£12,192 per year

This information is updated by IDP Connect, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: The fees might vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Scotland

£25,480 per year

This information is updated by IDP Connect, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: The fees might vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from EU

The amount you'll pay if you come to study here from somewhere in the EU.

The amount you'll pay if you come to study here from somewhere in the EU.

£25,480 per year

This information is updated by IDP Connect, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: The fees might vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from International

The amount you'll pay if you come to study here from a country outside the EU.

The amount you'll pay if you come to study here from a country outside the EU.

IDP Connect

Uni info

Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University , Edinburgh

Heriot-Watt University has a 200-year history, and over that time has cultivated an outstanding reputation for its quality of teaching...

Student rating
( 4.1) View reviews
CUG ranking
42nd
Heriot-Watt University
Edinburgh Edinburgh EH14 4AS United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Curriehill  0.4 miles away
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