Scholarships
The scholarships below are open to international students and those applying from England, Wales and Northern Ireland with a 2.1 or above for a postgraduate course.
The Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education at Abertay offers this unique, world-renowned programme. It’ll give you a skillset that encompasses far more than basic technical excellence.
The result offers an unparalleled opportunity for subsequent employment in leading creative and technological industries - specifically within the fields of coding, digital art, game design and audio - as demanded by the multi-billion pound games industry.
Get set to develop core skills through applied project work, supported by experienced games industry practitioners. Enhance your skills in interdisciplinary communication and collaboration through teamwork with students and staff from other areas of games development.
You’ll apply developing technologies and practices, specific to your own discipline, across projects that demonstrate your work to leading industry figures. In addition, you'll be encouraged to nurture relationships with fellow developers, industry professionals and companies through your demonstrable skill in the creation of games, mentorships and published research.
Applicants must have a minimum of upper second class (2:1) honours degree in Art, Code, Design, Game Production or Audio. We will also consider applicants with a lower second class (2:2) in these subjects, if there is sufficient evidence of ability demonstrated in the Portfolio of Evidence supporting their application.
All applicants must submit a personal statement that includes a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) for review as part of their application.
The purpose of the Portfolio of Evidence is to allow the Programme Team to determine whether there is satisfactory evidence of ability - or potential ability - within at least one key computer games development role. These key roles* are Programming, Game Design, Art and Animation (preferably digital), Software, Project or Team Management, Digital Audio and Sound Design.
Content provided must be digital, preferably directing the Programme Team to external websites, galleries, testimonials or other bodies of work that can be viewed remotely - rather than any physical submission.
Of particular interest are references to:
An academic or similar qualification in a game related area
Professional Industry experience
Professional Accreditation
Self-directed work in a game related discipline
Testimonials from professional developers
* Please note that experience in Quality Assurance (QA) or Marketing are not considered as key roles within this context, as there would be no appropriate opportunity to focus upon them in the programme.
As a postgraduate student, you’ll work with other highly-talented individuals within games development teams towards the production of innovative computer games solutions.
Working closely with a team of full-time staff who are highly-experienced in both the games industry and academic teaching, and under the guidance and mentorship of computer games industry representatives, you’ll develop professional skills and knowledge relevant to key roles within the industry and beyond.
During the course of your studies, you’ll ultimately be expected to demonstrate applied excellence in your specialist area, as well as professionalism, flexibility, the ability to adapt in team working situations, and creativity and innovation towards product development.
The goal of the MProf in Games Development is to turn you into a professional developer by placing you into a development team, with industry-relevant project goals and deliverables. Your team will enjoy a high level of independence in how it meets the game design briefs and how it approaches the development process.
Supervision, mentorship and academic support look to emphasise the consequences of your decisions and processes, allowing you to experience an organic and logical development and evolution of best practices.
In addition, you’ll develop your awareness in areas of potential innovation and research, and will be encouraged to publish your work.
The remaining core elements of the course seek to separate the myths from the realities of working in the games industry, and expand your awareness of design considerations with regards to the comparative importance and impact of narrative and gameplay theories.
We’ve developed a unique concept of learning environment and creative incubator, encompassing ways of teaching that focus on building general skills alongside the subject-specific knowledge to support your career and life objectives.
It’s designed to give you the edge in the global knowledge economy when you graduate.
This White Space environment is a thriving hub of activity, mixing the talents of undergraduates, postgraduates, lecturers, business people, artists and broadcasters, surrounding you with the buzz of a real working environment, allowing you to share real-world knowledge and experience.
Assessment methods throughout the core modules focus on formative (constant) assessment through regular meetings and discussion sessions, rather than exams. This is to allow you to improve in confidence, communication skills and core discipline skills as you progress, allowing you to try new working practices and approaches as and when they may be required.
An emphasis is placed on effective participation as a team player, and in correctly identifying and prioritising a project’s key requirements and challenges.
Provides students with a sophisticated understanding of the concepts and theories which inform game design that will enable them to form and disseminate cogent analyses and critiques. Module content includes: critical theory and analysis; histories of games; culture and politics of games; game development roles; culture and intellectual property; recent controversies in the culture and industry of games.
Students will develop advanced skills in the execution of computer games concepts, evaluating how ideas and proposals should most effectively be approached and executed within the evolving professional landscape.
Supports students’ understanding and appreciation of professional portfolios and the most appropriate methodologies and practices they may employ to best represent themselves and their own professional aspirations.
Students are supported to develop an original and creative line of research within video game development practice. Module content includes: professional development; innovation – propose, develop and present an innovative topic, methodology or technique; present at a professional level.
This Module supports the students as they appraise their own skillset and develop strategies to ensure alignment with the demands and expectations of industry.
Students are enabled to bridge the gap between undergraduate study and professional practice. Through opportunities to appraise their own skills and critically evaluate their experiences within industry relevant scenarios, students develop the ability to formulate and defend effective responses to the challenges faced by professional developers.
An introduction to research methods and statistical analysis for postgraduate students. Combines theoretical, historical and statistical concepts with hands-on practical lab sessions using both qualitative and quantitative techniques to put theory into practice.
Learn more about Abertay's English language requirements, as well as visa information.
Explore English language requirements for entry to Abertay University.
All the information you need about visa requirements for studying here at Abertay University.
The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you depends on factors such as your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. Visit the links below and scroll down to find the Postgraduate section.
Find out about grants, bursaries, maintenance loans and living costs in our postgraduate taught fees and funding section.
The scholarships below are open to international students and those applying from England, Wales and Northern Ireland with a 2.1 or above for a postgraduate course.
This £1,000 award is open to all prospective new postgraduate students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This £3,000 award is open to all prospective new international postgraduate students at Abertay University.