Getting an International Degree in Game Design From Top Universities

With each passing decade, video games become more popular. Each generation has only served to grow the number of people who call themselves gamers, from the arcades of the 1980s to the Sega vs. Nintendo wars of the 1990s to the rise of Xbox, PlayStation, and online gaming. People of all ages are now getting into gaming as we all have access to thousands of games on our smartphones and tablets. Your passion for gaming, on the other hand, far exceeds that of the average gamer. Working in the video game industry is one of the most rewarding jobs on the planet, but it’s also one of the most difficult and requires a distinct set of skills and even personalities to succeed.

The Princeton Review recently conducted a survey to determine which schools and colleges offer the best game design courses. Schools were chosen and ranked based on a set of criteria that included faculty quality, facilities, and technology. The survey was created with the help of a project advisory board organised by the company. Faculty from top colleges that offer game design degrees, as well as executives from leading gaming companies, served on the advisory board. The survey, which includes more than 40 questions, covers a wide range of topics, including academics and faculty credentials, as well as graduate employment and career accomplishments.

The following are some of the survey questions that each school was asked.

Academics

• What undergraduate-level game design courses do you offer?
• Is there a game design center at the school where students can learn about and practice game design?
• Students get access to a large number of gaming-related courses.
• Whether or not the school offers a gaming competition, showcase, or symposium every year.
• What skills do you teach in your program that are relevant to game design?
• Is your gaming program based on a team-driven approach? If so, are students paired with students from various disciplines on that team?
• Is it required for students in your program to build a functional game before graduating?
• How many game design students created a workable plan to launch a functional game during their time in school?
• The number of research opportunities available to students.

Faculty

• How many of your undergraduate gaming faculty members have established, run, or worked for a game studio?
• How many members of your gaming faculty do you have?
• What is the total number of departments they represent?
• Percentage of gaming faculty with a Ph.D. (or terminal degree equivalent).
• Is there any game design research being done at your university?
• How many game design faculty members are supported by funded research?
• How many students are benefited by game design research that is funded?

Technology

• What technologies or engines does your school utilise?
• Is there a game lab at your school that students can use? How many are there?
• Is there a game library for students to use at your school?

Career

• What kind of professional opportunities does your school provide for undergraduate gamers?
• What percentage of the most recent graduating class has worked on a game that has been released?
• How many game companies came to your school for any of the following reasons during the 2021 academic year: recruiting, lectures, seminars, demos, or collaborations?
• What percentage of graduates took a job in game development at the time of or shortly after graduation? How much salary did they make?
• How many game design studios have employed your graduates?

We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of international schools and colleges where you can begin your gaming career –

Top 50 Undergraduate Programs in Game Design in North America

1. University of Southern California
2. New York University
3. Clark University
4. Rochester Institute of Technology
5. DigiPen Institute of Technology
6. Michigan State University
7. University of Utah
8. Drexel University
9. Shawnee State University
10. Champlain College
11. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
12. Breda University of Applied Sciences
13. University of Central Florida
14. Vancouver Film School
15. University of Silicon Valley
16. LaSalle College Vancouver
17. Abertay University
18. Laguna College of Art and Design
19. Bradley University
20. Savannah College of Art and Design
21. The University of Texas at Dallas
22. Quinnipiac University
23. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
24. Miami University
25. Howest University of Applied Sciences
26. University of Wisconsin-Stout
27. Northeastern University
28. Abilene Christian University
29. New England Institute of Technology
30. Oklahoma Christian University
31. Hampshire College
32. Falmouth University
33. Kennesaw State University
34. Marist College
35. University of Michigan-Dearborn
36. New York Film Academy
37. Bloomfield College
38. Academy of Art University
39. DePaul University
40. Cleveland Institute of Art
41. Stetson University
42. Dakota State University
43. Full Sail University
44. ArtCenter College of Design
45. University of the Incarnate Word
46. Oklahoma City University
47. New Jersey Institute of Technology
48. Cornell University
49. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
50. High Point University

Top 25 Graduate Programs in Game Design in North America

1. University of Central Florida
2. New York University
3. Southern Methodist University
4. University of Southern California
5. University of Utah
6. Rochester Institute of Technology
7. Abertay University
8. DigiPen Institute of Technology
9. Clark University
10. Drexel University
11. Breda University of Applied Sciences
12. Michigan State University
13. The University of Texas at Dallas
14. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
15. University of California Santa Cruz
16. Savannah College of Art and Design
17. Northeastern University
18. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
19. American University
20. Laguna College of Art + Design
21. University of Wisconsin–Stout
22. University of Malta
23. New York Film Academy
24. Bradley University
25. DePaul University

You’ll graduate with a portfolio of work as a Game Design major, which will provide you an advantage in this competitive field. Game designers, level designers, animators, programmers, quality assurance testers, and even game marketers and distributors are among the jobs available to graduates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques.1 How many years does it take to get a degree in game design?

The game design degree lasts between 3-4 years.

Ques.2 What qualifications do I need to be a game designer?

A diploma or bachelor’s degree in game design, as well as a bachelor’s degree in computer science engineering or other related fields, is required of game designers. Although undergraduate education is frequently required, there is no specified entry level degree for this field.

Ques.3 What skills do game designers need?

Skills which game designers need are:

• Creativity
• Artistic vision
• A passion for video games
• Storytelling ability
• Wide-ranging knowledge of gaming trends
• Strong analytical frame of mind
• Excellent programming skills
• Ability to work as part of a team

Ques.4 How much do you get paid in game design?

The median salary for Video Game Designers is $103,920 to $261,299, with the top 86% earning $576,759.