
Games Design and Development
- Course overview
- Recent credits and successes
- What you will study
- Current or recent tutors
- Fees & funding options
- Showcase
- Entry requirements
- How to apply
Location Beaconsfield
Duration 2 Years
Next intake January 2020
Application deadline Last Few Places Available
Scholarships available
Overview
1 place left to start in Jan 2020 – send your CV and covering letter to info@nfts.co.uk to fasttrack your application!
Do you want to create your own games? Could you run your own games company?
NFTS Games aims to give you everything you need to make high-quality games across a range of styles, formats and platforms.
“There’s no other course with this kind of approach.” Graduate Ana Ribeiro, creator of Pixel Ripped.
The two-year MA course has an ‘games innovation’ ethos, giving you the opportunity to create complete games in a unique environment, collaborating with students from across the School – from composers and sound designers to marketing and distribution students – learning not only how to create games, but how to release them and promote them across indie games and Triple-A.
The course covers practical knowledge of games software development and provides the ability to experiment with evolving technologies and techniques. Every student gets access to high-spec gaming systems and related tools. They work on both solo and group projects, with plenty of opportunities to experiment, innovate and excel – with all production costs for development met by the School.
We welcome students from a range of backgrounds – recent students have included a neuroscientist, a kickboxing instructor and a copy-writer – all you need is a passion for games, a creative spark and a willingness to learn new skills. Games development experience is welcome, but by no means essential.
Students also have the opportunity to develop industry contacts through events and visits from professionals and experts.
Find out more on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
All NFTS students can attend the School’s masterclasses programme, with recent guests including Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve), Asif Kapadia (Amy, Senna, Diego Maradona), Lynne Ramsay (You Were Never Really Here, We Need to Talk About Kevin), Louis Theroux, and M Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Glass).
Recent credits and successes
What you will study
The video games industry is continually innovating and evolving, and new platforms and technologies have created fantastic opportunities for technical invention and artistic innovation. This course provides the practical skills and creative knowledge to design, devise and build games, from inception to delivery. We strive to develop the creative leadership necessary to become a leading innovator and practitioner within the industry.
Students work alongside film, television and animation practitioners, developing creative and technical skills in games design, code, art, animation, production, audio and interface. The NFTS is a uniquely creative environment, enabling students to benefit from numerous collaborative opportunities across our production studios.
In the first year students undertake a series of set projects – both group and solo – during which they also learn core games development disciplines of design, art, animation, coding and production. The modules and workshops cover 3D modelling/animation, game programming (C#/Unity), game design, character creation, producing and project management. In the second year students focus on their Final Major Project, working with students from other disciplines.
Current or recent tutors

Mike Bithell
Mike Bithell
Visiting tutorCreator of thomas was alone

Jess Curry
Jess Curry
Visiting tutorThe Chinese Room

Phil Harrison
Phil Harrison
Visiting tutorFormerly of Sony Computer Entertainment and Microsoft Game Studios

Imre Jele
Imre Jele
Visiting tutorCo-founder of Bossa Studios

Richard Lemarchant
Richard Lemarchant
Visiting tutorFormely of Naughty Dog

Barry Mead
Barry Mead
Visiting tutorFireproof Games

Siobhan Reddy
Siobhan Reddy
Visiting tutorCo-founder of Media Molecule. Credits include LittleBigPlanet

Alan Thorn
Alan Thorn
Head of GamesAlan Thorn is a multidisciplinary game developer, author and educator with 17 years industry experience.
Showcase
For their final year projects, all students create a game of their own design from scratch.
Entry requirements
Games design and development students at the NFTS come from a wide range of backgrounds and prior experiences, and have demonstrated an excitement, aptitude, creativity and willingness to learn new skills. We actively seek a diverse and interesting group of people who have something new to bring into the games development fold. Successful applicants have come to us with previous qualifications from across the arts, sciences and humanities; and from all walks of life as far as profession and practice is concerned. Games development experience is welcome, but by no means essential.
While many applicants will have a degree from a British or overseas university, we will consider applicants who do not have a degree if they have an impressive portfolio, a creative track record or an alternative qualification.
For international students, more information about our entry requirements, including Visa and English language requirements, can be found here.
If you have any questions, please email info@nfts.co.uk.
How to apply
Application deadline: Last Few Places Available
1 place left to start in Jan 2020 – send your CV and covering letter to info@nfts.co.uk to fasttrack your application!
Applicants must complete the online application form and submit the following supporting material:
- A digital portfolio of your creative work presented online (Send us a link to your YouTube videos or a Google Shared Folder or a personal website). This may show sketches, illustrations, animations, sample games, design documents, and others. The purpose is to showcase your creative skills.