BSBI is a private international higher-education provider with multiple European hubs (Hamburg, Berlin, Barcelona/Madrid, Paris). It runs professional and partner-awarded postgraduate programmes (many creative MA programmes are delivered from the Hamburg campus in partnership with UCA). BSBI emphasises career focus, practical projects and portfolio development.

 

Why study MA Game Design at BSBI

• Industry-facing, practice-led course: taught by game-studies academics and industry experts; the programme focuses on building portfolio projects (solo and team) culminating in a final major game project — ideal for students aiming for studio or indie roles.

• Studio environment & UCA academic standards: UCA partnership brings creative MA standards and assessment frameworks; BSBI provides studio time, guest practitioners and cross-disciplinary collaboration with other creative students.

 

Level of study / credits / awarding partner

• Level: Master of Arts (MA) — postgraduate.

• Credits: Typically 90 ECTS (BSBI’s postgraduate programmes follow the 90 ECTS format).

• Awarding partner: Degree awarded through the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) partnership.

 

Typical modules / topics covered

Representative topics and module themes (exact module names may vary by intake — request the official module handbook):

• Game Design Theory & Systems (mechanics, dynamics, balance)

• Narrative Design & Interactive Storytelling

• Level Design, World Building & Player Journey

• Prototyping & Rapid Iteration (Unity / Unreal / engines)

• Visual Communication, Art Pipelines & Animation for Games

• Audio Design & Interactive Soundscapes

• Playtesting, UX for Games & Metrics, Game Analytics

• Production & Project Management for Games (sprints, pipelines)

• Research Methods & Critical Reflection

• Final Major Project (complete game / prototype + critical report).

 

Disciplines or specialisations offered

• The MA trains students across design, narrative, systems, level design, prototyping, technical design and production — you can specialise through project choices (e.g., narrative designer, systems designer, technical artist, level designer, indie lead). BSBI’s studio environment supports both solo and collaborative specialisations.

 

Highlights & selling points

• UCA partnership — recognised creative MA award standards.

• Studio & portfolio focus — final major project is a full game/product to show to employers/portfolios.

• Industry-informed teaching — modules taught by game-studies academics and industry practitioners, with guest sessions and practical tools training (engines, pipelines).

 

Career outcomes (where graduates go)

Typical roles and career paths after the MA:

• Game Designer / Systems Designer

• Level Designer / World Builder

• Narrative Designer / Dialogue Writer

• Technical Game Designer / Scripting & Tools Developer

• Game Producer / Project Manager (games)

• UX for Games / Player Researcher / QA Lead

• Indie developer / studio founder / creative technologist

• Roles in AR/VR, interactive media, serious games and gamified product teams.

 

Latest updates / special requirements (what to watch)

• Multiple published fee figures: BSBI lists headline and after-savings bands; third-party portals sometimes show slightly different headline numbers for specific intakes (e.g., €13,250). Always confirm with Admissions and request an official invoice for visa use.

• Portfolio deadlines: Scholarship portfolio competitions have their own deadlines and rules — prepare and submit early.