AAS College Thessaloniki
School of Art & Design
COURSES | MASTER
Passionate about Gaming? Learn how to design and develop your own using the latest tools and technologies.
MA Games Design is perfect for those passionate about the design and development of games. A highly creative and practical course you will be encouraged to develop innovative ideas to produce games across a range of platforms – both traditional and emerging.
Focusing on areas such as gameplay scripting, narrative techniques, level design and emerging technologies you will be taught key skills enabling you to create highly polished games using core game design principles and industry practices.
Taught by talented industry professionals who have worked on titles released on PC, Xbox and PlayStation, Ulster University is one of the top places to explore this constantly evolving and cutting edge subject.
Whether you are interested in contemporary technologies such as virtual, augmented or mixed reality devices or more traditional gaming platforms you will be supported by highly experienced tutors and the latest technologies and facilities helping you to explore new possibilities.
Will you be the creator of the next big thing in gaming?
Duration:
13 months
Educational form:
Taught
Education Variants:
Fulltime
Language:
English
February’s Intake:
Class Start Date:
9 February 2026
October’s Intake:
Class Start Date:
5th October 2026
British Degree:
Master of Arts
MA Games Design COURSE STRUCTURE
Core modules:
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 3
Semester 1
Overview
The first semester of the MA Games Design programme introduces students to the creative, technical, and conceptual foundations of contemporary game design. The emphasis is on understanding how gameplay, narrative, and spatial design work together to create meaningful and engaging player experiences.
Students explore level design and narrative development, examining how story, environment, pacing, and player interaction shape gameplay. They learn to construct compelling game worlds and scenarios, using narrative as both a structural and experiential tool. This includes understanding player agency, environmental storytelling, and the ways designers guide player experience through level layout and progression.
Alongside this, students engage in game design and rapid prototyping, developing practical skills in transforming ideas into playable experiences. Through iterative design methods, they experiment with mechanics, systems, and interactions, using rapid prototyping to test concepts, evaluate gameplay, and refine design decisions. Emphasis is placed on creativity, experimentation, and problem-solving, as well as learning from failure through iterative development.
Throughout the semester, students are encouraged to work both independently and collaboratively, applying design thinking methodologies and critically reflecting on their design processes. Playtesting, feedback, and iteration are central to the learning experience, helping students develop a professional design mindset aligned with industry practices.
By the end of Semester 1, students will have established a strong foundation in game design principles, narrative and level development, and prototyping methodologies. They will have gained the confidence and skills required to conceptualise, prototype, and evaluate game experiences, preparing them for more advanced production, research, and specialisation in subsequent semesters of the MA Games Design programme.
Semester 2
Overview
In the second semester of the MA Games Design programme, students build upon the creative and conceptual foundations established in Semester 1, advancing their technical expertise and research capability. The focus is on deepening professional practice through engagement with contemporary technologies and structured, practice-led research in preparation for the final major project.
Through Contemporary Game Technologies, students explore current and emerging tools, platforms, and production techniques that shape the modern games industry. This includes the study and application of advanced game engines, real-time rendering, interactive systems, and new technological developments influencing game design. Students critically evaluate how technological choices impact gameplay, player experience, and production pipelines, enabling them to make informed and strategic design decisions aligned with industry standards.
The Design Research and Development module introduces students to postgraduate-level research methods relevant to games design. Students learn how to design and conduct research that informs creative development, integrating theory, analysis, experimentation, and evaluation within a self-directed research inquiry. Emphasis is placed on defining research questions, selecting appropriate methodologies, and documenting the design process in a rigorous and reflective manner.
Together, these modules support the transition from exploratory design to research-informed production. Students develop the ability to justify creative decisions through evidence, testing, and critical reflection, while positioning their work within contemporary academic, cultural, and industry contexts.
By the end of Semester 2, students will have strengthened their technical competence, refined their research skills, and produced a clearly articulated project proposal. They will be well prepared to undertake an ambitious and independent final project that demonstrates both creative innovation and professional-level design practice.
Semester 3
Overview
The final semester of the MA Games Design programme represents the culmination of the student’s postgraduate study and provides an opportunity for sustained, independent, and practice-led creative work. During this stage, students bring together the creative, technical, and research skills developed throughout the programme to realise a substantial and professionally focused Major Project.
The Major Project allows students to define and develop an original games-related outcome aligned with their individual interests and career ambitions. This may take the form of a playable game, a prototype, a level or narrative-driven experience, a technical systems project, or a research-informed design investigation. Students are encouraged to demonstrate innovation, ambition, and critical awareness while working within realistic production scopes and industry-relevant workflows.
Throughout the semester, students manage the full development cycle of their project, including concept refinement, design implementation, testing, evaluation, and presentation. Emphasis is placed on iterative development, playtesting, and reflective practice, ensuring that creative decisions are informed by both research and user feedback. The project process is supported through regular tutorials, critiques, and peer discussion, providing structured feedback while encouraging independent problem-solving.
The final outcome is supported by appropriate documentation that articulates the conceptual framework, research context, design methodology, and evaluation of the work. This demonstrates the student’s ability to integrate theory and practice and to critically situate their project within contemporary games design discourse and industry practice.
By the end of Semester 3, students will have produced a significant and coherent body of work that showcases their design thinking, technical ability, and creative identity. Graduates will be equipped with a professional portfolio piece and the confidence to progress into the games industry.
ASSESSMENT
Assessment is 100% coursework and you will be continually assessed throughout the course.
The course is continually assessed through module requirements, allowing students to achieve target awards. Pass mark for the programme and modules is 50%.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
This programme is designed to prepare students for a career in a range of game development related fields such as game design, level design, app development and game testing. Postgraduate opportunities are also available for students who wish to pursue a career in research.
HOW TO APPLY
You should apply direct to the AAS College. We accept applications throughout the year, but advise you to apply early. We would like to receive application forms before 30th of June.
All candidates are required to submit the following documents:
1. A Fully Completed Application
AAS Application Form completed
A scanned copy of your passport
2. Diploma of previous education
University Degree (Bachelor’s or/and MA) from a recognised University and the relevant transcripts translated in English.
3. English language certificate
Certified Photocopy of English Language qualification(s).
Undergraduate applicants must have a fluent command of the English language which can be proven via the following examinations:
IELTS: 6,0 or other equivalent qualifications.
Candidates who have not acquired an English language qualification at the time of the submission of their application form are required to submit it at least one month before the commencement of the course.
4. Portfolio
You can send us approximately 20 examples of your work with a short written commentary. Most of this work
can be in the form of photographs in a PDF file. You could send us a link or the URL of your website as well.
Submit your documents at the College’s website at:
https://aas.gr/aas-college-apply-now/
Our response: A member of our staff will contact you in 48 hours.
AAS offer to you
Deciding to start study is an exciting time but the process to actually get there can seem daunting. That’s where we can help. Here’s what you need to be finding out about now. Over the next few weeks we’ll be sending you lots of important information, so if any of your contact details change, we need to know as soon as possible. Please let us know if you change your:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- Passport number
At AAS we pride ourselves on the tailored support we offer to all our students and we want your application and enrolment to go as smoothly as possible. If you have any problems at all, we are here to help.
You will receive:
an unconditional offer: An Admission Letter by college’s Admissions Office,
or a conditional offer: that means that before the commencing of your course you have to submit some documents,
or a rejection letter: that means that you don’t cover the requirements of the interested course.
Visa Process
The following documents to be submitted by all non-EU students to the Greek Embassy or Consulate Office closer to you:
- Application form for a visa for a long stay in Greece, fully filled in and signed by the applicant
- One recent passport-size photograph in colour
- Passport that should be of a validity exceeding by three months the ending date of the visa length, include at least two blank pages and have been issued within the previous ten years
- Police Clearance Certificate (Criminal record)
- Medical Certificate
- Travel insurance
- Admission letter by AAS
- A confirmation document by AAS that you are a college’s student
- Document by the Ministry of Education that the AAS College holds a valid license and is registered in the relevant records
- English language Certificate
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover living expenses and AAS tuition fees in Greece
- Visa fee
You should also have in mind the following:
- Original documents and passports submitted must be accompanied along with a copy.
- All documents submitted must be in English or Greek
- You may be asked for additional documents and will be called to a personal interview at the Embassy or Consulate Office (the requirements of Greek Embassies or Consulate Offices aren’t the same from country to country)
- The visa fee is not refunded if the visa is refused