Master's Degree

Digital Game Design and Development

Higher School of Technology and Management

Course Details
Study Plan

Introduction

 Course Coordination

Ricardo José Vieira Baptista

coord.ip.mest.ddjd@ipmaia.pt

Description

The Master's Degree in Digital Game Design and Development seeks to respond to the growing demand for highly qualified professionals in the video game industry. This course establishes a strong link with industry, incorporating industry best practices into academia to ensure that students acquire skills in line with market demands.
This cycle of studies is aimed at both professionals in the video game industry and graduates in Digital Games who wish to deepen their knowledge, as well as all those who wish to enter the area of game development from related areas, such as Multimedia, Arts, Design, Informatics and Engineering. The course will address the intersection between technology, art and innovation, providing a comprehensive and innovative training path.

The course structure combines the theoretical aspect with a strong practical component, with a view to preparing graduates for the current challenges of the industry. The practical component will be reinforced through the development of real projects, in which students will have the opportunity to design, prototype and implement digital games, exploring the optimization of game engines and applying agile methodologies. During their academic path, they will be encouraged to work in collaborative teams, simulating a professional studio environment, and to develop games from the conception phase to their publication. The theoretical component will offer a solid foundation in areas such as interactive storytelling, user experience, interaction design, applied artificial intelligence, and advanced programming topics for games. Students will explore innovative approaches to level design and game mechanics, as well as procedural generation and behavior simulation. This knowledge will allow students to anticipate the demands of the industry and adapt to its constant evolutions. In addition, future graduates will develop skills for research allowing them to contribute to innovation and technological advancement in the video game sector.

Who is this course for?

Holders of a bachelor's degree or legal equivalent, in the area of Audio-Visual and Media Production, Game Development, Multimedia, Arts, Design, Informatics or other related areas.

Objectives

The set of curricular units that make up the study plan aims to provide students with the following knowledge, skills and competences:

Understand the trends and challenges of the digital gaming sector, exploring technological innovations, changes in player behavior and opportunities in the global market;
Develop advanced technical skills in game design, 3D modeling, animation, artificial intelligence, virtual/augmented reality and programming for digital games;
Develop skills in the creation and implementation of real and innovative projects, applying agile methodologies and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration in game development, ensuring the connection with the industry and the adoption of its best practices;
Develop critical thinking, creativity and adaptability, enabling students to solve complex challenges and explore new opportunities in the sector;
Insert students in contexts of applied research , promoting collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and research centres to boost innovation;
Prepare students for the job market, aligning the skills acquired with professional profiles in the sector, such as game designers, programmers, 3D artists and specialists in virtual and augmented reality, to integrate game development companies and emerging sectors such as gamification, digital entertainment, education and health.

Distinctive Features

Innovative study plan, aligned with the trends and requirements of the video game and interactive media industry;
Highly specialized faculty, combining academic experience with practical know-how in the sector;
Strategic partnerships with companies and game studios, providing opportunities for collaboration on real projects, ensuring that students acquire practical skills directly applicable to the job market;
Encouragement of applied research and innovation, promoting the development of new solutions and approaches in the area of digital games.
Academic campus with excellent infrastructures, technological equipment and accessibility.

Professional Opportunities

This course enables its holders to perform the following functions:

Game Designer;
Game Programmer – implementation of systems and interactivity in different game engines;
3D Artist and Game Animator;
Specialist in Virtual and Augmented Reality;
Game Production Manager;
Researcher in Digital Games;
Entrepreneur in the video game sector – creation of startups and innovative products in the area of interactive media

Accreditation

Registry

Course registered at the General Directorate of Higher Education with the number R/A Cr 30/2025, 30 January 2025

Accreditation of the Study Program

Study Program self-evaluation guidelines (in portuguese)

Decision: Accredited for 3 years

Publication Date: 23-01-2025

Official Information A3ES: Accreditation result

1st Year	Period	ECTS
1st Year	31047 - Game Development Tools	Period	1st Semester	ECTS	5
1st Year	31048 - Fundamentals of Computer Graphics	Period	1st Semester	ECTS	4
1st Year	31049 - Fundamentals of Digital Games	Period	1st Semester	ECTS	4
1st Year	31052 - 3D Image Modeling and Synthesis	Period	1st Semester	ECTS	6
1st Year	31050 - Games Workshop I	Period	1st Semester	ECTS	6
1st Year	31051 - Game Programming	Period	1st Semester	ECTS	5
1st Year	31053 - Animation (Option)	Period	2nd Semester	ECTS	6
1st Year	31054 - Concept Art - Characters and Environments (Option)	Period	2nd Semester	ECTS	6
1st Year	31055 - Mobile Development (Option)	Period	2nd Semester	ECTS	6
1st Year	31057 - Technological Entrepreneurship	Period	2nd Semester	ECTS	4
1st Year	31056 - Procedural Generation and Data Structure (Option)	Period	2nd Semester	ECTS	6
1st Year	31058 - Interfaces and User Experience	Period	2nd Semester	ECTS	4
1st Year	31059 - Interactive Narratives	Period	2nd Semester	ECTS	4
1st Year	31060 - Games Workshop II	Period	2nd Semester	ECTS	6

2nd Year	Period	ECTS
2nd Year	31062 - Game Development in a Network Environment (Option)	Period	1st Semester	ECTS	6
2nd Year	31065 - Product Development and Marketing in Digital Games	Period	1st Semester	ECTS	6
2nd Year	31063 - Advanced Level Design & Digital Games (Option)	Period	1st Semester	ECTS	6
2nd Year	31061 - Character Modeling and Animation (Option)	Period	1st Semester	ECTS	6
2nd Year	31066 - Dissertation/Project Preparation	Period	1st Semester	ECTS	12
2nd Year	31064 - Advanced Programming Topics (Option)	Period	1st Semester	ECTS	6
2nd Year	31067 - Dissertation	Period	2nd Semester	ECTS	30
2nd Year	31068 - Project	Period	2nd Semester	ECTS	30