Overview

The Game Design B.F.A. at New York University provides a deep immersion into the creative and technical world of gaming as a modern art form. This four-year programme is designed to equip students with the critical thinking and practical skills necessary to excel in the global gaming industry. By combining technical training with a liberal arts foundation, the curriculum prepares graduates for diverse roles in the 21st-century creative economy.

Why Game Design at New York University?

Studying at the NYU Game Center within the Tisch School of the Arts places students at the heart of a world-renowned artistic community. The programme treats games with the same cultural weight as film, dance, or theatre, fostering an environment where innovation is encouraged. Students have access to a vibrant network of peers and faculty who are leading figures in game scholarship and professional development. The location in New York City further enhances the experience, providing a gateway to one of the world's most active hubs for independent and commercial game production.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 72082 per year
National fee: USD 72082 per year
Local fee: USD 72082 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

Modules may include:

Game Design
Game Development
Game Scholarship
Collaborative Game Production
Critical Analysis
Visual Design
Audio Design
Senior Project

Careers with Game Design

Graduates of the programme are prepared for a wide variety of professional paths within the interactive media landscape. The multidisciplinary nature of the degree allows students to pursue careers as game designers, developers, and producers. Additionally, the strong emphasis on theory and history supports roles in game scholarship and criticism. Beyond the gaming industry, the skills acquired in collaborative production and creative technology are highly transferable to other digital media and artistic sectors.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Game Studies – Academic, scholarly, and journalistic approaches to games
Game Design – Creating the rules of the game and the player experience
Game Development – Production processes for creating games
Programming – Interaction, graphics, AI, and other game programming
Visual Design – 2D and 3D animation, graphic design, and art direction
Audio Design – Music, sound effects, and audio programming
Game Business – Marketing, revenue models, and the game industry

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-02 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-05 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

135

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

7.5

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Credits

128 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

New York City, United States

Disciplines

Game Design View 260 other Bachelors in Game Design in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

135

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

7.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Portfolio: Your portfolio can be anything you want, as long as it shows off your creativity for games. It could be a film you made or a story you wrote. It could be the rules for a card game or a prototype computer game. Or it could be a song you composed, sculpture you constructed, or play you wrote.
Nonrefundable $80.00 application fee.
Standardized test scores (see NYU’s standardized testing requirements). Standardized testing is optional for the upcoming application term.
A Self Reported Academic Record (SRAR). All applicants will be invited to complete this after submitting their application.
Records of all college work that you have received academic credit for and does not appear on your high school transcript.
The Common Application Mid Year Report with updated academic record if mid-year grades are available. This should show your first semester senior year grades.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

72082 USD / year

≈ 72082 USD / year
Out-of-State

72082 USD / year

≈ 72082 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

72082 USD / year

≈ 72082 USD / year

Living costs

New York City

United States

1819 - 3968 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Game Design.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

New York City

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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