Diploma in Game Design and Technology
Singapore, Singapore
Diploma
DURATION
12 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
23 Feb 2026
TUITION FEES
SGD 22,113 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* including of 9% GST | grants/scholarships available for talented students
Dream of joining a game studio or becoming a game developer? While most schools take 2 to 3 years, MAGES offers a 1 year fast track program that focuses on what truly gets you hired, a strong, industry ready portfolio. This is not just another diploma. It is a production focused training experience built around creating real games, mastering real workflows, and building a portfolio that speaks louder than any certificate.
If you already have a diploma or degree in another field and are looking to switch into game development, this program is designed for you. You do not need another academic qualification. What you need are industry level skills and portfolios that proves you can design, build, and ship games. That is exactly what this program provides.
Students learn the full journey of making a game, combining design, programming, systems thinking, problem solving, and technical implementation. You will start with your first playable prototype and progress to polished projects built in teams, similar to real studio practices. You will develop strong programming fundamentals and apply real time systems such as physics, AI, UI, and core gameplay mechanics.
By the end of the year, you will have a portfolio of 7 PC and mobile games, including multiplayer titles and publish ready builds. Each project strengthens your capability to work independently and within a team environment.
Graduates finish ready for roles such as gameplay programmer, technical designer, and junior game developer. Most importantly, you leave with complete, playable games that prove your ability to build systems, solve problems, collaborate effectively, and deliver finished products under realistic constraints. If you want the fastest and most practical route into the game industry, this is your pathway.
- Duration: 12 Months (Full-Time) | International Students are only offered a full-time program.
- Student-to-Lecturer ratio: 18 Students: 1 Lecturer
- Mode of delivery: Classroom. Learners are not allowed to switch Modes after programme commencement.
- Note: A Pass in all Modules within the maximum study period is required for Graduation.
- Softwares taught: Unity3D | C# (C Sharp) | Visual Studio | Git | Clickup
- Hardware requirements: Windows Laptop with a Minimum of i7 (14th Gen) Processor or Ryzen 7, 16 GB RAM (32 GB recommended), RTX 3060 or above, 500GB SSD (1TB recommended).
- Medium of instruction and assessment: Lectures & Practical (Hands-on Application), Project-based Assessment for all modules
This programme is ideal for students who:
• Love games and want to understand how they are designed and built, not just played
• Are curious about game mechanics, systems, levels, and player experience
• Want to become a game developer or game designer in the industry
• Enjoy problem-solving, logic, and creative thinking
• Are interested in Unity, C#, and real game development workflows
• Want to build multiple playable games and a strong portfolio
• Are open to learning coding, even with no prior experience
• Prefer hands-on learning over purely academic theory
• Care more about getting hired than collecting certificates
Not required:
• Prior coding or game development experience
• A computer science background
• A university degree
Mindset that succeeds at MAGES:
Curiosity, persistence, willingness to debug, and the drive to turn ideas into playable games.
We offer partial scholarship discounts for excellent students with strong portfolios. Full scholarships are not available. Interested applicants may email us their portfolio, intended course, and availability.
Program Outline
Development Fundamentals
This term builds essential skills in game design and programming through hands-on, project-based learning. Students start with board game mechanics, progress to text-based interactive stories, and conclude with a platformer prototype.
Skills & Topics Explored
- Game Design Principles + Mechanics of Play
- Programming Logic + Scripting Basics
- Narrative Flow + Interactive Systems
- Prototyping: Board Games, Text Games, Platformers
Game System and Platform
In Term 2, students deepen their programming capabilities by developing essential systems for both PC and mobile games. Each module results in a playable project – from responsive touch-based mechanics to a complete local multiplayer mobile game – using modular code, platform-specific logic, and best practices in system architecture.
Skills & Topics Explored
- Game Systems Design + Callback/Event Handling
- Mobile Game Development + Touch UI + Platform Optimization
Game Production
In Term 3, students explore advanced gameplay systems – from player progression and game balancing to artificial intelligence. The term concludes with a full production module, where students conceptualize, develop, and polish a complete game using studio-style workflows – preparing them for real-world game development.
Skills & Topics Explored
- Game Data & Progression Systems + Artificial Intelligence for Games + Pathfinding + Enemy Behaviors
- Game Production + Iterative Design + Debugging & Polish
World Ranked
15 Years of Inspiration and Achievements
For more than 15 years, MAGES has been dedicated to nurturing creative talent and producing award winning work recognised on global platforms.
Global Rankings
2025
MAGES was recognised by The Rookies as one of the Top 50 Creative Schools worldwide and one of the Top 10 Concept Art Schools globally. This milestone reflects our strong curriculum design, consistent teaching standards, and a disciplined foundation shaped by real industry practices.
- Top 50 Creative Schools Worldwide
- Top 10 Globally for Concept Art
2024
- Top 6 Production Excellence (Mobile)
Production Excellence- Mobile (World Ranking)
2023
- Top 10 Production Excellence (Mobile)
Project: Starlight / Endless Runner
2021
- Finalist for Game of the Year
Project: Darkest Deliverance
2020
- Finalist for Game of the Year
Project: Kaisake’s Revenge - Top 50 Creative Media and Entertainment Schools Worldwide
2019
- Finalist for Game of the Year
Project: Kelinci Kanvas - Top 10 Production Excellence (Mobile)
2018
- Winner for Game of the Year
Project: HORDE
As a Game Design & Technology graduate, you’ll be ready for a variety of roles such as:
- Game Designer – Create core gameplay mechanics and shape the player experience.
- Level Designer – Build fun, immersive game levels and worlds that engage players.
- Gameplay Programmer – Develop the game logic and systems that make games work.
- Technical Designer – Act as a bridge between design and development teams.
- Game Producer – Manage projects, timelines, and team workflows.
- UX/UI Designer – Design intuitive and user-friendly game interfaces.
- You’ll be prepared for careers in game studios, indie developers, simulation companies, and more!