Games Design and Development

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Major details for:

Study mode: Full Time Part Time
Study mode: Full Time
Murdoch code: MJ-GSD

Major overview

Turn your gaming passion into a gaming career with a major in games design and development

Behind every great game is a blend of creativity, storytelling and technical skill. The Games Design and Development major within our Bachelor of Information Technology prepares you to design engaging gameplay experiences and bring them to life through interactive digital environments.

Throughout your games development studies, you’ll explore areas such as game design, user experience, storytelling, level design and interactive systems. You’ll learn how to shape gameplay mechanics, design player journeys and create immersive worlds, while building the technical skills in interactive media design and games production to develop and refine your ideas.

You’ll develop your work in our IT Innovation Hub – a 24/7, state-of-the-art creative environment featuring advanced game development labs, a dedicated VR and AR studio, and Western Australia’s only university-based Esports Gaming Hub. Here, you’ll design, test and refine your ideas using industry-standard tools and technologies in a collaborative setting.

You’ll put your skills into action through project-based units, working on collaborative game development projects and real client briefs. You’ll also gain hands-on experience through internships or work placements, building valuable industry connections.

As part of our flexible IT degree, you can combine this major with others such as Games Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems, Business Information Systems, Computer Science, Cyber Security and Forensics or Internetworking and Network Security to broaden your games development career opportunities.

IT students working together in a computer lab

3 reasons to study games design and development at Murdoch University

Design and experiment in our on-campus IT Innovation Hub, with access to advanced game development labs, immersive VR and AR technologies and WA’s only university-based Esports Gaming Hub.
Build real-world experience through internships or work placements, while developing valuable industry connections.
Take advantage of opportunities like the $20,000 Westpac Young Technologists Scholarship Program to support your future career.

What you’ll learn

Design engaging gameplay systems, mechanics and player experiences.
Create game concepts, narratives and interactive environments.
Apply UX and interface design principles to games.
Develop and prototype games using industry-standard tools and engines.
Work on industry projects to deliver practical game design solutions.
Build teamwork, communication and project management skills for creative production environments.

My time at Murdoch University was instrumental in preparing me for the workforce. Through real-world projects and supportive tutors, I gained hands-on experience and valuable knowledge in various aspects of my field.

Kevin, Cyber Security and Forensics & Computer Science

Information technologies students in server room with device

Your future career in games design and development

With our Games Design and Development major, you’ll graduate with the creative and technical skills to pursue a career in the games and interactive media industries. Your expertise will be valued across games studios, digital media companies, simulation and training, entertainment and emerging immersive technologies such as VR and AR.

Potential roles include:

Game designer
Level designer
Gameplay designer
Narrative designer
UX/UI designer (games)
Game producer

For more details about our Games Design and Development major, download our information pack.

Start dates

Start dates (Transnational)

Starting period	Location	Face to Face	Online	Mixed mode
Semester 1, 2026	Murdoch University Dubai, UAE	Yes	No	No
Trimester 1, 2026	Kaplan Higher Education Academy Pte. Ltd	No	No	Yes
Trimester 2, 2026	Kaplan Higher Education Academy Pte. Ltd	No	No	Yes
Trimester 2, 2026	Murdoch University Dubai, UAE	Yes	No	No
Trimester 3, 2026	Kaplan Higher Education Academy Pte. Ltd	No	No	Yes
Trimester 3, 2026	Murdoch University Dubai, UAE	Yes	No	No
Semester 1, 2027	Murdoch University Dubai, UAE	Yes	No	No
Trimester 1, 2027	Kaplan Higher Education Academy Pte. Ltd	No	No	Yes
Trimester 2, 2027	Kaplan Higher Education Academy Pte. Ltd	No	No	Yes
Trimester 2, 2027	Murdoch University Dubai, UAE	Yes	No	No
Trimester 3, 2027	Kaplan Higher Education Academy Pte. Ltd	No	No	Yes
Trimester 3, 2027	Murdoch University Dubai, UAE	Yes	No	No

View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.

Major Structure

Visit the Course Handbook - Get detailed information on units, prerequisites, and pathways.

To help plan the structure of your course, search for our suggested course plans.

Unit code	Unit name	Credit points

How to Apply

Majors are part of a degree and can't be applied on their own. Apply for a related degree first, then choose your major once enrolled.

Undergraduate Course

Bachelor of Information Technology

Study information technology at Murdoch University and build skills in software, data and cyber security. Apply today.

Code: B1390

Selection rank: 70

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1300 687 3624

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3 reasons to study games design and development at Murdoch University

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