The focus of your studies

This programme is largely project-oriented. This means that you will work on a project for a client in order to explore how games can add value to their business. You will analyse the needs of the company, and develop a game in accordance with these needs.

You will also study game design, become familiar with leading research, and learn about how scientific methods are used in the evaluation of games and their applications. In the final term, you will conduct a small-scale research project related to serious games.

Serious Games is an international programme, and all tuition is conducted in English.

Is this programme suitable for me?

Serious Games is suitable for you if you have a background in computer game development, game design, computer science, media or similar disciplines. The most important consideration is that you have a great interest in games. We believe that creative interaction between people with different backgrounds is beneficial for the field of serious games.

Upon completion of your studies

A developer of serious games is able to work in companies and organisations that develop, adapt or use games for purposes other than mere entertainment. Serious games and gamification are used in many different fields, and for different purposes, including training and education in both the military and civil sectors. There is growing use of game-based teaching in schools, and game-based approaches are applied in many different sectors, such as the computer game industry, advertising, museums, tourism, information systems and teaching resources. Another area of usage is for training and rehabilitation in the healthcare sector. Usage is growing within a range of industries where there is an increasing need for the development of creative and innovative solutions.

Successful completion of the programme results in a 1-year Master’s degree (60 credits), which can be combined with other advanced studies in the field of computer game development at the University of Skövde. Studies can, for example, be continued for another year in order to gain a Master’s in Information Technology (120 credits).

Research within this field

The area of serious games features many interesting challenges. Just as with our other specialised research concerning games and game development, there are opportunities for future doctoral studies.