Overview
The video game industry is one of the most dynamic creative sectors in the world today: real-time engines, artificial intelligence, procedural methods and new forms of physical interaction are changing the way games are conceived, developed and experienced by players.
That is why development studios are looking for professionals who combine creativity, technical skills and the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams, while also being aware of the cultural responsibility that every game carries.
The Bachelor’s degree in Game Design & Digital Arts at H-FARM College trains game designers and digital artists capable of working across the entire production of a video game: from designing mechanics to narrative, from characters to environments, all the way to gameplay programming. A game design degree that starts from hand drawing and physical materials, moves through professional digital development and arrives at the conscious use of artificial intelligence.
Want to find out how this game design program can turn your passion for video games into a profession?
Contact H-FARM College and talk to our admissions team.
Non-EU students: €18,700.00
Study contributions for non-EU students
Why a degree in Game Design & Digital Arts
This game design degree follows a clear path: imagination, writing, hand drawing, digital production, artificial intelligence and, finally, a return to the physical dimension. Artificial intelligence comes last, when you already have the creativity and craft to guide it, rather than be guided by it.
The first year takes place without software during class hours: drawing, analog photography, clay sculpture and graphic design teach you to observe, think and build images with your hands. From the second year you enter video game production, from mechanics to interactive narrative, from characters to environments, through to real-time engines and programming, studying the logic behind industry tools rather than a single piece of software. In the third year you work with AI, documenting every creative choice, and bring games into physical space through motion capture, 3D scanning and tangible play.
Throughout the program you keep a Diary, a working journal that records decisions, experiments, feedback and professional growth. In the third year you will develop a vertical slice based on an external brief, working in a team with students from the Animation, Design & Visual Arts and Product Design & Intelligent Technologies programs, just as happens in professional development studios.
You will study on a 51-hectare green campus just outside Venice, which hosts more than 300 events every year and brings together education, technology and entrepreneurship. With the Startup Track you can also develop your own entrepreneurial project with the campus Entrepreneurship & Startup Center: H-FARM ranked first in Italy in the Financial Times “Europe’s Leading Start-up Hubs” 2024 ranking and is a member of the Global Accelerator Network.
Want to understand how a game design degree can open the doors to the video game industry?
Contact us and discover all the opportunities this program offers!
Academics
The Game Design & Digital Arts degree program
During this game design degree you will build skills ranging from visual culture to developing playable games. The first year, shared with the Animation, Design & Visual Arts and Product Design & Intelligent Technologies programs, gives you solid foundations in image theory, drawing, photography, sculpture and graphic design, along with the habit of reflective writing through the Diary.
The second year is dedicated to video game production: six courses that work together as a single pipeline, from game design systems to interactive narrative and player experience, from character and creature design to environment art and level design, through to real-time engines and gameplay programming. You will create playable prototypes, game-ready characters and complete levels.
The third year projects you into the future of development with AI Pipeline for Games and Digital to Physical, dedicated to motion capture, scanning and interactive installations, concluding with the Major Project, a vertical slice developed in a team on an external brief, and the Experiential Term, in close contact with the professional world.
Want to find out how this game design program can prepare you for the most in-demand professions in the industry?
Write to us now and start building your career in the video game industry!
Curriculum – Bachelor of Arts in Game Design & Digital Arts
YEAR I
CORE COURSES
Theory of the Image, Aesthetics & Ethics – 10 ECTS
Listening, Reading & Writing (the Diary) – 10 ECTS
Freehand Drawing, Perspective & Anatomy – 10 ECTS
Light, Colour & Analog Photography – 10 ECTS
Matter Lab: Clay, Sculpture & Maquette – 10 ECTS
Graphic Design, Print & Layout – 10 ECTS
YEAR II
CORE COURSES
Game Design Systems – 10 ECTS
Interactive Narrative & Player Experience – 10 ECTS
Character & Creature Design for Games – 10 ECTS
Environment Art & Level Design – 10 ECTS
Real-Time Engine – 10 ECTS
Gameplay Programming – 10 ECTS
YEAR III
AI Pipeline for Games – 10 ECTS
Digital to Physical: Mocap, Scanning & Tangible Play – 10 ECTS
Major Project: Vertical Slice project – 10 ECTS
Experiential Term (internship project, pre-accelerator, dissertation) – 30 ECTS
How the Experiential Term works
During the second semester of the third year, students have the opportunity to put the skills acquired during their studies into practice by choosing one of the following three options:
An internship at a company or organization in Italy or abroad, accompanied by an intensive week of classes on research methods and on preparing the business project report and final pitch.
Guided by experts from the H-FARM Entrepreneurship & Startup Center, students can develop their own startup project, which will be the subject of a business project report and final pitch.
An academic thesis and individual research project, accompanied by an intensive week of classes on research methods and writing techniques.
H-FARM College Faculty
The program is coordinated by Luciano Comacchio. The faculty is made up of game designers, artists, developers and professionals who work every day in the video game and creative technology industries, alongside instructors with international academic experience.
To give game design students an experience close to the real dynamics of the industry, classes alternate with authentic briefs, prototyping and playtesting, development projects in multidisciplinary teams, workshops and meetings with guest speakers from international studios and publishers. By the end of the program you will have a strong portfolio of playable projects, a documented creative process and the teamwork experience typical of development studios.
Want to learn from people who work in the video game industry and be part of an international creative community?
Discover our faculty and let yourself be guided through a degree that can turn your talent into a career.
Admission
You can find all information on requirements, the selection process and deadlines in the Call for Applications.
To apply for this Bachelor’s Degree, you will need:
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION
Applicants who are citizens of EU countries, Schengen Area countries or non-EU countries and wish to enrol in a bachelor’s degree programme for the 2027/2028 academic year must have completed, or be currently enrolled in, the final year of upper secondary school in a country within one of the three areas mentioned.
Applicants must hold, or obtain within the deadlines set out in the Call for Applications, an academic qualification that grants access to bachelor’s degree programmes, in line with the entry requirements published on the University of Chichester website. The academic entry requirement depends strictly on the country in which the qualification was obtained.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must hold a language certificate at the appropriate level (see the Call for Applications for the list of recognised certificates).
In some cases, it is possible to be admitted to the programme without a certified level of English. Accepted exemptions are listed in the Call for Applications.
Each certificate serves a specific purpose: if you are unsure which one is right for you, see our certification guide.
Admissions process
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
EU or Schengen Area countries:
You can apply for the program using the form available on this page. Within the form, you will need to provide several pieces of information, including:
– your personal details;
– your transcript from the second-to-last year of secondary school completed;
– a motivational video in English – watch the tutorial on how to create a motivational video;
– your English language certificate (if already obtained).
Non-EU countries:
You can apply for the program using the form available on this page. Students from non-EU countries must pay an application fee of €50. If admitted to the program, this amount will be deducted from the pre-enrollment fee or the enrollment fee.
Within the same form, you will need to provide several pieces of information, including:
– your personal details;
– your transcript from the second-to-last year of secondary school completed;
– a personal statement;
– a reference letter.
EU or Schengen Area countries:
After submitting the online application, you will be contacted by the Admissions Team to schedule your motivational interview, which will be conducted in English. Interviews will take place on the dates indicated in the Call for Applications. During the interview, in addition to motivation, academic and extracurricular experiences, your level of English will also be assessed.
Non-EU countries:
Candidates from non-EU countries who have completed the application correctly will be invited to an asynchronous admission interview.
After the admissions interview, you will receive the outcome of your application via email.
EU or Schengen Area countries:
Admitted candidates will have the opportunity to accept their place and proceed with pre-enrollment or enrollment, as applicable, as follows:
– by completing the pre-enrollment/enrollment form received via email;
– by paying the pre-enrollment/enrollment fee for the 2027/2028 academic year.
Non-EU countries:
Admitted candidates will have the opportunity to accept their place and proceed with pre-enrollment as follows:
– by completing the pre-enrollment form received via email;
– by paying the pre-enrollment fee for the 2027/2028 academic year.
Only after obtaining a visa will students be able to proceed with enrollment by completing the enrollment form received via email and paying the first installment for the 2027/2028 academic year.
Application timeline
Several application rounds are planned for the 2027/28 academic year.
EU or Schengen Area countries:
- Round
- Online application
- Interview
- Results
- Pre-enrolment
- Enrolment
- Early Decision Round
- 6 October – 30 November
- 9 and 10 December
- 14 December
- 23 December
- 1–31 July
- Round 1
- 1 December – 31 January
- 4 February
- 8 February
- 17 February
- 1–31 July
- Round 2
- 1 February – 31 March
- 5 April
- 7 April
- 21 April
- 1–31 July
- Round 3
- 1 April – 15 May
- 20 May
- 24 May
- 9 June
- 1–31 July
- Round 4
- 16 May – 30 June
- 5 July
- 7 July
- –
- 1–31 July
- Round 5
- 1 July – 31 July
- 4 August
- 6 August
- –
- 3–5 September
- Rolling
- 01 August – 5 October
- Rolling
- The day after the interview
- –
- Within 3 days of receiving the result and no later than 10 October
Non-EU countries:
- Round
- Online application
- Asynchronous video
- Results
- Pre-enrolment
- Enrolment*
- Early Decision Round
- 6 October – 30 November
- Within 7 days of receipt of the application
- Within 7 days of receipt of the asynchronous video
- Within 7 days of receiving the application outcome
- 1–31 July
- Round 1
- 1 December – 31 January
- Within 7 days of receipt of the application
- Within 7 days of receipt of the asynchronous video
- Within 7 days of receiving the application outcome
- 1–31 July
- Round 2
- 1 February – 31 March
- Within 7 days of receipt of the application
- Within 7 days of receipt of the asynchronous video
- Within 7 days of receiving the application outcome
- 1–31 July
- Round 3
- 1 April – 15 May
- Within 7 days of receipt of the application
- Within 7 days of receipt of the asynchronous video
- Within 7 days of receiving the application outcome
- 1–31 July
- Round 4
- 16 May – 30 June
- Within 7 days of receipt of the application
- Within 7 days of receipt of the asynchronous video
- Within 7 days of receiving the application outcome
- 1–31 July
The application deadline for students from non-EU countries is 30 June 2027.
Deadline for submitting missing documents
Students may start the online application process even if they do not yet have their upper secondary school diploma (or equivalent) or their English language certificate. However, any missing documents must be submitted by the deadlines set out in the Call for Applications.
Academic qualification: 16 October 2027
English language certificate: 16 October 2027
Early admission for fourth-year students
Students currently in their fourth year of upper secondary school, and students enrolled in the penultimate year of a programme leading to a recognised international qualification that grants access to university, may apply early to this degree programme for the 2028/29 academic year. For more information, see the Call for Applications.
Credit recognition and admission to years after the first
Applicants who wish to enrol in the programme and have previously earned credits recognised must:
- successfully complete the admissions process for the programme, as set out in the relevant Call for Applications;
- apply for credit recognition following the procedure set out in this document.
For more information, visit this page or write to admission.college@h-farm.com.
Dual career: student-athlete
Skiing, tennis, golf, horse riding, sailing, motorsport: Champion’s Academic Journey is the programme for student-athletes who want to excel in both sport and academics, making the most of their athletic career without giving up the university experience.
The programme is open to national and international-level student-athletes, depending on the sport practised.
Global Talent Grant
Applicants from non-EU countries will have the opportunity to join the “Global Talent Grant” programme and apply for a tuition fee reduction through the application form.
Tuition & Financing
Fees and Payment Methods
Tuition for this Bachelor’s Degree for the 2027/28 academic year is as follows:
–EU or Schengen Area students: €13,400.00
If you apply during the Early Decision Round: €12,800.00
–Non-EU students: €18,700.00
Payment is made in 3 installments.
Late payment of tuition fees after the due date stated in the contract will incur progressive penalties: €100 from the 1st to the 10th day after the due date; €200 from the 11th to the 20th day after the due date; and €200 plus suspension of the student’s university career from the 21st day after the due date onward.
1st INSTALLMENT
EU or Schengen Area students:
Full Fee: €5,400 (€800 at pre-enrollment + €4,600 at enrollment)
Early Decision Round: €4,800 (€800 at pre-enrollment + €4,000 at enrollment)
Non-EU students:
€7,500 (€1,500 at pre-enrollment + €6,000 at enrollment)
2nd INSTALLMENT
EU or Schengen Area students:
€4,000 by January 15, 2028
Non-EU students:
€6,000 by January 15, 2028
3rd INSTALLMENT
EU or Schengen Area students:
€4,000 by May 15, 2028
Non-EU students:
€5,200 by May 15, 2028
Invest in your future
H-FARM College offers a range of financing solutions and financial support to help you throughout your studies.
Your talent,
more opportunities
to grow
“Per Merito” Loan
“Futuriamo” Loan
Career
Career paths
Back
