Malta · Master's
University of Malta
MSc Digital Games
University of Malta
Course Overview
University of Malta's MSc Digital Games is delivered through the Institute of Digital Games — a dedicated research institute (one of Europe's few) focused on game design, AI for games, procedural content generation, and player experience research. The institute has hosted the prestigious DiGRA, FDG, and IEEE Computational Intelligence and Games conferences and runs a strong PhD pipeline; its research output is consistently cited in academic AI / game-design literature.
Sri Lankan applicants from CS, IT, design, animation, or media backgrounds use the Malta MSc as a fast 1-year route into the European games industry. Malta's location in the Mediterranean iGaming + tech corridor, the English-medium teaching, the EU work-permit pathway, and the institute's industry partnerships (Ubisoft, Mediatonic, Wargaming, Bossa Studios, plus Malta-based studios Spinmatic Entertainment and Hyperion Software) build defensible game-industry CVs. The 90-ECTS curriculum covers game design, game AI, game writing & narrative, player-experience research, business of games, and a substantial individual research / design project (often producing a publishable prototype). Tracks: Design (creative focus) or Development (technical focus).
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree (2:2 / upper-second class equivalent) in Computer Science, IT, Software Engineering, Game Design, Digital Media, Animation, Multimedia, or a closely related field.
- check_circle Portfolio of game projects, art, code, or design work (mandatory) — heavily weighted in admissions.
- check_circle Sri Lankan applicants from Moratuwa, Colombo UCSC, SLIIT, NSBM, NIBM, or AOD with relevant portfolio work are competitive.
- check_circle Motivation letter, CV, two academic / professional references.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (no band below 6.0).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 88 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge English: C1 Advanced.
- check_circle MATSEC English at grade C or GCE O-Level English at grade C accepted.
- check_circle Waived if your bachelor's degree was taught entirely in English (Sri Lankan applicants from English-medium degrees qualify with an MOI letter).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (€) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (programme total, non-EU) | €10,800 | Rs. 3,726,000 |
| Living Expenses in Msida/Valletta (12 months) | €10,500 | Rs. 3,622,500 |
| Health Insurance, Visa & Residence Permit | €700 | Rs. 241,500 |
| Software, Hardware & Conference Travel | €1,200 | Rs. 414,000 |
| Total Programme Investment | €23,200 | Rs. 8,004,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
University of Malta MSc Digital Games graduates qualify for Malta's 6-month post-study job-search residence permit, with conversion to a Single Permit at a qualifying offer. The EU Blue Card route opens for graduate-level employment (~€26,000/yr Malta threshold in 2025 — among the lowest in the EU). Major employers: Malta-based studios (Spinmatic Entertainment, Hyperion Software, plus the iGaming-adjacent dev studios at Betsson, Tipico, Kindred, LeoVegas); European studios with Malta operations (Ubisoft Malta — formerly active); UK / Sweden / Finland studios (Mediatonic, Bossa Studios, Wargaming, Supercell, Rovio, Remedy) often recruit from Malta MSc cohorts. Many graduates pursue PhDs at the institute or at peer European game-research labs. Sri Lankan returnees route into senior game development / interactive media roles at WSO2 (game-adjacent dev tools), Arimac, Headstart Asia, MAS i3 (creative tech), and into freelance game development.
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