Overview

This Intelligent Games and Games Intelligence PhD course from University of York mission is to unlock the full potential of games research to contribute to wellbeing, prosperity, and science by training the next generation of leading researchers, designers and developers in games.

Based at the University of York, Queen Mary, Goldsmiths, and Essex, IGGI students undertake a four year PhD in impact-oriented games research, working closely with more than 80 partner organisations in the games industry and society. IGGI students advance games with research, software, patents, algorithms, data analytic techniques and creative works across a wide range of areas, from game AI and analytics to player experience and game design to games and play for health, education, or research.

Game Research that Matters

The Intelligent Games and Games Intelligence course from University of York embraces a diversity of research approaches and topics: from humanistic studies of how autobiographical games convey meaning or designerly work on using stage magic in game design to rigorous trials of games for mental health or creative play with machine learning and advancing AI techniques for real-time MOBA play. At the heart of IGGI’s approach to research are two principles:

fostering dialogue between research and practice: we engage game creators, players, and other stakeholders throughout our research to ensure our work is inclusive, responsible, and makes a positive impact on the real needs of people and organisations

fostering dialogue between engineering and human sciences: we believe innovative and responsible game research happens in interdisciplinary work that brings together perspectives from engineering (AI, data science, game-making) and humanities and behavioural sciences (HCI, psychology, design, game studies)

Programme Structure

Game Design: Students learn how to conceive, design, prototype and playtest their own games, be it for entertainment or a 'serious' purpose like health, education, or research.

Game Research & Data: Students learn various methods for empirically studying games and players, including standard HCI methods and data science techniques for gaining insights from big data sets.

Game Development & AI: Students learn how to develop game prototypes using standard industry game engines, explore novel interaction techniques and interfaces, and the state of AI applications in games, like AI opponents and collaborators, procedural content generation, or player modelling.

Impact & Engagement: Students learn how to engage industry, players, and other societal stakeholders early on in their research, how to conduct responsible research and innovation that is overall beneficial to human wellbeing, and how to present their work online, to the media, and industry.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2025-09-15 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-06-15 00:00:00 , International

More details

If you're an international student, it's best to apply at least three months prior to your intended start date.

Language

English

IELTS

6

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TOEFL^® IBT

79

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Delivered

On Campus

Disciplines

Visual Arts Graphic Design Game Design View 5 other PhDs in Graphic Design in United Kingdom

Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

IELTS

6

Schedule an IELTS test!

TOEFL^® IBT

79

Pass IELTS with Swoosh English! Sign up for a free writing masterclass or claim your exclusive 25% Studyportals discount and accelerate your preparation by taking a course designed by experts to get you the results you need.

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at University of York and/or in United Kingdom, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Other requirements

General requirements

Applicants normally hold a masters degree enabling them to do games research in their chosen research area (e.g. computer science, HCI, psychology, game design and development), although we do accept exceptional candidates with a fitting undergraduate degree.
We also expect applicants to bring the requisite basic technical skills to succeed in our training modules in game design and development. Prior practical experience in making games is not required but a definite plus.

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees

International

22200 GBP/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 22200 GBP per year during 48 months.
National

4786 GBP/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 4786 GBP per year during 48 months.

Living costs for York

646 - 1124 GBP /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.