Are you planning to design the next big game? Game Design Courses in Canada are your choice!
With its excellent curriculum and global industry connections, it’s no surprise that international students are increasingly choosing Canada for Game Design Courses. Being recognized as one of the in demand courses in Canada, graduating in game design prepares you to thrive in the gaming industry.
Read our latest blog and explore the wide variety of Game Design courses in Canada, details on admission process and requirements, tuition fees and more valuable insights.
Table Of Content
1Is Game Design a good career in Canada?2Game Design Courses in Canada3Best Game Design Universities in Canada4What are the Requirements for Game Design Courses in Canada5Game Design Courses in Canada Fees6Career Opportunities After Game Design Courses in Canada7Conclusion8Frequently Asked Questions
Is Game Design a good career in Canada?
Yes, game design is a good career in Canada especially in the major cities like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. With the significant growth in the gaming industry, Canada provides international students with strong job opportunities.
- Growing Gaming Industry
- Diverse Opportunities
- Competitive Salaries
- Government Support
- Creative Progress
Game Design Courses in Canada
Canada has become a popular destination for international students, especially in the field of game design, with a world-class education system and a diverse range of specialized programs such as Bachelor’s Degree in Game Design, Graduate Certificate in Game Development, and Diploma in Game Design and Development. Students can also benefit from numerous scholarships to study Game Design Courses in Canada, which help ease their educational journey without any financial burdens.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
1. Bachelor’s Degree in Game Design
This program is ideal for those who seek a strong and comprehensive academic foundation in Game Design and Development. It covers both technical and creative aspects of the game creation.
Duration – 4 years
Type of Qualification – Honours Bachelor’s Degree
Course Highlights:
- Internship opportunities with studios
- Game project management and production
- Game theory and storytelling
- Advanced game programming
2. Graduate Certificate in Game Development
Students with prior knowledge in game design can enroll to this program where you can develop your skills in advanced game development.
Duration – 1 year.
Type of Qualification – Graduate Certificate.
Course Highlights:
- Advanced 3D modeling and animation
- AI implementation
- High-level use of game engines like Unity and Unreal
- Development for VR/AR platforms
3. Diploma in Game Design and Development
This is a career based program, preparing students with hands-on experience. On getting enrolled in this course, students have a high chance of getting employed in the gaming industry.
Duration: 1–2 years.
Type of Qualification: Diploma or Advanced Diploma.
Course Highlights:
- Basics of game design
- Scripting and basic programming
- Introduction to game engines like Unity and Unreal
- 2D and 3D animation and modeling
Best Game Design Universities in Canada
Whether it be game design, 3D animation, game development, user experience design, Canada has some of the leading institutions like Vancouver Film School, Brock University, Sheridan College, Canadore College and Northern Lights College offering specialized programs for international students.
Let’s get into some of the institutions offering Game Design courses in Canada:
1. Brock University
This is a public university, committed to supporting international students. With its unique GAME Program in partnership with Niagara College, you can pursue Bachelor of Arts in Game Design or Bachelor of Science in Game Design along with Advanced Diploma in Game Development altogether spanning 4 years of course duration.
| Type | Public |
| Programs Offered | BA Game Design |
| Annual Fee | 30,610 CAD |
2. Sheridan College
Sheridan College is one of the best colleges in arts and design. The Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design at Sheridan College offers a bachelor’s degree and a graduate certificate in Game Design.
| Type | Public |
| Programs Offered | Honors Bachelors in Game Design (4 years) Graduate Certificate in Game Level Design (1 year) |
| Annual Fee | Bachelor’s degree – 20,829 CAD per year Graduate certificate – 25,452 CAD per year |
3. Vancouver Film School
This is one of the most recognized institutions among the game design colleges in Canada, especially in the field of game design and animation. It has strong industry connections with the leading game studios like Ubisoft, EA and Capcom. Additionally, there are online certificate courses such as Game Design Fundamentals that prepare you with the basics of Game Design.
| Type | Private |
| Programs Offered | Diploma in Game Design (12 months) |
| Annual Fee | 35,000 CAD |
4. Canadore College
Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology established in 1972, offers a wide range of courses across various disciplines, including a 3 year Advanced Diploma in Game Design and Development featuring both artistic and technical aspects of game production.
| Type | Public |
| Programs Offered | Advanced Diploma in Game Design and Development (3 years) |
| Annual Fee | 30,386 CAD |
5. Northern Lights College
Established in 1975, Northern Lights College is located in British Columbia. This college is known for low tuition fee and a 2 year Diploma in Interactive Technologies and Game Design that combines the elements of game design, multimedia, networking, and software technologies.
| Type | Public |
| Programs Offered | Diploma in Interactive Technologies and Game Design |
| Annual Fee | 11,360 CAD |
What are the Requirements for Game Design Courses in Canada
To study Game Design courses in Canada, you will need to meet academic and language requirements. These can vary depending upon the course type and university.
Eligible applicants are selected based on their previous academic achievement and portfolio results.
Here’s a detailed overview of the requirements for Game Design courses in Canada:
Academic Requirements:
International students are supposed to meet the qualification of Ontario School of Secondary Education or equivalent. For Indian students check out the requirements mentioned below:
For Bachelor’s – You must complete 10+2 with a minimum of 65% – 70%, and a strong base in subjects like Maths, English and Computer Science would be helpful. Some programs may require a strong portfolio.
For Diploma / Advanced Diploma Programs – You must complete 12th with a minimum score of 50% – 60% or higher. Class 12 subjects may include Maths and English with excellent grades.
For Master’s / Graduate Certificate Programs – You must have a completed bachelor’s degree in game design or related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0 – 4.0. A strong portfolio and work experience is often required.
*Applicants who do not meet the given academic criteria have other pathway programs. Those programs are different for different institutions. You can check the university website to know more about each pathway program.
English Language Proficiency:
- Most of the universities accept IELTS, TOEFL, PTE.
- IELTS – Overall score of 6.5
- TOEFL – 80 – 100
- PTE – A minimum of 58 and higher
Documents Required:
- Academic transcripts (10th, 12th, and/or Bachelor’s)
- English language test scores (IELTS/TOEFL)
- Resume
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Letters of Recommendation
- Portfolio
Game Design Courses in Canada Fees
For international students, the cost of studying Game Design Courses in Canada can vary widely depending on the program type and institution.
Diploma and Graduate Certificate Programs: CAD $17,000 to $35,000 per year. These intensive, skill-focused programs are ideal for students aiming to enter the industry quickly.
Bachelor’s Degrees: Bachelor’s in Game Design is a 4 year course and the fees can range between CAD $20,000 to $30,000 per year.
Master’s Degree: Master’s program in Game Design can range from CAD $23,000 to $50,000 per year.
Let’s explore the annual tuition fees at some of the top colleges offering Game Design courses:
| INSTITUTION | ANNUAL FEE |
|---|---|
| Sheridan College | CAD 21,234 |
| Centennial College | CAD 17,103 |
| Vancouver Film School | CAD 35,000 |
| Brock University | CAD 30,610 |
| LaSalle College | CAD 24,960 |
Career Opportunities After Game Design Courses in Canada
After completing the Game Design courses in Canada, you are guaranteed numerous job opportunities with high earning potential. As we are aware of Canada’s gaming industry with major studios like Ubisoft, EA, BioWare, is offering abundant career pathways for skilled graduates.
Career options include:
- Game Designer
- Level Designer
- Animator
- Narrative Designer
- 3D Artist / Game Artist
- Game Developer
Conclusion
Hope this blog has given you an overview on what it’s like to study Game Design courses in Canada. If you are passionate about designing and developing games, then Canada is one of the perfect destinations to pursue your dream career.
If you have got questions, then don’t hesitate to connect with the experts at CanApprove, your trusted partner in guiding through Canada education opportunities. To learn more, visit the official Canadian Education Website.
