Video Game Design: academic excellence and innovation from the hand of UDIT

UDIT, University of Design, Innovation and Technology, was the first educational institution to offer an Official University Degree in Video Game Design and Development in Spain. Moreover, it is currently the only Study Plan that incorporates specialisations in Art, Design and Programming, providing a comprehensive training that adapts to the current demands of the sector and that allows for an interesting specialisation from the second year onwards.

More than 14 years of academic excellence endorse UDIT and this Official University Degree, whose Syllabus remains at the forefront of the sector's needs.

A benchmark in video games

As the first centre to commit itself to this sector, bringing the Video Game Design and Development degree to the university level, UDIT is a fundamental part of this industry. Currently, the University is a member of DEV (Spanish Association of Video Game and Entertainment Software Producers and Developers) and AEVI (Spanish Video Game Association), a founding member of the Madrid Video Game Cluster, the PlayStation Talents Academy centre, Toon Boom's Centre of Excellence and is part of Unreal Academic Partners.

Likewise, as proof of its constant support for talent and its continuous updating, UDIT is an official sponsor of the Spanish eSports Team of FEJUVES, with whom it develops different initiatives to bring this segment of such relevance to students.

A unique curriculum

The University paved the way 14 years ago in a booming and constantly evolving sector. Today it continues to do so, through a curriculum that responds perfectly to the current needs and challenges of the sector.

A training programme that starts with an introduction to the whole universe of video games with subjects such as Digital Design, Programming Fundamentals, Art History or Network and Multiplayer Environment Fundamentals. From the second year onwards, UDIT offers its students the opportunity to specialise in Art, Design or Programming, incorporating specific electives such as Interactive Design (mention in Design), 3D Modelling and Texturing (mention in Art) or Applied Mathematics (mention in Programming).

In addition, this entire Plan is based on the learning by doing methodology, which is summarised in a notable importance of practical assessment; in this way, students develop real projects from the beginning of the Degree, being able to make everything they learn in the classroom a reality and feed their professional portfolio.

A dream environment

The Degree in Design and Development of Video Games and Virtual Environments is taught at the International Campus of Design and Creative Industries. More than 13,000 m2 of facilities equipped with cutting-edge technology at the service of students. Classrooms, equipped with all the necessary material to develop their projects, study and work rooms, library and leisure areas, which create an unbeatable environment for the development of university life.

Likewise, UDIT allows students to work with development engines, such as Unity and Unreal Engine; graphic creation programmes, such as those present in Adobe Creative Cloud, 3DsMax or ZBrush, or with different programming languages, such as C++ or C#; and SDKs, such as Node.js or Angular.

Connecting with the best

Throughout the four years of the Degree, students will learn from the best and, in addition, they will be able to build an interesting network of contacts formed by professionals in the sector. Starting with the teaching staff, 85% of UDIT teachers are professionals who combine teaching with their careers in the video game and technology sector.

In addition to this, countless masterclasses and workshops are given throughout the year, all led by professionals from prestigious studios and companies, such as Rami Ismail, founder of Vlambeer and one of the most important independent developers in the world; Patrice Désilets, father of the Assassin's Creed saga, or Almudena Soria, Lead Animator at Naugty Dog on The Last of Us games. This translates into teaching that is totally connected to the reality of work and based on real experiences, which will bring students closer to professional life long before they take that leap.

First professional steps

For UDIT it is essential to prepare its students to make the leap into the world of work, not only through quality and up-to-date training, but also by connecting them with the industry and accompanying them in their first steps in it.

For this reason, the University has signed more than 2,400 agreements with leading companies for the professional practice of students, who have the opportunity to start their professional careers in renowned companies and studios.

Not surprisingly, the University has received the QS Stars quality certification, an international recognition of quality in higher education that evaluates different aspects, achieving the highest score in the employability category, as well as in teaching quality.

But training at UDIT goes beyond professional internships. The university also offers the possibility of collaborating with companies on real projects, where students can apply and demonstrate the knowledge acquired during their training. An outstanding example is the collaboration with the SUOT jewellery brand, in which the students of the degree have contributed to bringing the firm closer to a younger audience by creating immersive experiences within the Fortnite video game.

Over the last 14 years, UDIT has worked with entities such as Telefónica, Lenovo, Amadeus, Ferrovial, the Querer Foundation, the General Directorate of Traffic and Abalia, developing numerous research and innovation projects. These initiatives have made it possible to transfer technologies from the world of video games to fields as diverse as simulation, education, health, digital twins or the generation of synthetic material for the training of artificial intelligence models based on computer vision.

Recognition for students

UDIT has been recognised on multiple occasions for its commitment to excellence, receiving awards such as the National Innovation and Design Award, granted in 2020 by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, or the Madrid Open Cities Awards, which rewards excellence and commitment to talent and innovation.

In particular, the Degree in Video Game Design and Development at UDIT stands out for the more than 70 awards obtained by its students in national and international competitions, such as the PlayStation Awards, Games Daily Connect USA, Fun&Serious, BIG, Reboot Develop, among others. These awards reflect not only the quality of their projects, but also the evolution, effort and talent that students develop throughout their training.

Unique events

Students of the Bachelor's Degree in Design and Development of Video Games and Virtual Environments have the opportunity to experience first-hand -and even be the protagonists- of unique events of great relevance in the sector. A clear example of this is Match In Games, UDIT's Videogame Entrepreneurship and Employment Fair, where students present their Final Degree Projects to professionals from leading companies in the industry. The event brings together studios, publishers, recruiters and talent experts, who attend with the aim of discovering new profiles and providing students with a first opportunity to join the labour market or launch their own projects. An unbeatable environment to make emerging talent visible and to highlight the effort and creativity of the students.

In addition, the Design and Creative Industries Campus regularly hosts prestigious events, such as the Madrid Crea Game Jam, an initiative organised by DEV (Spanish Association of Video Game and Entertainment Software Producers and Developers) together with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Community of Madrid. Another highlight is the Hobby Awards ceremony, awarded by HobbyConsolas magazine, which brings together the main players in the interactive entertainment sector.

In turn, UDIT actively participates in key events on the national and international video game scene, such as Madrid Games Week, organised by AEVI (Spanish Video Game Association), or the Bilbao International Games Conference, consolidating its presence in the main industry forums. These meetings are an additional opportunity for students and teachers to present projects, expand their network of contacts and connect with the latest trends in the sector.

All of this reflects the intense activity that defines university life at UDIT, and which makes the educational experience an enriching experience on both a professional and personal level.