PhD Game Design at University of Liverpool

Programme overview

The PhD in Game Design offers a unique opportunity to develop innovative and impactful research within the expansive and continually growing field of digital games. Situated within the culturally vibrant city of Liverpool and housed within the Department of Music, our PhD in Game Design will connect you to a rich network of regional talent and industries and provide access to state-of-the-art facilities.

Faculty: Faculty of Science and Engineering | Duration: 2-4 years full-time; 4-6 years part-time | Study mode: full-time; part-time also available | Intake: Year round | Location: Liverpool, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Research topics include The research themes below exemplify the kind of topics that would be suitable for this programme; Culture and representation in games; Player agency, identity, and inclusive game design; Ludomusicology; Critical examinations of gaming industry trends and practices; Business and culture of esports; Game development and implementation; Audiovisual design theories and practices; Narrative and character design methodologies and frameworks; Optimisation of UI/UX across interactive modalities.

Career pathways

Prosper provides structured career development and support, designed specifically for postdocs, in close collaboration with employer partners and principal investigators.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

You’ll need a UK undergraduate degree, or international equivalent, in a subject relevant to game design, at 2:1 or above. Applicants with a joint honours degree are encouraged to apply. We would usually consider a taught master’s level qualification to be an important precursor to research.; English language: IELTS 7.0 overall, with no component below 6.5

Domestic applicants: GBP 5,238 a year (2027/28). full-time Source

International applicants: GBP 25,350 a year (2027/28). full-time Source

Intake: Year round

Duration: 2-4 years full-time; 4-6 years part-time

Apply through the official page: https://theuniversityofliverpool.my.site.com/

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