Best Private Universities in Malaysia to Study a Top Rated Game Design or Computer Games Technology Degree
The global games market will generate $187.7 billion in 2024, representing +2.1% year-on-year growth. PC and console game revenues will account for 51% of global market revenues. Mobile gaming will account for 49% of this year’s global revenue, growing +3.0% year on year to reach $92.6 billion. In addition, the global games market will reach a forecasted $213.3 billion in 2027
More than 1,900 high-paying jobs had been created in the sector in Malaysia in 2023. Malaysia’s video gaming industry projected to hit US$649mil revenue in 2024. The country has 20.1 million gamers in 2020, the majority of whom 75 per cent — play mobile games, and 66 per cent use personal computers as their digital game platform. Furthermore, the Malaysian government remains committed to providing unwavering support to the gaming industry, offering financial incentives, and regulatory frameworks that protect intellectual property (IP) rights.
With the massive growth of the creative industries, Malaysians are also jumping on the virtual world’s bandwagon to kick-start their careers as game developers. Today, the production of games require a team of highly skilled professionals in the areas of graphic material digitisation, programming of digital sound and characters, and the creation of creative content. The spur of the Gaming Industry also sparks the interest of other young technology entrepreneurs to venture and explore the Game Development industry. The increased demand for games is good news for students who are interested to design games as a career in Malaysia. Courses specialising in the game design such as game software development, game art and design as well as game programming are being offered by top private universities in Malaysia such as UOWM KDU, Asia Pacific University (APU) and Multimedia University (MMU).
Top 3 Private Universities in Malaysia for Game Design or Computer Games Technology Degree
Top private universities in Malaysia offering degree programmes in Games Development or Computer Game Technology are
Education Pathway to Study Game Development after Secondary School
Students after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels may go for the Foundation in Computing & Technology or Foundation in Arts a top private university in Malaysia for 1 year before continuing on to the 3-year Computer Games Development or Game Design degree. However, note that the Foundation in Arts should contain a Further Maths subject.
With 3 credits in SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels including Maths, students may go for the 2-year Diploma in Information Technology or Diploma in Game Design and then enter into Year 2 of the Computer Games Development or Game Design degree.
Pre-University students with the relevant results in STPM, A-Levels, AUSMAT, UEC etc. can enter directly into Year 1 of the degree.
University of Wollongong (UOW) Malaysia
UOW Malaysia has always been recognized as one of the premier Game Development Institutes in Malaysia and is the forerunner for producing the best graduates in this field. As one of the earliest private educational institutions in Malaysia, the university not only pride themselves with delivering quality education, they are also championing the nation’s digital content initiative in Game Development.
As they continue to grow and evolve, UOW Malaysia has now taken the role as one of the primary movers in the space of Game Development for both education and industry collaborations. The UOW Malaysia Bachelor of Game Development Program is one of the biggest talent suppliers to the industry at the moment.
UOWM lecturers are actively involved in the industry and are experts in their respective fields. In this unique Bachelor of Game Development (Hons) programme, students are given the opportunity to specialise in one of three game development disciplines. For those who have a keen eye for visual aesthetics and 3D Modelling, consider being a game artist. Students who enjoy analysing, writing stories and crafting experiences, can opt to be game designers. For those who love mathematics, problem-solving and going through lines of codes, they can make game technology their preferred specialisation.
UOW Malaysia is offering the Bachelor of Game Development (Hons) and Foundation Studies (Art and Technology) programmes. The Bachelor’s degree programme allows students the option to specialise in any one of the three discipline tracks in Game Development — Game Art, Game Design and Game Technology. The school is pioneering the concept of ‘technological artistry’ in Malaysia, an approach to incorporate creativity into technology in order to produce graduates who will be the bridge between the two fields.
- GAME ART handles the visual components of games. Game Artists have to learn how to create 3D and 2D art assets for various types of games ranging from simple pixel-based graphics to hyper-realistic graphics for total player immersion.
- GAME DESIGN handles the gameplay, mechanics, level and world design as well as storytelling/narrative of electronic games. Game Designers have to learn how games function to construct experiences, including play mechanics, game balancing, social game interaction and the integration of visual, audio, tactile and textual elements into the total game experience.
- GAME TECHNOLOGY focuses on the technical aspects of Games such as physics engines, graphics engine, artificial intelligence and networking. Game Programmers have to learn the optimisation of mainstream algorithms such as path-finding and sorting, and real-time 3D rendering for a ground-up games engine or modification of an existing engine.
Asia Pacific University (APU)
The BSc. (Hons) Games Development degree combines computer programming and mathematical disciplines with aspects of games design. You will acquire a wide range of skills including programming, systems architecture, multimedia technologies, human computer interaction, graphics, animation, sound and video.
Additionally you will develop a strong appreciation of the software design and management processes and principles. On completing the programme you will be able to demonstrate creativity in problem-solving and decision-making in complex situations and also creativity and imagination in design situations.
Throughout the programme, you will have the opportunity to strengthen and demonstrate your initiative, personal responsibility, personal enterprise, self-reliance and self-direction – all essential skills for a games programming professional.Students who are under Bachelor’s Degree Programme will have the option to opt-in for the APU-DMU Dual Degree Scheme. Under this Scheme, students will receive 2 Degree Certificates & Transcripts upon graduation: 1 from Asia Pacific University (APU), Malaysia and 1 from De Montfort University (DMU), UK.
Students after SPM or O-Levels may go for the Foundation in Computing at Asia Pacific University for 1 year before continuing on to the 3-year BSc. (Hons) Games Development degree. With 3 credits in SPM or O-Levels including Maths, students may go for the 2-year Diploma in Information & Communications Technology or Diploma in Information & Communications Technology with specialism in Software Engineering and then enter into Year 2 of the BSc. (Hons) Games Development degree at Asia Pacific University.
Pre-University students with the relevant results can enter directly into Year 1 of the BSc. (Hons) Games Development degree. Asia Pacific University (APU) is one of the best universities in Malaysia for IT and computing studies, hence, making it an excellent choice for students interested in pursuing their students in Game Design.
The computer games programme at Asia Pacific University benefits from outstanding IT facilities. The teaching team enjoy very good relationships with local and national games employers; their feedback informs the development of the programme’s modules and some also deliver guest lectures.
The Computer Games Development degree programme at Top Ranked Asia Pacific University is specifically designed to provide:
- Knowledge, skills, and abilities required by a technical professional in the field of computer games.
- The ability to critically evaluate the design, logic, and implementation of computer games.
- Facility with advanced techniques for computer graphics and 3D digital animation.
Multimedia University (MMU)
Top Ranked Multimedia University (MMU) Cyberjaya offers the Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons.) Specialising in Game Development. Multimedia University (MMU) is ranked in the Top 300 QS World University Rankings in Computer Science and Information Systems, 2017.
In addition, their students will learn from Academically and professionally certified lecturers (CCNA, CCNP, MCP, MCTS, MTA and Java). They also have one of the best teaching labs in private universities, equipped with world-class research and teaching facilities such as SMART and Innov8 labs.
Having won hundreds of awards, Multimedia University (MMU) offers the best courses in Computer Science in Malaysia. Therefore, it is undeniably the best university in Malaysia for students to study the Game Development programme that’s also affordable.
Outstanding Computer Science Majoring in Game Development Degree Course in Malaysia at Top Ranked Multimedia University (MMU) Cyberjaya
This three-year Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons.) degree programme at the Faculty of Computing & Informatics at Multimedia University (MMU) Cyberjaya equips students with fundamental computing knowledge and the latest technology. In year 1, all students learn common subjects before specialising in one of the following areas – Software Engineering, Information Systems, Game Development or Data Science – in the second year.
Each designed specialisation prepares students with specific skills. Students will also complete a final year project and undergo industrial training to acquire practical industry experience.
Game Development: Integrates fundamental concepts of software engineering with both technical and creative aspects of game design and development. Students are exposed to various types of game production – from 2D to 3D, and from virtual to augmented reality game projects.
My son is on second final year on his high school in private chinese school. It is the time as parent starts to search a suit university in Malaysia because his school result is not good but he is very much interested on digital game. In our experience, we normally advise children to take business, accounting and others traditional courses. We do believe in this advance century, there are many courses are available for those are weak on academy result. Contact me so that we can do advance preparation. Thank you.
He will need at least 3Bs in UEC including maths in order to enter diploma in IT and then into game design