Game - Design - 374
OSAP Eligible
Overview
Mohawk College's new Game Design Advanced Diploma program will prepare you for a career in the games industry and beyond by developing a wide range of skills needed for creating unique interactive systems, dynamic worlds, and engaging levels. The program focuses on game design, the hidden craft behind engaging interaction, and combines it with the technical and artistic skills required in game production.
Program Highlights
- Join a rapidly growing industry with a need for highly skilled labour.
- Learn from professionals with deep connections to the games industry.
- Network with Hamilton's growing game industry and beyond.
- Benefit from smaller class sizes where you will receive more focused attention from faculty.
- Build a professional portfolio and network with studio representatives.
- Experience a program that models equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) by examining ethical questions about content creation and workplace interactions.
What you'll learn
- Study game design to create impactful, immersive experiences.
- Learn the breadth of skills used in the games industry: 2D and 3D visual arts, visual effects, audio, programming, game engines, game writing and more.
- Learn design in-depth, from key concepts in game design and design thinking, to advanced topics in user experience, psychology, game systems, and game economies.
- Use industry-standard software and development hardware.
- Develop functional games and game prototypes.
- Discover new and diverse applications of game design, including education, training, entertainment and social work.
- Explore opportunities to develop pathways and connections with various Mohawk College programs.
- Explore opportunities to develop pathways and connections with various Mohawk College programs.
Program Length
3 academic years (6 semesters)
Fast Track allows students to complete the three-year advanced diploma program in 28 months. Students will start in January and be in school for four (4) continuous semesters: winter, spring/summer, fall and winter. Students will then be off during the spring/summer and return for the final two (2) semesters of education.
| Academic Year | Semester | Fall Intake | Winter Intake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Fall | Semester 1 | |
| Winter | Semester 2 | Semester 1 | |
| Summer | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 2 | Fall | Semester 3 | |
| Winter | Semester 4 | ||
| Summer | |||
| Year 3 | Fall | Semester 5 | |
| Winter | Semester 6 | ||
| Summer | |||
Admission
Admission
Domestic and International student admission requirements
- OSSD or equivalent (Mohawk Academic Upgrading, GED) including:
- Grade 12 English, C or U or equivalent
Statement of Interest (optional)
Applicants must submit a statement of interest where they can describe their experience with gaming/game design, interest in our EDI-focused program, and their future goals. If you have any queries about this statement of interest, please reach out to us at game-design [at] mohawkcollege.ca (game-design[at]mohawkcollege[dot]ca) for assistance.
Statements of interest can be submitted to ontariocolleges.ca. Please see this page for more information on sending supporting documents.
Game Design Activity (optional)
The game design activity is meant to assess thinking. It helps demonstrate their ability to follow instruction and highlights their problem-solving/critical thinking. The activity would also include an EDI-specific game design consideration to further see their thinking around it. It also signals to prospective students the kind of work that is most relevant to the program. There is a high correlation between successful activities and a student's performance and retention in game design.
After you have submitted your application on ontariocolleges.ca, please complete the Game Design activity found here.
Options are available for mature applicants.
Don't have the necessary requirements?
Language Requirements for Applicants with English as a Second Language
- See below for accepted equivalents for Grade 12 English:
- Successful completion of the GAS-English for Academic Purposes (478) program
- TOEFL minimum score of 550 (80 Internet based)
- or IELTS Academic minimum score of 6.0 overall with no band less than 5.5
- More information about acceptable certificates, can be found on the International Admission Requirements
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and Fees
2025-2026 tuition and fees
| Description | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Ancillary Fees | $907.11 | $809.78 |
| Co-op Fees | N/A | N/A |
| Compulsory Program Fees | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Domestic Tuition | $3,296.00 | $3,296.00 |
| Total Domestic Charges Per Semester | $4,203.11 | $4,105.78 |
| Total 1st Year Fees | $8,308.89 | |
Above fees based on full-time September program start date. Contact Student Services to confirm fees for other start dates or semesters.
- Full Cost Breakdown
- Explore payment options
- Book costs for your program can be found through the Campus Store
- You will also be required to purchase a laptop (or personal computer, where deemed appropriate). Additional program-specific software and hardware may also be required. Full details will be provided in your classes or at your orientation. This is an additional cost (above tuition/ancillary fees and textbooks).
International 2025 - 2026 tuition and fees
| Description | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Tuition & Ancillary Fee | $9,435.00 | $9,435.00 |
| Co-op Fees | N/A | N/A |
| Program Compulsory Fees | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| International Tax Recovery | $450.00 | $375.00 |
| Total International Per Semester | $9,885.00 | $9,810.00 |
| Total 1st Year Fees | $19,695.00 | |
If you pay by wire transfer, please note your bank might charge you a fee to transfer money. Make sure your transfer includes the Mohawk payment and the wire transfer fee. This applies to each wire transfer payment you make.
- Explore payment options
- Book costs for your program can be found through the Campus Store
- You will also be required to purchase a laptop (or personal computer, where deemed appropriate). Additional program-specific software and hardware may also be required. Full details will be provided in your classes or at your orientation. This is an additional cost (above tuition/ancillary fees and textbooks).
Additional Information
- View the Additional Information Tab for any additional costs
- Better Jobs Ontario (formerly Second Career)
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
When it comes to paying for your education, investing in your future can be more affordable than you think. A Mohawk education is one of the most cost-effective means of acquiring the skills and knowledge you need to have a prosperous and rewarding career.
As you start on your chosen career path, it's important to have a realistic set of expectations regarding the expenses associated with attending college. In addition to your tuition fees, you will also need to budget for books, supplies, housing, and other related living expenses. You may be able to supplement your income and savings with scholarships, bursaries, or loans. It pays to do some research into what types of financial assistance you may qualify for.
Available Financial Assistance Resources:
- OSAP Eligible. Learn about Ontario Student Assistance Program - OSAP (domestic students only)
- Working on Campus
- Additional Sources of Funding
- Financial Assistance Home Page
Apply for Awards:
By submitting a Scholarships and Bursaries Application every semester, students have access to over $3 million in Mohawk College scholarships, bursaries and Ministry-partnered funding to help meet their financial needs.
Financial Literacy:
Whether saving for school, sticking to a budget, or planning for a major purchase, financial literacy affects us all. That's why Mohawk College is dedicated to helping students improve their financial literacy and become more confident in managing their money.
- Complete the free online Money Matters Module to earn Co-Curricular Credit!
- Financial Resources and Calculators
Program of Studies
Course Overview & Descriptions
Click on the course title for a course description.
Experiential Learning
Experiential Learning
How you'll gain skills
- Gain practical hands-on lab experience using industry-standard software.
- Experience interactive simulations such as the semesterly program-wide Design Week challenge.
- Apply cumulative program knowledge through a capstone project.
To learn more, please visit the Centre for Experiential Learning.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes, often referred to as ‘Program Standards', set out the essential learning that a student must achieve before being deemed ready to graduate.
In many cases these program learning outcomes were developed by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) in consultation with employers and educators who are experts in the program field. To ensure the outcomes remain current and in line with industry needs, we invite our employers, graduates working in the field and current students to re-examine and update them during regular, ongoing program review focus groups.
Career Opportunities
Career Opportunities
Your future career options
Design Roles:
- Combat Designer
- Economy Designer
- Experience Designer
- Game Designer
- Gameplay Designer
- Level Designer
- Live Service Designer
- Narrative Designer
- Quest Designer
- Systems Designer
- User Experience Designer
- World Designer
Technical Roles:
- App/Mobile Developer
- Game Developer
- Game Scripter
- Technical Artist
- Technical Designer
- Tools Designer
- Unity/Unreal Developer
Marketing Roles:
- Community Manager
Quality Assurance Roles:
- Quality Assurance Tester (QA Tester)
Types of products you could work on:
- Digital games
- Console games
- PC games
- Mobile games
- XR games (AR/MR/VR)
- Physical games
- Board games
- Card games
- Roleplaying
- Escape rooms
- Serious games
- Educational games
- Community outreach games
- Marketing games
- Non-games
- Anywhere experience, engagement, and retention are key.
- E.g. Work at a bank improving the experience of their mobile banking app.
- E.g. Work designing digital experiences promoting fashion brands.
Educational Pathways
Educational Pathways
Pathways to Mohawk
If you've successfully taken a course at another post-secondary institution, you may be able to earn course exemptions toward your credential here at Mohawk.
If you have successfully completed one of the following programs at Mohawk, you may be eligible to receive transfer credit in this program. To start a new program at Mohawk, you must apply via ontariocolleges.ca.
Transfer from
You can transfer to the Game - Design - 374 from the following programs:
Art and Design Foundations
Receiving Program
Game - Design
Mohawk College makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of each transfer opportunity. Please note that changes may occur in program offerings, admission requirements, and transfer credits granted by the receiving institutions. We advise all students to check with the receiving institution directly for the most up-to-date information.
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Search ONTransfer.ca for more pathways with Ontario public colleges and universities.
Mohawk College makes no warranty or endorsement of material contained within links to external websites, nor does the College assume any responsibility for the linked website or its contents.
Tech Requirements
Tech requirements
The Game Design program has a mandatory laptop requirement. All students are required to have a laptop that is capable of effectively running the software packages that we use for instruction in our digital game development courses. This provides our students with 24/7 access to industry-relevant production tools and learning resources.
The requirement of an approved game development capable laptop is foundational to our learning structure and is necessary upon program entry. We have updated our policy to include laptops capable of meeting our required software specifications. The software used in this program is only guaranteed to run on a Windows 11 machine.
Mohawk College currently has a partnership agreement with Dell. To receive educational discounts when purchasing your new laptop, please visit the Mohawk Custom Online Store. If you already own a laptop which meets our minimum standard necessary to run the required software, a new purchase will not be required.
To Access Mohawk’s Custom Online Store:
- Login to your MyMohawk account with your MohawkID and password.
- Click on the Technology Solutions tab.
- Navigate to the Computer Store and click “Online Dell Store.”
- Once you arrive at the Mohawk College Discount Store webpage, select “Shop Your Standard Configuration” to see the list of laptops we recommend for this program.
Workstation Laptop Configurations for Academic Year 2025-2026
- OS: Windows 11 (64-bit)
- CPU
- Intel 14th Gen i7 or better (eg. i9)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 or better (eg. 9)
- AMD Ryzen 7 or better (eg. 8, 9)
- GPU
- Nvidia RTX 4050/5050 or better
- AMD Radeon RX 7000 series or better
- RAM: 32GB or greater
- NVMe Internal storage: 500GB or greater
- Ports: USB-C (minimum 1) for use with lab docking stations
- Suggested laptops
- Dell 16 Premium
- Dell XPS 16
- Framework Laptop 16
A laptop that can run the Unity 6 game engine is needed roughly 1 month into semester 1. Thus, there is a bit of time where you can defer laptop purchase so long as one has access to a modest Windows 11 laptop. This time can be used to ask faculty questions about these requirements. However, a laptop with the hardware specified above is absolutely required for semester 2 when students will begin using Unreal Engine 5.
Software Requirements
- Adobe Creative Cloud: A monthly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud can be purchased from the Adobe Creative Cloud website.
- Microsoft Office: Available with your Microsoft 365 account.
- Unity: Free student version from Unity
- Visual Studio (Community Edition): Free download from Microsoft
Hardware Requirements
Android Device
The Game Design program teaches many different aspects of game development, including mobile game development. As such, students require access to an Android mobile device (phone or tablet) for use in mobile development.
Android devices are used because the development ecosystem is free. iOS devices such as iPhones present additional challenges as they require both macOS computers for development and paid subscription for development access.
The mobile Android device is not required until the course GAME 10009 Applications of Game Engines in semester 2.
The device should run Android OS version 12 or later.
Digital Drawing Pen
Students will use XP Pen graphic tablets as part of select courses in this program. Students will need a PA2-compatible XP Pen stylus. We recommend the XP Pen PA2 Battery-free Stylus.
Personal Storage
Additional storage for assignment and program files may be needed depending on one’s internal laptop storage. If required, ensure the following specifications are met.
- Suggested minimum capacity: 1TB
- Technology: NVMe solid-state drive
- Read/Write Speeds: approximately 500MB/second or greater (USB 3.1 or better)
- Connector: USB-C connector or as required to interface with your laptop
Contact Us
Contact us
Domestic Canadian Students
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Contact our International Student Recruitment team for information on programs, how to apply, and student life.
Contact International
Email: intl.representatives@mohawkcollege.ca
Phone: 1-905-575-2254
Toll free phone numbers:
For general questions: 1-888-Mohawk9 (1-888-664-2959)
Contact International Admissions
Contact our Admissions advisors for help with your application.
Contact International Admissions
Phone: 1-905-575-2254
*Not all programs are international eligible. Please see our programs available for international students.
Accessible Learning Services
Are you a student with a confirmed or suspected disability? Visit our Accessible Learning Services website to discover how we can help you.
Program Coordinator
Do you have questions about the Game Design program? Send us an email at Game-Design@mohawkcollege.ca
Raphaël Tétreault
Canadian Domestic Students
International Students
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Future Ready Blogs
The next level: How Design Week sparks creativity and innovation in game design
How Jonah Discovered Game Design
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Game Design Week
Game - Design Advanced Diploma
Explore design thinking and design building as it relates to the development of physical and digital games.
In the news
In the news:
- CHCH News - Mohawk College Game-Design program launched
- CHML/Global News - Hamilton’s Mohawk College to offer game design program amid global boom in gaming.
- CBC - New Mohawk College program aims to make gaming industry better for women and people of colour
- CHCH interview with Angela Stukator, Special Advisor of the Game - Design Advanced Diploma program
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