Game Development Courses are becoming increasingly popular among existing programmers and fresh graduates. These courses not only update your skills and put you at the forefront of this prolific market, but it helps you maintain relevant skills for the future.
Some popular courses that game developers usually study are Advanced Diploma in Game Development, Advanced Diploma in Animation and Game Development, Computer Engineering, etc. The average course fee for admissions into these courses ranges between INR 10,000 and INR 2,40,000.
Top Game Development Colleges in India that offer courses in various disciplines are Presidency University Bangalore, IIFA Multimedia Bangalore, Chitkara University, SGT University, etc. For admissions to game development courses, one has to clear various Entrance Exams such as TNEA, CEED, MET, CUCET, etc.
The video game industry is wide that generates a number of jobs annually. One can work in coding and programming the game or designing the game, creating the storyline, etc. After graduating from these courses, candidates can get hired as Game Developers, Game Designers, Game Programmers, Game testers, Game Producers, etc. The average salary package is between INR 2,00,000 to INR 8,00,000 per annum.
Who Can Pursue Game Development Courses?
- Game design and development is a field for people who are both creative and passionate.
- This field, like any other creative field, necessitates a significant amount of involvement and patience on the part of the students.
- For those wishing to pursue a career in game design, innovation and creativity are essential skills.
- Individuals who are creative, passionate, and innovative with a passion for gaming.
- Candidates should be interested in game development, learning professional skills, and the game development process.
Game Development Courses
Because of the recent growth in the gaming industry, many new institutes have begun to offer professional courses in game development and design.
Despite being a niche field, the domain offers a wide range of courses, including certificate programs, graduate-level programs, masters-level courses, and others. The following tabulated are some of the most popular courses:
| Program Level | Courses Offered |
| Certificate | Certificate Course in Gaming Certificate Course in Game Art & Design |
| Diploma | Diploma in Game Design and Integration Professional Diploma in Game Art Diploma in Animation, Gaming, and Special Effect Advanced Diploma in Game Art & 3D Game Content Creation Advance Diploma in Game Programming Advance Diploma in Game Design and Development Application |
| Graduate | Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Graphics, Animation & Gaming Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Digital Filmmaking & Animation Bachelor of Technology (BTech) – Computer Science and Game Development Bachelor of Science in Animation Game Design and Development |
| Postgraduate | Integrated MSc. in Multimedia & Animation with Game Art & Design MSc. in Gaming Master of Science (MSc) in Game Design and Development Master of Science (MSc) in Multimedia and Animation |
Certificate Courses
Certificate Game Development courses are offered in Online and Offline modes. Online certificate courses are gaining popularity, due to the courses being self-paced. Employed individuals can pursue these courses while working.
- Certificate courses are fast-paced courses meant to teach candidates programming languages for Game Development within a short time.
- For individuals who are already working in the Gaming industry and wish to learn new skills to add to their resumes, online certificate courses are perfect.
- Candidates need to have completed at least class 10th or 12th from a recognized board of education to be admitted into certificate courses.
Certificate courses help candidates increase their existing salary packages. However, for beginners, the starting package is around INR 2,40,000 to INR 4,00,000.
Online Courses
Online certificates available for Game Development are plenty. The best Game Development courses are as follows.
| Certificate Name & Provider | Duration | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Game Design and Development Specialization- Coursera | 6 months | Free Enrolment |
| C# Basics for Beginners: Learn C# Fundamentals by Coding- Udemy | 5 hours 24 minutes | INR 8,960 |
| HTML5 Apps and Games- W3X and edX | 4 weeks | Free/ INR 14,664 for a certificate |
| Video Game Design and Development: Introduction to Game Programming- FutureLearn | 2 weeks | Free |
| Unreal Engine C++ Developer: Learn C++ and Make Video Games- Udemy | 31 hours 26 minutes | INR 8,640 |
Offline Courses
Game Development certificates that are delivered in offline mode, through on-campus classes are as follows.
| Certificate Name | Colleges Offering | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Certificate Programme in VFX | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology | 24 months |
| CISCO - C++ | SR Engineering College | 1 semester |
Admission Process
Admissions for certificate Game Development courses are on a merit basis. There are no entrance examination scores required for admission purposes.
- The duration for certificate courses is a few hours to up to 6 months.
- Candidates need to have passed class 10th or 12th examinations for admissions.
- Institutes require candidates to submit mark sheets online for admission purposes.
Top Platforms
| University | Provider | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University | Coursera | Free Enrolment |
| NA | Udemy | INR 8,960 |
| W3X, edX | edX | Free/ INR 14,664 for a certificate |
| Abertay University | FutureLearn | Free |
| NA | Udemy | INR 8,640 |
Top Colleges
| Institute Name | Average Fees |
|---|---|
| Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology | NA |
| SR Engineering College | NA |
Diploma and PG Diploma Courses
Diploma and PG diploma courses are meant for candidates who do not have the time to pursue full-time programs. They prepare students industry ready and they can be hired immediately after completing the course.
- Diploma courses admit Class 10th or Class 12th pass out students. If candidates cannot afford to pursue a bachelor’s course, a diploma course is best to land a job in a desired field.
- PG diploma courses need to have a bachelor’s degree in the same field. These courses are pursued in place of master's courses.
- Diploma courses are of 1 year while PG diploma courses are of 2 years in duration.
- Diploma courses are flexible and one can choose between many different specializations.
The average annual salary that a candidate with a diploma or PG diploma can earn is INR 3,00,000 to INR 5,00,000.
Diploma Courses
The top diploma courses in Game Development specializations are as follows.
| Diploma Game Development Course | Colleges Offering | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Diploma in Graphic Design | Panjab University | INR 26,950 |
| Diploma in DOTNET | Banasthali Vidyapith | NA |
PG Diploma Courses
The PG diploma courses in Game Development programming language are as follows.
| PG Diploma Game Development | Colleges Offering | Average Fees |
| PG Diploma in Computer Applications | University of Delhi | NA |
Admission Process
Admissions into diploma and PG diploma courses are on a merit basis. Candidates need to apply as per the cut-off lists released by universities. No entrance examination score is required to be submitted.
- The duration of the diploma course is 1 year and the PG diploma course is 2 years.
- Diploma courses admit class 10th or 12th completed students.
- PG diploma course admits students who have completed their bachelor's degree.
Top Colleges for Diploma Courses
| Institute Name | Average Fees |
|---|---|
| Panjab University | INR 26,950 |
| Banasthali Vidyapith | NA |
Top Colleges for PG Diploma Courses
| Institute Name | Average Fees |
|---|---|
| University of Delhi | NA |
Undergraduate Courses
At the bachelor’s level, Game Development is offered as an elective to Engineering programs or as BSc. Degree programs. These courses are offered in offline mode at campus classes. However, classes have now shifted online.
- The duration of a bachelor’s level course is 3 years or 4 years.
- Game Development courses are either General or Specialized forms.
- Admissions are either merit-based or through entrance examinations score
- The bachelor’s level course acts as the base for higher education programs in the same field.
Bachelor’s level programs are perfect for students who wish to pursue full-time courses instead of diploma courses.
The average annual salary graduates earn with a bachelor’s degree in Game Development ranges from INR 3,00,000 to INR 7,00,000.
Top Courses
The top bachelor’s level programs in Game Development specialization are as below.
| Bachelor Game Development Course | Colleges Offering | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| B.E. CSE Game Programming Elective | Anna University | INR 55,000 |
| BSc. Animation | Manipal Academy of Higher Education | INR 2,26,000 |
| BSc. Animation, VFX and Gaming | Chandigarh University | INR 60,000 |
| BTech CSE with specialization in Gaming, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality | The NorthCap University | INR 2,39,000 |
| B.Des. Game Design/Animation | Chitkara University Lovely Professional University | INR 62,000 INR 98,000 |
| BSc in Gaming and Mobile Application Development | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology | INR 1,33,350 |
Admission Process
Admission into a bachelor’s level of Game Development courses is on the basis of merit and through entrance examinations. Institutes release cut off lists on the basis of merit based admissions.
- The duration of a bachelor's level course is 3 years or 4 years.
- The entrance examinations accepted for entrance exam-based admission are TNEA, CUCET, etc.
- Institutes also conduct a round of counseling after qualifying the entrance examination round.
Top Colleges
| Institute Name | Average Fees |
|---|---|
| Anna University | INR 55,000 |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education | INR 2,26,333 |
| Chandigarh University | INR 60,000 |
| Lovely Professional University | INR 98,000 |
| The NorthCap University | INR 2,39,000 |
| Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology | INR 1,33,350 |
| Chitkara University | INR 62,000 |
Postgraduate Courses
At the Master's degree level, Game Development courses are offered in different specializations like Animation, Graphic Design, Game Coding, etc. Candidates who wish to expand on their education learned at the bachelor's level, can enroll in a master's degree.
- The duration of a standard Master's degree is 2 years.
- For Game Development courses, the Master's level degree offered is for Animation, Visual Effects, Coding, Graphic Design etc.
- Universities admit students on both merit basis and through entrance examinations like CUCET, JMI Entrance Exam.
After completing the course and being awarded a degree, the average annual salary one can expect to earn is between INR 2,00,000 to INR 8,00,000.
Top Courses
At the Master's level, the following programmes are offered for Game Development, Game Design etc.
| PG Game Development Course | Colleges Offering | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| MSc. In Animation and Multimedia Technology | Chandigarh University | INR 38,000 |
| M.A. Visual Effect and Animation | Jamia Millia Islamia | INR 80,420 |
| MSc. Game Development and Coding | Jain University | INR 1,02,000 |
| MSc in Multimedia, Animation & Graphic Design | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology | INR 60,300 |
Admission Process
Admissions to Masters's courses in different specializations of Game Development courses are on a merit basis and entrance examination. Merit-based admissions require candidates to submit only their Bachelors and Class 12th mark sheets.
- The eligibility criteria for candidates is to have a Bachelor's degree in the same field of education.
- Entrance exams that are accepted for admission are CUCET, JMI Entrance Exam.
- Merit based admissions are conducted on the basis of cut off lists of aggregate scores.
Top Colleges
| College Name | Average Fees |
|---|---|
| Jamia Millia Islamia | INR 80,420 |
| Chandigarh University | INR 38,000 |
| Jain University | INR 1,02,000 |
| Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology | INR 60,300 |
Game Development Courses: Jobs & Scope
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Game Developer | Game Developers are programmers with advanced programming language knowledge. They are hired to design and develop new video games. They create games for consoles, computers, mobile phones, etc. | INR 4,00,000 - INR 5,00,000 |
| Game Programmer | Game Programmer: Game Programmers are software engineers who develop codebases for video games. All other software and other video game-related tools are also developed by the Game Programmer. They write the technical code to bring video games to life. | INR 5,00,000 - INR 8,00,000 |
| Game Designer | Game Designers work on video game storylines and plots. They help create the user interfaces, game objectives, difficulty levels, character development, maps, scenarios etc. Other aspects of video games like animation, puzzles etc. Are also handled by a Game Designer. | INR 6,00,000 - INR 9,00,000 |
| Video Game Animator | Game Animators work to combine art and technology together to create video games. They create animated images, environments for video games. They help create movements in characters and how they interact with other characters in the game. | INR 4,00,000 - INR 8,00,000 |
| Game Producer | The Game Producer is responsible for the entire development process of a video game. They work with Game Developers, Game Animators, Game Designers, etc to create new games. They hire new people to work on the project, find product deals, bring in money and see the game is finished. | INR 8,00,000 - INR 12,00,000 |
Game Development Courses: Skills Required
- To be successful in the Game Development industry, to be successful, one needs to have additional skills.
- Employers seek out skills that are not general and more niche specific. These skills help candidates stand out from other applicants.
- The following are the skills that are helpful to work in Game Development.
| JavaScript | Web Designing | Creativity |
| Computer Skills | Programming Skills | Ability to meet deadlines while working |
| Gaming Skills | Graphic Skills | Time Management |
Game Development Courses: Online Fees
There are various online Game Development courses available. To avoid confusion for applicants and make the application process easy, the following table compares the top courses for Game Development.
| Game Development Course | Provider | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Game Design and Development Specialization | Michigan State University, Coursera | 6 months |
| HTML5 Apps and Games | W3X, edX | 4 weeks |
| Video Game Design and Development: Introduction to Game Programming | Abertay University, FutureLearn | 2 weeks |
| Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals Specialization | Duke University, Coursera | 5 months |
| The Complete C++ Developer Course | Udemy | 19 hours 41 minutes |
| Learn JavaScript | Codecademy | 30 hours |
| C# Basics for Beginners: Learn C# Fundamentals by Coding | Udemy | 5 hours 24 minutes |
Comparison of Online Platforms Offering Game Development Courses
A number of platforms provide online certifications on Game Development. The table compares the top two platforms, Coursera and Udemy.
| Parameters | Udemy | Coursera |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate Name | Complete C# Unity Game Developer 2D | Game Design and Development Specialization |
| Fees | INR 8,960 | Free Enrolment |
| Student Rating | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Enrolment | 364,729+ students | 38,150+ students |
| Duration | 34 hours 48 minutes | 6 months |
| Created by | Udemy | Michigan State University, Coursera |
Game Development Courses: FAQs
Ques. Can I learn Game Development courses Online?
Ans. Yes. Game Development courses can be pursued online.
Ques. Which is the Game Development Free Online Course in India?
Ans. A number of providers have free courses online. Among all the providers available, the top institute providers are as follows. They are the following Udemy, Coursera, Upgrad, FutureLearn, EdX.
Ques. What is the duration of a Game Development Course?
Ans. The duration of the Game Development courses will depend on the course chosen. Certificate courses are a few hours to 6 months in duration. Diploma and PG diploma courses are 1 year to 2 years while bachelor's and master's courses are 3 years and 2 years.
Ques. How much does it cost to do a Game Development course?
Ans. The fees for the courses will be dependent on the course chosen. Some certification courses are free. For all other courses, the course fee can go up to INR 2.4 lac.
Ques. Should I go for a Game Development weekend course or should I look for a job in Game Development and learn from the experience?
Ans. Earning a degree or a certificate will bring in sufficient value to the resume of the candidate. A simple certificate course in C# or C++ will help sufficiently in the job search.
Ques. Is it worth pursuing a Game Development course?
Ans. It is worth pursuing a Game Development course for candidates who are passionate about Game Development. The industry is expanding at a rapid rate.
Ques. What is the average salary after completing a Game Development course?
Ans. The average salary one can earn will depend on the course chosen, skill set and the experience of the candidate.The highest salary package is earned by a Game Producer at INR 12 LPA.
Ques. Do I get a scholarship to pursue Game Development certifications?
Ans. Yes. Certain online certificate course providers do have financial aid. One can apply to find out if they are eligible for financial aid.







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