Games Research and Education (M.Sc. and Ph.D.)

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Welcome to the Institute of Digital Games, the research and education centre at the University of Malta, focusing on game design, game analysis, and game technology!

Our work is at the forefront of innovative games research. We explore games and play, uncovering new playful and generative possibilities in game design and technology. We delve into everything games can teach us about ourselves.

Our multidisciplinary academic team spans computer science, literature, game design, philosophy, media studies, and social sciences.

Click here to read our annual report for the year 2022/2023.

"Studying at the IDG it’s been one of the best experiences of my life, and has been foundational to my academic growth. The game studies and game design courses provided me with a solid theoretical grounding, and the network of opportunities around academia."

"One of the most impactful aspects of the Institute on my career has been its emphasis on interdisciplinary research and collaboration. The lecturers have diverse backgrounds and expertise, and this fosters a stimulating environment for exploring the multifaceted aspects of game research and development. The research-driven approach has enabled me to contribute critically to discussions with my colleagues."

"Studying at the IDG has really been an experience better than I could have ever asked for. Not only because it aligns with my goals from as long as I remember, but also because the content and support I have received while studying there has always been stellar."

Robin Longobardi Zingarelli
Graduated in 2024
Luca Spiteri Monsigneur!i
Graduated in 2019
Malcom Grech
Graduated in 2023

Blog What we have been up to lately

Artificial Intelligence Scholarships Available!

June 10, 2021

The Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) have allocated €100,000 toward scholarships for post-graduate students studying Artificial Intelligence at Masters' or PhD level. Students that pursue the technology stream of the M.Sc. in Digital … read more

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Global Game Jam NEXT - Games Education for the NEXT …

May 26, 2021

Similar to our GGJ® event for adults in January every year, GGJ NEXT is a game jam for students aged 11 to 17 and is designed to stimulate collaboration and teamwork; it is not a competition. It is a time to explore, learn, and experiment. Honestly, there … read more

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Deep Learning Algorithms for Games - The Power of Pixels …

March 9, 2021

The pixels and sounds of emotion! What if we could detect emotions in a general, user-agnostic fashion? Is it possible to capture human emotion solely by looking at the pixels of the screen and hearing the sounds of the interaction? No sensors, no access to … read more

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IDG finalist at the 2021 ION Game Design Awards!

February 3, 2021

Construction BOOM!, a tile-laying board game developed at the Institute of Digital Games as a satire of the local construction industry has just been announced as a finalist of the Game Design Excellence prize at the American ION Awards … read more

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Hiring Developers, PhD Students, and Post-Doctoral Fellows …

January 15, 2021

We're hiring! Work with us at one of the leading game research institutes in Europe! The Institute of Digital Games runs a number of EU funded projects at the intersections of game artificial intelligence, computer-aided design, affective … read more

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Princeton Review - IDG in Top 25 Postgrad Programmes in …

December 31, 2020

Used with permission. ©2019 TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University. For more information about reprints from The Princeton Reviewvisit PARS International Corp. at www.TPR-licensing.com. Best Game … read more