Master's Programme in Transformative Game Design

Education facts

Code: HTS2N

In the Master's Programme in Transformative Game Design, you will explore the complexities of analogue role-playing game (RPG) design and implementation with an emphasis on tabletop, live-action role-playing games (LARP), and freeform. You will learn best practices for designing games that maximise the potential for transformative impacts on players, including leisure, educational, and therapeutic settings. The curriculum features topics that draw insights from design and play cultures from around the world. The programme has a strong emphasis on safety, calibration, and framing structures around games that can maximise their transformative potential, including the cultivation of nourishing communities surrounding play activities. Prior knowledge of analogue role-playing games is desirable but not required. The programme explores the following questions. - How might analogue role-playing games help catalyse processes of personal and/or social change? - What are the most effective ways to frame game activities when designing for transformation? - How can implementation and facilitation practices guide players toward intended learning objectives? - How can researchers best assess the impacts of transformative games? The programme is online and runs at half-time (50%). The language of instruction is English.

Entry requirements

_Academic requirements_ A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. _Language requirements_ Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at [universityadmissions.se](https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/).

Education offerings

Each offering has its own dates and conditions. Closed offerings are retained as history and do not mean that a new application is open.

• Master's Programme in Transformative Game Design

  Uppsala University

  Start date: 31 August 2026

  End date: 4 June 2028

  Pace of study: 50 %