Applications will open in January.
In Summer 2027, we offer two in-person sessions. Each session will be two weeks long. In each session, participants will learn about the principles of game design and be introduced to C# and Unity scripting, which they will use to create their own games! The program emphasizes team collaboration and close work with experienced game designers and developers. Students will work together and independently to create 2D Unity games based on design principles and development techniques used by professionals at NYU.
What's New?
Started in Summer 2026, this program has introduced a series of new workshops on how to effectively use Generative AI for game development. This component does not aim to replace the fundamentals of coding skills, which continue to be the focus of this program. However, it offers additional resources to effectively and ethically navigate AI technology and become better designers and programmers in the age of technology.
In each assignment, students are encouraged to use tools at their disposal, including Generative AI, to further their knowledge and grow their skills with Unity and C#.
Join us and learn from game designers & coding experts on how to design your own games!
Summer 2027 Program Dates
Session 1: June 21 - July 2, 2027
Session 2: July 12 - July 23, 2027
Sessions 1 and 2 share the same content.
Please indicate a second preferred session on your application in case your first option is no longer available.
Age Requirement
Our program is accepting students who will be entering sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school in Fall 2027.
Technical Skills
Applicants must already have an Intermediate level of understanding of code and programming, preferably with at least one formal coding class completed with a B+ or higher grade.
We also highly recommend that applicants share their previous coding projects or other creative projects to show their interests and qualifications. Applicants will be able to include their profiles when submitting program applications.
Program Location
NYU Downtown Brooklyn Campus
Program Costs
- Application fee: $50
- Tuition: $2,945
Other fees:
- UP Service Fee: $100
- Software Fee: $100
- Summer extracurricular event fee: $100
Total tuition and fees (excluding application fee): $3,245
Additional services (if applicable):
- On-campus housing (reservation required)
- Shared Room Traditional Style (NYU Campus): $TBD/week/person
- Mandatory Summer Meal Plan: 10 Meal Plan + $30 dining dollars/week: $TBD/week
- International Student Visa and Insurance
Important note: admitted students are required to make 50% of tuition and fees as a deposit to secure their seat in the program. The deposit is non-refundable due to program's running costs.
Scholarships
Scholarship application deadline: May 31, 2027
Eligibility
- Scholarships in summer are needs-based and are only available to commuter students who are based in New York and are assessed as in financial need after NYU Bursary assessment upon the submission of scholarship application.
- Scholarship application is separate from the program application. Students who are interested and eligible for scholarships must confirm their scholarship interest on their application in order to receive an invitation for the scholarship application.
- International students or students located outside of New York are ineligible for scholarships.
The scholarship will fully or partially cover Tuition only. Students still remain responsible for paying other fees.
Scholarship Instruction:
Instructions on how to apply for scholarships are automatically emailed to students 48 hours after completing and submitting the program application. Upon NYU's assessment of the applicant's financial background, applicants will be informed by email about the scholarship decision directly by the program.
Please note that the scholarship decision is official and final when announced.
On-Campus Housing
On-campus housing is optional and available to admitted students at an additional cost. You will need to reserve housing upon the successful submission of the application.
The residence will be within a 10-minute walking distance. The location will be communicated directly to students.
Age requirement
Students must reach the age of 15 years on the day of check-in. Check-in is usually on the Sunday before the program starts, unless specified.
How to reserve housing
If you would like to stay on-campus during the program, make sure to indicate so on your program application. Students will be contacted by email to complete the housing reservation.
How to Apply
Applications will open in early January 2027
Program Daily Schedule
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10:00 am
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Welcome and daily recap
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10:00 – 11:00 am
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Game Design
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11:00 – 12:00 pm
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Theme-based Workshop Time
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12:00 – 1:00 pm
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Lunch break
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1:00 – 4:00 pm
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Critical Gameplay, Expert Debugging and Development Time
(class will be dismissed at 4:00 pm)
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4:00 – 5:00 pm
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TA-Supervised Project Development Time (Optional)
I loved the hands-on nature of the course and how it felt to have a finished product at the end!
Program Weekly Schedule
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Week 1
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- Each day starts with a game design lesson* in the morning
- After the lunch break, students will reconvene for a coding lesson for the rest of the day.
*Game design lesson themes: Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics, Rules & Play, Aesthetic Design, Level Design, Audio Design
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Week 2
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- Each day you will work on production for the final game (which is made in a team). There will be lunch breaks and other breaks still.
- Design-based workshops will be introduced in the afternoons.
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Last Day: Game Showcase
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- The day starts with wrapping up production for the final game.
- In the afternoon, there will be a presentation from each team to showcase everyone's final game.
- The program ends with a commencement ceremony and awards are distributed.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: I have already applied to the program. When can I expect an admission decision?
A: Admission decisions are released on a rolling basis and typically twice a month, at the middle and end of each month. You will receive an email from NYU once the admission decision is released. If you are admitted to the program, congratulations and you need to confirm your enrollment within 7 days after receiving the offer letter.
Q: What is the enrollment process and is there any deposit?
Once you submit your application, it usually takes 1-2 weeks to receive an admission decision. The decision will be communicated by email, so make sure you closely monitor the email and take the required actions.
If you decide to accept the offer and matriculate to the program, there's a 50% program fee as a deposit. The deposit amount will be deducted from the final bill which NYU Bursar will issue once you get closer to the program start day. Please note that the deposit is to secure your seat in the program and is non-refundable.
Q: How do I reserve housing?
A: On-campus housing is administered by NYU Housing for an additional fee (not included in the price of tuition). All admitted participants who indicate interest in housing in the application will receive an email with information on housing fees and how to apply.
Q: Are scholarships available?
A: Need-based scholarships are available for qualified students who are based in New York. If interested in a scholarship, please indicate so on your program application. Within 48 hours of submitting your application for program admission, you will receive instructions on how to submit a separate scholarship application. All scholarship applications must be received by the dealine indicated above. Please submit your program application prior to April 30th to ensure you have enough time to receive and complete the separate scholarship application.
Q: When will I receive a bill for the program?
A: Students who have accepted their admission to the program will not be able to view and pay their bills immediately after their enrollment. Students will be asked to make a 50% program deposit to secure their participation. This deposit will be counted towards the full program cost.
The complete billing details are released about one month before the program starts.
Q: Can international students attend this program?
A: International students are eligible to apply for the program. They might need a Visa for entry. NYU Office of Global Services (OGS) is the resource hub and provides the necessary documentation to admitted students with Visa applications.
Q: What is it like to live on campus residence Hall during the program?
New York City is one of the world's most vibrant, culturally rich cities, and residents of NYU's residence halls are at the center of the excitement. Whether you're living in one of the residence halls centered around Washington Square in Greenwich Village, in Brooklyn Heights, or in a residence hall located in one of the city's other bustling neighborhoods, there is an endless amount of activity.
Students will be placed at one of the Residence Halls. You can find details of all residence halls on this page. More details will be provided directly to the resident students before the program.
Related Summer Programs
AI+Art Summer High School Program
Smart AI for Real Life Summer High School Program
Contact Us
CREATE Lab
This website includes the most updated information.
If you have any further about the academic content about program, contact CREATE Lab create.gamedesign@nyu.edu
Admission and Enrollment
Most of the information should have been shared by email.
If you have technical issues with the application portal, or your admission/enrollment, contact University Program university.programs@nyu.edu with your name, NYU Net ID, Program Name (Coding for Game Design), and session number.
Location
The in-person sessions will be hosted in NYU Downtown Brooklyn. CREATE Lab, 370 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
