Summer 2026 application will open in January 2026.
Please come back to apply.
In Summer 2026, 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.
Starting from Summer 2026, this program will introduce a new workshop 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 in 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!
Age Requirement
Our program is accepting students who will be entering sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school in Fall 2026.
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.
Program Dates
Session 1: 07/06-07/17, 2026 (In person)
Session 2: 07/27-08/07, 2026 (In person)
Notes:
Please indicate a second preferred session on your application, in case your first option is no longer available. Sessions 1 and 2 share the same content.
Program Location:
NYU Downtown Brooklyn Campus
Application Fees:
$50 non-refundable application fee upon submitting your application (for all students)
Program Costs:
Tuition: $2,845
Other fees:
- $100 UP Service Fee (for admitted students)
- $100 summer extracurricular event fee to participate in events (for admitted students)
Optional Fees (if applicable):
- Student on-campus housing (reservation required):
- Shared Room Traditional Style (NYU Campus): $376/week/person
- Mandatory Summer Meal Plan for residents: 10 Meal Plan + $30 dining dollars/week: $206/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
The Deadline to Apply for Scholarships is April 30, 2026
The scholarship will fully or partially cover Tuition only. Students still remain responsible for paying other fees.
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, which is separate from the program application.
- International students or students located outside of New York are ineligible for scholarships.
Scholarship Instruction:
Instructions on how to apply for scholarships are automatically emailed to anyone 48 hours after completing and submitting an 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.
Housing
IMPORTANT - What's new for Summer 2026:
Due to the renovation of NYU Brooklyn Residence Hall, exclusively for summer 2026, students who decide to live on campus during the program will be placed at NYU Manhattan Residence Hall.
Students will need to commute by New York Subway from the Manhattan campus to the Brooklyn Campus. The commute time is about 15-20 minutes. More details to be released directly to the students.
Age requirement:
Students must be more than 15 years old on the Sunday before checking in at the residence hall.
Housing reservation:
If you would like on-campus housing, please indicate so on your program application. Students will be communicated directly about the deadline and forms to complete the housing reservation.
How to Apply
Please come back in early 2026 for Summer 2026 application.
Program Daily Schedule
10:00 am
Welcome and daily recap
10:00 – 11:00 am
Game Design
11:00 – 12:00 pm
Theme-based Workshop Time
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Lunch break
1:00 – 4:00 pm
Critical Gameplay, Expert Debugging and Development Time
(class will be dismissed at 4:00 pm)
4:00 – 5:00 pm
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
Week 1
- 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
Week 2
- 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.
Last Day: Game Showcase
- 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.
I just enjoy this class in general, learning all the aspects of what makes a good game.
Frequently Asked Questions:
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
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.
Admitted Students
Please see our Admitted Students Page for more information.
Location
The in-person sessions will be hosted in NYU Downtown Brooklyn. CREATE Lab, 370 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Google Map