In Summer 2025, 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.
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 2025.
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.
Summer 2025 Program Dates
Session 1: 07/07-07/18, 2025 (In person)
Session 2: 07/28-08/08, 2025 (In person)
Notes:
Please indicate a second preferred session on your application, in case your first option is no longer available. Session 1 and 2 share the same content.
Program Costs
Tuition: $2,745
In addition to tuition, the following fees will also be charged:
Fees:
- $50 non-refundable application fee upon submitting your application (for all students)
- $100 UP Service Fee
- $50/week ($100 for the two-week long program) summer extracurricular event fee to participate in events (for admitted students)
Other Fees (if applicable):
- Student on-campus housing and required meal plan
- Shared Room Traditional Style (Brooklyn Campus): $319/week/person/week + mandatory Meal Plan
- Weekly Meal Plan pricing can be found on NYU Summer Housing Website
- 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.
Scholarships
The Deadline to Apply for Scholarships is April 30, 2025
The scholarship will fully or partially cover Tuition only. Students still remain responsible for paying other fees.
Scholarships in Summer are needs-based and are only available to commuter students who are based in New York. International students or students located outside of New York are ineligible for scholarships.
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. Please note that scholarship funding is limited.
Housing
Housing requirement: High School Groups must be affiliated with NYU and organized by University Programs. All participants must be at least 15 years of age before the start of their housing reservation.
On-campus housing is available for an additional fee for interested participants. You will need to reserve housing upon the successful submission of the application.
If you would like housing, please indicate so when asked on your application. If admitted, you will receive an email with instructions on how to purchase housing. All participants will be housed on NYU's downtown Brooklyn campus where the program will be conducted.
The residence will be within 10 minutes walking distance and the location will be directly communicated to students.
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.
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:
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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.
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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. Program participants will be housed on NYU's Brooklyn campus where the program will be conducted.
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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 April 30th, 2024. Please submit your program application prior to April 30th to ensure you have enough time to receive and complete the separate scholarship application.
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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.
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A: Participants who have accepted their admission to the program will be able to view and pay their bills once they have been enrolled.
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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.
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Located in Downtown Brooklyn, NYU's Residence Hall is an 18-story building, housing over 400 NYU students in both traditional and apartment-style suites. The residence includes student lounge access on each floor and laundry facilities in the basement. Our 12 Resident Assistants (RAs) and one Faculty Fellow-in-Residence are here to help facilitate community building, enhance your academic experience, plan events, and provide support during your time at NYU. Check out the Video
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
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