Why study MA Interactive Storytelling Design: Video Games and Beyond at Exeter?
Master the art of crafting engaging interactive experiences for the games industry and many others, blending narrative skills with interactive design.
Gain sought-after skills in narrative design, UX, writing, creative coding and team-led project management, giving you a competitive edge in the job market.
Work at the cutting edge of narrative practice, creating experiences that entertain, educate, inspire and agitate, while exploring new types of authorship across different media and technologies.
Iteratively develop creative concepts—from design documents and storyboards to industry-standard prototypes — culminating in proof-of-concepts, MVPs and finished work for your professional portfolio.
Enhance your skills in creative and analytical thinking, tech literacy, systems thinking, AI and data engagement.
Students will work individually and in groups to design, prototype and develop their own interactive experiences.
Develop technical and creative skills in demand by employers
Varied graduate careers across many industries
Challenge-based learning combining practice and theory
Develop a strong personal portfolio of work
Entry requirements
We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or above in a subject that has some relevance to the precepts of the course (Creative Writing, English Literature, Narrative Theory, Game Design, Interactive Design, Media/Cultural Studies, Film, Journalism, Art, Games, Digital Media, History, Drama, Business, Design, UX/Interaction Design, Communication), and/or demonstrable professional experience in a related industry (film, television, gaming, cultural heritage etc.)
You should also submit a small portfolio of creative, story-focussed work which demonstrates your interest in the form.
Helping you to apply
You do not need to have lots of experience in games design, programming or any existing technical skills to apply for this course, but some experience of creative coding and interactive story design will be beneficial.
This could include some form of web design (using HTML/CSS), or the creation of small, simple interactive experiences using free, open-source tools such as , , , or similar. We would recommend that you explore some of these tools before you begin your studies.
Your submitted portfolio should include a short personal statement (maximum 300 words) explaining why you want to take this course and how you hope it will improve and evolve your creative practice and employability.
Your portfolio should also include between three and five examples of creative work that demonstrates your interest in interactive storytelling. These do not need to be code-driven projects but should demonstrate an aptitude and passion for storytelling in any form, and an understanding of how the opportunities and challenges of those forms inform the impact of storytelling.
The MA in Interactive Storytelling Design explores the ever-changing relationship between digital technology and narrative, preparing you to create dynamic, code-driven experiences in the video games industry and many others.
You will be introduced to the universal principles of computation and interactivity that underpin experiences as varied as video games, virtual and augmented reality, hybrid installation work, locative and immersive audio experiences and more.
You will grow your technical and creative skills while engaging with some of the key challenges and opportunities of this form. By the end of the course, you will have a strong portfolio of creative and critical work, and a wide overview of the many industries and roles into which these new skills can take you.
The modules below provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
120 credits of compulsory modules and 60 credits of optional modules.
You must take EASM203 Interactive Storytelling Project and EASM199 Foundations and Frontiers.
In addition, you must take at least one of EASM202 Beyond the Screen and EASM200 Writing Interactively (you can take both, with one going towards your total optional credits).
As part of your total optional credits you may take up to 30 credits from the option group English Literary Studies and Creative Writing
Where there is both a 15 and 30 credit version offered for any option module, you may only take one or the other.
You may choose all your options from the groups below, or take up to 30 credits of elective modules credits from outside the programme (subject to availability, timetabling and, where appropriate, the required prerequisites). Modules from MA English Literary Studies, MA Creative Writing, or MA Publishing may be of particular interest, but you may instead elect to take up to 30 credits from the university’s other MA programmes. This would require the approval of your department, as well as the department offering the module.
Compulsory modules
Code
Module
Credits
Compulsory 1
Foundations and Frontiers
30
Interactive Storytelling Project
60
Compulsory Choice
Writing Interactively
30
Beyond the Screen
30
Optional modules
Code
Module
Credits
English Literary Studies and Creative Writing
Modernism and Material Culture
30
Criticism and Theory: Critical and Literary Theory in a Global Context
30
World Cinema / World Literature
30
Expanding Queerness: Critical Debates in Theory, Literature, Film and Television
30
Writing Women in the English Middle Ages
30
Environments of Early Modern Drama
30
Global Voices: Shakespeare and the Early Modern World
30
Global Romanticisms
30
Text and Image: Creative Writing
30
Disunited States: Contemporary American Literature, 1970s-Present
30
Global Victorians: Making the Modern World, 1837-1914
30
Writing Women in the English Middle Ages
15
Writing Poetry
30
Writing Prose I
30
Writing Prose II
30
Aftershocks: World and Postcolonial Literatures
30
Optional 1
Ideas Generation and the Creative Process
30
Creative Management
30
Transmedia Adaptations
30
Editorial Processes and Practices: Creating Products
30
Writing Interactively
30
Beyond the Screen
30
Writing Scripts: Stage and Screen(s)
30
Global Classrooms: Health Humanities and Geographies
30
A ‘story map’ produced in one of the most popular interactive storytelling platforms, Twine.
Fees
2026/27 entry
UK fees per year:
£12,650full-time; £6,325 part-time
International fees per year:
£25,550full-time; £12,775 part-time
Scholarships
The 樱花动漫 offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with ?7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships. We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
樱花动漫 Alumni Scholarship
We are pleased to offer the 樱花动漫 Alumni Scholarship, a scholarship for 樱花动漫 alumni beginning a standalone postgraduate programme in 2026/27 with us a scholarship worth 20% of the cost of your first year tuition fees.
You'll learn to work in industry-standard tools such as Unity.
Teaching
Our teaching blends practical skills training and challenge-based learning with cutting-edge theory and research. You will participate in workshops, jams and hackathons. You will collaborate with peers, academics and industry experts on the iterative development of experimental prototypes and more complex projects. You will learn to transform creative ideas into tangible outcomes within a supportive environment, preparing you for future careers in diverse roles and industries.
Outside of the classroom you’ll also have access to alumni networks, a calendar of social events, lectures and masterclasses by industry professionals and discounted or free access to industry events.
Assessments
Assessment will take the form of both practical projects using a range of tools, as well as self-reflexive and self-critical statements, post-mortems and reports.
In your final term you will work on an ambitious individual or team-based project in collaboration with academic supervisors and industry mentors. You will also be assessed across the entire course through periodic review of a Course Design Journal, which documents your learning and creative development across the year. This journal will also serve as a valuable addition to your professional portfolio.
Facilities
You’ll access a range of world-leading facilities designed for creative innovation. These include technical resources like our Digital Humanities Labs, FAB LAB and Makerspace which feature capabilities for 3D printing, fabrication and audiovisual production. The provides flexible and inspirational spaces for workshopping and prototyping. For students interested in setting up their own business, we can offer exclusive access to specialists in for training, funding coaching, business advice and more.
Students will also access a range of digital assets, as well as a shared software library and a suite of the latest-generation games consoles.
Partners
Tap into our network of professional partners, encompassing game designers, design studios, interactive theatre makers, artists, industry strategists and national institutions. These collaborations play a vital role in the programme’s development, offering opportunities for partnerships, internships, teaching, lectures, masterclasses, mentoring and engaging events.
Local games company and MA partner Tallhead are producing the interactive mystery game 'Cradlemoor'.
Dr. Amy Cutler
Lecturer in Interactive Narrative Design
Dr Rob Sherman
Lecturer in Digital Cultures & Interactive Storytelling
Dr. Amy Cutler
Lecturer in Interactive Narrative Design
Amy Cutler is a designer and live cinema artist who creates installations, performances, and interactive experiences.
She is a winner of the Daphne Oram award for sound art innovation, and before coming to Exeter had previously held lecturing roles in other disciplines including Game Design, English, Film, Geography, Sound Design, Art-Science, and the Creative Industries.
She has partnered with archives, festivals, and institutions including the BBC, Somerset House, Kew Gardens, The Natural History Museum, Glastonbury Festival, The Exploratorium (San Francisco) and Volta Abismal (Mexico).
Dr Rob Sherman
Lecturer in Digital Cultures & Interactive Storytelling
Rob Sherman is an award-winning digital artist, game designer and a specialist in interactive narrative design, and a Digital Research Fellow at the British Library.
As an artist, consultant (through his design studio ) and academic he has explored the boundaries of the form with partners that include The National Trust for Scotland, IKEA, English Heritage, The Alan Turing Institute, The National Museum of Wales and many others.
His past work includes virtual reality experiences, video games, web art, data-driven poetry, artificially-intelligent characters, mixed-reality apps and generative bots.
Careers
Employer-valued skills
Our MA in Interactive Storytelling Design equips you with a robust set of skills highly valued by employers in today's competitive job market. You'll develop technical proficiency in game design, mechanics design, Agile methodologies, Unity and other development tools, rapid prototyping and UX design, alongside an introduction to a variety of programming practices.
Additionally, you’ll gain important general skills such as communication, leadership, innovation, collaborative learning, problem-solving, project management and planning.
Career paths
Graduates will thrive in creative, project-based roles where digital skills, communication, entrepreneurial creativity, collaboration in diverse teams and critical design thinking are essential.
Example roles include narrative designers, scriptwriters, journalists, experience designers, strategists, directors, producers, UX and interaction designers, AI developers, filmmakers, teachers, roboticists, digital artists, data artists, performance artists, web developers, interpreters, researchers, academics, creative technologists, community managers, entrepreneurs, and content creators.
Industries
You could work in diverse industries such as video games, immersive experiences, digital theatre, cultural heritage, performance art, film and television, design, advertising, events, journalism, politics, tourism, charities/NGOs, marketing, medicine, psychology, education and data science.
Employability
Across the course you will have access to exclusive networking events, employer talks and workshops and career development lectures. Students wishing to set up their own businesses will have access to entrepreneurial support from .
Career Zone
As a 樱花动漫 student, you will also have access to the Career Zone. Whatever stage you’re at, the Career Zone can help you prepare for life after university, offering quality assistance and advice throughout your course, and after graduation.
The majority of students are based at our Streatham Campus in Exeter. The campus is one of the most beautiful in the country and offers a unique environment in which to study, with lakes, parkland, woodland and gardens as well as modern and historical buildings.
Located on the eastern edge of the city centre, St Luke's is home to Sport and Health Sciences, the Medical School, the Academy of Nursing, the Department of Allied Health Professions, and PGCE students.
Our Penryn Campus is located near Falmouth in Cornwall. It is consistently ranked highly for satisfaction: students report having a highly personal experience that is intellectually stretching but great fun, providing plenty of opportunities to quickly get to know everyone.
