Game Development Courses in Canada

 Canada is one of the most welcoming countries around the world for international students. Aside from the globally recognised degrees and quality education, you will have many perks as an international student while studying in Canada, and you will also find it relatively easy to find employment opportunities and permanent residency opportunities within the country itself.

The immigration laws in Canada make it a melting pot of cultures, attracting people worldwide. As an international student, you will be learning and working with a versatile and dynamic crowd. This opportunity can nourish your creative and imaginative side if you wish to build a career for yourself as a game developer. 

If you have entered the world of video games, you would've played or heard about these big guns: Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Gears Tactics, Immortals Fenyx Rising, and Star Wars: Squadrons. A lesser-known fact is that they were all developed and tested in Canada. Canada's game and gaming market generated annual revenue of $4.5 billion to Canada's GDP in 2019, and that number has grown since.

The Canadian gaming industry had close to 48,000 full-time equivalents in 2019, an estimated 30% growth compared to the previous two years. And 27,000 of these game developers were directly hired by top gaming companies. 

Canada is the third-largest in terms of game developers after the U.S and Japan, thanks to the skilled, creative, and talented population in the country. The average salary for a seasoned game developer or engineer is 75,900 CAD; we will discuss this later in this blog.

If you are interested in studying a game development course in Canada, continue reading for exciting insights!

Game Development as a Career | The Industry

Canada's gaming industry is the largest entertainment segment contributing $9 billion to support the government and public services. The gaming industry has evolved by many folds in recent years, predominantly due to the availability of legal gaming laws, emerging technologies, and society's demands and trends.

The Canadian gaming industry has grown by leaps and bounds, providing substantial employment opportunities and revenue generation in recent years. With newer technologies emerging, society's need for and demand for more creative and innovative games makes a career in game development an ideal choice. 

Courses and Colleges 

With the gaming industry growing exponentially, the need for specialised education and skills has also grown in recent times. Many art, design, and technology schools have introduced new streams to enrol in technical game development courses.

As an international student, you can choose from various diplomas, undergraduate and postgraduate courses to become a game developer. Each of these courses allows you to explore, learn and experiment with every aspect of game development with a practical learning experience.

Some of the best universities in Canada offering game developer courses are Centennial College & Fanshawe College.

Eligibility 

Apart from the regular requirements for an international student such as student visa, financial support, insurance, and letter of intent, here are a few common requirements that universities and institutions require from the students to process the application:

1. High School Passing Certificates with an English Credit.
2. IELTS score of 6.0 and above.
3. Portfolio of the applicant's art, design, and innovations projects.
4. For graduate courses, it is mandatory to publish certificates of undergraduate or post-secondary education in the related field. 

In some cases, a combination of education and work experience may be required or considered for admission. Read all courses and admission-related materials to understand the requirements of your dream course and university.

Fees and Duration

• Game Development course durations are typically between 1-year and 3-years, depending on the nature of your degree. Diplomas and Foundation courses are usually 1-year in duration, and degree courses are 3-years. In some cases, it may extend up to 4-years.
• To study game development courses in Canada, it is vital to factor in accommodation, transport, food, and other necessary expenses as an international student.
• Game Development Course Fees are ideally between 38,000 CAD and 77,000 CAD in tuition. The cost of materials, travel and equipment also need to be budgeted for. 

Job Scope and Salaries 

A graduate in Game Development and related fields can land a job in several roles. We've listed the top 10 positions for game developers below:

1. Game Developer
2. Video Game Artist
3. Game Software Developer
4. Video Game Designer
5. Video Game Programmer
6. Game Animator
7. Environmental Artist
8. 3D Modeler
9. Texture Artist
10. Character Designer 

On average, game developers make about 87,500 CAD per year in Canada. These pay ranges vary depending on the company, job level, talent, location, and agility.  

Here is a table to put the payscale into perspective:

Do you want to study a game development course in Canada? Connect with our expert counselors right away for guidance!