They have the potential to educate, entertain, and move us. They have the capacity to communicate profound ideas. Do your part to define the cultural landscape of this medium by learning game design at the NYU Game Center.
Learn the creative and technical skills of digital game development from the professionals. This intensive summer program covers the various skills and disciplines that are brought together in modern game development: game design, programming, visual art, animation, sound design, and writing.
The NYU Game Center is dedicated to the exploration of games as a cultural form and game design as creative practice. This unique residential program invites a select group of students to become a part of the next generation of game designers, developers, and entrepreneurs.
Note: The Tisch Summer High School Program is not a leisure camp. While the average program runs daily, Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm, including academic classes, professional training, and/or studio and production time, students will often be just as busy in the evenings and weekends which also include curricular events and opportunities to work individually or collaborate with peers on assigned projects.
You will be enrolled in the following courses for a combined total of 6 units.
GAMES-UT 010 | 2 units
In this class, students learn to develop fundamental critical literacy about games from a formal, cultural, and social perspective. Students will look at games from multiple perspectives and look at games discussion on multiple platforms; The course will help students define and articulate their own critical frameworks when they approach games through play, readings, writing, and discussion.
GAMES-UT 050 | 2 units
This class will provide an introduction to the underlying principles of game design outside the context of any particular technical platform. Students learn how to craft a compelling interactive experience through rules and play by creating non-digital games in a number of different formats.
GAMES-UT 020 | 2 units
Students are introduced to the fundamentals of creating a playable digital game from start to finish. This will include an introduction to the basics of programming, working with engines and tools, organizing a complex creative technical project, as well as collaboration and creative teamwork.
This sample schedule is based on previous summers to give prospective students an understanding of the highly structured and rigorous training offered in the Tisch Summer High School Game Design Program. This sample schedule is an overview of one of the four weeks in the program. Students accepted and confirmed for the program will be given their actual schedule on orientation day.
Monday
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Game Development Workshop
12:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Game Literacy Workshop
3:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Game Design Workshop
11:00 p.m. Curfew
Tuesday
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Game Development Workshop
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Game Literacy Workshop
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Game Design Workshop
11:00 p.m. Curfew
Wednesday
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Game Development Workshop
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Game Literacy Workshop
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Game Design Workshop
11:00 p.m. Curfew
Thursday
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Game Development Workshop
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Game Literacy Workshop
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Game Design Workshop
11:00 PM Curfew
Friday
11:00 a.m. Studio Visit/Field Trip
11:00 p.m. Curfew
Summer 2026
Sunday, July 5, 2026 - Saturday, August 1, 2026
Additional important dates are available on the Tisch Admissions Calendar.
Summer 2026
Breakdown of costs:
Tuition for 6 units (credits): $12,012
Additional Fees Include*:
Program Fee (activities facilitated by Residential Life & Housing): $200
Housing for 4 weeks: TBA
10 meals* a week for 4 weeks: $824
*As this is a residential program, students are automatically enrolled in the 10 meals a week plan for the length of the program. Students have the option of increasing their meal plan if they wish.
Program Specific Fees:
Please review the Tisch Special Programs cancellation policy.
Students accepted to the Tisch Summer High School program live in NYU housing. Per NYU policy, students must be at least 15 to reside in housing for this program. Students will attend classes in Brooklyn and reside in NYU Housing in Manhattan for Summer 2026.
Tisch has a limited number of scholarships for high school students to attend the Tisch summer programs. Scholarships are given to students who demonstrate the most financial need.
Review the Tisch Summer High School Scholarships page for more information.
The summer 2026 application is closed.
Open to high school sophomores and juniors.
Please read through the Summer High School Application Requirements page before starting your application.
