The first university-level Game Development program in Kazakhstan with modern infrastructure and industry-experienced instructors
We combine strong academic foundations with hands-on development practice in professional environments, including game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity, Godot) and computer graphics tools (Blender and Autodesk Maya).
The program is designed and approved by experts from game companies such as XSOLLA, Grand Mobile, and Wargaming. Education takes place at a university with modern infrastructure and instructors from the game industry.
A strong university foundation combined with practice-oriented learning and project-based work.
Students receive a state-recognized diploma with the opportunity to defend a game as their final thesis project.
Students work in teams, collaborate with mentors, and build portfolios that reflect real development skills.
Participation in research initiatives allows students not only to study theory but also to apply it in practice.
Bachelor Level — 4 years / 240 ECTS
Fundamentals of game design, game analysis, introduction to narrative design. You will learn what makes games engaging and enjoyable.
Programming, game engines, and artificial intelligence. Work with Unreal Engine, Unity, Godot, and learn C# and Blueprints.
3D graphics and interactive design. Creation of models, textures, and animations in Blender and Autodesk Maya. VFX and visual effects.
Advanced Unity and Unreal Engine courses, project management, and team development.
Game publishing, marketing, entrepreneurship in the industry, promotion strategies, and post-release support.
Opportunity to defend your diploma by creating a full-scale game, turning your own concept into a finished product.
A game designer is responsible for the game concept, mechanics, balance, and user experience. You will learn how to design game systems, write design documents, and turn ideas into well-structured gameplay mechanics.
A programmer implements game mechanics, AI systems, physics, and networking. You will master C# and Blueprints programming, game engine architecture, and design patterns.
A technical artist and researcher creates visual content, shaders, procedural generation systems, and works at the intersection of art and technology. You will study 3D modeling, animation, VFX, and research-driven approaches to development.
A direction not limited to the game industry. You will gain strong fundamentals in web development, programming, gamification, computer architecture, databases, OOP, algorithms, software engineering, and product analytics.
Our program combines strong academic foundations with practice-oriented education to prepare specialists in game development. Throughout their studies, students work with industry tools such as game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity, Godot) and computer graphics software (Blender and Autodesk Maya).
In addition to programming, artificial intelligence, game systems, and graphics, students develop their own interactive projects in production-like environments.
Students develop their own interactive projects in conditions close to real production.
Guidance from game industry professionals. Mentors support students with projects and career growth.
Participation in scientific research in games, procedural generation, VR/AR, and game studies.
Opportunity to defend a diploma by creating a full-scale game based on your own concept.
Fundamental knowledge from experts.
Skill development through assignments and exercises.
Development of real game products.
Exploring new technologies and trends.
Bachelor's Degree — Game Development Disciplines
This academic course aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the gaming industry. It explores the history and evolution of video games, the structure of the production process, the distribution of roles within a team and the fundamental principles of game development.
This academic course develops fundamental skills in game development using C#. Students study the principles of game programming and real-time systems management, providing a foundation for further study of professional industry tools.
This course introduces students to the main game engines, including Unity, Unreal Engine and Godot. During the semester, students explore the interfaces, underlying principles and key features of each engine, develop small-scale projects and compare different approaches to implementing game mechanics.
This course has been created with the widest possible audience in mind. You will find out which departments make up a game studio and how they all work together, learn to analyze games and understand what makes them boring or fun, and also try your hand at making games in Unity.
A continuation of the Game Design course. Deepened study of game design with project work in Unity, analysis of game mechanics, and creation of full-fledged prototypes.
At this course we will be looking at how video games change society, education and business. What is gamification and serious games? This course will give a deeper understanding of why we play, why we make games and why we study them.
This course introduces Unity and basic C# for creating simple games. Students will enhance existing projects, learn industry workflows, and understand computer graphics for optimization and creative design. By developing their own games from concept to release, they’ll gain practical experience and portfolio-ready projects.
The course provides an in-depth examination of Unity Engine capabilities and addresses architectural design approaches for building more complex games. It covers the reconstruction of game systems from various genres, the application of graphics programming techniques, and optimization for multiple platforms.
The course introduces the fundamentals of Unreal Engine 5, including its interface, tools, and core processes. It focuses on technical aspects such as working with environments, lighting, physics, and programming game mechanics and logic.
This course examines advanced systems in Unreal Engine, including procedural generation, large open worlds, in-engine animation tools, and multiplayer functionality. It also covers the use of C++ for custom actors, components, and Blueprint nodes.
This academic course explores the application of AI and context-aware design technologies in the gaming industry. Students learn how to integrate AI into the development process, optimize production stages, and use intelligent systems to support the creative workflow.
This course will cover the core concepts of rendering 3D graphics. Students will write their own Raytracing- and Rasterization-based renderers. Clever application of math concepts will help students to achieve realistic and stylized image effects.
This academic course deepens students’ knowledge of game design. It focuses on the principles of game system design and balance, the interaction between mechanics and dynamics, and the development of skills for designing complex game structures.
Developing video games is a complex task. This course introduces programming patterns that simplify the development process, making projects easier to manage and deliver. Students learn techniques for controlling complexity and streamlining development.
This course examines the internal structure of game engines. Students are introduced to the key systems that underpin them, including rendering, animation and input systems. Real-world examples from existing games support the theoretical foundations.
The course aims to develop skills in product analytics, including data collection and analysis of user behavior, product metrics, A/B testing, and data-driven decision-making for optimizing product performance.
This course focuses on managing and commercialising game projects. It covers the key stages of product development, from market analysis and business models to promotion strategies, publication, and post-release support.
This course introduces the fundamentals of 3D object modelling in Autodesk Maya, focusing on polygonal modelling, PBR and hand-painted texturing, and lighting. Students create assets and export them to game engines.
This course gives students knowledge about the production of 3D models using Blender. The course is built on a combination of theoretical principles and practice on real projects to help students build their own 3D modelling portfolio.
This course introduces the process of 3D character creation, covering modelling, texturing, rigging and animation. Students design original characters and prepare animations for use in games or films using tools like Substance Painter and 3DCoat.
The course covers 3D physics such as explosions, dynamics, cloth and water simulation. It examines methods for simulating realistic physics in a 3D environment using Autodesk Maya, plugins, and scripting in MEL and Python.
The course covers video post-processing, including assembling rendered sequences, video editing, compositing live-action footage with 3D graphics/VFX effects, and creating 2D animations using green screen or 3D-rendered imagery.
This course introduces AR and VR development using Unity. Students create immersive experiences ranging from image and face tracking to interactive VR games. Through hands-on projects, they learn the tools and techniques behind extended reality, building creative and technically sound prototypes for their portfolios.
Diploma Project: An opportunity to defend a game as a graduation thesis at KBTU.
Contact us for more information about admission to the Game Development educational program.