Irish gamers and anyone else who has a yen for a graduate degree in a video game-related field will now be able to head to Dublin: Trinity College just announced that they will begin offering a one-year MA in "interactive entertainment technology." Partnering with some heavy hitters like Microsoft, "the course provides students with a state-of-the-art learning environment including the Microsoft sponsored XNA Gamelab - the first in Ireland." It's interesting to see the growth of game development, theory and design on an academic level, especially at some of the top universities around the globe.

The course is open to only 25 students annually, each of whom will have achieved a minimum of a 2.1 in Computer Science or a related degree. Students meeting these requirements will be required to sit an interview as part of the selection process. The course features modules delivered by world class researchers taken from TCD research groups including the graphics vision and visualisation group. The second half of the year-long course will focus on individual research on a chosen dissertation topic and contribution to a significant group project developing a complete application (e.g. a game). Students will be encouraged to build a portfolio of work and enter international competitions such as Microsoft's Imagine Cup.

Applications for Fall '07 enrollment close at the end of July, and the program will begin in October.

Trinity College partners with industry to launch new video game masters degree