DigiPen offers 100 Scholarships to Saudi game developers

Saudi nationals looking to build a career in game development can now apply for one of up to 100 full scholarships to study at DigiPen Institute of Technology’s U.S. campus, with the first cohort beginning in January 2027.

Applications are open until the end of September 2026 for the program, which DigiPen describes as the first initiative of its kind for Saudi Arabia’s games industry.

The opportunity is aimed at Saudi students interested in developing the creative and technical skills needed for careers in game development. Scholarship recipients will study in the United States through DigiPen’s specialist degree programs, combining academic education with hands-on game production.

DigiPen has more than 30 years of experience preparing students for careers in games and technology. Its programs place an emphasis on practical development, with students working in multidisciplinary teams alongside programmers, designers, artists and audio specialists to produce games during their studies.

Students can pursue pathways including DigiPen’s Bachelor of Arts in Game Design and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Game Design.

The four-year BA in Game Design is suited to students interested in the creative and technical aspects of designing games. It covers systems, narrative, level and technical design, alongside user experience and user research. Students complete yearly game projects and, during their junior year, choose two of six concentrations: level design, narrative design, systems design, technical design, UX design and user research.

For applicants interested in combining game design with programming, the four-year BS in Computer Science and Game Design provides a stronger computer science foundation. Students study mathematics, physics, algorithms and artificial intelligence, as well as programming languages including C and C++, while applying those skills to multidisciplinary game projects.

The degrees can prepare students for careers across game design and development, including roles such as game designer, level designer, systems designer, narrative designer, technical designer and gameplay programmer.

With up to 100 full scholarships available, the program provides Saudi nationals interested in entering the games industry with an opportunity to gain specialist education and practical development experience in the United States.

Applications close at the end of September 2026, ahead of the first cohort beginning in January 2027. Saudi nationals interested in applying can find eligibility requirements, application details and further information through DigiPen Saudi Arabia.