Media Arts – Game Design and Interactive Media

Academic Eligibility

First-year students: To be eligible for admission, freshman students must have met/be on track to meet all upper/senior secondary school requirements with the equivalent of a 2.5 GPA to be automatically considered for admission to undergraduate programs.

Transfer students: Transfer students must have graduated from secondary school and completed at least 12 university-level credits (1 semester) with the equivalent of a 2.0 GPA.

UM Undergraduate Admissions uses a 4.0 unweighted scale to determine GPA. If your school does not calculate GPA, we will calculate it for you when we evaluate your academic records. 

Documents for Admission

Secondary school students/graduates: Please submit academic transcripts/mark sheets for grades 9-12 and secondary school leaving certificates, exam results or diplomas showing secondary school completion (if applicable)

Students who have completed at least one semester (12 U.S. credits) of university or post-secondary study: university transcript/mark sheets/exam results listing all courses, grades and credits/hours and diplomas/graduation certificates (if applicable). Students who qualify for transfer do not need to submit secondary school documents.

English translations: All documents not originally issued in English must also be accompanied by word-for-word English translations. You, the applicant, can make the translations yourself.

Admission consideration for international applicants can proceed with unofficial documents. Unofficial documents are photocopies or scans of original academic documents submitted to University of Montana directly by you, the student. Unofficial documents can be uploaded to your admission portal.

Experiential learning in the media arts degree at UM

Compete nationally against eSports teams at other colleges. Gain real-world experience through internships with design firms in Missoula. As a media arts major with a focus on game design and interactive media, you'll have numerous opportunities to challenge yourself, develop practical job skills, and build your professional portfolio.

Career development in the media arts bachelor's degree program

Becoming a successful video game designer takes more than coding and technical skills. It's also about networking, finding opportunities that match your interests and skills and being able to work as part of a team. At UM, these are all areas in which we help give you an edge – from the personal mentorship of your professors to network-building opportunities on campus and beyond, to practical skill development that will prepare you for the real world.

Media arts scholarships

Get help paying for your degree in media arts. We offer several scholarship opportunities specifically designed for media arts majors, ranging from $500 to $2,000, and $5,000 scholarships for students in the game design and interactive media concentration. Learn more about media arts scholarship opportunities at the University of Montana.

1. Complete an online application
2. Pay the application fee
3. Submit required application documents

• English language proficiency requirements
• Academic records
• Financial information
• Copy of passport
• Transfer form (for transfer students only) 

You can also download our International Admissions Checklist to help you submit all required materials.