These students make up Cohort 21 in FIEA’s top-ranking game design and development program. More than half (39 students) received fellowships totaling $142,500. Scholarships totaling $7,500 were also awarded to three students from industry-leading partners Electronic Arts and Iron Galaxy Studios.

Coming to UCF from four different continents and 27 leading universities around the world, the incoming class has earned degrees from the University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of Utah, Cornell University, DePaul University, Manipal Institute of Technology, University of North Florida, University of Wisconsin Madison, Florida Polytechnic University, University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Florida State University, Savannah College of Art and Design, SUNY Empire State College, and many more.

The group will study 3D art, tech art, animation, tech design, level design, project management and programming with renowned FIEA faculty in FIEA’s lock-step program. After four semesters of building games and prototyping together in various combinations of groups simulating collaboration in the industry, these grad students will hone their skills and build portfolios and resumes, preparing them to enter the video game, film, simulation and other tech-related fields in December 2025.