Being an indie game developer in Bangladesh is a unique and sometimes lonely journey. When I first started, there were no clear roadmaps, no mentors around me, and very few local examples to follow. Yet, every line of code I wrote, every bug I fixed, and every small game I completed brought me closer to the dream of creating meaningful gameplay experiences. I was able to create several indie game projects on my own, and I want to make many more in the future.
In a country where most people still ask, “Game development? Is that even a real career?”, you often have to explain what it is and eventually say it’s part of Software Engineering just to make people understand. I learned to grow through passion, self-learning, and online community support.
SHORT SUCCESS MOMENTS
Despite all the limitations, I created several meaningful projects. One of my proudest moments was completing my first fully playable game on my own: Captain-Zoro. Later I made Ashphalt-vs-Aviation, then moved into 2D games such as Deckmaster Unite and This is Blast. All of these are listed in my portfolio.
Another important milestone was becoming a Teaching Assistant for C and OOP. Helping students solve problems boosted my confidence and made me realize how much I enjoy teaching.
Game Development in Bangladesh
Game development in Bangladesh is still in its early stages. There is no proper place to learn it, mentor availability is almost zero, and universities do not teach real game development. Even when they do, instructors often lack experience.
Most people consider game development a hobby rather than a career. The only reliable learning sources are online tutorials like YouTube, Udemy, Coursera, etc. As a beginner and a jobless student, I could not afford paid courses, so I relied mainly on free content.
So shining from here is a big challenge.
Things That Are Wrong With Our Education System
Bangladesh’s education system is heavily theory-based and exam-focused. Creativity is rarely encouraged. Game development requires creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on practice none of which our education system prioritizes.
Only a few universities have game-related courses, but even those lack proper instructors and practical knowledge.
So What Can I Do To Learn?
Learning game development academically in Bangladesh is difficult. So the most realistic path is going abroad for a proper education.
I want to learn game development under experienced mentors and in a proper academic environment. But moving abroad is extremely expensive without a scholarship.
Universities I Searched for MSc in Game Design & Development
| # | University Name | Estimated Tuition | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Limerick, Ireland | €30,000/year | 1–2 years |
| 2 | University of Amsterdam, Netherlands | €24,432/year | 1–2 years |
| 3 | Lund University, Sweden | 270,000 SEK | 2 years |
| 4 | Uppsala University, Sweden | €11,000/year | 2 years |
| 5 | KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden | SEK 360,000 total | 2 years |
| 6 | Chalmers University of Technology | 284,040 SEK | 2 years |
| 7 | Aalto University, Finland | €40,000 total | 2 years |
| 8 | IT University of Copenhagen | €14,000–€16,000 | 2 years |
| 9 | TU Delft, Netherlands | €20,000–€22,000 | 2 years |
| 10 | TUM, Germany | €8,000–€12,000 | 2 years |
| 11 | RWTH Aachen, Germany | €4,000–€6,000 | 2 years |
| 12 | University of Stuttgart, Germany | €1,500–€3,000 | 2 years |
Only Germany is somewhat affordable, but the visa backlog makes it nearly impossible for now. Other countries have tuition fees I can never afford.
Scholarships I Found Online
| Scholarship | Country | Field | Funding | Opens | Deadline | Program Start | Application Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REPLAY Erasmus Mundus | Portugal, Belgium, Finland | Game Design | Fully funded | Oct 2025 | Jan 2026 | Sep 2026 | Apply |
| EMaCS Erasmus Mundus | Spain, Portugal, Germany | Computer Science | Fully funded | Dec 2025 | 15 Feb 2026 | Oct 2026 | Apply |
| Chevening | United Kingdom | Any | Fully funded | Aug 2025 | Oct 2025 | Sep 2026 | Apply |
| Stipendium Hungaricum | Hungary | Computer Science / Engineering / Game Dev related | Fully funded (tuition + stipend + accommodation) | Mid-2025 | Jan 2026 | Sep 2026 | Apply |
| Eiffel Excellence Scholarship | France | Science & Technology (CS eligible) | Partial (monthly €1181 + travel, no tuition) | Oct 2025 | 8 Jan 2026 | Sep 2026 | Apply |
"My goal is to earn the REPLAY Erasmus Mundus scholarship because it aligns perfectly with my passion for Game Design. I know the competition is tough, but I am working hard to strengthen my portfolio learning advanced game design concepts, studying successful applications, and connecting with current students to understand the process better"
I have already started strengthening my portfolio by learning more about game design and development, reading posts from previous applicants, and connecting with current students to understand the process better.
What If I Fail To Get the Scholarship?
First of all, I will try my absolute best to get a scholarship. But if I fail, I will continue developing my portfolio by making more small games. I will not lose hope. I will try to apply for game development jobs in Bangladesh or abroad, and I will also save money to study game development later.
I will try to connect with more indie devs worldwide to learn from them and get mentorship. My goal is to grow as a game developer no matter what. Even if I end up doing a software engineering job, I will still create games on the side.
I will apply for scholarships again next year and continue networking. If I can get a job abroad, I will move and later apply for higher studies there.
But getting a scholarship now would be a huge boost. It would give me the skills and confidence to eventually build my own indie studio and help future game developers from Bangladesh.
I believe in luck but also in hard work. When I started my game development journey, I had no idea where I was heading. I knew nothing back then. I learned through free online courses. Later I found Learnathon and got the chance to work as a Teaching Assistant.
Now I dream of earning a master’s degree in game development. I believe something good will happen. Even if it feels mystical, I trust the process.
"Life is uncertain. We never know what is waiting for us. But the real strength is knowing your next move because giving up was never an option."← Back to Blog
— Md Iftakhar Kabir Sakur