About

The education is project-oriented and provides a unique possibility for developing game design skills while also building conceptual understanding on games. Students will deepen their skills based on a personal study plan. Multidisciplinarity is emphasized by the highly diverse backgrounds of students – one can apply with any Bachelor’s degree, and the students include programmers, 3D artists, animators, creative writers, architects, and even psychologists. The New Media - Game Design and Production course is delivered by Aalto University.

The teacher network includes top game industry professionals and game scholars. The programme is taught in English, and students can write their thesis in Finnish, Swedish or English.

Learning outcomes

The core competences which the students will develop are design, project management, prototyping, research, teamwork skills, and deeper skills in their own area of game design and production.

As a graduate students have

• understanding of games as systems,

• ability to take a key part in a game production group,

• understanding of the different competences needed in game production and

• capability to critically analyse and develop established traditions

Studies can be complemented with courses from related fields such as 3D animation, interactive storytelling and interaction design. The Major Subject provides an excellent basis for an international career. A significant number of the department’s students, teachers and researchers are from abroad. Students and researchers are encouraged to network internationally and have an option to spend a part of their studies abroad.

Career opportunities

The game industry is an exciting and growing field. Studenta can find careers in game design, game programming, game art, game production, game scriptwriting and game research, depending on your study choices. Entrepreneurial skills can also be gained, e.g., through minor subject studies in the university-wide Aalto Ventures Program. Many students have started their own game companies, and all graduates will have completed projects in their portfolio.

The graduates are independent professionals who have the capacity to lead and manage the development of their professional field internationally. The curriculum of the programme is being developed in cooperation with other academic institutions and the industry, which supports the students' career planning. The Master's Theses of the students are being co-advised by external experts from the academia and the private sector.