Study Guide

Objectives

Game engines, the core software used to create and develop video games, are now being employed beyond their traditional domain. In the realm of film and television production, game engines are being utilized to create more immersive and visually captivating content. They enable real-time rendering of high-quality 3D graphics, which significantly enhances the visual effects and animations in these productions. In the field of simulations, whether for training purposes in industries such as aviation and healthcare or for research in scientific disciplines, game engines offer realistic, interactive, and dynamic environments that can mimic real-world or hypothetical scenarios with impressive accuracy.

The content of the Game Technology engineering degree is developed in close collaboration with professionals working in the gaming industry and companies and communities utilizing game technologies on their products. As game technology and the gaming industry are constantly evolving, acquiring new knowledge is crucial for engineers specializing in game technology.

Utilizing game technologies requires strong technical skills such as programming and leveraging various interfaces. It also requires creativity and courage to try new methods. Technologies familiar from games are utilized in different sectors to provide users with new types of content in both traditional and interactive media.

Upon completing these engineering studies, you will be able to utilize the latest game technologies to design, test, and implement gaming and utility applications. You will understand the user and be able to consider their habits when implementing products utilizing new technologies. During the studies, you will also acquire comprehensive knowledge of general engineering skills.

During your studies, you can participate in varied work projects. These projects are initiated based on the needs of the business world, providing you with valuable workplace experience. A well-executed work project often leads to employment opportunities!

Through project-based education, you will develop your skills in collaboration with companies and experts in the gaming industry. You are also able to develop and publish your own game or utility applications, ensuring you have a portfolio that best represents your skills.

English is predominantly used as the working language in the gaming industry, and almost all materials are produced in English. The teaching materials in this degree programme are based on international industry-validated sources.

International events and networking are essential parts of the gaming industry culture, and our degree programme supports this by enabling students to participate in various gaming industry events.


Your employment is important to us

It's possible for you to find employment during your studies. You can work in companies and publish commercial gaming products or utility applications during your studies. Xamk's Gamelab learning environment allows you to integrate work into your studies. This means that you can work in the gaming industry and earn credits for agreed-upon tasks with the company.

If you see yourself as a new entrepreneur in the gaming industry, you can promote entrepreneurship in your studies. This allows you to develop and publish your own gaming products from the get-go.

Degree programme description

After completing your studies in game technology engineering, you will be able to design, test, and implement a gaming product or utility application that incorporates the latest industry practices and techniques. You'll have opportunities to engage in real-world assignments or develop your project studies.

During your first year of study, you gain comprehensive knowledge of gaming industry operations. You learn to understand the game development cycle of a game or an application production. You learn to showcase your own skills and create your first published application utilizing game technologies. You begin expanding your portfolio from the start of your studies.



In your second year, you expand your expertise in traditional engineering skills, grasp the importance of design and testing, and learn how a game or program evolves from a concept to a finished product. You learn to understand the significance of user experience and have the chance to utilize various game technology products, enhancing your design capabilities. Your portfolio will expand through project-based studies and products developed during the different courses.

The third and fourth years of your studies focus on project work, specifically on the development of games or utility applications. You apply your accumulated knowledge in designing user-friendly and immersive products from conception to release. Over the final two years of your studies, you refine your portfolio, which will support your employment prospects. You also prepare a thesis demonstrating your readiness to enter your career path.

Practical training (30 ECTS credits) promotes your professional growth and supports your path to the game industry.

The Game Technology programme is conducted in English, as the gaming industry is global, providing ample opportunity to enhance your language skills. Throughout your studies, you have the chance to build strong national and international networks. A key factor in the success of the gaming industry is its open culture and communities. During your studies, you have opportunities to participate in several gaming industry events both nationally and internationally.


Complementary competence at Xamk

Complementary competence comprises students’ optional studies. Complementary competence deepens or expands the core competence of the degree programme and allows you to specialize in a particular area. For professional optional studies, you can choose from individual courses or study modules in accordance with your personal study plan. The complementary competence selection includes Xamk-level multidisciplinary online studies, field-specific studies, and degree programme specific studies.

Other optional studies included in complementary competence are higher education courses that students can freely choose. You can choose up to 15 ECTS credits of other optional studies. You may also complete complementary competence study modules or courses from the selection of other higher education institutions, where applicable. The scope of complementary competence is, depending on the scope of core competence studies, 45–120 ECTS credits in degrees comprising 210 credits and 60–120 ECTS credits in degrees comprising 240 credits.

Implementation of studies

The studies in Game Technology are daytime studies. You will study at the new Kotka campus. The lectures and project work are from Monday to Friday. Daytime studies offer you valuable peer support and the opportunity to network with other game development students.


Flexible study opportunities

At the beginning of the studies, you prepare your personal study plan (PSP) which helps you make choices related to the studies, practical training, bachelor’s thesis and international activities. We make every effort to ensure that you can plan your studies in the best way possible, according to your own life situation.

The studies are implemented using various methods:

- lectures
- independent assignments
- teamwork
- online studies
- projects with companies and other organizations
- projects carried out at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences
- examinations
- practical training.

Career opportunities

Your career opportunities can be

- Game Developer
- Technical Artist
- Front-End Developer
- UI/UX Developer
- Quality Assurance
- Developer
- Programmer
- Software Developer
- Game Audio or Sound Engineer
- Game Producer
- IT Consultant
- Entrepreneur in Game Industry
- Startup Entrepreneur
- Freelancer

Learning environments

Gamelab

The Gamelab learning environment provides a modern workspace with efficient and constantly evolving tools, allowing you to develop your ideas propelled by the latest technologies. We utilize the same tools for work as game industry companies.

Gamelab is actively involved in various gaming industry networks, including Neogames and IGDA Finland Kymenlaakso Hub. We maintain continuous collaboration with the gaming industry and software companies.

Gamelab serves as the hub of our education, where students come together regardless of their year of study. In this space, we work on project-based real game and application productions. Community is one of the pride points of our education. Our alumni actively participate in events and our Discord game study communities. Community spirit is also evident in active participation in various Game Jam events, which are a natural part of your studies.