Degree Programme in Game Design

Opintojen tavoite

During your studies, you will get familiar with different methods and tools required in making games. The studies cover a wide range of different study subjects with an emphasis on game design with an opportunity to extend the skillset to other areas of game development such as 3D modeling, game development and game art. The studies aim to provide competence in the global game design industry with hands-on experience.

The students develop their design skills and learn to use professional tools through working on their own game projects. During these projects, different game design concepts and prototypes are explored to improve the students’ aesthetic, production, design thinking, communication, and teamwork skills and competences.

Graduates of the programme are able to design and create games and interactive products to meet the needs of customers and end users.

Koulutuksen sisältö

The Degree Programme in Game Design consists of six core competence modules, including practical training and a thesis, as well as complementary competences, including optional studies. Your knowledge as a game designer increases and the content of studies follows certain themes:

In the first year, you become familiar with the principles of game design, tools and software as well as project-based work.

In the second year, you further develop skills in pre-production, character and environment design, game development as well as game production. You will be developing your first proper game as part of a team.

In the third year, you adopt knowledge and enhance your game design skills, and form an understanding of game business and development practices through a development project.

In the fourth year, you develop personal competitiveness through practical training and thesis.

The core competence of the degree programme covers 165 ECTS credits through the following modules:

* Common studies: you develop your skills in studying, communication and languages as well as in acquiring employment.

* Design fundamentals: you become familiar with the basic principles and methodologies in art and design. You develop and fine-tune your digital portfolio.

* Game design: you learn the basic methods, tools and software required to make games as well as extend your skills in narrative, level as well as user interface design.

* Games art: you learn the foundations of how to create 2D and 3D game assets as well as how to animate them.

* Games development: you learn how to develop games through project based work.

* Games production and business: you learn how to work as part of a team and manage your production pipeline. You advance your knowledge of game business.

* Thesis: you further your knowledge and knowhow of a specific area of game design through an independent research and development project.

The supplementary competence of the degree programme covers 75 ECTS credits that you build based on your own learning goals. Example modules:

* 3D Environment design: you learn different aspects of environment design from concept art and level design to 3D modeling through developing your own game environment.

* VFX in games: you learn procedural game development, shading, lighting and rendering.

* Advanced 3D: you advance your knowledge in 3D through hard surface modelling and 3D sculpting.

* 3D Character design: you advance your skills in character design, animation and 3D modeling skills.

* Xamk Game Studio: you work in multidisciplinary team from pre-production to launch.

* Practical training 30 ECTS credits

The objective is to promote professional growth by increasing the students’ awareness of the field-specific work tasks and by supporting the students to work as members of a work community.

Optional studies 10 ECTS credits

Optional studies provide the opportunity to develop your own entrepreneurship, specific areas of game design or deepen your understanding of other fields: you can study courses from other degree programmes to meet your own objectives or focus.

Opintojen toteutus

You can study Game Design both as online learning (part-time) and daytime (full-time) studies. In both options the aim is to gain approximately 30 ECTS every semester and both options follow the same curriculum. Please read more about the options below. Both options start in September.

Online learning (part-time) studies

This is an option for you if you need to incorporate your studies with work or if you are not able to live near the campus. Students study from home and should be prepared to attend online sessions 1–2 days a week (Monday – Friday from 9am till 4pm, Finnish time UTC +2 EET). The rest of the studies is either group or independent work on your own time. Students are expected to have their own device and software to work on their assignments. Online studies do not provide eligibility for a residence permit in Finland.

Daytime (full-time) studies

Students work on campus from Monday to Friday. This is for you if you value peer support and the network of your classmates on a daily basis. You are able to utilize the software and hardware available at Meduusa Studio where most of the instruction takes place. The facilities are also available for students to use outside the classroom time in the evenings and during the weekends. This means that there is no requisite to have your own device.

Possibilities to speed up your studies

If you are able to present evidence and demonstrate your prior learning, you can apply for recognition of prior learning for studies completed at universities or skills acquired through work. This allows you to concentrate on learning new things and makes it possible to speed up your studies.

Study support and guidance

At the beginning of your studies, we will make a personal study and career plan (PSP) that will support you in your studies, practical training, thesis and exchange plans.

Study guidance provides you with important information and advice during the various stages of your studies. The starting point for studying and study guidance is that you take responsibility for your own studies. However, you will be supported by student representatives and tutors that help you with the study environment and study practices.

The services of the local health care centre, Study Psychologist and Student Wellbeing Advisor are there to support you with your studies as well.


Scholarship scheme at Xamk

Students whose studies progress well (completes 55 ECTS credits during the academic year), will be refunded 50% of the paid fee.


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 organisations
* projects carried out at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences
* examinations
* practical training.



Study guidance and counselling

Xamk supports students in different ways in all matters related to their studies. Your studies are supported by the Studies Coordinators and tutors who guide you in questions concerning the study environments, study practices, and similar. The services of the Student Affairs Advisors, Student Wellbeing Advisors, Study Counselling Psychologists, and student health care personnel are also available on the campuses.

BYOD –  Bring Your Own Device 

According to Xamk’s BYOD policy, students must bring and use their own devices on campus. Game Design students are not obliged to have their own computer on campus.

Uramahdollisuudet

Studies in Game Design enable students from different cultural backgrounds to build an international career. The degree gives you competence through research and development assignments to become an expert in specific areas of game design, supporting your own career plans. During your studies, you devise your own game projects with the aim of building your own design portfolio that helps you with your employment in the future.


As a Bachelor of Culture and Arts in Game Design you can become:

* game designer
* 3D modeler
* level designer
* user interface and/or user experience designer
* entrepreneur in game design

TKI ja työelämäyhteistyö

At Xamk you have an opportunity to work in projects used as learning environments which combine students, teachers and representatives of the world of work. Previously, students have, for example, created game assets, art and design for several research and development projects carried out at the university as well as pitched their game ideas and created games for various companies and organizations.

Through research and development projects you adopt an analytical, critical, research-oriented and reflective approach in the field of game design. You learn to use different methods of qualitative, quantitative and design research and can implement them in your own study. You are able to:

creatively and critically apply your knowledge in a game design process

set targets, define the research question and the frame of reference for your project

choose the appropriate research methods for the project

analyze how the chosen methods help answering the research question and draft a report with references.

Besides skills, competences and attitudes gained during project work, attending events and working with industrial partners provides you with opportunities to develop your networks. You can achieve references, make connections and get to know the industry, companies and stakeholders, which is essential for the future.

Koulutuksen oppimisympäristöt

Our Meduusa Studio presents students with up-to-date equipment which enables the development of new projects for various platforms. In addition to traditional classrooms facilities, we have a studio with a motion capture facility and rooms for independent project work. The newest addition to the studio space is an LED wall with virtual production technology.

Students can borrow drawing tablets, digital cameras, game consoles and VR equipment for testing purposes and for their own development projects. All the software and hardware needed is on campus which means that Game Design students do not need to bring their own computers to campus.

The studio is also a great location to run game jams, LAN parties and seminars. In addition to the studio space, there is a sauna at Meduusa Studio that students have utilized during these events.

A lot of the study material is also available online which makes it possible for you to study in your own time as well.

Outside Meduusa Studio, we collaborate with the Degree Programme in Information Technology, located in Kotka, which focuses on game programming.