Study options

Game Design and Development - Art and Media, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

Are you a creative innovator who wants to advance games as an artform? In Aalto University’s Game Design and Development major, you will join a select group of students who are redefining the future of the games. The major will provide you with the latest knowledge and skills you need to deepen your talent in game development. Since Finland is a game industry hub, the programme co-operates closely with top Finnish video game companies, preparing you to thrive in the Nordic game industry.  You will graduate with a Master of Arts degree from this major. For the more technically oriented students, there is also a "sibling major" which results in a Master of Science degree: Computer, Communication and Information Sciences.
Climbing wall

Degree:

Master of Arts (Art and Design)

Application period:

30 Nov 2023 – 2 Jan 2024

Language of instruction:

English

Duration:

2 years, full-time

Eligibility:

Relevant Bachelor's degree

Field of study:

Art and Design

Credits:

120 ECTS

Organising school:

School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Applying to master’s programmes

Description

Game Design and Development is a multidisciplinary major in the globally recognised Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture. As the top game design and development programme in Finland, the major offers a unique mix of courses exploring both the artistic and technical aspects of game development. This major produces visionary, out-of-the-box thinkers with the ambition to push the boundaries of game design.

Using a project-based, “hands-on with minds-on” approach, the major cultivates a strong community of select students from highly diverse backgrounds. The programme welcomes students with any Bachelor’s degree who have experience in game development or have other applicable skills. Accepted students have included programmers, 3D artists, animators, UX designers, creative writers and sound designers – even architects and psychologists.

Upon graduating from the Game Design and Development major, you will have:

  • A wealth of skills and knowledge fuelled by the latest research, technologies and design tools. The programme’s “hands-on with minds-on” approach will deepen your existing expertise and build a strong set of cross-disciplinary skills based on your personal interests.
  • A deep understanding of games and game players from a psychological and behavioural viewpoint. You will be able to analyse and design games that are entertaining and engaging from an emotional and cognitive perspective.
  • A visionary and groundbreaking mindset to shape the future of games. You will build the confidence and experience needed to make your unique vision come to life and bring forth a new generation of games.
  • The capability to take responsibility for various design decisions. You’ll be able to effectively adjust to unforeseeable and changing situations that may arise during game design and development processes.
  • The skills to thrive in creative collaboration, concept development, design and project realisation. You will build the strong interpersonal skills developed through multiple games created in teams. You’ll be ready to carry out creative work as part of culturally diverse and transdisciplinary teams.
  • The readiness to work in the Nordic game industry. During your studies, you will be introduced to the unique, low hierarchy working culture in the Nordic game industry.
  • An extensive portfolio of games. You will have a strong portfolio of completed projects, which will help you break into the game industry or leverage your current career path.

Language of instruction

The language of instruction in this major is English.

Tuition fees and scholarships

The tuition fee for this programme is 20 000 euros per academic year. Citizens of European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland do not pay tuition fees. Citizens of other countries must pay tuition fees.

Aalto University offers a small number of scholarships in the form of tuition fee waivers to fee-paying students. Scholarships can be awarded to the highest-achieving applicants based on the programme's evaluation criteria. Applicants are ranked according to the criteria outlined on the programme's webpage.

More information on tuition fees and scholarships at Aalto University is available at the Scholarships and Tuition Fees webpage.

Structure of studies

The Master's Programme in Art and Media, major Game Design and Development, comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. The two-year programme consists of:

  • Major (40–65 ECTS)
  • Possible minor (20–25 ECTS)
  • Elective studies (25–35 ECTS)
  • Master's thesis (30 ECT)

In the programme, you will have the freedom to put together a study plan based on your specific areas of interest. The compulsory courses will give you a broad understanding of game design and set the foundation for your unique expression. Optional courses will allow you to complement your core competencies with fields such as 3D animation, interactive storytelling, interaction design, and machine learning and AI tools for art and design.

Additionally, you may choose courses from all Aalto schools according to your personal study plan. We strongly suggest that you venture outside your comfort zone, as the greatest ideas often happen at the intersection of disciplines.

Throughout the courses in the Game Design and Development major, you will be immersed in a wide range of topics such as level design, game balancing, games user research, industry trends, and game design psychology. The programme’s extensive curriculum includes courses such as:

  • Games Now!
  • Game Design
  • Advanced Topics in Game Design
  • Analysis, a.k.a. The Science of Game Design
  • Game Project I & II

Learning methods

The major follows a “hands-on with minds-on” approach that forms a dynamic combination of theory and practice. Through various group projects, you will develop your communication and negotiation skills as well as advanced project management skills. In the Game Project I & II courses, you will pitch, design, develop and publish games together with others.

Teaching is based on cutting-edge research and science on both game design and emerging technologies, exemplified by alumni-led startups such as Valo Motion. The teacher network includes both game industry professionals and games scholars. The programme also welcomes internationally acclaimed visiting specialists and guest speakers.

Other learning methods include regular excursions to game companies, industry and peer feedback, as well as thesis advisors from the industry. There are also multiple visits organised to international game industry events in Finland and abroad during the studies.

More information on the programme content and curriculum can be found in the Student Guide.

Master's Programme in Art and Media

Specialisations

The nature of the Game Design and Development major is multidisciplinary, and you will be helped to craft a personalised study plan based on your background, goals and interests. Your study plan can also include a minor on any relevant topic such as entrepreneurship, Virtual Reality, or 3D animation.

Internationalisation

As the game industry in Finland and abroad is strongly international, the topics and themes in the Game Design and Development major are universal and global. The major will prepare you to thrive as a top-level expert in any country in the world, with a focus on Nordic game development culture and values such as diversity, equality, and relatively flat hierarchies. As the major attracts a high number of talented students from all over the world, you will also be a part of an international community of highly skilled students.

In addition, you can develop your global competencies by:

  • spending a semester at one of Aalto University’s partner universities around the globe
  • taking a summer course abroad
  • carrying out practical training abroad
  • carrying out master’s thesis research abroad
  • acting as a tutor for first-year students

Moreover, Aalto University is international by nature, welcoming thousands of degree and exchange students from abroad every year. These students join the diverse Aalto community not only through studies but also via multiple free time events, celebrations, and extracurricular activities around the campus. Active tutoring programs and support services work hard to help international students integrate into the Nordic culture and feel at home in Finland.

Further study opportunities

Completion of the MA degree makes you eligible to apply for doctoral studies, for example, in the School of Arts, Design and Architecture at Aalto University or other universities in Finland or abroad.

Career opportunities

Students graduating from the programme are valued employees amongst Finnish and Nordic game companies as well as abroad.

Typical career paths can be divided into three main categories:

  • Working in a game studio as, for example, a game designer, game artist, programmer, producer or scriptwriter.
  • Taking an entrepreneurial path and starting one’s own company. Our best student games, such as Pako, Shadow Bug, and Fashion Police Squad have enjoyed worldwide success and critical acclaim.
  • Following an academic path and becoming a researcher in the field.

Here’s what some notable Finnish game companies say about the program:

“I studied at Aalto University myself more than 20 years ago and now I’m very happy to see programs like Game Design and Development that provide a very relevant basis for working in the game industry. We already have several people here at Remedy who have graduated from this program such as Sebastian Eriksson (Alan Wake 2 Core Engine Lead) and Anne-Marie Grönroos (Alan Wake 2 Lead Mission Designer). Hoping to see many of you visiting our office in Espoo!” ,

Joonas Tamminen, Executive Producer of Alan Wake 2 by Remedy Entertainment  

“Many of us at Valo Motion have an Aalto University background, with a notable number from our development team having graduated from the exceptional Game Design and Development program at Aalto. We’re eager to organize a live tour and game testing sessions for you during your studies. Take a peek at our office, discover what it’s like to work at Valo Motion, and see what we’re passionate about in our welcome video.

The Finnish gaming industry is full of fascinating companies, and we’re sure you’ll discover exciting opportunities here!”

Raine Kajastila, CEO of Valo Motion

Research focus

There are a number of research groups at Aalto focusing on games from different perspectives. Topics include but are not limited to gameplay innovation through emerging technologies, exergaming, motivation and emotion in games, the study of games as created (game design praxiology), and the interplay between game mechanics and game narrative. Aalto researchers are also applying and utilising games in various contexts like medical technology and design games, and many students have found internship and thesis positions in Aalto research groups.

Co-operation with other parties

Game design is a multidisciplinary field by nature, bringing together experts from various backgrounds. The programme embraces a multidisciplinary approach that supports the development of “T-shaped” skills, providing you the benefits of both specialisation and generalisation. The programme strongly embraces collaboration across disciplines, which fosters creativity and provides you with a breadth of knowledge. All students are encouraged to take on individual study paths, enabled by the large variety of elective courses available.

Overall, Aalto University is well-known for bridging disciplines of business, arts, technology and science. The lively campus and freedom of choosing elective courses across the university brings students from different fields under one roof. This spontaneous multidisciplinary environment sparks new ideas, brings enthusiasts together and gives birth to friendships, networks, and every so often, startups.

Study-option-specific Admission Procedure and Evaluation Criteria 2025

Applicants meeting Aalto’s general eligibility criteria for master's studies will be evaluated and ranked according to the evaluation criteria that has been decided in advance for each study option. The applications to Master’s Programme in Art and Media - Game Design and Development are evaluated based on the following criteria.

Applying to master’s programmes

The next gaming revolution

Beyond the confines of the commercial gaming industry exists a diverse and thriving gaming culture offering virtually unlimited possibilities and potential.

Learn more about game design
AaltoARTS_LongRead_Shorthand_Gaming revolution_illustration_Strahinja Jovanović.

Webinar | Game Design and Development

Want to hear more about Game Design and Development? Watch the webinar recording from fall 2020 where programme representatives and students tell more about the studies and answer some of your questions.

Watch the recording
Person climbing on an augmented climbing wall

Follow us!

Contact information

Learning services of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture

For enquiries regarding programme-specific application documents or studies in the programme, please contact Aalto ARTS Learning Services.

[email protected]

Admission Services

For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admission Services.

[email protected]

  • Published:
  • Updated: