Game Design and Development - Art and Media, Master of Arts (Art and Design)
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Description
Game Design and Development is a multidisciplinary major that offers a unique mix of technical and artistic aspects of game development. The major produces visionary, out-of-the-box thinkers who have the ambition to push the boundaries in the world of game design. Using a project-based, hands-on with minds-on approach, the major in Game Design and Development cultivates a strong community of students from highly diverse backgrounds. Students can apply for the major with any Bachelor’s degree, and accepted students include programmers, 3D artists, animators, creative writers, architects, and even psychologists.
Graduates of the programme will graduate with a Master of Arts (Art and Media) degree. Aalto University School of Science offers a “sibling major” of the same name that leads to a Master of Science (Technology) degree (diplomi-insinööri in Finnish). The M.Sc (Technology) path is recommended for students with a strong technical background, and students should apply according to the academic degree they wish to have. Content-wise the two programmes are similar and organised in close collaboration with one another.
Upon graduating from the Game Design and Development major, graduates will have:
- Deep understanding of games and game players from a psychological and behavioural viewpoint. Graduates are able to analyse games and determine what makes a game entertaining. They also understand the emotional and cognitive aspects of human beings and know how to design engaging gaming experiences.
- Wealth of skills and knowledge fueled by the latest research, technologies, and design tools. The “hands-on with minds-on” approach allows students to deepen their existing expertise and build a strong set of cross-disciplinary skills based on their personal interests.
- Extensive portfolio of games. Graduates will have a portfolio of completed projects, which helps in getting into the games industry.
- A visionary and groundbreaking mindset to shape the future of games. Graduates have the confidence and experience needed to make their unique vision come to life and bring forth a new generation of games.
- Capability to take responsibility for various design decisions. Graduates can effectively adjust to unforeseeable and changing situations that may arise during the design and implementation processes.
Language of instruction
In the programme, the language of instruction is English.
Tuition fees and scholarships
Aalto University’s tuition fee for master’s programmes taught in English is 15 000 euros per academic year. Tuition fees apply to citizens of countries other than those of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
Aalto University has a scholarship programme to support non-EU/EEA citizens who study in a fee-charging degree programme. The scholarship may cover 100% or 50% of the tuition fee.
More information on tuition fees and scholarships at Aalto University is available at the Scholarships and Tuition Fees webpage.
Structure of studies
The programme is tailored so that students have the freedom to put together a highly personalised study plan based on their specific areas of interest. The compulsory courses intend to give students a broad understanding of game design, i.e. set the foundation for their unique expression. Optional courses allow students to complement their core competencies with fields such as 3D animation, interactive storytelling, sound design, interaction design, and machine learning and AI tools for art and design.
Additionally, students may choose courses from all Aalto schools according to the personal study plan. It is strongly suggested that students venture outside their comfort zone as the greatest ideas often happen at the intersection of disciplines.
Topics
Through the courses in the Game Design and Development major, students are immersed in a wide range of topics such as level design, game balancing, games user research, and game design psychology. To give concrete examples of the topics covered, here are some courses picked from the programme’s extensive curriculum:
- Games Now!
- Game Design
- Computer Graphics
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Introduction to 3D Animation
- Introduction to Sound Design and Music
Methods
The programme follows a hands-on with minds-on approach that forms a dynamic combination of theory and practice. Through various group projects, students develop their communication and negotiation skills as well as advanced project management skills. Communication skills are practiced not only through teamwork but also by developing and pitching game concepts, as well as creating game marketing materials.
A concrete example of developing students’ creativity and proactivity is the Game Project course where students design, develop and publish their own games. The faculty finds it crucial to help students develop a strong game design portfolio that enables them to stand out in the industry.
The teacher network includes both games 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 on students’ games, as well as thesis advisors from the industry. There are also multiple visits organised to international games industry events in Finland and abroad during the studies.
Overall, 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)
Personal Study Plan (PSP)
The Personal Study Plan (PSP) is a practical tool to define a student’s own study path, compiling an optimal selection of courses that are aligned with the student's interests and programme requirements. PSP is also a useful tool for students to keep track of their studies. At its best, it shows where students are with their studies and sets concrete milestones for them to follow.
More information on the programme content and curriculum can be found in the Student guide.
Specialisations
The nature of the Game Design and Development major is multidisciplinary and each student will receive a personalized study plan based on their background, goals and interests. Game Design is taught to all as it connects to all aspects of game development and we want our students to have a holistic understanding of games, but apart from that, the specific courses any student should take depends on the study plan.
Internationalisation
The topics and themes in the Game Design and Development major are universal and global, and thus graduates can take their skills to any country in the world. As Finland is a gaming industry hub, the programme attracts a high number of international students. In addition, students can develop their 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
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 a graduate eligible to apply for doctoral studies, for example, doctoral studies in the School of Arts, Design and Architecture at Aalto University.
Career opportunities
Video and mobile games are a thriving industry both in Finland and abroad, and the career opportunities pertaining to the creation of games are growing continuously. 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 and Shadow Bug have enjoyed worldwide success and critical acclaim.
- Following an academic path and becoming a researcher in the field
Thanks to the flexible curriculum, many Aalto students work already during their studies and guarantee themselves industry positions before graduation. There is also a very active entrepreneurship community at Aalto, working as a springboard for founding a company.
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 utilizing games in various contexts like medical technology and design games.
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 students the benefits of both specialisation and generalisation. While students have the opportunity to dive deep in a single field of their interest, the programme strongly embraces collaboration across disciplines which fosters creativity and provides students with a breadth of knowledge. Students are also encouraged to take on very unique and personalised 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 bring students from different fields under one roof. This spontaneous multidisciplinary environment sparks new ideas, gathers enthusiasts around them and gives birth to friendships, networks, and every so often, startups.
Study-option-specific Admission Procedure and Evaluation Criteria 2024
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.
Phase I
| Suitability | |
| What is evaluated | Applicant’s overall suitability to the study option, based on background, experience, motivation, and commitment for studies. |
| What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements |
|
| Method of demonstrating competence |
Introduction video, CV, transcript of records (courses and grades), and other materials (e.g, links to an online portfolio, videos of completed games, Github, Artstation…) will be evaluated as a whole. Note that if you provide links in a .pdf file, the links may be broken when the files are processed by the admission system. Thus, full URLs must be visible to ensure that the evaluators can access them. Please also note that the evaluators will not be able to download and install any software. |
Phase II
| Suitability | |
| What is evaluated | Applicant’s capability for independent creative work, analytical thinking, and communicating the results. |
| What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements |
|
| Method of demonstrating competence |
Second phase assignments The assignments are revised each year, but it is reasonable to expect, e.g., a board/card game design exercise with a given theme, and writing a short essay. |
| Suitability | |
| What is evaluated | Applicant’s further suitability to the study option, motivation, and commitment for studies/communication skills/ assessment of second phase assignments |
| What we look for in an applicant/Admission requirements |
|
| Method of demonstrating competence |
Interview, portfolio |
The applicants will be first evaluated based on Aalto’s general eligibility requirements. Applicants meeting the 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 selection process for applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria comprises of two phases:
Phase I
In Phase I, the applicants are evaluated based on the following criteria
- Suitability
- Strong professional interest towards game design and/or game production
- Insight into new media design and research related to games
- Demonstrated competence in a skill relevant to making games, e.g., visual art, programming, sound design, creative writing.
- Fluent English (both oral & written)
These will be assessed based on the materials sent by the applicant, including a CV and an introduction video.
Only the applicants who fulfill the requirements/are ranked highest in the preliminary evaluation will be invited to phase II in the selection process.
Phase II
In Phase II, the evaluation is based on the following criteria
- Suitability/Second phase assignments
- Suitability/Interview, portfolio
- Strong professional interest towards game design and/or game production
- Insight into new media design and research related to games
- Demonstrated competence in a skill relevant to making games, e.g., visual art, programming, sound design, creative writing.
- Fluent English (both oral & written)
These will be further assessed based on preliminary exercises that applicants have to make in the second stage and an interview, where also a portfolio of earlier work is presented.
Part of the applicants are invited to the second phase. The invitation to the second phase is sent to the applicants at latest 7 days in advance.
In the second phase the applicants should complete a set of preliminary exercises that we send them before the interviews. To be interviewed, the applicant has to return the preliminary exercises, otherwise the interview time will be canceled. In the interview, the applicants should be prepared to present and discuss a portfolio of their previous work and projects. There will also be other questions about the applicant.
The final selection decisions will be made based on the evaluation conducted in Phase II.
The documents requested from all applicants are listed on the Aalto University website (https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-at-aalto/applying-to-masters-programmes). In addition, applicants to this study-option are requested to provide the following study-option-specific documents:
Portfolio
A portfolio is not needed in the first stage, but if the applicant has one, it’s good to provide the link for us in case we want to get more information about the applicant.
Maximum size of the Portfolio is 1.0 GB. Name the file Portfolio-lastname-firstname.pdf.
CV
- Applications must include the applicant’s CV (single PDF-file) indicating personal data, educational background, work experience, exhibitions, publications and articles, awards and grants, study trips and positions of trust. As a game applicant, please also add links to videos or other audiovisual documentation of your games or related work such as interactive computer graphics. Note that we will not be able to download and test executable software binaries or source code. Name the file CV-lastname-firstname.pdf
Introduction video
Each applicant should submit a short video (max 2 minutes) where they tell about themselves, their background, and interests in English. Please include at least a shot where you introduce yourself, speaking to the camera. You can film this using a smartphone camera—we do not expect the applicants to own professional video production equipment. Additionally, you may edit in other content such as gameplay clips of games that you have made. Note that the videos are now required in place of traditional motivation letters, because the letters are very easy to fake using tools like ChatGPT. The video should be submitted as a link in a pdf file named Introduction-video-lastname-firstname.pdf. The link can be to an unlisted or private YouTube video, for instance. If the video is password-protected, the password must be included in the pdf. Please make sure that the link is clickable or can be easily copied from the pdf.
Note that if you provide links in a .pdf file, the links may be broken when the files are processed by the admission system. Thus, full URLs must be visible to ensure that the evaluators can access them. Please note also that the evaluators will not be able to download and install any software.
Language of application documents
Application documents must be written in one of the following languages: Finnish (Swedish) or English.
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.
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.
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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.
Admission Services
For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admission Services.