Game Design and Development is a multidisciplinary major in the globally recognised Aalto School of Science. 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:
Want to hear more about Game Design and Development? Watch the webinar recording where programme representatives and students tell more about the studies and answer some of your questions.
The tuition fee for this programme is 17 000 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.
The Master’s Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences (CCIS) and the major Game Design and Development comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. The two-year programme consists of:
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:
More information on the programme content and curriculum can be found in the Student Guide.
Learning methods
The programme 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.
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.
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:
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.
Completion of the MSc (Tech.) degree makes you eligible to apply for doctoral studies, for example, in the School of Science at Aalto University or other universities in Finland or abroad.
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:
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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6oxGbFQu8g
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
Graduates from the School of Science at Aalto University have very good employment prospects in positions corresponding to their education. On this page, you can find information about employment and career development five years after graduation.
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.
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.
Game Design and Development applicants meeting the general eligibility criteria for master's studies are evaluated according to the below Evaluation criteria. The evaluation process is described under Evaluation process. In addition to the obligatory application documents, this study option asks the applicants to submit also the documents listed under Requested documents.
Applications to Game Design and Development - Computer, Communication and Information Sciences, Master of Science (Technology) are evaluated based on the following criteria:
| What is evaluated? | Applicant’s overall suitability to the study option, based on background, experience, motivation, and commitment for studies. |
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What we look for in an applicant? |
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| Method of demonstrating competence |
The phase I suitability is evaluated using the introduction videos* that summarize the key points from the portfolios and CVs. For the applicants with the best videos, also CV and portfolio are considered in detail. *) See the instructions on how to make the video at Requested documents. |
| What is evaluated? | Grades of the previous degree(s) and pace of studies |
| What we look for in an applicant? |
Overall good grades and excellent grades in one or more areas relevant to game development, e.g., computer graphics, software engineering, mathematics, machine learning, artificial intelligence. The recognition and quality of the applicant’s home university affects the final interpretation of the academic performance. The minimum GPA for applicants from Finnish universities of applied sciences is 4.0. Meeting the minimum GPA does not guarantee admission to the programme. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| What is evaluated? | Contents and scope of previous studies compared to demands/contents of study option applied to |
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What we look for in an applicant? |
A bachelor’s degree in a technical area related to game development, e.g., computer science, media computing, human-computer interaction, mathematics. In particular, all applicants are expected to have completed university-level courses in mathematics (e.g., linear algebra) and computer programming and/or software design. |
| Method of demonstrating competence | Transcript(s) of records, degree certificate(s) |
| What is evaluated? | Applicant’s capability for independent creative work, analytical thinking, and communicating the results. |
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What we look for in an applicant? |
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| Method of demonstrating competence | 2nd 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. |
| What is evaluated? | Applicant’s further suitability to the study option, motivation, and commitment for studies, communication skills. |
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What we look for in an applicant? |
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| Method of demonstrating competence | Interview, portfolio |
The selection process for those who meet the general eligibility criteria comprises of two phases.
Phase I
In Phase I, the applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:
These criteria will be assessed based on the materials sent by the applicant, including the introduction video, CV, and portfolio.
Only the applicants who are ranked the highest in the preliminary evaluation will be invited to Phase II in the selection process. The invitation to Phase II is sent to the applicants 7 days in advance at the latest.
Phase II
In Phase II, the evaluation is based on the following criteria:
In this phase the applicants are asked to complete a set of preliminary assignments sent to them before the interview. To be interviewed, the applicant must return the preliminary assignments, otherwise the interview time will be cancelled. During 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 presented to the applicant.
The final selection decisions will be made based on the evaluation conducted in Phase II.
In addition to obligatory application documents, applicants are requested to provide the following programme-specific documents:
*) The lack of this document will cause rejection.
All study-option-specific materials should be submitted in English.
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.
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Do you want to study in the Nordics in Finland? At Aalto University science and art meet technology and business. We believe in the power of curiosity and encourage our students to explore the unknown as well as to learn and do things in a whole new way.
Finland’s excellent reputation in education, combined with a wide range of courses offered in English, makes Finland and Aalto University an attractive study destination for international students.
We are an internationally-oriented community and home to world-class research in modern computer science.
Learning Services at Aalto University School of Science
For enquiries regarding the programme-specific application documents or studies in the programme, please contact Learning Services of Aalto University School of Science
Admission Services
For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admission Services