Bachelor of Culture and Arts, Game Design

The Degree Programme in Game Design consists of six core competence modules, including practical training and 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 as well as game production.  
• 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.

Full-time and part-time studies

In full-time studies, start in September 
Students work at the campus in Kouvola from Monday to Friday. This is for you if you value peer support and the network of your classmates on a daily basis. 

Part-time studies, start in January
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 come to Kouvola campus approximately every three weeks for two days (Thursday and Friday from 9am till 6pm). The rest of the studies is independent work in your own time.

The core competence of the degree programme covers 105 ECTS credits through the following modules:

• Working life skills: you develop your skills in studying, communication and languages as well as in acquiring employment.
• Foundation studies: you become familiar with the basic techniques of drawing and painting and develop your skills in game design.
• Tools and software: you learn the basic tools and software required in game design.
• Games in context: you advance your knowledge of game business models and the cultural context of games. You develop and fine-tune your digital portfolio.
• Thesis: you further your knowledge and knowhow of a specific area of game design or game art through an independent research and development project.

The complementary competence of the degree programme covers 90 ECTS credits through the following modules:

• Pre-production skills: you develop your skills in level design, script writing and game design research through developing your own game concept as a member of a team.
• Environment design: you learn different aspects of environment design from mise-en-scene and concept art to 3D modeling through developing your own game environment.
• Character design: you advance your skills in character design from character development to drawing and animation and 3D modeling through developing your own character.
• Game production: you advance your skills of development platforms, user interface design and project management through your own development project.
• Game development: you gain a better understanding of scripting for game engines, 3D modeling and 3D animation that you can utilize in your own game project.
• Advanced game project: you develop your own game in a team from start to finish. You will deepen your practical skills and theoretical knowledge of game mechanics and the key areas of your professional interests.

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 15 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.

Teaching language is English and you have to write Thesis’s work also in English.

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. 
 

You can become:

• game designer 
• game artist  
• 3D modeler of assets, characters and environments 
• level designer  
• user interface and/or user experience designer  
• entrepreneur in game design