Program Overview

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

Description

Game Design and Development is a multidisciplinary major in the globally recognized 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.

Degree

• Master of Arts (Art and Design)

Application Period

• 1 Dec 2025 – 2 Jan 2026

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

Tuition Fees

• For non-EU/EEA citizens, €20,000/y (Master's studies)

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.

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.

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.
• Following an academic path and becoming a researcher in the field.

Career Stories

Several alumni have found success in the game industry, including:

• Essi Jukkala, Game Programmer, Supercell
• Lauri Lehtonen, Lead Game Developer, Valo Motion
• Eveliina Aalto, Senior Game Artist, Small Giant Games
• Patrick Milvi, Lead Designer & Founder, Mopeful Games

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.

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.

Study-Option-Specific Evaluation Criteria in Master's Admissions 2026

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:

• 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)

The selection process for applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria comprises two phases:

1. Phase I: Evaluation based on suitability, including introduction videos, CV, and portfolio.
2. Phase II: Evaluation based on second-phase assignments, interview, and portfolio.

Evaluation Criteria

• Phase I: Suitability, including strong professional interest, insight into new media design, demonstrated competence, and fluent English.
• Phase II: Suitability, including second-phase assignments, interview, and portfolio.

Method of Demonstrating Competence

• Introduction video
• CV
• Portfolio
• Second-phase assignments
• Interview

Contact Information

For enquiries regarding programme-specific application documents or studies in the programme, please contact Aalto ARTS Learning Services. For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents, or English language proficiency, please contact Admission Services.