Bachelor's Degree
Jamk's Business Information Technology (BIT) is one of the few bachelor’s level programmes among Universities of Applied Sciences dedicated solely to video game development and production.
Welcome to Game Production! Here students do not only earn a BBA degree diploma - they also gain significant project work experience in different game development projects!
The objective of the Business Information Technology, Game Production bachelor’s degree programme is to develop students’ skills in game development and production. The focus of the studies follow closely the needs of the companies in the game industry. The ever-changing requirements of the corporate world are well integrated into the programme.
Our students get to learn and interact with actual companies in their studies - practical training, projects and thesis work being the most common ways to co-operate with the working life. We also offer support for those interested in participating in important game development events on local, national, or the North European level. Our programme is an active partner with the Jyväskylä Digi & Game Center, giving our students a direct line of contact with local game development companies as well as the local game development collective.
In Game Production you can learn more about Game Development, Game Design, Game Programming, Cross-reality, Gamification, Monetization, Game Art, Visual Design, Audio, and Video Editing.
Learning by doing is the main theme in this programme. This principle is utilized in almost all the modules and courses in the programme. In addition to face-to-face courses the learning goals are achieved by doing exercises and course wide assignments. The assignments can be e.g. developing a small size proof of concept game or a theme song of a game. The assessment is mostly done by recognizing the skills and knowledge face-to-face with the teacher in charge. Exams are used deliberately.
Another fundamental method is project-based learning. Students will create teams to solve given problems and create solutions. Tens of credits can be obtained by working in teams and developing own products from technical and business-wise aspects.
During the first year, students concentrate on the fundamentals of game development, such as programming, game design, game engines and visual design as skills to work in game development projects. They start working in a game development project already in the spring semester of the first year. They also acquire the necessary general working life skills.
During the second year, students continue to develop their knowledge in game development and game production. They further invest into their skills either in Game Art, Game Programming & Engines or complementary professional fields. They continue working in a game development projects each semester and focusing their skills this way. From the second year onwards, students also gain international exposure.
In the beginning of the third academic year, students participate in the TiCorporate - Games demo lab, with a focus on product development in a student-lead project. During the project, the team handles full production and publishing of a game product. The team is provided with a working life environment and infrastructure together with local game development companies residing in the Digi & Game Center. Practical training and/or an exchange period abroad is encouraged after the TiCorporate - Games project.
Game production is a creative industry with a lot of future potential and a chance for one to really express themselves creatively. Business Information Technology a.k.a BIT gave me the perfect chance to get my foot in the door in this industry.
-Valtteri Yli-Olli, Project Manager of Lumo Creations
Read the whole storyBy the end of the studies, students are able to work in demanding game development projects as professionals in the field they have chosen to focus on.
Representative careers include:
Many alumni are business owners themselves. Some students may choose to become growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial coaching activities at Jamk provide opportunities for these students to develop their ideas into growth businesses.
