Jyväskylä Game Education Hub
Study games where education, industry and community meet
Jyväskylä is one of Finland's leading destinations for game education, offering a unique combination of hands-on game development, academic expertise and strong industry connections.
Whether you want to create games, understand players and game cultures or build a career in the global game industry, Jyväskylä offers opportunities to develop your skills, gain practical experience and build professional networks.
Studying games in Jyväskylä, Finland, means joining a community where education, research and industry work closely together. As a student, you’ll learn from professionals, collaborate with fellow students and build connections that can support your future career.
Here you will find:
- An active game development community
- Close collaboration with industry
- The Jyväskylä Digi & Game Center ecosystem
- International study opportunities
- A welcoming and student-friendly city in the heart of Finland
Together, these elements create a unique environment for studying games.
4,300
35 %
270
*Source: Neogames Finland: The Finnish Game Industry Report 2024
The game industry combines creativity, technology and international career opportunities. Beyond programming and art, professionals work in areas such as audio, storytelling, business, marketing, production, player experience, quality assurance and research.
Graduates can pursue careers as game producers, developers, designers, QA specialists, community managers, UX researchers, marketing professionals, entrepreneurs and game industry consultants.
In Jyväskylä, you can develop the practical, analytical and collaborative skills needed for a wide range of careers in the game industry. Game technologies are increasingly employed in other fields, and we offer opportunities to apply your skills in areas such as industrial simulation and media production.
Jyväskylä offers opportunities to study games at both bachelor's and master's levels.
The Bachelor's Degree Programme in Game Production at Jamk University of Applied Sciences focuses on practical game development and its international business opportunities, while the Master's Degree Programme in Game Studies at the University of Jyväskylä explores games, players and game cultures through research.
Whether your goal is to create games, understand players or contribute to the future of the industry through research and innovation, the two programmes offer complementary perspectives for different academic backgrounds and career goals.
Learn by making games
Bachelor's Degree Programme in Game Production at Jamk
The Bachelor's Degree Programme in Game Production focuses on the practical side of game development.
You'll work on real projects, develop technical and creative skills, collaborate in multidisciplinary teams and prepare for careers in the international game industry.
Who are the Game Production studies suitable for?
Perfect for you if you want to:
- Design and build games
- Learn game production workflows
- Work closely with industry
- Develop skills in use of immersive technologies
- Pursue employment as an expert in various industries
Understand games, players and game cultures
Master's Degree Programme in Game Studies at JYU
The Master's Degree Programme in Game Studies explores games through research, culture, design, communities and societal impact.
You'll gain a deeper understanding of games as cultural, technological and social phenomena while developing analytical and research skills.
Who are the Game Studies suitable for?
Perfect for you if you want to:
- Study games and gameplay
- Understand game cultures and communities
- Explore gamification and societal impact
- Build expertise for research and specialist roles
- You already have a relevant bachelor’s degree.
- Pursue academic career by applying to doctoral studies
In Jyväskylä, learning extends beyond your degree programme. The local game community brings together students, researchers, developers, entrepreneurs and game enthusiasts throughout the year.
As a student, you can engage with the community and develop your competence through:
- Industry collaborations
- Game development projects
- Internships
- Research and development activities
- Game jams and events
- Industry meetups and networking events
- Board game meetups
- Game Research Days
- Esports events
Among other benefits, these experiences help you build a portfolio during your studies.
Supported by a growing game community
A key part of the Jyväskylä's game community is Expa Game Business Co-operative / IGDA Finland Jyväskylä Hub, one of the most active game industry hubs in Finland.
Expa also runs Finland's only Unreal Authorized Training Center recognised by Epic Games and the northernmost UATC in the world.
The Digi & Game Center, operated by Expa, is the platform and home for companies, game industry education programmes, projects and partnerships, events and game community activities in Jyväskylä, Central Finland.
Frequently asked questions about studying games in Jyväskylä, Finland
Why study games in Jyväskylä?
Jyväskylä brings together game education, research, industry collaboration and an active game community in one student-friendly city. Students can gain practical experience, develop professional skills and build industry connections throughout their studies.
Can I study game development in Finland?
The Bachelor's Degree Programme in Game Production at Jamk in Jyväskylä focuses on practical game development, multidisciplinary teamwork and game production processes. Students develop their skills through projects and hands-on learning.
What is the difference between Game Production and Game Studies?
Game Production at Jamk is a bachelor's degree programme that focuses on the practical processes of designing, developing and producing games. Game Studies at the University of Jyväskylä is a master's degree programme that examines games, players, game cultures and the societal impact of games through research and analysis. Because the programmes are offered at different degree levels, they have different eligibility requirements and admission criteria.
Which game education programme is right for me?
The Bachelor's Degree Programme in Game Production may be a suitable option if you want to create games and develop practical production skills. The Master's Degree Programme in Game Studies may suit you if you already have a suitable bachelor's degree and if you want to deepen your academic understanding of games, players and game cultures. Because the programmes are offered at different degree levels, they have different eligibility requirements and admission criteria.
What career opportunities does game education provide?
Depending on your education, interests and expertise, you may pursue opportunities in game development, production, design, quality assurance, player research, marketing, community management, business development, entrepreneurship or academic research.
How can I connect with the game industry during my studies?
Students can build industry connections through, for example, projects, internships, game jams, research activities, meetups and networking events. Expa Game Business Co-operative / IGDA Finland Jyväskylä Hub and the Digi & Game Center support Jyväskylä's game community and its connections with the industry.
Explore the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Game Production at Jamk and the Master's Degree Programme in Game Studies at the University of Jyväskylä to find the study path that matches your goals.
Before applying, check each programme's curriculum, eligibility requirements, admission criteria, application period and application instructions.
Pia Kreus
Head of Department, Education
School of Business
Global Education
Jamk University of Applied Sciences
+358400964551
pia.kreus@jamk.fi
Tanja Väliaho
Senior Lecturer
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department of Music, Art and Culture Studies
University of Jyväskylä
+358503043131
tanja.valisalo@jyu.fi