Master of Social Sciences in Game Studies
Tampere, Finland
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
03 Jan 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 12,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* per academic year for non-EU/EEA students
Introduction
Creating a playful future
Master's Programme in Game Studies provides an in-depth view of the fundamental character of games and play.
Expanding from entertainment to other areas of life, games have grown into a form of culture and human interaction that is a crucial part of our social life and current media landscape.
The program is particularly targeted at training experts on games and play. We approach games and play from the interconnected perspectives of games, game players, the production of games, and games in cultures. These four perspectives open up to the following four areas: analyzing the meaning and form of games and play; understanding the people who play games and the game cultures they create; addressing questions relating to the creation and development of games, and making sense of the societal and cultural framing of games.
The program will give you the academic skills needed to analyze, observe, and understand the developments in this field of study while also encouraging a more pragmatic involvement and hands-on attitude as an expert in games and play.
Graduates typically combine the skills and knowledge derived from this program with previous studies and proficiencies that enable them to work in various professional roles, in research, the public sector, as well as in industry. The possible jobs of graduates include researchers, industry professionals, critics, and specialists working with the interpretation, evaluation, and implementation of games and related fields, such as social media.
The program is founded on the long history of education and research conducted at Tampere University’s Game Research Lab. At Tampere University, this internationally acclaimed research group coordinates the Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies funded by the Academy of Finland from 2018-2025.
Admissions
Curriculum
Study contents
This Master's Programme provides an in-depth view of the fundamental character and development of games and play. Expanding from entertainment to other areas of life, games have grown into a form of culture and human interaction that is a crucial part of our social life and current media landscape.
The program is particularly targeted at the questions of analysis, design, and application of games from the interconnected perspectives of games, game players, game developers, and game cultures. It will give you the academic skills needed to analyze, observe, and understand the developments in this field of study while also encouraging a more pragmatic involvement and hands-on attitude with games and playful design.
The program is founded on a long history of education and research conducted at Tampere University Game Research Lab. In 2018-2025, this internationally acclaimed research group coordinated a Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies funded by the Academy of Finland.
Co-operation with other parties
In addition to studies in one’s own Master's Programme, students may take full advantage of the teaching offered by the Tampere higher education community ranging from social sciences and humanities to technical and vocational studies in various fields.
Research focus
The research initiatives of GS teaching faculty are organized under TRIM, Tampere Research Center for Information and Media. TRIM is a multidisciplinary research institution for basic and strategic research on the internet and interactive media, with key research themes ranging from game research and information and media practices to information retrieval. The Tampere University Game Research Lab carries out innovative research in games and play and builds bridges from research to action in its various collaborations. In 2018-2025, the Game Research Lab coordinated a Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies funded by the Academy of Finland.
Scholarships and Funding
Tampere University Tuition Fee Scholarships
Tampere University tuition fee scholarship is an exclusive opportunity awarded to a limited number of the best-performing applicants in each programme.
Tampere University tuition fee scholarships awarded at admission cover 50% of the tuition fees for the programme duration.
Early bird offer
While Tampere University scholarships are available to a limited number of applicants, the early bird offer is available at admission to all fee-paying students. The early bird offer gives a 1500 € reduction on the programme tuition fee during the first year of studies.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Graduates typically combine the skills and knowledge derived from this program with previous studies and proficiencies that enable them to work in various professional roles, in research, the public sector as well and in industry. The need for a knowledgeable workforce is growing in the fields related to games and interactive media, but the students should adopt an active attitude in fashioning their specific areas of expertise and professional profile.
As a graduate, you can take up multiple work roles that relate to the research and development of games as well as to the application of gameplay and game design for various purposes. Working as a university-educated expert in this rapidly developing field requires solid research and communication skills combined with an active and independent mindset, and willingness to explore and innovate new approaches to understanding and applying interactive media into practice.
The possible jobs of graduates include researchers, developers, critics, and specialists working with the interpretation, evaluation, and implementation of games and related fields like social media and gamification.
Further study opportunities
This master's degree provides the required background if you wish to pursue doctoral studies in game studies and related fields, for example in Tampere University’s Doctoral Programme in Media, Communication and Performing Arts (DPMCP)