GAME course structure
What will your experience in the Master’s programme in Game Studies look like? If you choose to enroll, you will follow a structured pathway through core and elective courses, and this section shows you what areas of study you will explore.
The programme takes two years to complete and consists of 120 ECTS credits in total. This typically means around 30 credits per semester. In the first year, you will mainly take compulsory courses that introduce key theoretical and methodological approaches used in contemporary Game Studies. These courses provide a shared foundation for all students.
In the second year, you will focus more on developing your own research interests, choosing elective courses, and writing your Master’s thesis, with support from the compulsory thesis seminars.
Compulsory Courses (1st year + part of 2nd year)
A set of core theoretical and methodological courses introduces key perspectives in game studies, media studies, sociology of media, and research methods. This core forms the backbone of the programme and establishes a shared theoretical foundation for further specialization.
- History of Computer and Video Games (6 ECTS) – An introduction to the historical development of digital games, their genres, technologies, and cultural functions.
- Introduction to Game Studies (6 ECTS) — Overview of foundational concepts, approaches and debates within Game Studies.
- Player Studies (6 ECTS) – Theoretical and empirical approaches to studying players and player communities.
- Game Industry Production Studies (6 ECTS) – Analysis of production practices, labour, and institutions shaping the game industry.
- Game Studies Reading Seminar (7 ECTS) – Joint reading and critical discussion of essential academic texts.
- Media Sociology for Game Studies (6 ECTS) – Introduction into concepts from media sociology needed for studying games as a part of the society and of cultural industries.
- Methodology of Social Sciences for Game Studies (6 ECTS) – Introduction to social science research methodology relevant for game-related research.
- Community Content in Game Culture (6 ECTS) – Analysis of user-generated and participatory content in contemporary game communities.
- Representation in Games (6 ECTS) – Cultural, ideological, and political dimensions of representation in digital games.
- Methodology of Game Research (7 ECTS) – Practical training in designing and conducting research in game studies.
- Game Journalism and Marketing (6 ECTS) – Media practices, game journalism genres, and promotional strategies in gaming.
Total compulsory credits: 68 ECTS
Compulsory Thesis Preparation Courses (2nd year)
- Game Studies Thesis Seminar I (8 ECTS)
- Game Studies Thesis Seminar II (8 ECTS)
These seminars provide structured guidance for defining the thesis topic, formulating research questions, selecting methodology, and writing the thesis.
Total thesis-related credits: 16 ECTS
Elective Courses
A set of elective courses allowing for further thematic and methodological specialization within the field. The following options are available, depending on individual research interests and focus:
- Game Industry Internship (6 ECTS) – The students can fulfil this course by executing a 150-hour internship at a digital game production studio or publisher, esports organization, content creation agency, game festival, game-focused news outlet, or another relevant game-related organization of their choice.
- Role-Playing Game Studies: Research Seminar (6 ECTS)
- Gender and Games Seminar (6 ECTS)
- Game History Seminar (6 ECTS)
- Psychology of Digital Games (6 ECTS)
- Games as an Art Form (6 ECTS)
- Political Economy of Communication (6 ECTS)
At least 24 ECTS must be earned from these elective courses.
The selection of elective courses may be expanded over time.
Optional Courses
Additional 12 ECTS credits must be earned from optional courses. These may include courses from other programs and departments at the faculty or across the university, provided they are open to students from other fields. This obligation can also be fulfilled by taking additional courses from the abovementioned list of elective courses (on top of the necessary 24 credits).
State Final Examination
The State Final Examination consists of two parts:
- Defense of the Master’s Thesis
- Oral examination based on theoretical and methodological concepts relevant to the thesis
The oral part is not based on a fixed list of questions but directly relates to the thesis topic, its theoretical framework, and methodological design.
