Time: 12 January 2026 – 31 December 2026. Studies begin on 12 January 2026 at 9 am at Kotka Campus, room A4020. Participation in the orientation days is mandatory for all students. Lectures according to weekly timetables start after the orientation days. Weekly timetables for lectures are available on Timetable Manager in the end of October 2025 (Select “Group search” and paste the group code GTKT26KP > Search. Select the group from the search results > Add. Hide search results.)
Place of Study: South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk), Kotka campus, Salakuljettajantie 4, Kotka
Scope: on average 60 ECTS credits
Target group: All who are interested in these studies. The students must be fluent in English and have basic computer and Internet skills.
Requirements: no requirements
Credited in degree: Bachelor of Engineering, Game technologies
Enrolment period: 18 November – 27 November 2025. The enrolment form will open on 18 November at 9 am Finnish time (UTC+3).
Number of student places: 5
Price: Semester fee EUR 250, EUR 500 for the whole academic year. The customer pays the fee for the first semester when confirming their open path student place. The fees for the following semesters will be charged each semester. You can read more about our payment policy here.
Please note that accepting a place is binding. The fee for the first semester of the accepted study place is not refunded.
However, if you will not be starting your studies or decide to discontinue your studies later, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can remove you from the courses included in the studies. This way, there will not be a record of incomplete studies in your data. If you discontinue your studies during a semester, you will be charged the fee for the semester. The fees for the semesters following the discontinuation will be cancelled. You must inform us of the cancellation/discontinuation atavoinamk@xamk.fi.
Xamk’s degree students cannot enrol for open path studies.
Learning outcomes (objectives):
The goal of open path studies is to complete, on average, 60/ ECTS credits of core competence studies included in the degree programme in one academic year. By completing at least 50 ECTS credits, you have the right to apply to become a degree student in the degree programme.
Contents and methods:
The learning outcomes and requirements of open path studies correspond to those of programmes leading to a Bachelor’s degree. In the beginning of your studies you can make a personal study plan (PSP) together with your Studies Coordinator, taking into account your previous studies and your own wishes and goals. In open path studies, there is no credit transfer for previous studies. However, if you are admitted as a degree student, the studies you have completed may be accepted as part of the degree. The studies are conducted in the same group as degree students.
During the first year of study, you gain comprehensive knowledge of gaming industry operations. You learn to understand the game development cycle of a game or an application production. You learn to showcase your own skills and create your first published application utilizing game technologies. You begin expanding your portfolio from the start of your studies.
The Game Technology programme is conducted in English, as the gaming industry is global, providing ample opportunity to enhance your language skills.
For further information on the studies, please contact:
Studies coordinator Jani Ruotsalainen, jani.ruotsalainen@xamk.fi
For further information on degree studies, see:
Bachelor of Engineering, Game Technologies – Kaakkois-Suomen ammattikorkeakoulu Xamk
Link to the curriculum:
Game technologies, full-time studies | Study Guide, XAMK
Student selection is based on the course Motivation and Readiness for Higher Education Studies
After enrolling for open path studies, you must complete a online course on Motivation and readiness for higher education studies, aiming to assess your study-related motivation, knowledge and skills. The course’s scope is 1 ECTS credit, equivalent to approximately 27 hours of work for the student. Instructions for completing the motivation course will be sent by email by 1 December 2025. The course must be completed within one week (between 2 December and 8 December 2025).
Students are selected on the basis of the points they receive from the Motivation and readiness for higher education studies course. In the case of even scores, selected students will be determined by drawing lots. The course will be scored automatically. An approved completion requires that at least 30 % of your answers are correct and all sections must be completed.
After completing the Motivation and readiness for higher education studies course, all who have enrolled for the open path studies are notified of the selection results by email by 10 December 2025. Those who are selected must confirm their student place by 15 December 2025 at 3 pm by following the instructions they receive by email.
The selected students must pay the fee for the first semester when confirming their open path student place. The student place can only be confirmed by paying the semester fee (by 15 Desember at 3 pm). If all who are selected do not confirm their student place by the deadline, some of those on the waiting list can receive a place. They will be notified of this by email.
Xamk Pulse does not provide information about the applicant’s waiting-list position or the score of the completed course. The applicant can check their own score until the final completion date of the course by following the instructions available on the Learn platform.
Remember to also check your spam folder for possible emails from us.
Cancellation terms
Please note that enrolment for Xamk Pulse studies is binding, and it is not possible to cancel a student place free of charge. The fee for the first semester will be paid when confirming your study path place, and the fees for the following semesters will be charged at the beginning of each semester.
BYOD – Bring your own device
The BYOD policy demands students to use their own laptops. Read more here.
Study grants
Studying at the Open UAS does not entitle you to a study grant or other student benefits or discounts. In case you intend to study unemployed, please contact your local employment office (TE-toimisto) before you begin your studies.
Additional information
In case the studies begin in one of our campuses, you should bring the following documents with you on the first day of studies: passport/residence permit or official Finnish ID.
Residence permit
Students who live outside the EU and the EEA need a residence permit to study in Finland. However, the residence permit is not issued based on studies at the Open University of Applied Sciences. More info here.
From path studies to degree studies
1. You can apply to be a degree student in the Bachelor of Engineering, Game technologies -degree programme in the joint application during your open path studies if you meet the admissions criteria. More information here.
2. It is also possible to apply to be a degree student without a formal qualification in a separate application procedure organised by Xamk. This is possible after you have completed 50 ECTS credits at Xamk. More information is available here. The credits you have completed will be recognised as a part of your degree. Please note that if you are admitted as a degree student, the tuition fee for students outside of the EU/EEA is EUR 10,700 per academic year for bachelor’s degrees and EUR 13,500 per academic year for master’s degrees. More information on tuition fees is available here.
Additional information about the enrolment
The office of Xamk Open University of Applied Sciences, email openstudies@xamk.fi.
You will receive an email before your studies begin with information about starting your studies.
OUAS reserves the right to make changes.
South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences is audited by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC).