Studies
XR Design Will Become Game Design
We’d like to share some exciting news about the future of our programme and the development of our neighbouring degrees in Metropolia.
XR Design will be changing its name to Game Design, starting from autumn 2027.
This change is part of a larger development: Metropolia getting a kind of a game education cluster that brings together multiple game related programmes, such as Game Design (us), 3D Game Art, Game Development (this is called Information Technology Degree, but one of their majors is Game Applications), and potentially a new Master’s degree focused on leadership in games and creative technologies.
Being part of this growing cluster will open up new opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and connections across different programmes. The cluster is not an official thing yet, but we are discussing it with other programmes.
We are building on the strong foundation of XR Design and taking it in an exciting direction. We believe this development will strengthen both our student's learning environment and future career opportunities.
If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to reach out! We’re happy to discuss this with you
Studies at the Metropolia's Open UAS
XR Design offers studies at the Open University of Applied Sciences:
- Service Design in Extended Reality, 2 cr
- Game & XR Creator - Immersive Media Start, 7 cr
Enroll through the Metropolia's Open UAS
For more information about studying at the Metropolia's Open UAS
What is it like to study XR Design?
See our student Parinaz's experience of studying XR Design in Metropolia.
Become an Expert in XR Design
As an XR Design student, you will learn to create innovative applications and content for virtual and augmented reality environments. You will design spaces, concepts, objects, interfaces and immersive experiences for virtual environments using 3D modelling software and game engines as your tools.
Studying XR Design in a truly multicultural environment in Metropolia UAS gives you a perfect start towards an international career in a challenging and fast developing field of extended reality application design. The degree gives you a solid basis to work for example as an XR Designer, developer, digital artist, or project manager anywhere in the world.
Inspiring Study Experience
Your studies in the Degree Programme in Culture and Arts, XR Design include: XR content production skills such as 3D modelling, sculpting, animation, lighting and texturing. Importing 3D models into game engines and creating interactivity through programming. Designing user interfaces for virtual and augmented reality applications. Teamwork and participating in client projects.
The first year and a half is spent learning the basics of the industry, followed by project courses where you work on various team and client projects. During project courses, students often specialize in the job roles that interest them most. The studies also include internships and a thesis.
See XR Design curriculum in StudyGuide
XR productions are usually the result of collaboration between specialists in different fields. During the studies, students work in production teams that simulate working life. The intensive working model requires a commitment to full-time study.
You will become familiar with intercultural aspects due to the multi-cultural study environment and student community.
Broad Range of Career Prospects
XR sector is an emerging field of the future with new job opportunities. You can find employment for example in areas such as design visualisation in architecture, engineering and construction, design industry, 3D games and 3D simulators, virtual platforms for film and television, XR applications in health technologies or science visualization.
A job can be found in the games or entertainment industry, TV and film production, design agencies, marketing and advertising, production of educational material, or science illustration
Studying XR Design in Metropolia University of Applied Sciences gives you the keys to succeed in any of these interesting fields.
Scholarships and tuition fees
Annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA applicants 12 000 €.
This fee applies only to non-EU/EEA degree students.
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Applying
- Application period-Start of studiesautumn 2026Apply now!
- Day-time studies
The Application on the Basis of Finnish Higher Education Studies is aimed at those who have completed higher education studies in Finland. The completed studies must be accreditable to the degree programme to which you are applying in accordance with the curriculum of the degree programme. When applying for a master's degree, your studies must in principle be from the corresponding level (master’s degree / EQF7 level). Read the selection criteria; the required credit points (ECTS) and other possible threshold conditions are mentioned in the student selection criteria on Studyinfo. Studies are taken into account regardless of whether they have been completed as open studies or in education leading to a degree, or whether the right to study is valid or has expired.
Application period: 4 May 2026 8:00 am - 31 October 2026, all times refer to local time in Finland.
In flexible admission (i.e. rolling admission) the study places are filled in the order in which applications are received, so that all applicants who meet all the student selection requirements are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the application ends or the study places are filled.
All the information needed to apply can be found on the national Studyinfo.fi portal. At Studyinfo.fi you can find descriptions of degree programmes, application criteria, application instructions, application forms and much more.
Note: Many degree programmes accept applications on a continuous basis. However, applicants who are required to pay tuition fees should carefully consider the timing of their application. In most cases, it is not advisable to begin studies in the middle of a term (either autumn or spring), as tuition fees cannot be paid for only part of the term. For this reason, it is generally best to apply well in advance of the start of the term, so that studies can commence from the very beginning.
Application fee
There is an application fee of 100 euros. The application fee is collected for applicants from countries outside EU/EEA seeking education leading to a degree in higher education. The Finnish National Agency of Education will collect the application fee in connection with filling in the Studyinfo application form. There is no application fee for Finnish or EU citizens.
More about application fee in Studyinfo.fi.
Questions about application fees? Contact applicationfee [at] oph.fi (applicationfee[at]oph[dot]fi)The application fee does not guarantee that you will be offered admission to studies. The application fee is not refunded if you cancel your application or are not offered admission.
- Application period-Start of studiesspring 2027
- Day-time studies
The Application on the Basis of Finnish Higher Education Studies is aimed at those who have completed higher education studies in Finland. The completed studies must be accreditable to the degree programme to which you are applying in accordance with the curriculum of the degree programme. When applying for a master's degree, your studies must in principle be from the corresponding level (master’s degree / EQF7 level). Read the selection criteria; the required credit points (ECTS) and other possible threshold conditions are mentioned in the student selection criteria on Studyinfo. Studies are taken into account regardless of whether they have been completed as open studies or in education leading to a degree, or whether the right to study is valid or has expired.
Application period: 2 November 2026 8:00 am - 30 April 2027, all times refer to local time in Finland.
In flexible admission (i.e. rolling admission) the study places are filled in the order in which applications are received, so that all applicants who meet all the student selection requirements are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the application ends or the study places are filled.
All the information needed to apply can be found on the national Studyinfo.fi portal. At Studyinfo.fi you can find descriptions of degree programmes, application criteria, application instructions, application forms and much more.
Note: Many degree programmes accept applications on a continuous basis. However, applicants who are required to pay tuition fees should carefully consider the timing of their application. In most cases, it is not advisable to begin studies in the middle of a term (either autumn or spring), as tuition fees cannot be paid for only part of the term. For this reason, it is generally best to apply well in advance of the start of the term, so that studies can commence from the very beginning.
Application fee
There is an application fee of 100 euros. The application fee is collected for applicants from countries outside EU/EEA seeking education leading to a degree in higher education. The Finnish National Agency of Education will collect the application fee in connection with filling in the Studyinfo application form. There is no application fee for Finnish or EU citizens.
More about application fee in Studyinfo.fi.
Questions about application fees? Contact applicationfee [at] oph.fi (applicationfee[at]oph[dot]fi)The application fee does not guarantee that you will be offered admission to studies. The application fee is not refunded if you cancel your application or are not offered admission.
The One Study Right Rule
The One Study Right Rule refers to legislative amendments entering into force on 1 August 2026. Under these amendments, a student’s study rights at the same or lower level will be terminated if they accept a new study right leading to a degree. The rule applies only to study rights at Finnish higher education institutions.
Useful links
More information on the application process
Tel. +358 9 7424 5902, Mon-Wed 10 am – 12 pm
Starting studies
First, read guidelines common to all Metropolia degree students and then degree specific instruction below.
Starting XR studies
Warm congratulations on your place in the XR Design degree programme!
Your studies start on Monday 17th of August 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at the Metropolia Arabia campus, when the academic year starts. The first course is Academic and Communication Skills. The main goal of the first days of the course is to get to know other students and familiarise yourself with Metropolia's study practices. The course lecturers are Markku Luotonen, Turkka Loimisto and Tania Chumaira. You will start your studies in XR Classroom 453. A student-tutor will meet you in the lobby and guide you to the right room if necessary.
Please remember to have an official photo ID with you on the first day of study. The identity of all starting students will be checked upon registration. On the first day, you should also bring your note-taking equipment.
Autumn 2026 courses
During the autumn semester, your group's curriculum includes the following courses:
- Academic and Communication Skills, 5 ECTS
- 3D Graphics, Polygonal Modeling and Animation, 15 ECTS
- Colour Perception and Composition, 5 ECTS
- Finnish 1 or Professional Swedish, 5 ECTS
Teaching and work in your major studies usually take place on weekdays between 9 AM and 3 or 4 PM. The autumn schedules and study contents will be discussed in more detail in the Academic and Communication Skills course.
The Studies Start 17.8.2026 at Hämeentie 135 D, Helsinki.
First week program draft
Monday
9.00-9.30
Registration in the main lobby
9.30-11.00
XR Classroom 453
Start of studies, familiarisation with facilities and the degree
In the afternoon there's time to hang and play with VR applications and games.
14.00
Library Services
Tuesday
9.30-11.00
XR Class 453
Oma-orientation + something else
12:00 - 15:00
XR Class 453
Structure of XR-studies
Wednesday
9.00–15.00
Orientation day at Arabiasali
- Campus coordinator info
- Metka and Demoni student organisations
- Safety
- International opportunities
- Helpdesk
- Wellbeing services and student healthcare (FSHS)
- Language info
Thursday
9.15-15:00
Academic and Communication Skills: XR-related tasks
Friday
The schedule will be specified later. Programme organised by peer tutors.
On Friday 21.8. from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. a reception related to the accreditation of studies (eRPL) will be offered to those who have previously completed higher education studies at a university or university of applied sciences. You will learn more about this during the first week.
Welcome to the studies!
Studying is more rewarding the more you are willing to invest in your own learning. It is important that you plan the progress of your studies in a goal-oriented manner from the very beginning. Our staff will support you in planning your studies. The group's teacher tutor plays an important role in study counselling. Your group's teacher tutor is Tania Chumaira. More information on teacher tutoring and guidance for your personal study plan (PSP) will be available when the studies have begun.
If you have any questions about starting your studies, you can contact Education Coordinator Katri Laitinen from 10.8.2026 (katri.laitinen [at] metropolia.fi (katri[dot]laitinen[at]metropolia[dot]fi)).
Questions related to accepting a study place
Metropolia's Student and Admission Services will answer questions related to the application process and accepting a study place also during the summer:
Email: admissions [at] metropolia.fi (admissions[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Phone service: +358 40 712 5100 (Mon-Wed from 10-12)