3D Game Art, Bachelor's Degree
As a student of 3D Game Art, you will learn to use 3D graphics to produce images, animations, special effects, and real-time 3D applications for both traditional devices and VR/AR/XR devices
Studies
History
3D Game Art has a long history as an extremely popular and successful degree programme in Finnish. Now for the first time this programme is available also in English!
See 3D student exercises
2025 third year student showreels made by our Finnish language sister programme.
Games made by our students:
Would I be a good 3D animator?
A 3D Game Art student is required to have three-dimensional visualization skills, the ability to communicate using images, and motivation to learn new tools. Knowledge of 3D programs is not required of the applicant - they will be studied in depth during the education.
Contents of the 3D Game Art studies
In addition to 3D courses, the degree also includes study modules in the areas of 2D motion graphics and animation, as well as traditional visual arts and visual design
Central to 3D Game Art studies is learning by doing practical exercises
3D productions are usually created as a collaboration between specialists from several different areas. During the studies, students often work in production groups that simulate work life practices. This intensive working model requires students to commit to full-time studies.
During their studies, 3D Game Art students work on large projects in which they get to know and delve deeper into the special areas of 3D production. In the final stage of their studies, projects are often done in collaboration with representatives of work life.
The degree program in Design involves many types of collaboration with actors from work Discover the forms of collaboration from the Creative Dimension website.
Diverse employment opportunities
For example, the following fields require 3D graphics specialists:
3D animation in film and television
3D images and animation in advertising
3D games and 3D simulators
VR/AR/XR applications
Special effects in film and television
3D visualization of architecture and products
Science visualization
3D user guides
3D user interfaces
Graduates have found employment in, for example:
3D or 2D game graphics
Character designers
Character animators
VR/AR/XR artists
Compositors
VFX artists
3D advertising graphics
Architectural visualizers
Product visualizers
TV graphics
You can find a job, for example from:
From the gaming or entertainment industry
From VR/AR/XR productions
From TV and film productions
From design agencies
From the advertising industry
From educational material production
From science illustration and research
Scholarships and tuition fees
Annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA applicants 12 000 €.
This fee applies only to non-EU/EEA degree students.
Coming in 2027:
Next spring, there will be two 3D programs available: Finnish-language 3D Animation and Visualization in the second joint application round of spring 2027, and English-language 3D Game Art in the first joint application round of spring 2027. The content of these programs is the same, so if studying in English isn’t a problem for you, you should definitely apply to both. In addition to these, for those interested in the gaming industry, an English-language program in Game Design will also be available in the first joint application round in spring 2027.
The first joint application round for spring 2027 begins as early as January, and the second round in March. So if you’re applying next spring, be sure to follow the application instructions carefully and well in advance!
Study design at the Open University of Applied Sciences
The 3D Animation and Visualization program at Metropolia Open University of Applied Sciences offers a self-paced course:
Introduction to 3D Character Animation, 3 credits. Registration for the course: January 1, 2026, 8:00 AM – May 31, 2027, 11:59 PM
Coming soon:
- Introduction to 3D Animation, 2 credits
See also what other majors in the Design degree program offer at the Open University of Applied Sciences:
- Qualitative User Research: Design Probe 1 ECTS. Registration for the course: February 9, 2026, 8:00 AM – May 31, 2027, 11:59 PM
- Qualitative User Research: Interview 1 ECTS. Registration for the course: February 9, 2026, 8:00 AM – May 31, 2027, 11:59 PM
Starting studies
Welcome to study for a degree at Metropolia!
Congratulations! You have been admitted to Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and we are delighted to have you as a new member of our vibrant community of more than 16 000 students!
You have made an excellent choice - Metropolia offers you unique multidisciplinary opportunities throughout your studies with its strong connections to working life and active role in innovations built around socially significant phenomena.
We are happy to have you with us and help you with any questions you might have. Welcome to Metropolia!
The below information applies to students who have been accepted to study for a full degree at Metropolia. Make sure to complete all the steps in order to secure your study place.
Confirming a place of study requires certain formalities to be completed by the deadline. More detailed instructions below:
Non-EU/EEA students need a student residence permit. You can begin the student residence permit application online at Enterfinland.fi. Remember that you must personally visit a Finnish embassy or consulate as part of this process. Start your residence permit process as soon as possible, carefully following the immigration authorities' instructions and regulations, so that you can receive your permit in good time before your studies begin! You can find detailed information and advice on the residence permit requirements and procedures on the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) website.
Note that participating online programmes does not entitle you receiving residence permit. See more about the topic in Finnish Immigration Service websites.
All Metropolia's students who do not have a Finnish personal identity code, have to apply for it before their arrival or register at the local registry office after their arrival to Finland to apply for one.
Students who have to apply for residence permit (i.e. non-EU/non-EEA citizens) before their arrival to Finland should ask to be registered in the Finnish Population Information System when they apply for their first residence permit. This way they will receive a Finnish personal identity code at the same time as they are issued with the permit. More information on this for residence permit applicants in Migri site
Other students have to apply for the personal identity code from the local registry office of the city where you are living in.
More information on Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV).
More information on registration to the Finnish Population Information System in DVV site
After you have received the personal identification code, remember to inform it to the Student Services with the official document. Acceptable documents are for example DVV:s document (Notification of registration), Finnish passport, Finnish identity card with a photo, issued by police, Finnish driver's license, residence permit or KELA card with a photo.
User account activation is possible from the start date of your study right. Activate your user account before the orientation days by following the instructions available on the IT Services website. To activate your account, you will need personal online banking credentials or a mobile certificate. Also check the instructions provided by your degree programme.
If you do not have Finnish online banking credentials or a mobile certificate, authenticate using the Candour ID application. After authentication, you will receive instructions on how to activate your user account. Read the instructions for authentication and receiving user accounts on the Information Management Services website.
Once you have activated your user account, enable multi-factor authentication for Microsoft 365 services. First enable SMS authentication, and then Microsoft Authenticator. If possible, also enable alternative authentication methods on your other mobile devices. This will help you avoid login issues if your primary phone is replaced or lost. Follow the instructions available on the IT Services website.
If you have any questions about user account activation or multi-factor authentication, please contact the Helpdesk. You will find the contact information on the IT Services website.
All foreign students (who are not EU citizens or citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland) who come to Finland for the purposes of studying are required to have a health insurance, if the studies endure longer than three months.
More information on insurances in Student's Guide
Student financial aid is for Finnish citizens. Foreign citizens are entitled to student financial aid if they live in Finland on a permanent basis for the purpose other than studying and they have registered as permanent residents in the Finnish population register system.
More information on student financial aid in Student's Guide
- Find out where your campus is located
- If you have a smart phone you can download the free HSL mobile app to get access to the public transportation Journey Planner and tickets (e.g. for travelling from the Helsinki-Vantaa airport to your apartment or from your apartment to the campus).
- If you have a smart phone you can download the Tuudo mobile app for free to get your digital student ID and student discounts (ID and discounts are available from the first day of the studies onwards)
- Information on student life and well-being, costs and finance, study environment etc. in Student's Guide
New students need a laptop for their studies.
Minimum laptop requirements for new students:
- Windows 11 or Mac computer
- Intel i5/i7 processor (at least 8 gen), AMD Ryzen 5/7 or equivalent processor
- RAM 8 GB memory
- SSD hard disk min. 256 GB
The life cycle of the laptop should be at least 4 years. The estimated cost of a laptop meeting the recommended specifications is between €600 and €800 and upwards. If the student's studies are geared towards gaming or graphic design, for example, the laptop should have a more powerful graphics card and more SSD hard disk space.
The recommended operating system will depend on the degree programme and the area of specialisation. As a general rule, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X are safe choices for a laptop operating system. Students of XR Design, 3D Animation and Visualisation and Visual Communication Design will be informed in the first weeks of their studies about the purchase of their own computer and the features they need.
Tuudo is a mobile app with which you can use various Metropolia web services easily on your smart phone. With Tuudo you can get VR, HSL, Matkahuolto and Kela student discounts immediately. The benefits are free for all Metropolia students.
In Tuudo you can check Metropolia, Admission Services, and student union METKA announcements, your schedule, study attainments, and cafeteria menus.
Get Tuudo on your phone from the app store for free and start using it!
During your studies, your support of well-being and health is Finnish Student Health Services (FSHS). The specialist in student health care offers you general, mental and oral health services and supports the well-being of study communities.
Our services can be used by students completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree at a university or a university of applied sciences who have registered as attending for the semester.
Master the facts! Familiarize yourself with our services and user instructions in Kela's site fshs.fi, and Kela's Health information resource on the address.
Start using Self! Self is the student’s own online service for health care issues at FSHS. In Self, you can manage appointment bookings, communicate via SelfChat and start a remote consultation. Log in to Self as a user immediately from the beginning of the semester and keep your contact details up to date for as long as you are a student. Read more about Self in Kela's site.
The health care fee for students in higher education will be paid to Kela on your initiative. Read more about health care fee in Kela's site.
If you have social security coverage in another EU/EEA country or in Switzerland or the United Kingdom, you do not have to pay the healthcare fee. However, you can to use the FSHS’s services.
Metropolia does not have housing services to offer. Thus, it is the student's responsibility to find an accommodation for the period of their studies. There is a lot of competition in affordable housing, so it is important to start searching for a room many months prior to arrival.
Already excited about starting your studies in Metropolia and meeting new people?
On Student Union Metka's site you will find welcome letters for each degree program.
Welcome letters are information packages prepared by your future tutors. They include, for example, important dates as well as information about studying, student benefits, or student life.
Create your own profile and sign up to JobTeaser portal now and stay up to date on job vacancies, training and upcoming recruitment events promoted especially to Metropolia students. There are hundreds of job opportunities available and a lot of information to support your career planning.
JobTeaser is a career portal where you can find lot of career information in one platform.
- Open jobs and traineeships
- Working life events
- Advice & guidance
- Employer profiles
Sign up and start exploring
Sign up to JobTeaser using your @metropolia.fi email address.
You can also download a Jobteaser application.
Coming in 2027:
Next spring, there will be two 3D programs available: Finnish-language 3D Animation and Visualization in the second joint application round of spring 2027, and English-language 3D Game Art in the first joint application round of spring 2027. The content of these programs is the same, so if studying in English isn’t a problem for you, you should definitely apply to both. In addition to these, for those interested in the gaming industry, an English-language program in Game Design will also be available in the first joint application round in spring 2027.
The first joint application round for spring 2027 begins as early as January, and the second round in March. So if you’re applying next spring, be sure to follow the application instructions carefully and well in advance!