MSc Digital Learning Games

The MSc Digital Learning Games (DLG) at Tallinn University is a two-year, full-time postgraduate programme worth 120 ECTS credits and taught entirely in English. The programme is offered by the School of Digital Technologies and provides an interdisciplinary education combining game design, educational sciences, psychology, interaction design, and game development.

Digital Learning Games focuses on the use of games not only as entertainment but also as tools for addressing educational and societal challenges. The programme is designed for students and professionals interested in creating innovative games and learning experiences. It welcomes applicants from backgrounds including education, game design, game development, and art, as well as others interested in the development and application of digital learning games.

Programme Structure

The curriculum is built around three core areas:

• Game Design and Gamification
• Interaction Design
• Developmental and Cognitive Psychology

At the centre of the programme is game and instructional design. Students study subjects including game studies, fundamentals of game design, learning game development, and game-based learning. These areas provide students with knowledge and skills for understanding how games can be designed and developed for learning and other practical purposes.

Students can also select from a range of elective courses, allowing them to develop a more specialised academic and professional profile. Elective study options support specialisation in areas such as game development, educational psychology, game art, and the game industry.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the MSc programme must hold an undergraduate diploma or higher. A Bachelor’s degree or corresponding qualification is required for admission to master’s-level studies.

Applicants who are currently completing their final year of Bachelor’s studies and do not yet have their final diploma may submit a certificate showing their study results. The final diploma and transcript of records must be submitted no later than July 1.

Tallinn University expects applicants to have achieved at least 60% of the possible maximum results in order to qualify for studies at the university.

Entry qualification documents are accepted in English or Estonian. Applicants must upload all required documents by the application deadline. Additional country-specific documentation requirements may apply depending on the applicant’s country of education.

English Language Requirements

The programme is taught in English, and applicants are generally required to demonstrate sufficient English proficiency through an accepted international language test unless they qualify for an exemption.

Accepted English-language qualifications include:

• IELTS Academic: 6.0 overall, with at least 5.5 in each component
• B2 First / B2 First for Schools: 169 overall
• C1 Advanced: 169 overall
• C2 Proficiency: 169 overall
• TOEFL iBT: Minimum total score of 72 for exams taken before January 21,
• TOEFL iBT: Minimum total score of 4 for exams taken on or after January 21,
• PTE Academic: 59 overall, with a minimum of 59 in each component

Specific section-score requirements apply to TOEFL iBT, including minimum scores in Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking.

Applicants who have completed their previous level of education or previous studies fully in English in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Switzerland, or EU/EEA countries may be exempt from submitting an international English-language test, provided they submit attested proof from their previous educational institution.

Students who have completed International Baccalaureate studies may also submit their graduation documents as proof of English proficiency.

Special language-proof provisions are also stated for applicants from Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania under the conditions specified by Tallinn University.

Other Admission Requirements

Applicants must include a motivation letter with their application. The motivation letter must be uploaded as a separate PDF file and should follow the requirements specified on the Digital Learning Games programme website.

Applicants must also review the programme-specific admission requirements and submit all required assignments for the MSc Digital Learning Games programme.

Applications must be completed and signed by the applicants themselves. Tallinn University does not accept applications submitted by third parties.

Tuition Fees

The tuition fee for the programme is €3,000 per semester. An additional €100 one-time application fee is required.

Applicants from Non-EU/EEA countries are required to pay the first semester’s tuition fee before the beginning of their studies.

Study Duration and Format

The MSc Digital Learning Games is a full-time postgraduate programme with a nominal duration of 2 years. The programme consists of 120 ECTS credits and is delivered in English.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Digital Learning Games programme can pursue careers in areas where games, learning, technology, and design intersect.

Possible career directions include the game industry, where alumni work as designers, developers, and in other roles within game studios in Estonia and beyond.

Graduates can also work in education as educational technologists, teachers, and instructional designers in both formal and non-formal educational settings.

The programme can additionally provide a pathway toward doctoral studies in areas such as educational technology, game studies, and other relevant fields.

Another potential career area is ICT, where graduates can apply their knowledge of games, gamification, and user experience within software companies and technology startups.

Overall, the MSc Digital Learning Games provides interdisciplinary preparation for students interested in developing and applying games for learning, education, design, technology, and societal purposes.