Common prerequisites for MA and Minor subject studies
In short, we require applicants to have a prior degree (at least BA, BSc or equivalent), preferably experience in group work using digital media tools and an ability to function in an international, mainly English language-based environment. We also ask for commitment, as work here is done mainly in projects, not by dropping in for exams.
Apply to MA studies in the Media Lab
About 28 students representing a variety of skills, backgrounds and talents are chosen every spring. The process typically consists of three steps: a written application which describes your background, experience and motivation, then a set of test assignments and finally, an interview.
Media Lab
Master’s Degree Programme in New Media,
New MediaMaster’s Degree Programme in New Media, Specialisation in New Media is a 2-year area of specialisation focusing on design for interactive digital media. The education is project-oriented, combining practice with theory, hands-on with minds-on. The project modules emphasise interdisciplinary and collaborative work, while individual skills are studied in the tools & skills modules, in workshops and through tutored studio work.
Our applicants’ backgrounds vary wildly and we have always attempted to recruit a true interdisciplinary team of students with each intake. Sharing knowledge and working in collabative groups within experimental production and research processes is a basic premise of our work in the Media Lab.
During the programme, students will specialise according to their personal skills and motivation. Their future professional profiles relate to the various fields of new media design and research including interface design, interaction design, information design, interactive narrative, new media production, game design, software design and digital animation.
The curriculum contains a number of software tools courses, but in general we expect students to be either proficient in using the tools of the trade, or willing to set aside time for self-study. For this, we provide a library of tutorials, as well as one-on-one coaching.
Schedule
Application time 4.1. - 26.2.2010 by 16.15 Finnish time.
Invitations to the 2nd stage / rejections, starting 7.4.2010 (rejections by snail mail; invitations by snail mail in Finland, by email on 8.4.2010 to other countries).
Preliminary exercises completed and returned not later than on Friday 23.4.2010 by 16.15 Finnish time.
Stage 2 interviews 26.-30.4.2010 (Skype/phone interviews for those living in other countries only on Thursday 29.4.).
Preliminary results by the selection group will be published 7.5.2010 on our External News page, if possible. These results are not official because the Application Office has to check the legal details for the last time. The official results will be published by the Application Office on 28.5.2010.
Entrance requirements
1) BA/BSc or equivalent 180 ects credits at university level in one or more related fields, or
2) a completed Polytechnic degree 240 ects credits in a related field with certificate; please also state the date of your graduation, or
3) equivalent studies.
It is possible to apply on the basis of 'equivalent studies' although, in practice, it is very rare for someone without a Bachelor level degree to be accepted to the MA programme. Therefore, if you do have a degree of some sort, then please apply on the basis of that degree and not on the basis of 'equivalent studies' or 'other basis'.
In addition New Media Design applicants should have
- working experience in digital media environments
- insight into new media design and/or new media production and/or related research
- fluent English (oral / written); TOEFL, ELTS, CPE or IELTS required from those whose native language isn't English or Finnish. If your previous degree was taken in English, the language test won't be needed.
Admission criteria
Grounds for the selection of students include proven artistic/designer talent, motivation and personal development potential as well as the applicant's academic history, cultural activities and previous activities in the field of new media. Deciding factors are demonstrated talent and suitability within the desired field of study. The selection is based on application documents, the applicant's personal aims and motivation as a student, an interview and possible entrance test assignments, prepared in advance, as well as work presented during the interview.
Applications
Stage 1
- Applicants should complete the TaiK application form (in Finnish / in English).
- Applicants should send the certificates/documents relating to previous education as attested true copies. If your certificates and documents are written in some other language than English, Finnish or Swedish, a notarised translation should be included.
- Applicants should also provide an expanded curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages) describing former studies and working experience, including also brief information as a list in chronological order relating to their design / artistic / technical / pedagogical / research etc. experience as well as familiarity with software and/or programming languages and specific professional production environments), grants and scholarships, cultural production and other relevant achievements.
- Finally all applicants should provide a freely composed, clear statement of intent and motivation in which they describe their motivation and interest in the field of new media, including any special areas of interest, as well as their personal aims as students of the Media Lab. It is advisable to become familiar with the Media Lab current curriculum via the Lab's website. This brief statement is a critical element in our application process and should be no longer than 1 page (A4, single space, 12pt Times or equivalent). Please make sure that your permanent e-mail address is mentioned in this paper, too.
Applications may be submitted in Finnish, Swedish or English.
Documents should not be written by hand but preferably printed using standard laser or ink jet printers.
DO NOT SEND EXAMPLES OF WORK WITH YOUR STAGE 1 APPLICATION PAPERS!
Application letters (the original and a copy of all the papers, i.e. two identical sets of papers) should be delivered to the TaiK Application Office between January 4. and February 26. Finnish time 16.15, 2010. Postal mailing guidelines in Finnish and in English.
Please note: you will send your application papers to the TaiK Application Office, not to the department Media Lab. Departments will not see the application papers before late in March, so we are not able to tell if your application was received safely or not. According to Finnish law this is on your own responsibility. We'd advise not to call the study office either, because they receive thousands of applications.
Stage 2
Based on the evaluation of stage 1 applications, interviews will be arranged with selected applicants 26.-30.4.10. Applicants will be required to complete a couple of preliminary excercises or tasks before the interviews. Stage 2 interviews will be possible by phone or Skype for those who don't live in Finland. Those applicants invited to interview will be expected to bring along examples of work according to specific instructions provided by the Media Lab.
More information
For further information, contact amanuensis Anna Arsniva at the Media Lab, anna.arsniva taik.fi. Also, please check our www site http://mlab.taik.fi and the student union Tokyo international information site.
Application guidelines also here as a .rtf file.
Media Lab
Master’s Degree Programme in New Media,
Game Design and Production
Master’s Degree Programme in New Media, Game Design and Production is a 2-year area of specialisation on design and production for digital games. The education is project-oriented, combining practice with theory. Students will deepen their existing skills in the areas of game design and production based on the personal study plan (HOPS). Studies include practical game productions and the MA thesis includes a game production.
The Game Design and Production MA studies are offered in co-operation with the department of Media Technology (TKK) and the department of Business Technology (HSE).
The goal of the subject is to educate experts that can work as game designers, producers or in tasks in related areas. In addition, the graduates are eligible to apply for doctoral studies.
Graduates of the Media Lab have become well placed within game companies in Finland and abroad. Most graduates find employment immediately on graduation and some have formed their own companies. An increasing number of Media Lab graduates enter research and also apply for post‑graduate studies towards the degree of Doctor of Art at TaiK.
Schedule
Application time 4.1. - 26.2.2010 by 16.15 Finnish time.
Invitations to the 2nd stage / rejections, starting 7.4.2010 (rejections by snail mail; invitations by snail mail in Finland, by email on 8.4.2010 to other countries).
Preliminary exercises completed and returned not later than on Friday 23.4.2010 by 16.15 Finnish time.
Stage 2 interviews 26.-30.4.2010 (Skype/phone interviews for those living in other countries only on Thursday 29.4.).
Preliminary results by the selection group will be published 7.5.2010 on our External News page, if possible. These results are not official because the application office has to check the legal details for the last time. The official results will be published by the application office on 28.5.2010.
Entrance requirements
1) BA/BSc or equivalent 180 ects credits at university level in one or more related fields, or
2) a completed Polytechnic degree 240 ects credits in a related field with certificate; please also state the date of your graduation, or
3) equivalent studies.
It is possible to apply on the basis of 'equivalent studies' although, in practice, it is very rare for someone without a Bachelor level degree to be accepted to the MA programme. Therefore, if you do have a degree of some sort, then please apply on the basis of that degree and not on the basis of 'equivalent studies' or 'other basis'.
In addition, Game Design and Production applicants should have
- strong professional interest towards game design
- insight into new media design and/or new media production or related research
- some proven design competence
- fluent English (oral / written); TOEFL, ELTS, CPE or IELTS required from those whose native language isn’t English or Finnish. If your previous degree was taken in English, the language test won’t be needed.
ADMISSION CRITERIA
The grounds for the selection of students include proven artistic/designer talent, motivation and personal development potential as well as the applicant’s academic history, cultural activities and previous activities in the field of game design and production. The critical deciding factors for acceptance are the applicant’s demonstrated talent as well as their suitability within the field of game design. The selection is based on the application documents, the applicant’s personal aims and motivation as a student, an interview and possible entrance test assignments, prepared in advance, as well as work presented during the interview.
Applications
Stage 1
- Applicants should complete the TaiK application form (in Finnish / in English).
- Applicants should send the certificates/documents relating to previous education as attested true copies. If your certificates and documents are written in some other language than English, Finnish or Swedish, a notarised translation should be included.
- Applicants should also provide an expanded curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages) describing former studies and working experience, including also brief information as a list in chronological order relating to their design / artistic / technical / pedagogical / research etc. experience as well as familiarity with software and/or programming languages and specific professional production environments), grants and scholarships, cultural production and other relevant achievements.
- Finally all applicants should provide a freely composed, clear statement of intent and motivation in which they describe their motivation and interest in the field of new media, including any special areas of interest, as well as their personal aims as students of the Media Lab. It is advisable to become familiar with the Media Lab current curriculum via the Lab's website. This brief statement is a critical element in our application process and should be no longer than 1 page (A4, single space, 12pt Times or equivalent). Please make sure that your permanent e-mail address is mentioned in this paper, too.
Applications may be submitted in Finnish, Swedish or English.
Documents should not be written by hand but preferably printed using standard laser or ink jet printers.
DO NOT SEND EXAMPLES OF WORK WITH YOUR STAGE 1 APPLICATION PAPERS!
Application letters (the original and a copy of all the papers, i.e. two identical sets of papers) should be delivered to the TaiK Application Office between January 4. and February 26. Finnish time 16.15, 2010. Postal mailing guidelines in Finnish and in English.
Please note: you will send your application papers to the TaiK Application Office, not to the department Media Lab. Departments will not see the application papers before late in March, so we are not able to tell if your application was received safely or not. According to Finnish law this is on your own responsibility. We'd advise not to call the study office either, because they receive thousands of applications.
Stage 2
Based on the evaluation of stage 1 applications, interviews will be arranged with selected applicants 26.-30.4.10. Applicants will be required to complete a couple of preliminary excercises or tasks before the interviews. Stage 2 interviews will be possible by phone or Skype for those who don't live in Finland. Those applicants invited to interview will be expected to bring along examples of work according to specific instructions provided by the Media Lab.
More information
For further information, contact amanuensis Anna Arsniva at the Media Lab, anna.arsniva taik.fi. Also, please check our www site http://mlab.taik.fi and the student union Tokyo international information site.
Application guidelines also here as a .rtf file.
Apply to Minor subject studies
Minor subject study programs' application procedures can be found in here. Minor studies are open for application 1.4. - 30.7.
Apply to Doctoral studies
Application time for our Doctoral study program is twice a year.