Game development is one of Denmark’s fastest-growing industries, and if you are interested in becoming part of it, it starts with choosing the right education. This guide covers every path into the industry, from the most classic programmes to the ones designed for the next generation.
4.7B
DKK annual turnover in the Danish games industry
2,179
Full-time jobs in the Danish games industry
75
Relevant Danish educations mapped in the 2024 survey
01
What does a game developer actually do?
Game production draws on many different disciplines at once. Most people in the industry fall into one of six areas — and many combine two or more.
Programming
The technical backbone of every game. Game programmers write the code that makes a game run — from physics and AI to graphics engines and online infrastructure.
Game Programmer · AI Developer · Tools Programmer
Game Design
Game designers shape how a game feels and plays. They design rules, mechanics, levels, and the moment-to-moment experience that keeps players engaged.
Game Designer · Level Designer · UX Designer
Art & Animation
Artists and animators create everything the player sees — characters, environments, effects, and the visual identity of the game world.
Concept Artist · 3D Artist · Animator · Art Director
Audio & Music
Sound designers and composers create the atmosphere that visuals alone can’t deliver — from adaptive music systems to the satisfying click of every button.
Audio Designer · Composer · Sound Director
Production
Producers and project managers keep teams on track. They coordinate timelines, budgets, and communication between everyone working on a game.
Producer · Project Manager · QA Manager
Business & Publishing
The games industry is also a business. Publishing managers, marketing specialists, and business developers get games into players’ hands — and generate revenue.
Publishing Manager · Brand Manager · Business Developer
02
The classic programmes
These are the programmes with the longest track records and the strongest connections to the Danish games industry — the ones studios know, and the ones that have produced the most working developers.
Cross-Institutional · Practical Production
DADIU — The National Academy of Digital Interactive Entertainment
13 participating universities and art schools · Denmark-wide
DADIU is the gold standard for real game production experience in Denmark. Students from 13 different institutions — programmers, designers, artists, audio designers, producers — are assigned to mixed teams and spend a full semester making three actual games together. By the end, every student has a production portfolio. In 2022, 86 students were admitted across all disciplines. DADIU covers transport and accommodation so the programme is accessible nationwide. No other Danish programme replicates the experience of working in a real, cross-disciplinary game team.
dadiu.dk →
Master’s · Copenhagen
Game Studies — ITU
IT-Universitetet i København
ITU offers Denmark’s most dedicated university game programme. The Master’s in Games splits into two specialisations: Game Design (interaction, mechanics, player experience) and Game Technology (AI, graphics programming, engine development). The programme blends theory and hands-on production — students learn how games are made, how they create meaning, and how they shape society. ITU also offers a Bachelor in Digital Design & Interactive Technologies as a natural entry point.
itu.dk →
Professional Bachelor · Viborg
The Animation Workshop — VIA
VIA University College, Viborg
TAW is Denmark’s leading creative school for visual game production. Three programmes are directly relevant: Karakteranimation (character animation), Grafisk Fortælling (graphic storytelling and concept art), and Computer Graphic Arts (3D and visual effects). All programmes are small, intensive, and admission is by portfolio — they train the artists and animators who go on to work at studios like IO Interactive, SYBO, and beyond. VIA is also opening a dedicated software programme for games and XR in Viborg.
animationworkshop.via.dk →
Bachelor’s · Odense
Civilingeniør i Spiludvikling
Syddansk Universitet, Odense
The only engineering Bachelor’s degree with “games” explicitly in its title. SDU’s programme in Game Development and Learning Technology is one of the few Danish degrees that combines programming, design, and game technology from day one — making it one of the broadest technical game educations in the country. It’s a rigorous 180 ECTS programme suited to technically minded students who want to build the systems underneath the games.
sdu.dk →
Audio · Aarhus
Sonic College
Sonic College, Aarhus
The specialist school for audio production in Denmark, with a strong focus on game audio. Sonic College trains sound designers, composers, and audio engineers who understand how music and sound function interactively — not just as playback, but as a responsive layer of gameplay. If your child is musical and drawn to games, this is the most direct route into the game industry’s audio department. The programme is hands-on and industry-connected from the start.
soniccollege.dk →
Master’s · Lyngby
AI for Computer Games — DTU
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet
DTU’s Master’s in Human Centered Artificial Intelligence includes a Computer Games specialisation — one of the most technically advanced game programmes in Denmark. It’s built for students who want to work at the intersection of AI research and game development: procedural generation, adaptive difficulty systems, NPC behaviour, and next-generation game intelligence. A niche but increasingly relevant programme as AI becomes central to how games are made and played.
dtu.dk →
Bachelor + Master’s · Aalborg / Copenhagen
Medialogi — AAU
Aalborg Universitet
Medialogi is the most broadly game-relevant degree at a major Danish university. The programme deliberately blends design, technology, and creative disciplines — mirroring the cross-functional nature of game production itself. Students can produce up to six games across their Bachelor and four more at Master’s level. Medialogy graduates are among the most sought-after in the industry precisely because they can speak across disciplines — to programmers and to artists alike.
aau.dk →
Private Education · Copenhagen
3D Digital Artist — CADA
Copenhagen Academy of Digital Arts (Truemax)
CADA (formerly Truemax) offers Denmark’s most intensive private 3D art programme — a 210 ECTS professional education focused on the 3D, animation, and visual effects skills that games, film, and TV all need. The programme carries one of the highest concentrations of creative and technical ECTS of any Danish education. For students who know they want to be 3D artists and want a focused, industry-oriented programme rather than a university degree, CADA is the direct route.
truemax.dk →
Erhvervsakademi · Grenaa & Skive
Datamatiker & Multimediedesigner — Dania
Erhvervsakademiet Dania
Dania is the accessible, hands-on entry point into game development for students who want practical skills fast. The Datamatiker programme (150 ECTS) builds solid programming and software development foundations — graduates routinely move into game companies as developers or tools programmers. Multimediedesigner (120 ECTS) covers digital design, UI, and interactive media. Both programmes are shorter and more applied than university degrees, making them an ideal first step — or a direct route for students who prefer learning by building over academic theory.
eadania.dk →
“DADIU is available to students already enrolled at one of 13 participating universities. You don’t apply to DADIU directly — you apply through your existing education. Check whether your programme qualifies.”
03
Which path fits your interests?
Most students enter the games industry through one of three broad paths. Knowing which one fits helps narrow down the right programme.
The Creative Path
You love drawing, music, or storytelling
The creative path leads to roles in art, animation, audio, and narrative design. These programmes value a portfolio of personal work — drawing, 3D models, music, or design projects — as much as academic grades.
Start here:
The Animation Workshop (TAW/VIA)
Sonic College
CADA / Truemax
Visual Game & Media Design (KADK)
The Animation Workshop (TAW/VIA)
Sonic College
CADA / Truemax
Visual Game & Media Design (KADK)
The Technical Path
You love coding, maths, or systems
The technical path leads to programming, engine development, tools, and AI. These are the roles most in demand — and the most competed-over, since the entire tech industry wants the same graduates.
Start here:
Spiludvikling og Læringsteknologi (SDU)
AI: Computer Games (DTU)
Softwareudvikling (ITU)
Datamatiker (Erhvervsakademier)
Spiludvikling og Læringsteknologi (SDU)
AI: Computer Games (DTU)
Softwareudvikling (ITU)
Datamatiker (Erhvervsakademier)
The Cross-Disciplinary Path
You want to understand the whole picture
Game design, production, and publishing require people who can bridge disciplines — who understand code without writing it all day, and who can direct artists without being one. These programmes build that fluency.
Start here:
Game Design or Game Technology (ITU)
Medialogi (AAU)
Digital Design (AU or ITU)
DADIU semester (available at 13 universities)
Game Design or Game Technology (ITU)
Medialogi (AAU)
Digital Design (AU or ITU)
DADIU semester (available at 13 universities)
04
Getting started — advice for parents
Game development careers rarely start at university. The most successful students arrive with a portfolio, a community, and some real experience already behind them.
01
Take the interest seriously
Playing games is not the same as making them — but the interest is a genuine starting point. Students who grow up curious about how games work, who mod games, make levels, or experiment with game engines like Unity or Godot, enter education with a significant advantage.
02
Portfolio matters more than grades
For creative programmes (TAW, CADA, Sonic College), admission is by portfolio — not grades. Start building early. Drawing, 3D modelling, short game demos, music compositions: anything that shows engagement and skill. The work counts more than the marks.
03
Find Game Jams
Game Jams are weekend events where people make a game from scratch. They’re free, online, and open to beginners. Sites like itch.io host dozens every month. Participating in a Game Jam is one of the fastest ways to gain real experience — and to find out whether game development is something your child actually wants to do.
04
Programming doesn’t require a degree to start
Free resources like Unity Learn, Khan Academy, and CS50 (Harvard’s free online intro course) let students start learning game development fundamentals years before university. A 16-year-old who can build a simple game in Unity is already ahead of most first-year students.
05
It’s a real industry with real jobs
The Danish games industry employs over 1,100 people and generates 3.1 billion DKK annually. Companies like IO Interactive, SYBO, Tactile Games, and Kiloo are world-class studios headquartered in Denmark. This is a professional career path — not a hobby that might turn into one.
06
Most paths don’t require a games-specific degree
The research shows that the games industry recruits broadly. Datalogi, Medialogi, Design and other non-specific programmes all produce graduates who work in games. A passion for games and a strong portfolio can matter more than the degree title on your diploma.
Have questions? Get in touch.
Games Denmark represents the Danish games industry. We’re happy to help parents and students navigate the path into game development.
Get in touch →