Indie Game Developer (English)
Are you a creator with a vision for a future in the game industry?
The game industry is one of Sweden’s fastest-growing industries and employs thousands of people. At Kristinehamn Folk High School, you can study a one-year Industry-focused program that gives you a unique opportunity, upon completion, to work as a game developer at both local and international game companies.
Many students also choose to start their own game studios after completing the program.
Complete or Begin Your Game Education
Indie Game Developer provides you with a foundation in the key components required to take an indie-developed game from idea to a publishable product. The curriculum includes graphics, programming, design, and entrepreneurship.
The program is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced applicants who wish to broaden their skills and deepen their understanding of game development.
A Industry-focused Program for the Game Industry
The goal of the program is to provide you with foundational knowledge and skills that enable you to either enter the workforce directly—whether as an employee or selfemployed—or continue to other game education programs immediately after graduation.
During the program, you will produce at least three games and build your portfolio. You will also pitch ideas and game concepts in real-world settings to an external jury of industry professionals. The program includes study trips and offers opportunities for internships at game companies.
Games <3 Innovation
The program is a collaboration between Kristinehamn Folk High School and the project The Great Journey at Innovation Park in Karlstad.
The education has been developed in cooperation with the game and innovation industries. Karlstad Innovation Park is a hub for innovative collaboration, where game developers and other creative professionals come together to inspire one another.
Course Content
Each course module includes theory, lectures, inspiration, practical production, and presentations. The modules are structured on a weekly basis with progressive deepening and/or the introduction of new tools.
Lectures are held on-site in Kristinehamn and are followed by submission and production assignments. In addition to lectures by instructors, guest lecturers and professionals from the creative industries and the game industry contribute to the program.
The course modules overlap and are applied within each game project. Additional courses or components may be added as needed.
Examples of Course Modules
- Game projects
- Game design
- 2D Graphics
- 3D Graphics
- UX/UI
- Sound and Music
- Level design
- Unreal Engine (Blueprints & C++)
- Unity (C#)
- Portfolio development and entrepreneurship
Lectures are held in both Swedish and English.
Get Inspired by Previous Projects
Take a closer look at these examples of projects created by teams from Kristinehamn Folk High School.
Application and Admission
For this programme, the entry requirement is general eligibility. Relevant prior experience is considered a strong merit.
Each year, 20 students are admitted to the Indie Game Developer programme.
Eligibility
You need YH eligibility, which corresponds to a threeyear upper secondary education qualifying for higher vocational education or equivalent.
If YH eligibility is lacking, but the applicant has other experience that is considered relevant and valuable in relation to the course content, this experience may be credited instead of formal YH eligibility.
Submit a Complete Application
To be admitted or placed on the reserve list for Indie Game Developer, a complete application is required. If an application is incomplete, the applicant will be asked to submit additional information.
As part of your application, you must also include a personal statement. The content of the statement must be relevant to the programme you are applying for.
Your personal statement should include:
- Why do you want to attend the Indie Game Developer programme?
- What do you want to learn more about and improve during the programme?
- What do you currently find challenging within game development?
In this section, we assess:
- Motivation and drive
- Selfawareness and willingness to develop
- Realistic expectations of the programme
- Ability to collaborate in a group setting
Work Sample
To apply for the Indie Game Developer programme, you must submit a work sample. Information about the work sample can be found in the document below.
Programme Facts
Length: 1 year
Study pace: 100%
Location: Kristinehamn
Start date: 17 August 2026
Application deadline: 15 April 2026
CSN study level: Postsecondary
Dormitory: Yes
Fees: Tuition at Kristinehamn Folk High School is free of charge. However, each academic year you pay a service fee of SEK 1,439.
The coursespecific fee is SEK 11,000.
Travel costs are not included.
Click here to submit your application “Application and admission”
Combine and Create Your Own Game Education
All of our game programs are one year long and can be combined to create a specialization that suits you. This allows you to build your own professional title and strengthen your profile within the industry.
Contact Information
Victor Åhs Blomberg Subject Teacher