STUDENTS
DICE has, as a company, grown steadily since its inception in 1992. That growth has, to a large extent, been made possible by our relationships with schools and universities in Sweden and abroad, and by being able to reinforce our teams with new ideas, perspectives, and passion brought by our interns and master thesis students. Many of those interns and students have since called DICE their home.
Our internship and master thesis programs are designed to give you the possibility to learn from our mentors and give you a safe environment to both try and fail. The work that you do during your time at DICE will have an impact, and since you're learning in an active, real-world environment, your contributions will shape our games.
At the end of your internship or master thesis, our aim is to have provided you with a mutual learning experience for both yourself and our mentors and given you the experience and skills needed to drive your career forward.
This page is dedicated to giving you an insight into what it’s like taking part in an internship or master thesis placement at DICE and gives some general advice on what to think about when applying to our company.
Internships
An internship at DICE usually lasts between 3-6 months, where you learn, grow, and earn experience by working together with our teams of developers on real-life projects. We offer internships in a range of departments, including Art, Animation, Audio, Design, Tech, Production, Marketing, and Quality Verification.
I chose to pursue a career in game art driven by my passion for harnessing the immense potential of this influential medium. My aim is to create visually stunning environments that evoke a range of emotions, and in the process hopefully leaving players with amazing experiences and memories. With its relentless pursuit of cutting-edge visual fidelity and technical advancement, DICE stands out as a leader in the industry, and I knew that not applying to work with them was simply not an option for me.
As for anything that holds meaning to us and causes feelings of nervousness and anxiety, so did it leading up to my first day at the office, but that was quickly put to rest. An internship at DICE has been a larger and more exciting journey than I ever thought possible. However, the most important aspect and the one I am most grateful for is the inclusiveness of the team, which has created a safe space. This space allows not only to try out new areas and learn about the craft but also to fail and learn from your mistakes.
Throughout the internship, you will not only learn the fundamentals of art and their application as an Environment Artist here at DICE but also have the time and freedom to explore the craft on a broader level. This will enable you to decide what you want to pursue in the future but also give you a wider perspective overall.
/ Hannes Lidbeck, Environment Artist
Application Tips & Tricks
Before you apply for a position at a games company one of the most important things is to do your research. What kind of games do they make? Who is their core audience? How big is the company? The list goes on. Finding answers to these questions will not only help you in potential interviews later on, but also help you better understand how you and your experience may fit in, and, most importantly, if the company itself seems like the right one for you.
It is not uncommon to use a “shotgun” approach when applying for internships (or jobs), and while it may seem tempting to apply to every company you can find; focusing on a handful of studios may actually increase your chances of finding an internship, since you are more likely to have done your research, know what they are looking for and have tailored your CV and/or portfolio to them specifically.
Portfolio & CV
So you’ve found an opening for an internship at a studio you really fancy working at. Now comes the tricky bit, how do you put your best foot forward?
The games industry is a very practical industry and instead of focusing on academic achievements we tend to focus on experience and skills.
Experience
The experience-part can seem like a difficult nut to crack since that’s probably what you are looking to gain by doing an internship in the first place. Experience however isn’t just interesting if it comes in the shape of a previous games industry job.
There are a number of things that can give you experience, such as student game projects during your education, modding projects through online communities, volunteering at different game events, hobby projects, or other experience gained from either related industries such as film, advertising, or IT or something completely different.
In our eyes, experience isn't about what titles you’ve had in the past, but rather what you have actually done. There’s technical experience, such as working with version control or a particular game engine, but also soft experience, such as driving a project, working in a group, or giving feedback.
What matters most is what you have learned from your experience and how you think it may apply to the job or position you are applying for.
Portfolio
Many roles within the games industry require you to show previous examples of work that demonstrate that you have the necessary skills to do the job in question. This is most often done in the shape of an online portfolio. Your portfolio can contain anything from videos, still images, game design documents, or even playable game demos. What’s important is that you cater your portfolio towards both the role and the studio you are applying for.
There are a number of good options to host your portfolio, some of which are completely free. Regardless of if you are a web designer who can create your own portfolio from scratch or if you prefer using an already existing template, what should be at the forefront of your mind as you design your portfolio is simplicity and usability. Make sure to show your work to the viewer in as few clicks as possible.
Here are a few things you should consider as you put your portfolio together.
Since first impressions are key it’s important to give your visitors what they are looking for. Make your portfolio easy to access and ensure that it works across all platforms. The design should be as simple as possible to ensure that your work is clearly presented and so that visitors know what they are looking at. Add a brief but informative description of your work and give credits if others worked on what is being presented.
The work you put in your portfolio should only be your very best work and should be relevant to the company you apply for. If you want to show work that is “in progress”, try adding a blog section to your portfolio and keep that work there. It’s important to sell your work to the viewer, so make sure that your presentation is as good as it can be. Also, add breakdowns of your work. This is where you show the technical aspects and how it was created. Remember, how you did something is just as important as what you did.
Your portfolio should include your name, contact information, and a link to your CV. Watermark your work with your name and contact information, so if someone saves an image or video, they can easily find you again. Make sure to spell check everything (including companies/schools, software, and people) and use a professional domain name for your website.
Interview process
After applying for an internship or master thesis position and the hiring team has decided that you would be a good fit for the role, the next step will most likely be an interview. While most people would probably agree that interviews are nerve-wracking events, try to see them as an opportunity to get to know the company, it’s values, and your potential future co-workers.
Interviews are used by the hiring team to determine how your skills and experience can be applied to what they are looking for, but even more importantly, the interview is a way for both you and the company to see how well you would fit into the team and vice versa; how well the team fits what you are looking for. Don’t forget that while the interviewer(s) are interviewing you, you should also be interviewing them!
The best way to equip yourself for an interview is to come prepared to talk about your past experience, your ambitions, and have a few questions of your own. For instance, you can ask your interviewer(s) what they like and dislike about working at the company or where they see the company going in the future. The answers you get can tell you a lot about the company culture, where it’s heading, and if the job descriptions seem to match reality. Asking questions also shows that you are prepared, curious, and that you care about finding the best possible role for yourself.
Once the interview is over, don’t forget to reconnect with your interviewers over email and thank them for their time. If you have any additional questions that you didn’t have time to ask, you can include them in the email as well.
If, at any stage of the application process, you get the dreaded rejection email, try to not let that bring you down. It is completely okay to feel sad and disappointed. The people you have interviewed with have most likely been rejected many times themselves, so they know how much it can hurt. Try to see it from the perspective of it being a learning experience. Ask the interviewer(s) for feedback and (if you want to) apply again in the future when you feel ready.
FAQ
Since we get a lot of questions from students regarding internship and master thesis opportunities, we thought we would answer some of them in this section.
When are internship/master thesis positions available?
Currently, we have 2 internship cycles per year: Winter and Autumn starts. The recruitment process usually starts a few months before and we advise you to check our career page to stay updated on available opportunities.
Who are internships/master thesis positions available for?
To qualify for one of our internship or master thesis positions, you must be an actively enrolled student at a university or vocational school, where an LIA period or master thesis is a part of your educational program.
I’m based outside Stockholm. Does EA offer accommodation during my internship?
No. You have to be based in Sweden to be eligible for an internship or master thesis position, this includes the current “working from home” period.
What can I expect as an intern or master thesis student at EA?
An opportunity to work on a game project with experienced colleagues, learn from your mentor, and grow as a game developer. If you’re interested in pursuing your career in the games industry, this is a fantastic way to start your career. As an intern or master thesis student, we don’t expect you to be productive straight away. Learning the tools and workflows will take time. The most important thing is for you to learn, ask questions, and be curious. Once you are ready to take on production tasks, your lead, manager, and mentors will guide and assist you along the way.
You will also be able to explore the EA/DICE culture by attending company events or participating in different initiatives. We believe that this gives added value to your internship/master thesis experience.
Do I need to be a hardcore gamer?
Do I need to be familiar with your products?
No. While every role at EA has a particular set of responsibilities, we look for individuals with the right skills, potential to grow, and who incorporate our values into their work ethic. EA is made up of people with different backgrounds and perspectives and we value the thoughts and opinions of everyone the same, regardless of what you do in your spare time.
Are internships/master thesis positions paid?
No. Internships and master thesis positions are not paid. Based on performance there may be a discretionary bonus at the end of the internship/master thesis period. Some of our other benefits include free EA games and regular company social events