Echo School of Technology, Digital Arts and Video Games

What Echo School of Technology, Digital Arts and Video Games does

Echo School of Technology, Digital Arts and Video Games (ECHO SCHOOL SRL) is a private, Bucharest-based educational institution founded in 2023 that operates the first undergraduate game development program in Romania. It delivers three 3-year BA/BSc (Hons) degree programs — Game Design and Development, Game Engineering, and Computer Arts and Animation — in partnership with Abertay University (Scotland), conferring UK-accredited international Bachelor degrees. The school is led by Dean Marian Poiana (former Ubisoft Bucharest game artist) and relies on industry practitioners from Gameloft, Ubisoft, Amber, and other studios as lecturers, emphasizing practice-based, portfolio-driven instruction rather than theoretical lectures.

The core curriculum is built on industry-standard game development tools: Unreal Engine 5, Unity, Blender, Substance Painter, Photoshop, Figma, C++, C#, and VS Code. Beyond the degree programs, the school operates a catalog of approximately 10 fee-based intensive short courses (8–12 weeks) covering UX/UI, Unreal game design, 3D modeling, tech art, concept art, C-based programming, and AI-assisted programming (Vibe Coding). Revenue is generated primarily through annual undergraduate tuition (5,800–9,800 EUR after scholarships), one-time application fees (60–120 EUR), and short course fees (3,500–5,000 lei plus VAT). The school also runs free admission events, portfolio review sessions, and game jams as marketing/funnel channels, with additional support from scholarships (up to 4,000 EUR/year) and a referral program.

The go-to-market is multi-channel and consumer-focused: direct-to-student application via website, in-person campus events at the Dacia Boulevard headquarters, online webinars, and event partnerships with AMBER HQ. Geographic scope is domestic (Romania, Bucharest), but the curriculum and diploma are international via Abertay. Core customers are high school graduates and working professionals seeking career pivots into the game industry, with the Romanian market containing approximately 7,000 specialists in domestic and multinational studios.

Name

Echo School of Technology, Digital Arts and Video Games

Legal name

ECHO SCHOOL SRL

Website

https://echo-school.ro

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Echo School of Technology, Digital Arts and Video Games is a Bucharest-based private institution offering the first undergraduate game development programs in Romania, in partnership with Abertay University (Scotland), issuing UK-accredited BA/BSc degrees alongside fee-based intensive short courses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Game Development Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional & Executive Short Courses (Non-Degree, International) (EDAIAIAH)

Keywords

• Game development education
• Undergraduate game design
• Digital arts training
• Video game programming
• Concept art courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Bucharest

HQ country

Romania

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition: Annual tuition fees for undergraduate programs ranging from 5,800 EUR to 9,800 EUR after scholarship applications. Programs are 3 years in duration leading to international Bachelor degrees.
2. Application Fees: One-time application fees: 60 EUR for candidates with English language certificate, 120 EUR for candidates without certificate including English proficiency test cost.
3. Short Course Fees: Intensive short courses priced between 3,500-5,000 lei (plus VAT): UX/UI Studio (3,500 lei, 8 weeks), Unreal Game Design (3,500 lei, 12 weeks), Programming with C-based Languages (3,500 lei, 12 weeks), Tech Art (4,000 lei, 12 weeks), Professional 3D Modeling (5,000 lei, 12 weeks), Design Creativ & Concept Art (5,000 lei, 12 weeks), Vibe Coding AI (5,000 lei, 8 weeks).
4. Referral Program: Bring-a-friend scholarship worth 400 EUR, applicable one time for both applicant and friend.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Echo School delivers undergraduate BA/BSc (Hons) degree programs and intensive short courses in game design, game engineering, computer arts, animation, programming, and UX/UI design, all delivered from its Bucharest campus. The degree programs are taught under an Abertay University (Scotland) curriculum and award internationally recognized UK diplomas. A portfolio of paid short courses and free admission events completes the offering for both aspiring students and working professionals seeking skill development.

Product overview

Echo School of Technology, Digital Arts and Video Games is an educational institution in Bucharest, Romania, offering a portfolio of undergraduate degree programs and intensive short courses in game development, digital arts, and technology. Its undergraduate arm consists of three BA/BSc (Hons) programs — Game Design and Development, Game Engineering, and Computer Arts and Animation — all delivered in partnership with Abertay University (Scotland) and conferring UK-accredited international bachelor's degrees. Complementing the degree programs is a catalogue of fee-based intensive short courses spanning creative design and concept art, tech art, 3D modeling, Unreal Engine-based game design, C++/C# programming, UX/UI design, vibe coding with AI, and gamified summer school events. The school also runs free admission events and scholarship programs for prospective students. Together, the degree programs form the core academic offering while short courses serve as both standalone professional training and supplementary skill development pathways for aspiring game developers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Game Design and Development (BA Hons)

Quantifiable outcome

• International British Bachelor Degree upon completion of 3-year program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Abertay UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner from Scotland providing curriculum development and degree issuance. Abertay University pioneered game development education in 1997 with the world's first Computer Games Technology program. They provide ongoing curriculum updates to maintain industry relevance and conduct joint admission events including portfolio reviews.
• AMBERcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmber is a creative agency and game development studio network founded in 2013 in Bucharest, with diverse specializations across game development. Founding partner providing industry support, hosting events (Game Jam at AMBER HQ), and contributing industry professionals as lecturers including Gabriel Stancu (Head of Studio), Vlad Anghelahar (International Engineering Guild Leader), Marius Gherman (Technical Director), and Teodor Ionescu (Lead Programmer).
• BISMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing community benefits. ECHO School community members receive 10% discount on short courses through BISM partnership.
• RGDA RomaniaminorOthersRomanian Game Developers Association, led by President Catalin Butnariu, has endorsed ECHO School as a welcome initiative for sustainable growth of Romania's video game industry.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Futuregames: Sweden-based specialist higher-education institution offering 2-year vocational game development programs taught by industry practitioners. Directly comparable to ECHO in mission, target student, and practice-led pedagogy within the Nordic/European specialist game-school category.
• Full Sail University: US-based accredited university offering dedicated degree programs in Game Design, Game Development, and Computer Animation with industry-grade facilities. Comparable as an institution specializing entirely in entertainment/technology education with practitioner faculty.
• PlaygroundSquad: Finnish game development school founded by industry veterans, offering project-based programs in game programming and design with strong studio placement. Directly comparable as a small, specialist, industry-taught game school in a Northern European market.
• DigiPen Institute of Technology: US-based institute offering BS degrees in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation and Digital Art & Animation, with deep industry ties to game studios. Comparable as a specialist, project-driven game engineering and arts school at the undergraduate level.
• The Game Assembly: Swedish specialist game development school offering 2-year programs in game design, programming, and 3D art with strong industry-recruiter relationships. Closely mirrors ECHO's model of practitioner-taught, portfolio-driven game dev education in a European market.
• Abertay University: Scottish university that pioneered game development education in 1997 with the world's first Computer Games Technology degree. Direct academic partner providing ECHO's curriculum and degree issuance; operates the same model in a different geography, making it the closest comparable institution.

Broad incumbents

• SAE Institute: Global network of creative media colleges offering diploma and degree programs in game development, animation, audio, and film across multiple countries including Romania. Comparable as a broader incumbent that offers overlapping game-development curricula but across a much wider creative-media portfolio.
• Vancouver Film School: Canadian institution offering intensive programs in game design, 3D animation, and digital arts with strong entertainment-industry connections. Comparable as a specialist entertainment-tech educator with a similar practitioner-led, portfolio-driven model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EchoSchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/echo-school-ro
• Instagraminstagram.com/echo.school.ro
• TikToktiktok.com/@echo.school.ro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Echo School of Technology, Digital Arts and Video Games