Student experience

We immerse our students in the world of game development, crafting captivating games, assets, and digital creations.

From day one of your degree, you will learn to build real games through hands-on experience. You have the opportunity to hone your skills and unleash creativity under the guidance of our experienced academics in our cutting-edge facilities. 

Our students are...

Award winners

Alvin Oblitely, who studies BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design, won the Games Animation prize in this year’s Grads in Games 'Search for A Star' competition. After reaching the finals last year, it was second time lucky for Alvin who impressed the judges with a character transformation sequence in the ‘Beast Mode’ theme.

Career ready

Computer Games Programming graduate Brandon Briggs helped local company River Canal Rescue develop a new app during a placement as part of his degree. Thanks to career networking opportunities through his course Brandon then lined up a graduate job with games studio Rebellion North a before graduating!

Industry recognised

Computer Games Design graduate James got 100% for his final year project, an action-adventure puzzle game called Kai N Tonga. He won 1st place for Level Design at student exhibition GradEX, which led to several job interviews and is now a Junior Designer at Playtonic Games. James was also named a ‘TIGA Graduate of the Year’ and has been shortlisted for a TIGA Games Education Award!

The staff here have constantly encouraged industry engagement through many forms.

Coming to the end of my time here at Staffs, I feel incredibly prepared for my transition into industry. The staff here have constantly encouraged industry engagement through many forms. Yearly events for industry networking and modules tailored specifically to finding your specialisation in the industry have taught me much about where I want to be in the games industry and how to reach that goal when I graduate.

If you're unsure of whether you want to be an artist; designer or programmer (amongst other roles), then this course will allow you to learn more about each of the roles and will allow you specialise as you see fit.  Learning more about all of these roles will also prepare you for industry, as you'll be able to effectively communicate with the teams you work with.

Daniel Saunders

Student, BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design

1UP Placement Scheme

Our 1UP placement gives you the opportunity to be paid to build games, and learn more about the professional games industry. The 1UP scheme won the TIGA 2022 award for Best Education Initiative.  

At the University of Staffordshire, we aim to provide you with some of the best extracurricular opportunities to ensure you will get the most out of university, and leave us ‘industry ready’. We see huge benefits to placement schemes, but there are relatively few in the Games sector. To address this, we created our own in-house studio called ‘Bulldog Studios’ run by some of our industry experienced colleagues.

Through Bulldog Studios, the department created the 1UP placement scheme, and offers 30 internally funded summer placements for students across all levels. The studio is run professionally, exposing students to a work environment outside of the classroom they are used to.  

1UP Placement projects

Law Course Introduction

MechHead 1UP Scheme Gameplay

Video

MechHead is a fast-paced round-based arena shooter which pays homage to the genres classics. Customise your mech, smash high scores​, and unleash carnage to win over the crowd!

Law Course Introduction

StaffsVerse 1UP Scheme

Video

StaffsVerse is a virtual recreation of Staffordshire University's Stoke campus within UEFN!

I have faced and overcome challenges I never thought possible and I have the 1UP Project to thank for that.

Jack Follows

Games Programming Student

Supporting your career

Alongside our popular 1UP Placement Scheme, we encourage all students to take advantage of our excellent industry connections. From conferences to industry placements - when you finish your course, you will be perfectly prepped for the world of work.

In 2023 we hosted the Ukie Student Conference, with games industry experts from across the country coming to share their knowledge and expertise to our students.

Benefits of study

You won't just get the benefits of expert teaching, we’ll be using the latest, industry standard software on all our awards. Much of the software you’ll be using is free or heavily discounted to students with a valid University e-mail address, including:


for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025

for Social Inclusion

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026

for First Generation Students

The Mail University Guide 2026

in the UK for Games Education

Rookies Games Design and Development 2023, 2025

TIGA Best Games Institution 2024, 2025

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021