Embedded Files
2026 Ranking of UK Video Game Schools and Studios
2026 Ranking of UK Video Game Schools and Studios
A significant player in the video game industry
The United Kingdom is home to many well-known video game development studios such as Rockstar North, Creative Assembly, and Codemasters. According to the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), the video game industry in the UK generated approximately £3.9 billion in sales in 2020, equivalent to €4.4 billion, representing an 11.2% increase from the previous year.
The country is also host to numerous video game industry events, such as the London Games Festival and EGX (formerly known as Eurogamer Expo). For schools, there are the TIGA UK Games Education Awards. The UK has a strong community of gamers and video game fans, with many e-sports competitions and tournaments held each year.
Regarding revenue, the UK ranks fifth in the world for the video game industry, following the USA, Japan, China, and France. However, it should be noted that these figures do not take into account online video game sales, which have grown significantly in recent years and can significantly influence the overall revenue of the video game industry in each country.
TOP 5 UK video GAME SCHOOLS
TOP 5 UK video GAME SCHOOLS
with the Highest Video Game Job Placement Rates
with the Highest Video Game Job Placement Rates
Mentioning a school ranked beyond the 5th place is a service we offer
TOP 5 uk VIDEO GAME STUDIOS
TOP 5 uk VIDEO GAME STUDIOS
studios that recruited the most graduates
studios that recruited the most graduates
☆ top 5 video game schools in the UK ☆
☆ top 5 video game schools in the UK ☆
Dozens of schools in the United Kingdom offer training programs in video game development, and their students produce game projects, some of which remain confidential.
There are many game development competitions organized in the country, such as the BAFTA Games Awards, the UK Games Fund, and the TIGA Awards. These competitions provide students with an opportunity to showcase their skills and talents and to win prizes and recognition for their projects.
#1 Bournemouth University
#1 Bournemouth University
Bournemouth, Dorset
Bournemouth, Dorset
17,390 students enrolled
Public university
Tuition & fees 2025/26 per year: Bachelor's: £9,535 (UK), £20,685(non-UK),
Master's: £11,550 (UK), £19,600 (non-UK)
#2 The University of Huddersfield
#2 The University of Huddersfield
Huddersfield, Yorkshire-and-the-Humber
Huddersfield, Yorkshire-and-the-Humber
19,000 students
Public university
Tuition fees 2025/26:
Bachelor Games Art BA (Hons): £9,535 (UK), £17,600 (non-UK)
The School of Computing and Engineering, part of the University of Huddersfield, offers 3-year bachelor's degrees focused on video game development.
Since 2006, the University has housed a dedicated game development studio on its campus: Canalside Studios, equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and software used in the gaming industry.
The university also encourages participation in internal and external Game Jams, providing practical opportunities for collaborative team-based development.
ACADEMICS:
Games Development (Art) BA (Hons)
Games Development (Design) BA (Hons)
Games Development (Production) BSc (Hons)
Computer Science with Games Programming BSc (Hons)
STUDENT PROJECTS:
🎮 Parasol Protocol (2025) A chaotic, cooperative, party-puzzling time trial. Work together to solve escalating puzzles, outmanoeuvre preying robots, and navigate unpredictable challenges — not just from the facility, but from each other
Platform: PC
Engine: Unreal Engine
Number of players: 2-4
Genre: Puzzle in Co-op
🎮 Sprite's City Scramble (2025). A 3D puzzle-platformer where you play as Sprite, an alien parasite who can possess creatures with unique abilities. Explore, solve puzzles, and collect everyday artifacts to understand our world and find your way home.
Platform: PC
Engine: Unreal Engine
Number of players: 1
Genre: Puzzle Platformer
RECRUITMENT:
The main companies who have recruited University of Huddersfield alumni since 2024:
Co-op
Logic
Labyrinth Studios
PCSpecialist
*
Graduates from University of Huddersfield are entering a diverse mix of industries, from local co-op roles to emerging indie studios.
Smaller teams like Logic Labyrinth Studios stand out with experimental puzzle-driven projects that highlight strong design and technical skills.
Meanwhile, companies such as PCSpecialist reflect pathways into hardware and tech.
Overall, this spread showcases both creative indie development and broad employability across sectors for Huddersfield’s 2024–2025 graduates.
*
The distribution of University of Huddersfield alumni in the video game industry since 2024 reveals the following :
🎮 Game Designer : 36 %
🎨 Game Art : 21 %
💻 Game Programmer : 22 %
📢 Producer : 11 %
🎧 Music/Audio Designer :10 %
#3 University OF Staffordshire
#3 University OF Staffordshire
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
20,000 students, including approx. 1000 enrolled in video game program
Public University
Tuition fees 2025/2026:
Bachelor's £9,790 (UK), £17,000 (non-UK)
Master's £9,830 (UK), £17,500 (non-UK)
The University of Staffordshire opened its first video game program in 1997. Originally specializing in sciences, the university has since expanded its program offerings to include digital arts and has become a recognized player in higher education for video game studies in the United Kingdom. It boasts modern facilities and state-of-the-art equipment specifically designed for training in these fields.
In 2019, the University of Staffordshire opened a new campus, the London Digital Institute, entirely dedicated to digital careers, which also offers a BSc in Computer Games Design.
ACADEMICS:
BA (Hons) Games Design
BA (Hons) Games Art
BA (Hons) Concept Art
BA (Hons) Music Production
BSc (Hons) Games Development
BSc (Hons) Games Programming
MA Games Design
MA 3D Games Art
MA Concept Art
MSc Computer Games Programming
STUDENT PROJECTS:
🎮 Pushy Plushy (2025) Pushy Plushy is a cute, chaotic and fast-paced 2-4 player party game where no two games play the same. Sabotage your friends and collect tons of plushies
Platform: PC
Engine: Unreal Engine
Number of players: 4 Local
Genre: Casual Party Game
🎮 Beatscape (2025) A 3D platformer with heavy emphasis on giving the player control over the music.
Exploring how music first approach effects level design and how we can use both of these elements to influence and guide players.
Platform: PC
Engine: Unreal Engine
Number of players: Unknown
Genre: Music Platformer
RECRUITMENT:
The main companies who have recruited University of Staffordshire graduates since 2024:
bet365
Oatcake
Interactive
INFINITY27
Snappy Gurus
*
Graduates from the University of Staffordshire are joining a diverse mix of studios and companies, from major players like bet365 to emerging creative teams.
Studios such as Oatcake Interactive and INFINITY27 highlight the indie scene with original IPs and experimental gameplay-driven projects.
Meanwhile, Snappy Gurus stands out for its work on UX and co-development across multiple international titles.
Overall, this reflects a strong employability across both games and adjacent industries, with juniors contributing to a wide range of innovative productions.
*
The distribution of University of Staffordshire alumni in the video game industry since 2024 reveals the following :
🎮 Game Designer : 29 %
🎨 Game Art : 33 %
🎨🛠️ Tech-Artist : 5 %
💻 Game Programmer : 30 %
🎧 Music/Audio Designer : 3 %
#4 abertay university
#4 abertay university
Dundee, Scotland
Dundee, Scotland
Over 4,500 students enrolled
Public university
Tuition fees 2025/26 per year:
Bachelor's £1,820 (Scotland), £9,250 (UK), £15,500 (non-UK), Master's £7,900 (Scotland), £10,200 (UK), £18,000 (non-UK)
Abertay University was the first university in the world to offer a degree in game development and has since become a leader in the field.
Many professionals in the game industry have studied at Abertay, and the university has partnered with leading game companies to provide internship and career opportunities for its students. All of this has contributed to making Abertay one of the most renowned universities in the world for game development education.
ACADEMICS:
BSc Computer Games Applications Development
BSc Computer Games Technology
BA Game Design and Production
BA Computer Arts
MSc Computer Games Technology
MProf Professional Masters in Games Development
STUDENT PROJECTS:
🎮 Galactic Postal Servitude (2025) Galactic Postal Servitude is a single-player, point-and-click deduction game set in a chaotic alien post office.
Platform: PC
Engine: Unknown
Number of players: 1
Genre: Puzzle
🎮 Shore Leave (2025) Explore the island of Pīniki in both 2D and 3D, as the cat Robin, who can complete puzzles and talk to their friends to find all the items they need to have the best picnic possible!
Platform: PC
Engine: Unknown
Number of players: 1
Genre: Puzzle Adventure 2D 3D
RECRUITMENT:
The main companies who have hired Abertay University alumni since 2024:
Shouty Knot
Rockstar Games
Gameloft
Sofia Next
*
Abertay graduates in 2024–2025 joined a diverse mix of studios, from global leaders like Rockstar Games (Grand Theft Auto series) and Gameloft Sofia (mobile hits like Asphalt) to lesser-known teams.
Indie-oriented studios such as Shouty Knot stand out for their creative, experimental projects, reflecting Abertay’s strong prototyping culture.
Overall, the spread showcases Abertay’s ability to place talent across both high-profile productions and innovative, under-the-radar projects.
*
The distribution of Abertay University alumni in the video game industry since 2024 reveals the following :
🎮 Game Designer : 28 %
🎨 Game Art : 22 %
🎨🛠️ Tech-Artist : 6 %
💻 Game Programmer : 39 %
📢 Producer : 5 %
#5 Teesside University
#5 Teesside University
Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, UK
Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, UK
23,000 students enrolled
Public university
Tuition & fees 2025/26:
Games Development, BSc: £9,935 a year (UK), £17,000 a year (international) ;
3D Games Art, MA: £8,365 a year (UK), £17,000 a year (international)
ACADEMICS:
All game-related programs are three years full-time Bachelor degree programs
Concept Art, BA (Hons)
Games Art, BA (Hons)
Games Design, BA (Hons)
Games Development, BSc (Hons)
Games Programming, BSc (Hons)
Games Design, MA
3D Games Art, MA
Concept Art, MA
STUDENT PROJECTS:
🎮 The Huntsman (2025) Investigate a suspect as a Private Detective, uncover the evidence left around the house and get out alive! The Huntsman could be around any corner, but he should be no match for your trusty flashlight, as long as you have enough battery!
Platform: PC
Engine: Unreal
Number of players: 1
Genre: Survival Horror
🎮 The Timeless Easel by Six Sense (2025) Solve the mystery of Emmaline Blanc's, a famed artist who brought colour to a world of grey, disappearance by solving puzzles in this detective-styled interactive puzzle game. Travel to different time periods of Emmaline's life through her famous paintings to uncover a long-lasting love tale and discover Emmaline's whereabouts.
Platform: PC
Engine: Unreal
Number of players: 1
Genre: Atmosphere Puzzle Game
RECRUITMENT:
The following is a list of the main companies who have hired Teesside graduates since 2024:
Dink
INFINITY27
Observer Interactive
Tucan Digital Studio
Double Eleven
*
At Teesside University, junior talent is flowing into a mix of agile indie studios and cross-industry players, reflecting a highly versatile graduate profile.
Studios like Dink and INFINITY27 stand out for their work on stylized indie titles and experimental gameplay prototypes, often showcased on emerging platforms.
Observer Interactive and Tucan Digital Studio contribute to immersive interactive experiences and applied game projects, bridging entertainment and real-world applications.
*
The distribution of Teesside alumni in the video game industry since 2024 reveals the following :
🎮 Game Designer : 44 %
🎨 Game Art : 33 %
💻 Game Programmer : 17 %
📢 Producer : 6 %
Page updated
Report abuse