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2025 Ranking of UK Video Game Schools and Studios
2025 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 teesside University
#1 teesside University
Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
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)
#2 University OF Staffordshire
#2 University OF Staffordshire
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
15,190 students, including approx. 800 enrolled in video game programs
Public University
Tuition fees 2024:
Bachelor's £9,250 (UK), £16,750 (non-UK)
Master's £9,830 (UK), £16,750 (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:
Teesside University students produce around 20 video game projects annually, available on the Expotees website.
MechHead (2024) A fast-paced, round-based arena shooter paying homage to classic games in the genre. Developed in six weeks. Winner of Best Arcade Game at the TIGA Awards.
Disc GO! (2024) A dynamic multiplayer game combining elements of Ultimate Frisbee, soccer, and hockey in an accessible and fast-paced format. Developed over six weeks.
RECRUITMENT:
The following is a list of the main video game studios that have recruited Teesside University graduates since 2020:
Flix Interactive
Cloud Imperium Games
Playground Games
Rockstar Games
Universally Speaking
Frontier Developments
Double Eleven
BULKHEAD
Rebellion
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Nearly half of University of Staffordshire graduates since 2020 who have entered the video game industry hold artistic roles, representing 43% of profiles. Among Game Artists, the most prominent positions are 3D Artists (19%) and Character Artists (5%).
Technical roles also account for a significant share (27%), closely followed by Game Designers (23%), illustrating a balance between creativity and technical skills.
7% of graduates specialize in audio, demonstrating a notable presence in this specific field. This distribution reflects a strong alignment with industry needs.
#3 The University of Huddersfield
#3 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:
Rebound Rivals (2024) A free-to-play action-sports game combining bouncy physics and cooperative chaos across multiple modes, including Air Hockey, chaos, and arenas filled with traps and power-ups.
The Eternal Exodus (2024). A first-person hack 'n' slash with permadeath, inspired by a melee combat game based on chess. Set in a haunting cave, it features undead pawns, necromancer bishops, and golem-like rooks battling it out.
RECRUITMENT:
Main video game studios that have recruited University of Huddersfield alumni since 2020:
10:10 Games
Playground Games
Logic Labyrinth Studios
Rebellion
PitStop Productions
XR Games
Epic Games
Auroch Digital Ltd
Sumo Digital Ltd
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The distribution of University of Huddersfield graduates in the video game industry since 2020 is diverse, with a strong presence of artistic roles (48%). Within the Game Artist category, the predominant positions are 3D Artists (28%) and Visual Effects Artists (7%). Audio-related roles also stand out significantly at 26%, an exceptionally high rate that demonstrates a strong specialization in this field. Game Designers account for 13%, and Game Programmers for 9%, indicating solid technical representation. Producers make up 4%, a relatively high proportion compared to other schools.
This distribution highlights a notable specialization in sound design and art, supported by balanced training.
#4 abertay university
#4 abertay university
Dundee, Scotland
Dundee, Scotland
Over 4,500 students enrolled
Public university
Tuition fees 2024/25:
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:
Left Upon Read (2024) A fast-paced, chaotic action game that blends modern internet humor with dark fantasy. Winner of Dare Academy 2024.
Heldritch Rush (2024) Isometric rail shooter inspired by 90s video games, set in an arcade and a ruined bowling alley, the site of a demonic invasion linked to a secret underground laboratory.
RECRUITMENT:
The following is a list of the main video game studios that have recruited Abertay University alumni since 2020:
Hyper Luminal Games
Rockstar Games
Build A Rocket Boy
Rockstar Dundee
Climax Studios
NinjaKiwi
Konglomerate Games
Stormcloud Games
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The distribution of Abertay University alumni in the video game industry since 2020 is remarkably balanced across design, artistic, and technical roles. Game Programmers represent the largest share at 33%, followed by Game Designers at 31%. Among Game Artists, the dominant roles are 3D Artists (12%) and Character Artists (4%).
Audio Designers account for 8%, a relatively high figure compared to other schools.
#5 Bournemouth University
#5 Bournemouth University
Bournemouth, Dorset
Bournemouth, Dorset
17,390 students enrolled
Public university
Tuition & fees 2025: Bachelor's: £9,535 (UK), £19,700 (non-UK),
Master's: £8,000-£13,750 (UK), £16,000-£18,250 (non-UK)
Bournemouth University is renowned for its programs in game design, animation, and visual effects. Its National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) offers degrees in game design, game programming, animation, and visual storytelling. The NCCA is globally recognized for its industry partnerships and innovative curriculum.
Bournemouth University also has a video game research initiative called GameLab, which explores the societal impact of video games.
ACADEMICS:
BA (Hons) Computer Animation Art & Design
BA (Hons) Computer Animation Technical Arts
BSc (Hons) Games Design
BSc (Hons) Games Programming
BA (Hons) Visual Effects
BSc (Hons) E-Sports Digital Technologies
BA (Hons) Music and Sound Production
MA 3D Computer Animation
MA Digital Effects
MSc Computer Animation and Visual Effects
STUDENT PROJECTS:
Factory Reset (2024) Rogue-lite movement shooter set in a post-AI-apocalypse Britain.
Van Hellsing (2023) Shooting game against a demon in a fortress, created as part of the Bournemouth University Game Jam.
RECRUITMENT:
The following is a list of the main video game studios that have hired Bournemouth University graduates since 2020:
Rockstar Games
Playground Games
Frontier Developments
Digital Umami
Electronic Arts (EA)
Climax Studios
Electric Square
poncle
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The distribution of Bournemouth University graduates in the video game industry since 2020 shows a predominance of artistic roles, accounting for 69% of profiles. The other best-represented roles among Game Artists are Visual Effects Artists (18%) and 3D Artists (15%).
Audio Designers make up 11%, a percentage significantly higher than most other schools. Design (10%) and technical roles (10%) balance this distribution, highlighting the university's strong artistic focus.
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