Staffordshire University tops list of games unis in the UK as TIGA reveals Graduates of the Year and shortlist for UK Games Education Awards 2024

Staffordshire University has been ranked first in the UK and fifth in Europe in a list of top universities focused on video game education.

It’s been ranked in this list by GameEducation, ahead of Teesside University, Abertay University, Bournemouth University and the University of Hertfordshire in the UK.

In Europe, it’s fifth, behind France’s Isart Digital, Netherlands’ Breda – University of Applied Sciences, France’s Rubika and Spain’s ESAT – Escuela Superior de Arte y Tecnología.

Bear in mind, these lists seem to be game development-focused as opposed to being esports-focused.

The lists recognise universities with the highest employability and the top student portfolios in video games education.

The news comes after Staffs Uni hosted a Campus Clash tournament as new £2.7m esports facilities opened earlier this year, and the Staffs Uni Valorant team become first to win University Esports Masters title for Great Britain.

The news also comes as 14 Staffs Uni games students have been shortlisted in various categories within the TIGA UK Games Education Awards 2024. TIGA is UK-based games trade body focused on the game development sector.

Professor Chris Headleand, Head of Staffordshire University Games Institute, said: “This is our strongest year yet, and I couldn’t be prouder of the students and the department.

“It’s certainly a fitting way to celebrate our 20 Years of Games anniversary and speaks volumes about the talent and employability of our students who leave us with this to add to their CVs.

“It’s wonderful to see so many institutions engaged in the awards and producing such high-calibre talent in the games industry. But especially nice that we continue to be top ranked in our discipline, which is a credit to the excellent teaching and the high quality of our curriculum.”

Dr Richard Wilson OBE, TIGA CEO, added:“Each graduate and post-graduate has demonstrated excellent work and clearly has considerable potential. Congratulations to all of our terrific TIGA Graduates and Post-Graduates.

“TIGA would also like to congratulate all of our TIGA accredited courses for working with industry, delivering excellence in education and nominating so many superb students for these TIGA accolades.

TIGA Graduate of the Year 2024 students listed

TIGA reveals shortlist for UK Games Education Awards 2024

The winners of the 12 categories will be announced in a virtual ceremony in the autumn, plus the winner of a separate special award that will be revealed during the programme.

Graduate of the Year: Artist

1. Aidan Rodgers, University of Greenwich
2. Berenika Zemanek, Abertay University
3. Cath Lambert, University of Gloucestershire
4. Zachary Allen, University of Hertfordshire
5. Joseph Bardolf, Abertay University
6. Leonardo Scalia, Norwich University of the Arts
7. Maiying Tsang, Staffordshire University
8. August Chamberlain, Staffordshire University
9. Toby Brookes, Staffordshire University
10. Elliot Crompton, Staffordshire University

Graduate of the Year: Designer

1. Jinbo Guan, University of Greenwich
2. Milla Keski-Santii, Abertay University
3. Ian Pettersen, Norwich Universeity of the Arts
4. Gemma Pipe-Wolferstan, University of Suffolk
5. Alfie Hilton, Bournemouth University
6. Kieran Cookesly, Staffordshire University
7. Natasha Taylor, Staffordshire University
8. Brad Campbell, Staffordshire University
9. Louis Presland, Staffordshire University
10. Harry Petch, Abertay University

Graduate of the Year: Programmer

1. Adam Hughes, Abertay University
2. Amy Elliot, University of Portsmouth
3. Benjamin Brennan, University of Greenwich
4. Brandon Roberts, Staffordshire University
5. Mia Kellet, University of Gloucestershire
6. Elvin Nicholson, University of the West of England
7. Jamie Buttenshaw, Abertay University
8. Ryan Purse, Bournemouth University
9. Matthew Stracey, Anglia Ruskin University
10. Eve Powell, Sheffield Hallam University

Graduate of the Year: Production/Enterprise

1. Abigail Lane, University of Hertfordshire
2. Alec Elsegood, Bournemouth University
3. Alfie Wright, Norwich University of the Arts
4. Lorena Ibaseta, University of Greenwich
5. Kacper Wozniak, Bournemouth University
6. Gabe Stott, University of Portsmouth
7. Will Burt, Bournemouth University
8. Ryan Bolson, Bournemouth University
9. Ethan Kafke, Bournemouth University
10. Denisa Maximová, University of Portsmouth

Graduate of the Year: Computer Games Technology

1. University of the West of England: Kieran De Sousa
2. Matthew Mitchinson, University of Hertfordshire
3. Joshua Briggs, Sheffield Hallam University
4. Katie Murray, Brunel University
5. Harry Walters, Staffordshire University
6. George Humphreys, Staffordshire University
7. Amy Elliott, University of Portsmouth
8. Joao Codices, Birmingham City University
9. Daniel Hance, Bournemouth University
10. Nick Speedie, Bournemouth University

Graduate of the Year: Audio

1. Joseph Galvin, University of Greenwich
2. Keir McNab, Abertay University
3. Jake Brodie, Abertay University
4. Jamie Russell, University of Portsmouth
5. Nicholas Webb, Birmingham City University
6. Matthew Wright, Norwich University of the Arts
7. Ryan Dunn, Sheffield Hallam University
8. Declan Shields, Staffordshire University

Post-Graduate of the Year:

1. Alexander Tarvet, Abertay University
2. Sebastian Scaife, Birmingham City University
3. Eleanor Bygrave, University of Hertfordshire
4. Manjeeth Salian, University of Hertfordshire
5. Dom McCollum, Sheffield Hallam University
6. James Smith, Sheffield Hallam University
7. Brandon Turner, Staffordshire University
8. Amy Wozny, Staffordshire University

Innovative Teaching Award

1. Abertay University
2. Birmingham City University
3. University of Greenwich
4. University of Hertfordshire
5. University of Suffolk
6. University of Portsmouth
7. Sheffield Hallam University
8. Staffordshire University

Excellence in University/College – Industry Collaboration

1. Abertay University
2. Birmingham City University
3. Sheffield Hallam University
4. Staffordshire University
5. University of Greenwich
6. University of Hertfordshire
7. University of Portsmouth

Excellence in Games Research

1. Abertay University
2. Anglia Ruskin University
3. Birmingham City University
4. London College of Communications, University of the Arts
5. Sheffield Hallam University
6. Staffordshire University
7. University of Greenwich
8. University of Hertfordshire:
9. University of Portsmouth

Diversity

1. London College of Communication, University of the Arts
2. Staffordshire University
3. University of Greenwich
4. University of Portsmouth

Best student game

• University of Portsmouth: Curation
• Abertay University: Left Upon Read
• Bournemouth University: Factory Reset
• City University of London: Emotion Escapade
• London Metropolitan University: Holloway
• Norwich University of the Arts: Rider City Rush
• Staffordshire University: Midnight Taxi
• University of Gloucestershire: Phantom Paws
• University of Greenwich: So You’re Tellin’ Me?
• University of Northampton: Shattered Sun
• University of the West of England: Project Zip Zap
• University of the West of Scotland: V-Art
• University of Hertfordshire: Hellion’s Curse

Related article: The current state of UK esports education at university level: Courses, tournaments & more

Dom Sacco

Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.

As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.