Student experiences in Games

Undergraduate

Studying games at Staffordshire University means you'll be part of something much bigger than just a degree. With access to our countless outstanding facilities, you’ll be able to take part in tournaments and competitions through various clubs and societies, and also get involved as we host large scale gaming and esports events at the University. Whatever your interests in the gaming sector, you’ll find a home at Staffordshire University.

Real-world experience

We host national and European events - such as the Global Games Jam - on campus on a regular basis. So you'll learn from the world's best as you connect with potential employers. We understand that esports is a global phenomenon too, so we give all students the opportunity to visit esports events in the UK and take part in an International residential. You’ll also have the chance to attend a number of industry conferences, such as FMX and ITFS in Germany and VFX Festival in London.

GradEX - showcase your work to industry experts

GradEX is our annual showcase of final year students' work. It's an opportunity for students to exhibit their final year project to a wealth of industry professionals, and in previous years, some students have even come away with an offer of employment.

Students upload their work to the GradEX Portal, which includes links to students’ LinkedIn profiles, portfolios and CVs, and provides both students and employers with a platform to network and connect when they need to.

Our students

I can’t sing the praises of my lecturers and the staff on my course enough.

The facilities at Staffs are second to none. They have top spec computers in all of the rooms in the Cadman building which means that you can always find a place to get on with your work. They also have the top licenses which means we get experience with industry level software. This proved incredibly useful when looking for a job as it meant that I had the experience necessary to get straight to work!

I can’t sing the praises of my lecturers and the staff on my course enough. Dan McCarthy has been one of the most supportive people during my time at university and I really do thank him for my growth as an artist as he pushed me and always offered me great feedback on my work. And finally, Anthony Martin was super helpful in my final year. He helped teach me so much about lighting and camera tricks.

I currently work for Triadic Labs who create CG interiors and exteriors of properties to give their consumers a fully immersive experience.

 

Sam Cassidy

BSc (Hons) CGI and Visual Effects

I’m really enjoying my time at Staffs and recommend it and the course to anyone thinking about applying / doing it.

The facilities are fantastic. The two main facilities I find useful are the library and the Mellor building. They are both open 24 hours a day and are easy to access with necessary equipment such as computers and printers. The Mellor is especially helpful to me because the dual monitors in certain rooms are very useful when programming.

The staff on my course are excellent. Very clear when explaining topics and elements, happy to help when you ask and still have a good sense of humour – which is important!

I’m really enjoying my time at Staffs and recommend it and the course to anyone thinking about applying / doing it.

Lewis Heath

BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development

If you want to study esports, the resources and teaching staff at Staffordshire University will give the best possible university experience.

One of the best parts of my experience was the teaching staff. They were so kind and helpful. Whenever I got stuck during my assignments or just needed some help with something during a seminar they always helped to resolve the issue. 

My biggest bit of advice for anyone thinking about doing the course is to do it. I was not sure at first as its not a “traditional” subject to study at university, however it has been one of the best choices I have ever made. On top of this, if you want to study esports, the resources and teaching staff at Staffordshire University will give the best possible university experience.

Joshua Welling

BA (Hons) Esports

In my first semester here I have created a society around our course and helped at Esports taster events at the Uni.

In my first semester here I have created a society around our course, helped at Esports taster events at the Uni, met industry professionals, been invited to London for meetings and just genuinely been involved in as many things Esports related as I can.

Adam Fortune

BA (Hons) Esports

I had the support of the lectures who offered advice and critique that really saw my potential.

I was given a lot of freedom to explore and develop my work on my own. Also being around other students from other computer technology based courses really helped me to realise the amount of opportunities in the future that my degree could help me to achieve.

Alan Herbert

CGI and Visual Effects 

The lecturers are great – they always push you to do the best.

To anyone considering the Games Art course at Staffs I couldn’t recommend it more. The lecturers are great – they always push you to do the best and the subject matter is so interesting. If you want to be a character artist, there’s modules there. It goes beyond just the modules – there’s life drawing classes and there’s such a variety of different things you can be learning.

Ryan Jackson

BA (Hons) Games Art

The people were the best part of my time at Staffs.

The people were the best part of my time at Staffs. All the lecturers and most of the students were people who had a passion for games as well as thoroughly enjoy programming, and a majority of the assignments reflected this, with even the classically less enjoyable areas of programming like networking being made more enjoyable with gamification.

The computers at the University are up-to-date with multiple monitors which makes it very nice to use them for programming. The University also has things like VR Kits that are useable if you request. 

Jamie Coogan

Graduate, BSc (Hons) Computer Games Programming

The course content always feels like you are learning skills that will have benefits and uses in the games industry.

The best thing about the course is that we are able to make games, not just write about them and think about them and forget them, but actually make what we want to make. The lecturers are insightful, knowledgeable and fun. They have made the journey and filled it with character. 

The course content always feels like you are learning skills that will have benefits and uses in the games industry. For example learning Jira (product management tool) is super useful and not taught in other places. 

Scott Billyeald Doughty

Student, BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design

The lecturers here have always been extremely helpful and easy to contact.

The facilities here have been great, I’ve never had any issues finding capable computers to work on and have also been able to make use of the motion capture studio we have here. Also having a 24/7 games lab in the library is a great addition.

The lecturers here have always been extremely helpful and easy to contact. They often put their own time into ensuring you get the support you need.

 

Ryan Hall

Student, BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design

The best part of the course is working with lecturers who have industry experience.

Having an Epic Games lab, where all the computers are funded by Epic Games is very useful to have. There are also 24/7 labs with dual monitors and fast PCs, which is a HUGE help when working in the programs used for the course.

The best part of the course is working with lecturers who have industry experience; they teach exactly what you need for you to get your desirable job. If you ask them a question, you will find that they will answer your question and 10 other questions you might have had because they have so much great advice.

Staffs is a gateway to so many amazing jobs that you might never have thought were possible. 

Louis Whitehouse

BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design and Programming

The most useful facility for me was the industry standard software such as Photoshop, Maya, Zbrush and Unreal Engine.

The most useful facility for me was the industry standard software such as Photoshop, Maya, Zbrush and Unreal Engine. If I was not a student these pieces of software would either cost a lot more or not even be available for me to use, unless I paid some hefty license fees. The fact these programs were available at the uni classrooms and from my home computer, was extremely helpful as there was a lot of work I needed to do outside of lectures.

The staff here have been great - very supportive and helpful whenever you need them. Feedback was always constructive and in depth, I always knew how to change my work to improve it. 

Sam Horsley

BA (Hons) Concept Art for Games and Film

CGI and VFX Showreel 2020

Video

Check out our latest CGI and VFX showreel.

Our BA (Hons) Games Art students' trip to New York

Video

We recently took some of our BA (Hons) Games Art students on a trip to New York to visit some of the world's largest games studios. This is their experience.

Rhys on Concept Art

Video

Concept Art for Games and Film student Rhys shares what it's really like to study his course at Staffordshire University after completing his first year.

Gallery

Our friendly enquiries team are on hand to answer any questions you may have about your course, life at University of Staffordshire and much more.

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

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The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

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

Research Excellence Framework 2021

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

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021