Games institute

Welcome to our Games Institute, a multi-award-winning beacon of creativity and innovation. We prepare the gaming prodigies of today to become the industry pioneers of tomorrow.

Our state-of-the-art facilities with cutting-edge technology and top-tier professional tools reflect our status as the largest games department in the UK. We are home to a vibrant community of over 2000 students across our Stoke and London campuses. Our alumni network spreads across the entire gaming industry, with our graduates making an impact in virtually every major game studio. They form an impressive global fraternity of game developers, all having honed their craft at Staffordshire.

1st in the UK for career prospects

We're the top ranked institution by GamesSchools.com for the Highest Video Game Job Placement rates.

Accredited and recognised by TIGA

Winner of the TIGA Education Institution of the Year 2024 and 2025, and the Industry Engagement Award for our mock interview scheme.

1st in the UK for Games Design and Development

We're ranked 1st in the UK and 14th globally in The Rookies Global School Rankings 2025

Our immersive courses span the entire game development spectrum - from concepts to design, art, programming, and production. Driven by industry insight and cutting edge research, we stay at the forefront of the ever-evolving gaming landscape. Our significant partnerships with numerous AAA and independent studios - and a trophy case glittering with awards for our industry engagement - further attest to our commitment to our students.

As the first University to be recognised as an Unreal Engine Authorized Training Centre, we continue to break barriers and set the pace.

Welcome to our exciting and nurturing department. Immerse yourself, and let's shape the future of gaming together!

Our locations

Stoke-on-Trent

Our Stoke-on-Trent hub is one of the largest games development sites in the UK, with a team of over 60 academics. At Stoke we teach the full suite of our undergraduate and postgraduate courses, in our industry standard and sector leading facilities.

London

Our London hub is housed in the impressive HereEast facility in the Olympic Park in Stratford. Our capital campus has a specific digital focus, with next generation learning spaces. Learn Games Design in the heart of the nation's capital with us.

Our Students

Studying games at Staffordshire means you'll be part of something much bigger than just a degree. Our award winning students go on to work at powerhouses in the games industry, shaping games played all over the world.

Student experience

Find our about the unique opportunities we offer our students

Play student games

Check out the games developed by our talented students

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The exceptional work of our students is a testament to their dedication, talent, and professional growth

Chris Headleand

Head of Department, Games

Our team

Professor Christopher Headleand

Head Of Department - Sugi

Prof. Headleand is a Computing & Video Games academic with over 20 years' experience; internationally recognised as an expert in student engagement. He is head of Games Design & Technology & researches Virtual Reality, Visualisation & Serious Games.

Christopher's profile

Dr Sharon Coleclough

Senior Lecturer

Sharon works across all areas of film and media production, focusing upon specialisms in sound design, editing, acting and performance in film. She is an active researcher with international publications on lighting, sound and representation in film.

Sharon's profile

David Edwards

Course Director

Dave is an experienced technical artist and academic. He teaches on many of the earlier levels of the Games Art degree, using his expertise in 3D character and environment art, 3D scripting, and level design in the Unreal Engine.

David's profile

Emma Fallows

Lecturer

Emma is an artist, researcher, and lecturer in Games Development. Her research explores applying virtual reality to museum displays to enhance the education and overall visitor experience.

Emma's profile

Dr Kieran Hicks

Course Director

Dr Kieran Hicks is a game design lecturer, they are the director of the DEMI research centre. Their research explores games from user-based and design-based lenses, using games as a tool to engage diverse groups in beneficial activity.

Kieran's profile

David James

Course Director

I am a Games Technical Design Lecturer at Staffordshire University, specialising in the design principles and technical implementation of game software.

David's profile

Professor Esther Maccallum-Stewart

Professor

Esther specialises in player behaviour and analog games, exploring roleplaying, boardgames, fan communities and conventions. She has consulted on playful experiences for companies including Candy Crush (King Games) and Sony PlayStation.

Esther's profile

Level of detail vodcast

Level of Detail is a games vodcast brought to you by the largest computer games department in the UK! Level of Detail will be linking up with our team of over 80 specialist games lecturers and some of our nearly 1500 games students at Staffordshire University.

Throughout the series, our games development experts will be playing some of the most iconic computer games and inviting in a range of guests to give their insights into one of the biggest industries in the world.

Level of detail vodcast

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