Isabella Langston, 21, graduated this week with a BA (Hons) Concept Art for Games and Film and is preparing to begin a six-month internship with leading games developer Gameloft in Hanoi.
The opportunity has been made possible through the University's partnership with British University Vietnam and marks the next step in Isabella's journey, which began thousands of miles away in Dubai.
Born in the UK, Isabella moved to Dubai when she was 11. After discovering concept art, she began searching for a degree course that could help turn her passion into a career.
"I always knew I wanted a career in art, I just didn't know what. That was until I discovered concept art," she explained. "The moment I found out what it was, I instantly thought, 'This is something I'd love to do'. I started researching universities and it wasn't long before I found Staffordshire which has a great reputation for games.”
Over the past three years, Isabella has developed not only her artistic skills but also the confidence to embrace new opportunities. At her graduation ceremony, she was selected to deliver a speech on behalf of the Class of 2026.
"If you'd asked the version of me in first year to stand up and do this, I would have flat out said no," she told fellow graduates. "But after three years here, the confidence I've gained has genuinely improved my life for the better."
Alongside her studies, Isabella gained professional experience through the University's 1UP programme, working as a paid concept artist in its in-house games studio.
She said: "It was never just about learning to draw better, though we definitely did that too. It was about learning to adapt to whatever was thrown at us and finding the confidence to create something unique.
"None of that happens without the right people around you, and I have to thank the staff on this course for that. What's always struck me is how different our lecturers are from one another – different backgrounds, specialisms and corners of the industry – yet every single one has been endlessly generous with their time, their feedback and their patience.”
University of Staffordshire's commitment to student success has recently been recognised with the title of University of the Year at the Academic Employability Awards 2026, alongside a top 10 UK ranking for overall student positivity in the National Student Survey.
Now looking ahead to life in Vietnam, Isabella is excited to begin her career in the games industry, taking the skills, confidence and experiences she gained at University of Staffordshire onto the international stage.
She added: “The University encourages you to get involved, and that's made such a difference to my experience. Every opportunity helped me build my portfolio, meet new people and develop the confidence to pursue my dream career.”
Discover more about studying at University of Staffordshire by booking your place at an Open Day or apply now through Clearing for a September start.