15 months after graduating
100% of our computing and games development graduates are in work or further study
100% of our computing and games development graduates are in highly skilled work or further study
100% of our computing and games development graduates in highly skilled work said their degree was a formal requirement or gave them an advantage*
The video game
sector is booming, with over 2,000 game design studios within the UK, working in
this sector no longer means having to travel internationally to get the
experience you want. Although you can still work overseas for international
gaming companies, there are smaller headquarters for companies such as EA Games
and Ubisoft within the UK, along with a wealth of independent studios which design
games for a variety of different formats such as consoles, the internet and mobile
phones, who are also looking for graduates to join them. Many also specialise in virtual reality,
where they create bespoke, immersive experiences for a range of different sectors. These include training for military and
medical professionals, coaching applications for sport and performance enhancement,
therapeutic interventions for mental health issues (such as treating post
traumatic stress disorder) and enhancing teaching and learning activities in
schools and other settings.
There are lots of
options to turn your love of playing video games into a lucrative career in
game design. These include lead
designer, game programmer, game artist, game animator, game writer, software
developer and games tester. Although
the sector shows no sign of slowing down opportunities can be competitive so
you will need to network, as some opportunities offered off the back of recommendations. Although you may aspire to be a lead
designer, often you need to build your skills and experience in other roles, before
being given the reins over your own project.
Make sure you have
an up-to-date portfolio of work and you can show your passion for the industry
by gaining work experience, entering competitions and taking part in networking
events. If working for a game studio
doesn’t appeal to you, you could consider setting up your own game development
studio. To find out more
about going freelance or running your own business check out our self-employment
and freelancing page.
Due to unique
combination of technical skills (design, programming, coding, engineering) and
creative skills you can also look at working in all parts of the technology and
computer sector. Roles outside of gaming
include web design, systems/ forensic computer analysis, data science, IT
project management and cyber security.
There are also
opportunities for you to use your unique skill set within the wider creative
industries and beyond, such as education, retail and business; with the rise of
gamification as a means to recruit, train and develop staff, you might prefer
working within a company that offers this version of online learning as part of
their remit.
Researching your career options
It is important to
make sure you explore and research your options thoroughly so that you can make
informed decisions about your future.
Take a look at
the Prospects, TargetJobs and the professional associations websites
for inspiration:
Employment opportunities
Below is a snapshot of what some of University of
Plymouth graduates told us they were doing 15 months after
graduation. For some graduates, these jobs serve as ‘stepping
stones’ to professional posts by providing relevant workplace
experience.
-
Android Developer
- Customer Service Advisor
- Graduate Software Engineer
- IT Consultant
- Junior Game Developer
- Junior Software Developer
- Junior Software Engineer
- Software Developer
- Technical Triage Lead
- XR Developer
Employers
- Fujitsu
- Mobile Consulting Solutions
- QA Consulting
- Sharecloud
- Silhouette Research and Developing
- Sports Interactive
- Trapeze Group UK
- Volume
*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for 11 UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.