Game design student figures skyrocket
Number of students studying game and/or graphic courses has more than doubled since 2015/16
With the video game industry growing by 7% per annum, the number of people studying video game subjects at university is surging.
According to figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), game design courses have seen the biggest increase in student numbers, rising by 129% from 2014/15 to 2016/17.
Joint honours degrees in game design and graphics followed closely, with an increase of 124% in student numbers over the same period. Meanwhile, students taking computer games graphics increased by 111%.
Previously released figures show that the number of students who have graduated with a video games degree has more than doubled over the past five years, rising by 116%.
"It is great to see such a significant rise in the number of students studying video games courses at university," said Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO.
"With our sector growing at an impressive 7% per year, we need graduates with the right skills so we can continue to grow and thrive.
"However, it is important to remember that graduate employment in the video games industry varies depending on the university.
"This is why TIGA offers accreditation for video games courses, so prospective students can be confident they will receive a high quality education and stand a good chance of securing a role in the industry.
"We look forward to continuing our work with universities to ensure that the video games industry has a pipeline of talented and skilled workers."