Abertay University has been ranked the top International School for video games design in an achievement that ‘cements Scotland’s reputation’ in the industry.

The University has achieved its best ever performance in the Princeton Review’s global rankings for video games education, being named the top International School and the number one institution in Europe.

In the 2026 edition of the influential league table, Abertay’s undergraduate games programmes are ranked 5th in the world, with postgraduate programmes placed 7th globally, strengthening the University’s longstanding position as a leading provider of games education.

Minister for Higher and Further Education Ben Macpherson said: “This is a tremendous achievement and testament to the great work which has been taking place at Abertay University for a number of years, helping to cement Scotland’s deserved reputation for excellence in the computer games industry. Abertay University has been key to that and we pay tribute to everyone involved.

“The computer games sector makes an important contribution to the creative industries and the Scottish economy as a whole. And overall Scotland’s universities continue to perform exceptionally well on the global stage, with three institutions ranked in the top 200 in the world.

“That is why the Scottish Government is continuing to support the sector with investment of more than over £1.4 billion in the sector in 2026
27.”

Abertay has been listed in the review since 2015, and the results confirm the University’s Faculty of Design, Informatics and Business as the highest‑ranked institution outside the United States.

The Princeton Review assessed Abertay’s suite of specialist games degrees including:
• Professional Masters in Games Development
• MSc Computer Games Technology
• MSc Technical Art and VFX
• BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology
• BSc (Hons) Computer Game Applications Development
• BA (Hons) Game Design and Production
• BA (Hons) Computer Arts

Abertay pioneered the world’s first degrees in games in 1997 and is a national Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education. Students benefit from access to a wide range of specialist facilities, including a PlayStation 5 development lab, a Virtual Production Research Environment, an Emergent Technology Centre, usability and competitive gaming labs, and studios supporting design, art, prototyping and collaborative development.

Recommended reading

• AI Is Powering a New Era in Gaming, Finds Google Cloud
• Scotland Hosts Global Gaming Summit
• Are We Entering a ‘Gaming Renaissance’?

Professor Jim Bown, Vice Principal (Faculty of Design, Informatics and Business), said: “These rankings are hugely important because they recognise both the excellence of our academic staff and the outstanding student experience we offer at Abertay.

“Achieving our highest ever positions is a testament to the dedication of our colleagues across the University and our continued investment in cutting‑edge facilities.

“Video games, and the creative industries more widely, are a key driver of economic growth for Scotland and strong educational institutions and a connected and supportive technology ecosystem are essential to keeping pace with our international competitors.”

The Princeton Review’s Editor-in-Chief Rob Franek said: “We highly recommend these schools to students considering a career in this exciting field. Their programs in game design are awesome. Their faculties are outstanding. Their alumni include many of the industry’s most successful game designers, developers, and entrepreneurs, and their facilities are state-of-the-art.”