The University of Portsmouth is celebrating a successful night at the TIGA UK Games Education Awards 2026, having clinched three significant prizes. The awards, organised by TIGA, the trade association for the UK’s video games industry, announced their winners on Monday, 5 October.
Michael Hennessy, a former student who studied BA (Hons) Computer Games Design, was honoured with the ‘Most Outstanding Graduate of the Year: Designer’ award. The 23-year-old expressed his gratitude, stating, “During my studies at the University of Portsmouth, the course, my lecturers, and fellow students have shaped game design into an artform I’ve fallen in love with. To have my passion and hard work for this discipline be recognised by TIGA through this award, feels incredible. Massive congratulations to the other winners!”
The ‘Innovative Teaching: Lecturer, Head of Department or Dean’ award was presented to Anna Limpens, Principal Lecturer and Course Leader for BSc (Hons) Computer Games Production. She commented, “It's a genuine pleasure to work with such amazing colleagues and students. Innovation is at the heart of our teaching on the Games courses, and to have that commitment recognised by TIGA is something I am immensely proud of.”
Furthermore, the University of Portsmouth’s Computer Games courses collectively received the ‘Innovative Teaching: Team’ award. Neil Dansey, Programme Area Lead for Games in the School of Film, Media, and Creative Technologies, remarked, “2026 has been an outstanding year for the Computer Games courses here in Portsmouth. We are extremely proud of the achievements of our students and staff, and these awards are testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire Games community. Congratulations to everyone.”
The winners were selected by a judging panel based on a set of criteria. A full list of this year’s winners and finalists is available on the TIGA website. Dr Adrian Hull, Head of the School of Film, Media, and Creative Technologies, added, “These awards are a celebration of our brilliant staff and students and all the work that goes into making the University of Portsmouth such an exciting place to study. Over the past few years, we’ve put a huge amount of thought into the experience we create for students, alongside helping them gain the core knowledge and skills to succeed in industry. It’s wonderful to see that work recognised - well done to everyone involved!”
Looking ahead, the Games team is preparing to attend the TIGA Games Industry Awards 2026 in London next month, where the University of Portsmouth has been shortlisted in two categories: ‘Educational Institution’ and ‘Education Initiative’. The university also boasts the UK's first Centre for Creative Immersive and Extended Reality (CCIXR) and has been recognised for its social opportunities for gamers.
