James Douglas
Computing
HND Games Design (including Digital Design & Development)
“The lecturing staff were amazing and so friendly. If you needed help with anything they were there, and they were also a good laugh! They made the experience what it was.”
What started as a love for gaming has taken James to third year at university, showing how a hobby can become a rewarding career.
Twenty-year-old James Douglas from Aberdeen had always planned to go to College after leaving school but it was his teacher, a former games student, who encouraged him to turn his interest into a career.
While studying at Dyce Academy, he completed the SCQF Level 5 Games Development course and quickly realised this was the path he wanted to pursue.
He explained, “I love playing video games and spoke with my teacher a lot about creating them. The more I learned, the more interested I became!”
After leaving school in fifth year in 2023, he chose to continue his studies at NESCol full-time.
He explained, “I didn’t pass my Higher Computing, so I didn’t have the grades needed for the HND. Instead, I joined the SCQF Level 6 Computer Games Design course.”
Studying games design
James balanced his studies with two jobs, working as a kiosk supervisor at Pittodrie Stadium as well as in the cafe at Wynford Farm Park.
After successfully completing the SCQF Level 6 course, he progressed to HND Games Design in 2024. Looking back, the sense of community at College stood out as a real highlight of his experience.
He said, “I made such good friends at College and I now live with two of them! We did Level 6 together, then the HND, and now we’re all on the same course at university.”
James also praised the computing department for the positive and supportive learning environment they created.
He said, “The lecturing staff were amazing and so friendly. If you needed help with anything they were there, and they were also a good laugh!
“They made the experience what it was. If I’d had different lecturers, I don’t think I’d be at university now. They showed me that I could do it.”
James is dyslexic and, although he chose not to access the support available, it was reassuring to know help was there if he ever needed it.
He said, “I was offered support throughout my course with my dyslexia, but I was confident I could manage without it. If I had needed help, the lecturers would have been there.”
Esports Hub
In summer 2025, Aberdeen City Campus launched its new Esports Hub, giving computing and games design students access to advanced gaming equipment.
This was NESCol‘s second Esports Hub, the first one having been introduced at Fraserburgh Campus the year before.
James and his classmates took the initiative to help the computing department with setting up the facility, which turned out to be one of his favourite College memories – and a great opportunity to put his skills into practice.
He said, “Being part of the Esports Hub project was definitely a highlight. I loved doing that, it was quite fun and me and my mates were really proud to be able to support.
“We weren’t asked to do it. We just came in one day and offered to help the lecturers set up the Twitch streaming and camera angles.”
Next steps
Having completed his HND, James and the two friends he met at College have all progressed directly into third year of the BSc (Hons) Games Design degree at Robert Gordon University (RGU).
Although James aspires to go into teaching, he plans to build up his industry experience once he finishes university.
He said, “The team at NESCol really inspired me to become a lecturer. I spoke to them about this before leaving College and they advised me to spend a few years getting some experience in industry first, before coming back to do lecturing.
“It’s definitely on my mind to teach at NESCol but it all depends on where I’m living at the time!”
Advice for students
James has learned how important it is to step out of your comfort zone and make the most of every opportunity. His advice to other students is simple: “Be confident.”
He explained, “Try to talk to as many people as you can and never be afraid of speaking up in class. If you’re wrong, the lecturer will just tell you why and explain it to you.
“Be confident, have fun and enjoy it!”
Study Games Design at NESCol
Follow in James’s footsteps and discover where a computing or games design qualification could take you.