esports BSc (Hons)

Key Facts

  • UCAS Code:

    BSc: I600
    BSc with Foundation:
    I601

  • Level:

    Undergraduate

  • Duration:

    Full Time: 3 years
    Full Time Foundation: 4 years
    Part Time: 4 - 5 years

  • Starting:

    September

  • Fees UK 23/24:

    Full Time: £9,250
    Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
    Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250

  • Fees International 23/24:

    Full Time: £14,750
    Integrated Foundation Year: £14,750

  • Location:

    Waterside

Get in touch


For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK/EU Students enquiries

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

International Students enquiries

international@northampton.ac.uk
+44 (0)1604 893981

Overview


The esports BSc (Hons) degree at UON provides students with the flexibility to study modules in esports business and marketing, events, broadcasting, and media, esports coaching, and the psychology of performance and wellbeing of esports performers.

Our esports degree places significant emphasis on practical hands-on application, you will develop highly valued industry skills in casting, streaming, content creation, performance analysis, player coaching, and event delivery.

At UON, we will challenge you to develop critical analysis skills and understand how to operate ethically and professionally in the fast-paced world of esports. You will learn from experienced academics and industry experts from world-renowned esports organisations.

Updated 19/01/2023

Highlights


    • Guest talks from leading experts from the world of esports.
    • Practical experience relevant to the industry.
    • Opportunity to be a part of live esports competitions and events.
    • Access to cutting-edge esports technology and equipment.
    • Extensive professional industry networks provide real world experience and work placements.
    • Guaranteed paid internship with the Northampton Employment Promise.
    • HP Laptop and software included with this course.*

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Course Content


  • The esports degree at UON allows you to study key topics within esports and includes an opportunity to undertake a work placement at a local sport organisation. A strong emphasis is placed on the application of knowledge to real-world issues affecting the esports sector: developing successful esports business strategy, exploring esports governance and ethical issues, organising and delivering esports events, coaching and leading esports teams and managing gameplay performance, and the effective marketing and promotion of esports events.

    Bespoke esports university modules have been developed, in conjunction with esports specialists, to create a unique student learning experience. You will also acquire key learning, networking, self-management, and professional development skills needed to gain the Changemaker Bronze award.

    Our esports course provides a mixture of classroom-based sessions (to introduce and explore key concepts) and practical activities that enable you to develop your esports gameplay performance, coaching, and business approach. There are also opportunities to learn ‘off campus’, you will have the opportunity to attend esports competitions and events and interact with esports professionals to help support your development and enhance the learning experience.

    Alongside the degree, you are also encouraged to take an active engagement in esports, participating in the university esports teams, and engaging in practical work experience and volunteering with local esports organisations. We believe that the knowledge gained through your degree experience should be used to create a social impact wherever possible, that’s why we bring elements of the industry into your degree and encourage all our students to re-invest their knowledge, skills, and talent back into local, and national, initiatives and programmes.

    Modules
    Year 1
    • SPO1050 – Understanding esports Media* (20 credits) – Compulsory
    • SPO1051 – Doing Sport and Exercise Psychology in the Digital Age (20 credits) – Compulsory
    • SPO1052 – Ready, Player One? Gameplay and Academic Skills (20 credits) – Compulsory
    • SPO1053 – Esports Event Fundamentals (20 credits) – Compulsory
    • SPO1054 – Digital esports Marketing (20 credits) – Compulsory
    • SPO1055 – Esports Business Fundamentals (20 credits) – Compulsory
    Year 2
    • SPO2060 – Ready, Player 2? Coaching, Strategy and Analysis for Esports (20 credits) – Compulsory
    • SPO2061 – Business Strategy for esports (20 credits) – Compulsory
    • SPO2062 – Esports Event Theory and Design (20 credits) – Compulsory
    • SPO2052 – Sports Leadership and Team Dynamics (20 credits) – Designated
    • SPO2063 – Esports Commentating and Documentaries (20 credits) – Designated
    • SPO2064 – Esports Branding, Media & Marketing (20 credits) – Designated
    • SPO2065 – Casting and Streaming (20 credits) – Designated
    • SPO2066 – Esports Event Production and Delivery (20 credits) – Designated
    Optional Placement Year
    • SPO2050 – Sport Optional Placement Year (SOPY) (20 credits) – Designated
    Year 3
    • SPO4010 – Esports Development Project (40 credits) – Compulsory
    • SPO3055 – Esports Industry Experience (20 credits) – Designated
    • SPO3056 – Business Success in the Global esports Market (20 credits) – Designated
    • SPO3057 – Media and Journalism Practice for esports (20 credits) – Designated
    • SPO3058 – Psychology of Peak Performance (20 credits) – Designated
    • SPO3059 – The Rise of esports and Gaming Cultures (20 credits) – Designated
    • SPO3060 – Managing esports Marketing Campaigns (20 credits) – Designated

    Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 22/23. The modules relating to the academic year 23/24 will be available from June 2023.

      • Module code: SPO1050
        Status: Compulsory
        This module introduces students to the growing coverage of esports and to support students to develop a range of skills connected to researching, writing and producing journalism and content about esports. It develops students technical and editorial expertise across multimedia journalism.
      • Module code: SPO1051
        Status: Compulsory
        This module provides an introduction to how psychological theory and research can be applied to enhance health, wellbeing, and performance in sport and exercise settings. A significant emphasis will be placed on how practitioners intervene with athletes and `at-risk? populations through the use of digital technologies alongside more traditional face-to-face methods.
      • Module code: SPO1052
        Status: Compulsory
        By the end of this module, students will be able to outline/explain different gameplay principles across esports game genres, analyse performance, and show an understanding of esports coaching techniques. Students will also be able to plan, monitor and evaluate progress towards developing academic and industry relevant knowledge and skills.
      • Module code: SPO1053
        Status: Compulsory
        The purpose of this module is for students to develop an understanding of how to organise and run small scale esports events. Students will be able to identify, explain, and understand the contribution of fundamental principles associated with the planning and delivery of successful esports events.
      • Module code: SPO1054
        Status: Compulsory
        This module will introduce the concept of marketing and communications from a digital perspective. It will provide students with an opportunity to explore current and emerging practices in marketing communications as well as valuing the importance for creating effective engagement through identifiable target audiences within an esports context.
      • Module code: SPO1055
        Status: Compulsory
        The purpose of this module is to develop student undertanding of the relationship between business and esports. This module introduces theories and techniques for assessing business applied to the esports industry. Students will explore the changing business processes, in order to add value to the business and its customers.
  • Standard entry requirements apply. A typical offer for our BSc esports degree would be:

    • CCC at A Level or,
    • DMM at BTEC or,
    • Pass (C and above) at T Level

    If you have non-traditional qualifications or have experience working within sport development, PE and/or youth sport then we will consider your application.

    For more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

    If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

    Integrated Foundation Year Entry Requirements

    Admission to this foundation course is normally:

    • DEE at A Level or,
    • MPP at BTEC or,
    • Pass (D or E) at T Level

    However, we would also like to hear from you if you have professional or industry experience instead, a range of other qualifications or self-developed subject knowledge that relates to the course you wish to study.

    English Language Requirements

    All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

    • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands
      for study at undergraduate level.

    For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  • 2023/24 Tuition Fees

    Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK – Full Time: £9,250
    • UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
    • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250
    • International – Full Time: £14,750
    • International – Integrated Foundation Year: £14,750
    Additional costs

    Additional costs will be incurred if you decide to participate in optional field trips/visits as part of your course. The exact cost will depend upon the location chosen for the trip.

    2022/23 Tuition Fees

    Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 22/23 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK – Full Time: £9,250
    • UK – Part Time: £1,500 per 20 credit module
    • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
    • International – Full Time: £14,000
    • International – Integrated Foundation Year: £14,000 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
    Additional costs

    Additional costs will be incurred if you decide to participate in optional field trips/visits as part of your course. The exact cost will depend upon the location chosen for the trip.

    For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

  • At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

    If you join this full time esports degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

    Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

    To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

    *UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details).

  • The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

    If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

    Our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

  • The University of Northampton works in partnership with a number of local, regional, national and international games and esports bodies such as British esports and EpicLan. Our close partnerships provide an excellent base for students to learn and develop their sport business skills in a real life setting on a regular basis.

  • Is there an opportunity to go on placement?

    Students have the opportunity after their second year to take a year out and source work within the industry on a paid (sandwich) placement. They also have the opportunity to undertake a placement as part of their study in their final year.

    How will I be assessed?

    You will be assessed through a rich and mixed diet of assessments designed to develop your learning, applied skills and improve your employability. This includes practical work, digital tasks, presentations, essays, assessed practicals, poster presentations, blogs and in-class tests.

    Are there any specialist esports facilities?
    • Our students benefit from our HP Omen equipped esports lab, professional standard Greaves 3D sim racing rigs, and media studios.
    • UON is home to a growing and competitive student union led Gaming Society.
    • We can help you source short term industry placements and internships.
    • Our annual Changing Futures Week helps you learn about career options and meet prospective employers.

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Staff


Careers and Employability


Studying esports at university will open up a range of career opportunities in esports, including:

  • Campaign manager
  • Caster
  • Communications manager
  • Content and digital creator
  • esports manager
  • esports specialist
  • esports executive
  • esports operations manager
  • Events organiser
  • esports journalist
  • esports sponsorship manager
  • esports social media specialist
  • esports talent acquisition manager, plus many more opportunities.

Student success

Graduate Ewen recently gave a guest lecture to esports students after securing a top job at EXCEL esports. Ewen hails the influence of the Sport team at UON for providing him with a platform for an exciting career in esports…