esports BSc (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  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.

  • Stage 1
    • Understanding Esports Media (20 Credits)
      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.
    • Doing Sport & Exercise Psychology in the Digital Age (20 Credits)
      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.
    • Ready, Player One? Gameplay & Academic Skills (20 Credits)
      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.
    • Esports Events Fundamentals (20 Credits)
      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.
    • Digital Esports Marketing (20 Credits)
      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.
    • Esports Business Fundamentals (20 Credits)
      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.
  • Stage 2
    • Sport Leadership and Team Dynamics (20 Credits)
      Module code: SPO2052

      Status: Designate
      This module explores the knowledge and skills needed by sport leaders to shape a group into an effective and winning team. Students will examine the critical factors underpinning effective leadership, group dynamics and team cohesion in sport. The module will provide a fascinating examination of key psychological and organizational concepts and draw from evidence-based interventions to uncover how to lead sport teams to peak performance.
    • Ready, Player Two? Coaching, Strategy and Analysis for Esports
      Module code: SPO2060

      Status: Compulsory
    • Business Strategy for Esports
      Module code: SPO2061

      Status: Compulsory
    • Esports Event Theory & Design
      Module code: SPO2062

      Status: Compulsory
    • Esports Commentating & Documentaries
      Module code: SPO2063

      Status: Designate
    • Esports Branding, Media & Marketing
      Module code: SPO2064

      Status: Designate
    • Casting and Streaming
      Module code: SPO2065

      Status: Designate
    • Esports Event Production and Delivery
      Module code: SPO2066

      Status: Designate

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• Entry Requirements

  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.

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• Fees and Funding

  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.

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• Student Perks

  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).

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• Integrated Foundation Year (IFY)

  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.

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• Work Placements

  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.

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• FAQs

  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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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.