esports BSc Welcome Pack
Welcome to esports BSc 2026.
Congratulations on receiving an offer to study with us!
Our esports course focuses on the educational, professional, and ethical principles that underpin esports. It is practical-based, stimulating, and research-informed, covering a range of topic areas including esports coaching, performance, events, management, marketing and media. We focus too on the applied nature of the course and as a result have a lot of practical elements using our purpose-built laboratories to develop your technical skills and understanding of the key issues within esports. We utilise our strong industry relationships such as with Epic LAN and DreamHack to support your study in a real industry context and not just classrooms.
Developing your employability skill is one of the priorities throughout your study with us since Year 1, so there are many practice-based assignments. We invite a range of esports industry professionals as guest speakers to not only broaden your industry connections but also relate industry context of the teaching. We aim to support every student on the course to success their university study and accumulate various experiences to complete a competitive CV.
We value students voices, experiences and feedback. If you would like to communicate with our current students, or see what you did before, please follow us on X@EsportsUON and Instagram@esportsuon.
You can expect to study in your first semester (September 2025- January 2026) the following modules:
- SPO1052 – Ready Player 1. Gameplay and Academic Skills
- SPO1055 – Esports Business Fundamentals
- SPO1053 – Esports Event Fundamentals
In the second semester (January 2026-May 2026) you can expect to study the following modules:
- SPO1054 – Digital Esports Marketing
- SPO1051 – Doing Sport and Exercise Psychology in the Digital Age
- SPO1050 – Understanding Esports Media
Your Course Leader
Dr Lucy Zhu
Lecturer in esports
Lucy manages the course and coordination from teaching, industry partners to student voice committees. She also offers 1-2-1 PL talks with individual students to know about them personally and about their career inspirations, study plans, university life experience, and provides advice when needed.
Additional Staff
- Gary Davy, Lecturer in Esports & Sport Coaching
- Dr Leo Watkins, Senior Lecturer in Sport Media and Marketing
- Serena Green, Technician Demonstrator for Esports
Welcome and Induction Sessions
In preparation for your course starting in September, we hold some online sessions beforehand so you can meet your Academic Team and other students studying the same course. These will be held on 4 September.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Dr Lucy Zhu: lucy.zhu@northampton.ac.uk.
BSc Esports Online Induction Session – Welcome to UON Esports
- Date: 4 September 2026
- Time: 3pm – 4pm
- Location: Microsoft Teams
- Link to Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/323936608595057?p=WqMyB9em3EJZQx6pX9
Monday 21 September
- Location: CH105 (Creative Hub 1st Floor)
- Schedule
- 10.30 – 11.30: Welcome Talk from PL
- 11.30 – 12.30: Introduction and Checklist for Wi-Fi, NILE, Outlook, Calendar PAT
- 2pm : Student Union Shoutout, Esports Society Talk, Meet with Esports Course Reps
Wednesday 23 September
- Location: Drop in Area, 2nd Floor of the Learning Hub
- Schedule:
- 2.30 – 3.30pm: Library Induction
Thursday 24 September
- Location: CH105
- 1pm: Esports Society Activities
Friday 25 September
- Location: Engine Shed
- Schedule:
- 10.30 – 11am: University Leadership Team Welcome Talk
- Location: CH105
- 11.15 am – 12.30 pm: Assignment and Study Plan talk from PL, Meet with the esports teaching team
Monday 21 September – Friday 2 October
Welcome Week activities
From karaoke to outdoor cinema, wellbeing walks to Silent Disco, and much more – there’s something suitable for everyone.
See our Welcome timetable to find out more.
Equipment
You are not required to purchase any mandatory kit or textbooks to start this course. We will provide all students with one of our course branded t-shirts, and students can purchase further course branded kit such as an additional pair of tracksuit bottoms / leggings for circumstances from Kit Locker. Purchasing this is not mandatory.
University laptop will be sufficient for any course work and class activities. You also have access to our esports lab 25/7 for study or gaming (Out-of-hour form is needed so security can look after you in case of emergency). If you play competitively, you are encouraged to bring your own gaming laptop/computer/consoles. University accommodation offers gaming WIFI.
All important messages from university and the teaching team will be communicated via Outlook email, so we encourage you to download Outlook on your phone and computer. To help you stay well connected with the other students on the course, we encourage you to download and register an account for Discord. You will be invited to join the server in the Fresher Week.
Most of the core textbooks for your first years are available in the university library.
Enhancing skills, building networks and engaging in the wider University community
In your first year, you will have opportunities to visit and work at EPIC LAN and go on a trip to London for experience-based learning. There are also a broad range of on campus esports events you can participate or volunteer.
We have esports teams for various titles to compete in NSE/NUEL and other student competitions. Make sure you do not miss these opportunities by checking your University email everyday!
