Esports Education at the University Level in the UK

Esports courses have gained traction as professional gaming and streaming have become top career aspirations among UK children. While these courses may not turn students into star players or streamers, they provide a pathway into the broader esports industry and its various roles.

Many universities have invested in top-notch esports facilities. For example, Staffordshire University has developed new multi-million-pound esports facilities. Both the course content and the quality of lecturers have significantly improved. Companies like Scan Computers and Yoyotech are aiding institutions in outfitting these facilities.

The College of Esports offers degree programs at the Velodrome in East London, involving students in professional broadcasts like the Rocket League London Major and trips to South Korea to visit Gen.G. Despite its name, the institution runs degree courses rather than being a traditional college.

Esports education in the UK is booming and expanding. The University of Suffolk is set to launch an esports course in 2025. In 2023, the University of Nottingham hosted the inaugural International Federation of Esports Coaches’ Esports Coaching and Performance Summit at their Waterside campus. Although the federation has since collapsed, the summit allowed students and professionals to learn from industry experts, such as Lars Robl, Team Falcons’ Director of Performance.

The University of Warwick hosted the first ESI Next Gen conference in 2023, which brought together leaders from UK educational institutions and esports professionals to discuss industry skills and employment opportunities. Warwick has heavily invested in its esports programs and boasts some of the best student players, having won the NSE’s Esports University of the Year for six consecutive years.

The University of Sunderland has also made significant investments, spending up to £1 million to create bespoke esports areas on the Sir Tom Cowie campus for its Esports Event Management degree. Staffs Uni is set to host the Esports Research Network in 2024, a conference for discussing industry challenges, alongside their new facilities' inauguration with a three-day tournament called Campus Clash.

Gone are the days when students knew more about esports than their lecturers. Many institutions now employ experienced esports professionals to teach their courses.

UK University Esports Tournaments

University Esports, hosted by NUEL (formerly the National University Esports League), is a leading tournament provider in the UK. Founded in 2010 by Josh Williams, NUEL offers over £16,000 in tournament prizes and opportunities to compete live at Confetti X in Nottingham. More than 15,000 students participate annually, with top players qualifying for the Europe-wide University Esports Masters. Now owned by GGTech, NUEL also works on various esports broadcasts beyond the university scene.

The National Student Esports (NSE) is another major esports body in the UK, with the British University Esports Championship (BUEC) as its flagship competition. Tournaments run in the Winter and Spring, allowing universities to earn points in each game they compete in. The university with the most points at the end of the year is named Esports University of the Year, a title Warwick has won six times. NSE also connects students with the industry through its ‘Careers Boost’ program and the Intel FutureGen initiative, pairing students with industry mentors.

In Ireland, the Ireland Esports Collegiate Series, owned by Irish esports organization Nativz Gaming, serves 16 universities and colleges. The series returned to Dogpatch Labs in Dublin for its 2024 Spring Finals Weekend, and Nativz recently launched an esports talent academy to provide a professional path for players in the series.

Beyond these organizations, a rich competition infrastructure exists for students and alumni. Annual esports varsity matches, like the Oxford vs. Cambridge rivalry, are a highlight. The University Halo League (UHL) held its first LAN event this year at the College of Esports. The College of Esports and Royal Holloway University also collaborated on the London Lock In event in June. The University of Southampton hosts the SouthLANder event, with offline competition finals played on stage. Additionally, the UK and Ireland Circuit (UKIC) offers Counter-Strike tournaments for universities.

There are numerous student-run esports events as well. For example, the grassroots group Cosy Coop recently organized an Overwatch LAN event that raised over £1,000 for Gamers Beat Cancer