October 5, 2023
Esports is a rapidly growing industry, and with that growth comes the need for personnel with higher education. While there have been several programs in the US for years, esports programs in European schools are still relatively new. In 2018, Staffordshire University became the first university in the UK to debut a degree in esports. Since 2018, there has been an influx of programs across Europe. Below is a look at some of the programs to consider for those interested into higher esports education. Currently, 98 universities are fighting to be crowned the Esports University of the Year, with the winner set to be named at the end of spring 2022.
At the end of 2021, the official body for university esports in the UK, the NSE, announced the winners of the British University Esports Championship (BUEC) Winter 2021. The rankings show the current standings for the Best Regional Esports Universities for Winter 2021 are:
- Best in Scotland: Heriot-Watt University
- Best in Wales: Swansea University
- Best in Northern Ireland: Queen’s University Belfast
- Best in England: Warwick University
- Best in London: University College London
While the competition for the title of Esports University of the Year will not conclude until the end of spring, here is a brief look at the current frontrunners:
Swansea University
Swansea’s esports team is a newcomer to the top ten. Located in Swansea, Wales, they offer an esports program focused on competitive gaming. Their team focuses on CS:GO, Dota 2, League of Legends, Valorant, and more. According to Swansea, they are the largest University Esports and Gaming Society in Wales, with many high-performing teams competing across the biggest esports titles.
University of Southampton
A public university in Southampton, England, Southampton places fourth on the Esports University of the Year rankings. Southampton Video Games and Esports Society (SVGE) came in second in the 2020/21 BUEC. The SVGE has over 800 members who engage in both casual and competitive gameplay. While Southampton University does not house a dedicated esports facility or tote attractive esport scholarships or degrees, they have cultivated a dedicated group of gamers through a developing community.
Loughborough University
After finishing sixth in the 2020/2021 season, in the current third place is Loughborough University, located in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. Loughborough offers a program for BTEC Level 2 in Esports Enterprise and Entrepreneurship and a BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Esports, Enterprise, and Entrepreneurship. Gamers can expect to learn about business, entrepreneurship, and the opportunities available in the esports industry. They will also be able to compete for the college in a number of online tournaments using specialist equipment. Loughborough has academics dedicated to esports, and they encourage their students to use these skills as they traverse career pathways.
Staffordshire University
Staffordshire has established itself as a “games university” in the UK with subjects like Games Arts and Cultures and Design. They broke the mold in 2018 by becoming the first university in the UK to introduce an esports degree. The course name is esports BA (Hons), and it is a three-year program with the option for a fourth placement or foundation year.
With this program, students will learn about the esports business through projects such as hosting single and team player events, athlete management, and a complete marketing experience in broadcasting, video editing, content creation, and analytics. In addition, the school comes equipped with pro gamer training facilities, an esports arena, and a control room with high-tech computers for editing and mixing. More information can be found on the school’s website here.
They are currently ranked second in the running for Esports University of the Year just as they were in the winter of 2020 before dropping to third behind the University of Southampton.
University of Warwick
Located in Coventry, England, the University of Warwick has won the NSE Esports University of the Year three years in a row. In an interview done at the end of the 2020/2021 BUEC, then president of the Warwick Esports Society, Joshua Mankelow, stated, “Our first two wins were great on their own, but this third win really allows us to say that we’re creating a legacy in university esports. A legacy of excellence and sportsmanship that future students will be inspired to surpass.”
Warwick also created the UK Universty Hearthstone League in 2021 after NSE dropped its championship. They started this national league from scratch and went on to host a successful event as an NSE affiliate league. The event was hosted at the University of Warwick’s own esports center. After positive feedback, they intend to bring the Hearthstone league back in 2022.
Warwick has built and maintained a legacy for excellence in esports. Its mission is to welcome and encourage participation in casual and competitive gaming from players of all genders, backgrounds, and ethnicities. The University wishes to grow esports positions into the broader esports scene and educate and inform as many people as possible about esports and university esports.
Final Thoughts
Many universities in Europe have begun to embrace the emergence of esports and offer programs, communities, and scholarships that were unavailable until recently. We will continue to see this availability rise as esports further grows as a business.