探花社区

STUDY

Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Esports

Course options: Professional Placement
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: I602
Start date: September 2026
Duration: Three years full-time, four and a half to nine years part-time
Location: Ipswich
Typical Offer: 112 UCAS tariff points (or above) BBC (A-Level) DMM (BTEC), Merit (T Level)
Course options: Professional Placement
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: I602
Start date: September 2026
Duration: Three years full-time, four and a half to nine years part-time
Location: Ipswich
Typical Offer: 112 UCAS tariff points (or above) BBC (A-Level) DMM (BTEC), Merit (T Level)

Overview

Turn your passion for gaming into a career in one of the world’s most dynamic and creative industries.

Our BA (Hons) Esports degree puts you at the centre of the fascinating world of competitive video gaming, combining industry knowledge with hands-on experience in digital broadcasting, content creation, event management, and marketing.

Explore how esports has grown from niche online communities into a global, multi-million-pound industry, gaining insights into the complex ecosystem behind it. From the teams competing in tournaments, all the way to the sponsors, event organisers, and media platforms that make it all happen.

Work as part of a team to produce your own events, livestreams, and content while developing highly desired skills in digital media, strategic thinking, leadership, and brand building. This course is an opportunity to build a robust portfolio of work that prepares you with the professional skills needed to thrive in careers across esports, gaming, media, and digital marketing.

Placement year and study abroad options

Students on this course have the option of adding an additional year as either a Placement Year or Study Abroad. The University encourages all students to enhance their employability with professional experience. Opportunities to study abroad will be discussed with interested students once on the course and are subject to the availability of spaces with international partners.


As voted for by students, Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025, winner University of the Year.

What is Esports?

Why Study Esports?

Esports Building Tour

Meet the Mariners

You’ll have the opportunity to compete in national tournaments across a range of games as part of our esports team, the Suffolk Mariners. Built and run by students, the team is managed and operated by you and your peers. You'll gain valuable hands-on experience in building a brand, marketing and running events, and producing complex, professional livestreams.

The 探花社区 has an international profile while being committed to our region. We are proudly modern and innovative and we believe in transformative education. We are on the rise with a focus on student satisfaction, graduate prospects, spending on academic services and student facilities.

1st

for Student Support

(Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025)
1st

for Lecturers and Teaching Quality

(Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025)
6th

in England and Wales for social inclusion

(Times Good University Guide 2026)

Course Modules

Our undergraduate programmes are delivered as 'block and blend', more information can be found on Why Suffolk? You can also watch our .   

Downloadable information regarding all 探花社区 courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record

A student sitting with a laptop

This module lays much of the foundation for the rest of the course. You will study the rise of competitive gaming, from pinball and arcade tournaments to modern league and tournament structures. You will also cover the ethics of esports and some of the issues that have arisen such as gambling and fraud.

The module provides you with a comprehensive understanding of digital marketing principles and strategies and consider how the integration of AI can enhance marketing effectiveness. You will explore how Digital Marketing integrates with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to improve targeting, personalization, content creation, and customer experience across various digital channels as well as improve processes for marketers.

With esports streamed live on the global stage, this module exposes you to the tools and platforms used
by streamers and casters, allowing you to develop the skills necessary to set up and run a stream of your
own. Additionally, you will get hands-on experience with a professional digital broadcasting suite and production workflows in esports.

Digital Media plays an important role in modern creative industries like esports and broadcasting, you will develop creative artefacts including edited videos and graphics and explore their applications in esports and beyond.

This module explores the current business and financial challenges within the esports industry. From predatory player contracts to content monetisation and fundraising, you will learn how to run an esports business and what opportunities are available for growth.

In this module, you will start with the fundamental components of what makes a successful esports event before combining those elements and learning how to lead and manage large-scale, global esports tournaments and the many challenges involved.

Balancing the many demands of an Esports team leader can be challenging. In this module, you'll experience what it means to be an effective team leader capable of managing a dynamic and successful esports team.

Building off the skills and understanding developed in your Introduction to Streaming and Online Broadcasts module, you will deepen your understanding of digital broadcasting workflows and practice. You will utilise the full professional broadcast suite for esports broadcasts and how to construct narratives within the spectators’ experience.

In this module, you will have the opportunity to undertake a significant piece of research on a topic of your choosing, deepen your understanding, and present cutting-edge knowledge for industry and/or academic audiences.

Building on your foundation of creating digital media, this module will be an opportunity for you to work on a digital artefact of your choosing, deepening your content creation and development skills. You will create work with real-world applications, using professional tools, techniques, and practices.

Throughout this module you will develop an advanced understanding of building and managing brands, designing communication strategies, and implementing integrated marketing communications.

In this module, you'll plan, produce and run a significant esports event. This module is your opportunity to bring together everything you have learned throughout your degree and presents the most significant assessment on the course.

Course Modules

Our undergraduate programmes are delivered as 'block and blend', more information can be found on Why Suffolk? You can also watch our .   

Downloadable information regarding all 探花社区 courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record

A student sitting with a laptop

This module lays much of the foundation for the rest of the course. You will study the rise of competitive
gaming, from pinball and arcade tournaments to modern league and tournament structures. You will also cover the ethics of esports and some of the issues that have arisen such as gambling and fraud.

The module provides you with a comprehensive understanding of digital marketing principles and strategies and consider how the integration of AI can enhance marketing effectiveness. You will explore how Digital Marketing integrates with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to improve targeting, personalization, content creation, and customer experience across various digital channels as well as improve processes for marketers.

With esports streamed live on the global stage, this module exposes you to the tools and platforms used
by streamers and casters, allowing you to develop the skills necessary to set up and run a stream of your
own. Additionally, you will get hands-on experience with a professional digital broadcasting suite and production workflows in esports.

Digital Media plays an important role in modern creative industries like esports and broadcasting, you will develop creative artefacts including edited videos and graphics and explore their applications in esports and beyond.

This module explores the current business and financial challenges within the esports industry. From predatory player contracts to content monetisation and fundraising, you will learn how to run an esports business and what opportunities are available for growth.

Balancing the many demands of an Esports team leader can be challenging. In this module, you'll experience what it means to be an effective team leader capable of managing a dynamic and successful esports team.

In this module, you will start with the fundamental components of what makes a successful esports event before combining those elements and learning how to lead and manage large-scale, global esports tournaments and the many challenges involved.

Building off the skills and understanding developed in your Introduction to Streaming and Online Broadcasts module, you will deepen your understanding of digital broadcasting workflows and practice. You will utilise the full professional broadcast suite for esports broadcasts and how to construct narratives within the spectators’ experience.

In this module, you will have the opportunity to undertake a significant piece of research on a topic of your choosing, deepen your understanding, and present cutting-edge knowledge for industry and/or academic audiences.

Building on your foundation of creating digital media, this module will be an opportunity for you to work on a digital artefact of your choosing, deepening your content creation and development skills. You will create work with real-world applications, using professional tools, techniques, and practices.

Throughout this module you will develop an advanced understanding of building and managing brands, designing communication strategies, and implementing integrated marketing communications.

In this module, you'll plan, produce and run a significant esports event. This module is your opportunity to bring together everything you have learned throughout your degree and presents the most significant assessment on the course.

WHY SUFFOLK

1st University of the Year

2nd Teaching Satisfaction

2nd Student Experience

Entry Requirements

Career Opportunities

Students that complete this BA (Hons) Esports degree have the potential to progress into a successful career as a:

  • Esports Event Manager, Esports Team Manager
  • Esports Player
  • Esports Data Analyst, Business Analyst
  • Event Manager / Coordinator
  • Digital Marketing Expert
  • Live Streaming / Broadcasting Engineer
  • Event Live Stream Producer
  • Project Manager

Our Careers, Employability and Enterprise Team are here to support you, not only whilst you complete your studies, but after you graduate and beyond.

To find out more about our range of services and support, please visit our Careers, Employability and Enterprise page.

Your Course Team

Charlie Smith

Charlie is a lecturer in esports and the course leader for BA (Hons) Esports.

c.smith18abde@uos.ac.uk

Claire Maddy

Claire is Senior Lecturer in Marketing, after a career working in the commercial marketing sphere and founding a co-working and events venue in Brighton.

Heather Bishop

Heather has pursued a career in Academia to support her research in game design having graduated from the 探花社区 in 2018.

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Tuition Fee

£9,790*

per year
UK Part-time Tuition Fees

£1,631**

per 20 credit module
International Full-time Tuition Fee

£16,440

per year

*Please note, the University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. **Please contact Student Centre for further information on part-time fees.

The decision to study a degree is an investment into your future, there are various means of support available to you in order to help fund your tuition fees and living costs. You can apply for funding from the Spring before your course starts.

UK Fees and Finance UK Bursaries and Scholarships International Fees and Scholarships

How to Apply

To study this course on a full-time basis, you can apply through UCAS. As well as providing your academic qualifications, you’ll be able to showcase your skills, qualities and passion for the subject.

Further Information on Applying

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