Esports College Courses and University Degrees

There are lots of different esports courses and degrees you can study. And if you want to go further with esports - or even make it into a career - then getting a formal esports qualification is a great place to start. It’ll help you get the skills you need to progress and show employers that you take esports seriously. 

But with so many esports courses to choose from, at different levels and different institutions, with different specialisms and different teaching styles, it can be hard to figure out the best route for you. 

So, let’s have a look at some of the different options, and the routes into esports they provide.

What can I learn?

The important thing to remember when you’re looking at esports courses and degrees is that it’s not all about playing games. Sure, the very best players get to make a career out of that - but there’s a whole industry built around esports, and that’s where most of the careers are. 

So, when you’re looking at courses you’ll need to think about what you’re good at - and what you enjoy - beyond just gaming. 

For example, if you’re interested in how esports tournaments work and what goes on behind the scenes, you might enjoy a career in esports event management. If you’re creative, maybe esports marketing might suit you. Or if you’re obsessed with the structure of games, and how they’re put together, maybe you could look at game design courses. 

This is just a tiny snapshot of the kind of careers that the right esports qualification could lead to. So take some time to work out where you think you’d be happy in the esports industry, and plan out how you can get there.

Where can I learn?

Where you go for your esports course will depend on what you want to study - and at what level. You don’t necessarily need a dedicated esports college or university. 

If you’re just starting your esports education then you should be able to find level 2 and 3 BTECs at your local college. It’s worth comparing these to see what other courses they offer, so you can complement your esports course. 

If you’re looking at esports degrees you’ll find them at plenty of traditional universities, as well as specialist providers like the College of Esports in London. 

There are pros and cons to studying at different types of university, so it’s worth researching what they’re like and whether they’ll fit you. You can find an up-to-date list of esports degrees on the UCAS website.

What courses are there?

As we said at the start of this article, there are a lot of different esports courses to choose from. There are different levels to think about, but there are different specialisms in esports too - it’s worth having a think about what you want your career to look like. 

Let’s have a look at some of the options.

Can I do GCSEs in esports?

At the time of writing, there aren’t any GCSE courses dedicated to esports. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t choose GCSEs that will help your esports career. 

Getting a good grade in maths and English will be a big advantage if you want to take your esports education further. Many more advanced courses will require good maths and English grades as a minimum for entry and they’ll help with any other career paths you want to take, too. 

And if you know what area of esports you want to specialise in, you can pick GCSE courses to support that. For example, if you’re interested in the business side then a business GCSE is a good idea. If you’re more into the game design side of things, have a look at design and technology-related courses.

Can I do an esports apprenticeship?

At the moment, there’s no official esports apprenticeship programme. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get into the esports industry via an apprenticeship. 

You could find an apprenticeship that’s relevant to the career you want - for example esports event management - and use that to build skills and experience in another sector before switching to esports later. There are a lot of benefits to varied experiences. 

That said, the esports industry is still relatively new and could benefit significantly from esports apprenticeships. So keep an eye on what’s happening, and you could even email your favourite esports companies telling them you’d like to do an apprenticeship.

Can I do an esports A level?

Like with GCSEs, there aren’t currently any specific esports A levels available. But, there are plenty of A level courses that will support your esports career. 

If you’re interested in the marketing side of esports, then you could take a business A level. Or you could aim for the game design side of things with courses like computing or graphic design. 

The other option is to go for a level 3 esports BTEC. This will be equivalent to three A levels, and you might be able to study another A level or two at the same time, too.

Can I do an esports BTEC?

You can. There are plenty of colleges offering level 2 (equivalent to GCSE) and level 3 (equivalent to A level) BTECs in esports. 

There are both in-person and online options, so if you can’t find the course you want nearby, you might be able to study online. Bear in mind that online courses are a very different experience from in-person ones, so you’ll need to be sure you choose the right option for you. 

Some institutions will focus on different areas of esports, so make sure to check out what’s covered - and what’s not - before signing up. 

Generally, you’ll have to study four or five mandatory units which will give you a good, solid foundation in the basics of different areas of esports. This will include things like streaming, event planning, health and fitness for esports players, and enterprise and entrepreneurship in esports. 

You’ll also be able to choose several optional modules to tailor the course to your skills and goals. It’s these optional modules that will vary the most between providers, so make sure you can get access to the learning you really want. 

BTEC courses tend to focus on the practical aspects of esports, so they can be a really good way to get some great experience.

Can I do an esports degree?

There are a few esports degree options, including some at traditional universities and others at dedicated esports institutions like the College of Esports. Degrees tend to be more specialist than lower-level qualifications, so finding the right one is paramount. 

For example, several universities offer a catch-all Esports BA degree, which will cover all areas of the subject. But others offer much more specific courses, focusing on specific areas of esports. 

If you’re confident in the area of esports you want to work in, a more tailored degree might suit you. If you want to keep it broad, and experience different areas of the business, a more general course is probably the way to go. 

Finding the right institution is important too. Full-time BA degrees will take three or four years to complete so you’ll be there a long time. Make sure you like the university itself, but also remember you’re going to be living there - so you want to like the town or city it’s in too. 

And while you’re looking at degrees, remember to consider non-esports-specific degrees too. A more general course - like events management, business development, marketing or games design - might suit you better, and give you more career options.

List of esports degree courses

You can find a full list of all the esports degree courses available and the institutions that offer them on the UCAS website. To give you an idea of what you can expect, these are the current degree courses you can currently study in esports.

• Esports
• Esports (Management and Production)
• Esports and Emerging Technologies
• Esports and Livestreaming
• Esports Business Management
• Esports Coaching and Management
• Esports Education: Coaching, Health and Wellbeing
• Esports Event Management
• Esports Production
• International Esports Business
• International Esports Business and Digital Marketing
• International Esports Business and Digital Media
• International Esports Business and Events Management

Can I go further than an esports degree?

You can, but there are fewer options at this level. There are some Masters degrees in esports subjects, and even some PhD opportunities if you want. 

The only taught Masters course currently available is Esports Production. It’ll give you a real in-depth insight into esports. 

If you opt for a research-based Masters degree or a PhD then things work a bit differently. You’ll need to come up with a research proposal, then find a university and supervisor that’s willing to take it on. You’ll be engaging in your own research rather than being taught new skills. 

It’s worth bearing in mind though, that by the time you get to Masters level and above courses tend to be pretty specialised and academic. If you want a career working in the esports industry, you might be better off getting some hands-on experience.

What if I don’t want to study esports?

Studying an esports course is a great way to get into the industry, and it could help you start in a more senior role. But it’s not the only way to get started. 

You should definitely make the most of the time you have to spend in education - until you’re 18 - by studying relevant courses, and making sure you get the best grades you can. 

After that, you could apply for entry-level or intern roles at the companies you want to work for. Or, if you’re a skilled player, you could try to make a name for yourself by playing in tournaments or streaming. You could get involved with the modding community, and learn about game design that way. You could even volunteer for your favourite teams to get experience in things like marketing or the business side of esports. 

And if your school or college has an esports team, make sure to get involved with that, too. Remember you can do lots more than just play - there will be opportunities for marketing, business development and more.

Conclusion

There are lots of different routes into an esports career, whatever your learning style and whatever you want to specialise in. The trick is to figure out what your skills are and what kind of challenges you enjoy most, and plan your learning around that.