STUDY

Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Esports

Close-up of gaming chair
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

Our BA (Hons) Esports degree provides you with an immersive journey into the fascinating realm of competitive gaming, focusing on the art and science behind esports success. Through a combination of theoretical knowledge, hands-on experiences, and practical skills, you will explore the history, development and future of the growing esports industry, while gaining practical skills in event management, content creation, marketing, and digital broadcasting and livestreaming.

The course begins by exploring the esports industry, tracing its evolution from niche communities to the global phenomenon, and multi-million-pound industry it is today. You will learn about the complex ecosystem of stakeholders that surround the industry such as professional teams, leagues, organisations, event organisers, and sponsors.

This dynamic and exciting degree will give you valuable insights into the business side of esports by exploring topics such as team management, sponsorship deals, marketing strategies, and audience engagement. You will also acquire hands-on experience with digital broadcasting workflows, content creation techniques, and online engagement strategies to grow and develop your brand. During your time on the course, you will learn how to run an esports event from start to finish and have opportunities to apply your learning to a range of unique challenges and projects.

You'll be taught in our brand-new Esports facilities, a £1.65 million renovation project on our Ipswich campus which will include more than 40 gaming-spec PCs, professional-grade broadcast gallery and a live studio purpose-built for broadcasting and live-streaming. Find out more in the video below.

Our flexible BSc (Hons) Computer Science degree equips you with the practical industry knowledge you need to meet the demand for skilled computing professionals. The course offers a flexible computing curriculum with diverse learning pathways, with the freedom to forge your own course by selecting specialist modules. 

You’ll benefit from the resources of leading tech giants Amazon Web Services, Juniper, Oracle, and our new Google Student Club, and experience world-class specialist labs at our state-of-the-art DigiTech Centre, which is home to over 150 high-tech ICT companies and BT’s innovation labs.  

You’ll engage in real-world projects alongside industry leaders, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and embrace an annual slate of industry events and hackathons to apply your acquired skills. 

Course Pathways 

BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Cyber Security) 

BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Web and Mobile Development) 

BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) 

Create your own pathway 

Combine a wide range of modules in cyber security, software engineering, web design, mobile development, networking, data science, AI, cloud computing, and more, to create a custom curriculum. This degree has been designed to allow you to flexibly follow your interests, whilst ensuring that you reach the advanced knowledge necessary for industry roles through theory and practice 

At the start of your course, you will be allocated a Personal Academic Coach who can explain the options and pathways available so you will always be supported in the decisions you make and can be sure they align with your career ambitions. Students that choose to create their own pathway will be awarded a BSc (Hons) Computer Science degree upon completion of the course.

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.

Long Street Concertus Still

What is Esports?

Students sat at a table

Why Study Esports?

A CGI image of the new esports facility at the University of Suffolk. A bank of gaming PCs is visible

Esports Building Tour

Meet the Mariners

Students will have the opportunity to compete in national tournaments in a range of games with our Esports Team, the Suffolk Mariners. Management and operation of the brand will be the responsibility of students on the course. This gives them hands-on experience in how to run a brand, market and manage events, and get practice on running complex and professional livestreams.

Suffolk Mariners Logo

The University of Suffolk 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 Block and Blend video 

Downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk 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.

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 introduces the core principles of digital marketing and e-commerce to prepare you for the challenges of launching a business or driving growth in an existing one.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

Course Modules

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

Downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk 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.

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 introduces the core principles of digital marketing and e-commerce to prepare you for the challenges of launching a business or driving growth in an existing one.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

Interior view from inside Waterfront Building foyer, sunlight reflecting on the floor.

WHY SUFFOLK

1st University of the Year

WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2025

2nd Teaching Satisfaction

Guardian University Guide 2026

2nd Student Experience

Good University Guide
A CGI image of of the new esports facility teaching space
A CGI image of the teaching space at the new esports facility
A CGI image of of the new esports facility studio space
A CGI image of the studio space at the new esports facility
A CGI image of of the new esports facility broadcast gallery
A CGI image of the broadcast gallery at the new esports facility
A CGI image of of the new esports facility arena space
A CGI image of the arena space at the new esports facility

Entry Requirements

home-masthead-th

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
Charlie Smith staff profile photo

Claire Culley

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.

Claire Culley staff profile photo

Heather Bishop

Heather has pursued a career in Academia to support her research in game design having graduated from the University of Suffolk in 2018.

Heather Bishop staff profile photo

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Tuition Fee

£9,535

per year
UK Part-time Tuition Fees

£1,589*

per 20 credit module
International Full-time Tuition Fee

£16,440

per year

*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.

Apply Now Further Information on Applying
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