Esports BA(Hons)

Immerse yourself in Esports culture on this degree, which offers a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of a rapidly growing industry – giving you the chance to engage in real livestreaming productions as you study. You’ll gain the contextual knowledge, experience and skills required to flourish and work in dynamic interdisciplinary teams within the world of Esports and livestreaming.
Location | Penryn Campus |
---|---|
Course Duration | 3 years / 4 years |
Attendance | Full-time |
UCAS code | N880 / FY39 |
Subject to validation during this academic year | Yes✔ |
Apply
Course overview
This course is new for 2022 entry year.
This Esports degree will equip you with relevant skills for the Esports production industry. You’ll learn from experts across Esports, media communications, business and games in order to understand the industry and pursue a profession at the leading edge of livestreaming practice.
You will:
- Learn how to set up professional livestreams to broadcast and mediate Esports matches
- Build a working knowledge of different media production methods, including streaming protocols
- Evaluate the production of livestreamed content to meet the needs of the audience and learn how to innovate to maintain audience engagement
- Develop an understanding of brand management, promotion, community outreach and public relations and how these relate to Esports production
- Work in teams to run Esports events, as well as striking out on your own and experimenting with independent content creation
The Integrated Foundation Year pathway for this course is new for entry year 2023 and subject to validation.
What our students do
Learning in our esports lab, our students gain the practical skills to deliver livestreamed esports events. Check out the stories below to see what students from the Games Academy have been up to lately.

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What our graduates do
- Part of an existing Esports company working with teams, developers and community and event managers
- An innovator in new and emerging fields in the livestreaming sector
- A producer for an Esports production company
- A freelancer for an Esports company, helping to set up or host events
- An expert in adjacent livestreaming operations for broadcasters and content creation hubs
Course details
In year one, you'll gain a solid practical and theoretical foundation in the field of esports. You'll learn about the basic context in which esports are streamed, gain an understanding of the whole delivery process from start to finish, discover the roles that work together to make a project happen and explore team-working methodologies. You'll also get an introduction to digital media and creative marketing processes.
Modules
Theory: Sports History and Contemporary Esports Studies
You'll be introduced to the historical context for studying esports and the theories and concepts that have been developed specifically for their discussion, as well as those which have emerged from other disciplines such as sports history and visual media.
Development Principles
You'll engage with the core processes of digital project development in a studio-centred context, as well as the culture it supports. You'll work in teams to develop your collaboration skills.
Marketing and Digital Media
An understanding of marketing and digital media is vital in the esports industry. You'll learn how to utilise creative marketing processes within the experience sector.
Streaming Technology and Online Networked Broadcast
In this module, you'll gain an understanding of the components that make up a live networked streaming setup designed for online spectatorship. You'll get to grips with the technologies, protocols, and systems vital to esports production.
Multidisciplinary Development Practice
This module will help you to deliver an industry-standard proof-of-concept for an esports production, using specialist skills and multi-skilled collaboration.
In year two of this Esports degree, your growing knowledge and skills will be put to the test with practical projects. You'll define and execute a solo esports, livestreaming or content creation project and work in a team to respond to a project brief. You'll consider the game-specific factors that impact spectator experience, encounter the legal, regulatory, financial and ethical considerations for running an esports business and develop an understanding of branding and promotion.
Modules
Legal and Financial Management in the Experience Sector
Through this introduction to the legal and financial elements of the industry, you'll learn to accurately interpret and respond to financial data and legislative considerations.
Analysing Esports Strategy and Highlights
In this module, you'll unpick the strategy behind an esports production. You'll get to know all the game-specific factors that need to be considered when producing an engaging spectator experience.
Media Lab
Focusing on esports promotion, you'll explore the creative opportunities and ethical implications of media technologies and advertising platforms.
Esports Events and Community Management
You'll work in a team to deliver a livestreamed esports event, considering physical vs. digital delivery. Backed by the lessons learned in the Media Lab module, you'll also consider online promotion and community engagement.
Individual Esports Project
You'll strike out on your own to explore content creation and media production as part of a solo project. You can focus on esports or digital content creation more generally.
Collaboration University-wide Challenge
This module encourages collaborative opportunities between students across all areas of the University.
Your final year of your Esports degree is all about preparing for industry. You'll gain vital entrepreneurial knowhow and finesse your practical skills by doing it for real. Working in a team, you'll deliver a large-scale, long-term esports event management project, which you'll present at the end of year show. To support this practical project, you'll write an extended essay based on a specific game and/or esports research topic.
Modules
Esports Professional Practice
You'll advance and consolidate your knowledge and understanding of esports enterprise. Supported by lecturers and mentors, you'll discover how to participate in esports enterprise and how to set up an esports company.
Entrepreneurial Practice
This module will support the development of entrepreneurial skills alongside your professional and specialist practice.
Major Game Development Project: Pre-production
You'll prepare for the Final Major Collaboration module by carrying out the pre-production of a market-viable esports production, as part of a team.
Theory: Preparing for the Future
This theory-based module will help you build a greater awareness of the evolving nature of games and esports. You'll deepen your understanding of the cultural, social and political contexts within which games and esports are made, played and perceived.
Major Collaboration
Building on the pre-production developed in the Major Game Development module, you'll produce, promote and broadcast a market-viable esports production as part of a multi-skilled team.
Why study an Integrated Foundation Year route?
If you’re taking on a new subject that you haven’t studied in depth before, have been out of education for a while or have a non-standard educational background then an Integrated Foundation Year degree may be the right choice for you. It is a four-year degree with an Integrated Foundation Year to start, which allows you to explore the primary elements of your subject before progressing on to the remaining three years of the BA(Hons) degree.
What you'll learn
If you choose this pathway, you'll study five core modules in your Foundation year. These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of your subject. You'll gain relevant technical skills, learn to experiment and take risks, develop an understanding of professional practice, have opportunities to work across disciplines and collaborate with other students on live project briefs.
Modules
Explore
You'll begin your foundation year by working collaboratively with others to explore themes of the future. You'll take risks, experiment through play and be supported to break through barriers.
Technique
You'll take subject-specific workshops and develop essential technical and practical skills in your area of study. You'll also enhance your analytical and organisational abilities.
Apply
You'll work with your peer group to think beyond discipline by addressing a societal or global issue. You'll then showcase your work to your peers and deliver and accompanying evaluation of your process.
Industry
You'll enhance your creative and practical skills in your subject specialism by responding to typical industry briefs, underpinned by focused research and experiments. You'll also gain industry insights through guest lectures and workshops.
Launch
You'll develop your unique identity in your specialism through the production of a self-initiated body of work. Your final project will be the bridge to your next year, fully supported by evaluative reviews and critical analysis of the work you have created.
After the Foundation year, you progress into Year One of the full three-year degree, equipped with a deeper knowledge of your subject, a clear understanding of your strengths, and develop a practical and technical skillset and the confidence to excel in your chosen subject.
The Integrated Foundation Year pathway for this course is new for entry year 2023 and subject to validation.
The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.
How you'll learn
The delivery of esports events requires a broad-ranging skillset. While you'll predominantly learn from staff within the Games Academy, you'll also tap into the expertise of lecturers from the wider University. You'll learn through lectures, seminars and practical workshops in an esports lab – getting hands-on experience with streaming live matches.
At Falmouth, we use a 'digitally enhanced learning & teaching' approach. Your experience will always be predominantly in-person, including seminars, tutorials and studio teaching, with some, more targeted elements, being online either live (synchronous) or pre-recorded (asynchronous). You can read more here.
How you'll spend your time
Year | Timetabled teaching and learning activity | Guided independent study |
---|---|---|
Integrated Foundation Year (optional) |
Digitally enhanced learning | Digitally enhanced learning |
1 | 33% | 67% |
2 | 25% | 75% |
3 | 16% | 84% |
How you'll be assessed
Year |
Written exams |
Practical exams |
Coursework |
---|---|---|---|
Integrated |
0% |
0% |
100% |
1 |
0% |
0% |
100% |
2 |
0% |
0% |
100% |
3 |
0% |
0% |
100% |
*These percentages are indicative and may vary
Assessment methods
You'll be assessed through a variety of methods, including:
- Written essays
- Business cases
- Practical projects
Foundation year assessments are 100% coursework based.
Staff
You'll learn from staff with expertise across a range of disciplines including business, audio visual equipment management, computer science, games studies, as well as practical industry experience relating to esports. Our staff also have strong connections to sports organisations and production companies, such as the British Esports Association, Supercell Esports, Codices.io, as well as international esports research and education institutions.

Rory Summerley
Lecturer
Rory is a games studies researcher who has written and lectured on a diverse range of games-related ...
Facilities
The Games Academy has one of the largest dedicated game development studio spaces of any UK university. Our students have access to spacious, team-focused, professional-standard studios; as well as a dedicated craft room, breakout spaces and a range of industry-standard software and tools.
- Game Development studio space
- Esports studio
- Industry-standard tools and software such as:
- VR Headest (HTC Vive, Value Index)
- Motion Capture Suits
- Unity
- Unreal Engine
- Material Costs estimate:
- High-specification gaming PCs
- Gaming Chairs
- Desks (1400mm)
- PC Monitors (Razr Raptor 27in)
- Playstation 5 Consoles
- Console monitors (LGCX48)
- Network Switch
- Control Surface
- Broadcast PCs (Production, Observation, Diagnostic)
- Streaming camera (PTZOptics)
- Microphone (Sennheiser G4 handheld)
- Lights (Kinoflow Divalight 20)
- Black Magic Studio camera

Games Academy Facilities
Our Games Academy offers professional-standard studios, a dedicated craft room, breakout spaces, and...

Library Facilities
Offering extensive collections, our two libraries provide a wealth of digital resources, magazines, ...

Sports Centre
Our Sports Centre, on Penryn Campus, includes a spacious gym with up to 90 of the latest, new statio...
How to apply
Apply via UCAS
Ready to join us? You can apply through UCAS Apply and Track. You'll need to reference the course and University code (F33).
Apply
Applying as an international student?
International students can apply for a course through UCAS, via an agent or directly with the university. For more information about how to apply as an international student, visit our International applications page.
Course route | UCAS code |
---|---|
Esports BA(Hons) three year degree | N880 |
Esports BA(Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year (new for entry year 2023) | FY39 |

Application advice & interview information
Go to ToolkitWe consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We invite all applicants to an interview day or audition to give them the opportunity to demonstrate this along with what inspires and motivates them in their field. Applicants will also be able to show their portfolio or give a performance depending on the course. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.
Course route | Entry requirements |
---|---|
BA(Hons) three year degree | 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points |
BA(Hons) four year degree with Integrated Foundation Year | 80 – 120 UCAS Tariff points |
UCAS Tariff points will primarily be from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, T Levels, a BTEC/UAL Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma.
For applicants whose first language is English we require you to have or be working towards GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent.
If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of in country equivalencies and approved tests.
If you need a student visa to study in the UK, you'll need to take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the University. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.
UK applications: 25 January 2023 (for equal consideration)
Applications after the 25 January will be considered on a first-come, first-served as long as there are places available. Apply for this course now.
International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.
What we're looking for
The ideal student is enthusiastic about creating, sharing and promoting exciting content for future online audiences everywhere.
Fees, costs & funding
Tuition fees
Annual tuition fee | Student |
---|---|
£9,250 per year | Full-time UK |
£17,460 per year | Full-time EU/international |
Annual tuition fee | Student |
---|---|
£TBC per year | Full-time UK |
£TBC per year |
Full-time EU/international |
Typical course costs
If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter.
The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs
Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.
Additional typical course costs for Integrated Foundation Year pathway
- £250 for materials
- A laptop/desktop computer
- Adobe Creative Suite
In order to participate in our digitally enhanced learning approach, you'll need to have a personal laptop/desktop computer. Depending on your specialism, you may need a specific type of computer. You can find out more about the type of machine you'll need on your course specialism page. If you're unsure about what you might need, please contact our course advisors.
The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs
Funding
For information about funding available, please visit our undergraduate funding page
Ask a student
What better way to find out about life at Falmouth University than by asking our current students?
From course details, our facilities and the local area to the social scene and settling in, our students are ready and available to answer any questions you might have. Simply set up your account, send them a question and they'll get back to you within 24 hours.
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