Esports students stood in front of digital screens with cameras

Esports & Livestreaming BA(Hons)

Get ahead of the fast-evolving esports and livestreaming industries.

Key details
Location
Penryn Campus
Course duration
3 years / 4 years
Attendance
Full-time / Placement year
UCAS code
N881 / FY60

Course overview

Learning from experts across esports, media communications, business and games, you’ll gain contextual knowledge, experience and skills.

You’ll collaborate with students across the University to broadcast real matches, as well as experimenting with independent content creation. You’ll also consider the ethical, professional, and cultural concerns facing modern esports and master the promotional skills needed to stand out in this competitive field.

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 
  • Develop a well-rounded appreciation for the contemporary ethical, professional, and cultural concerns facing modern esports 
  • 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 and public relations and how these relate to esports production

The Integrated Foundation Year and placement year pathways for this course are new for entry year 2023 and subject to validation. 

Course details

On this Esports & Livestreaming degree, you'll have the opportunity to gain a BA(Hons) degree over three years or the option to study Esports & Livestreaming BA(Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year and/or a placement year. 

With an emphasis on learning through collaborative experiences, you’ll graduate with the knowledge and skills to set up a professional live streaming network and broadcast and mediate esports matches. 

You'll delve into the theories and contexts of esports, develop strategic planning knowhow, learn end-to-end production skills and explore branding, marketing and promotion, as well as gaining an understanding of the financial, legal and ethical considerations of the industry. 

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

Development Foundations

You'll engage with the foundational collaborative steps involved in the development and delivery of digital products and services. 

Livestreaming Tools

In this module, you'll develop an understanding of the components and tools that make up a live networked streaming setup designed for online spectatorship. 

Marketing & Digital Media 

You'll enhance your understanding of the importance of digital media and how to utilise creative marketing processes within the experience sector.  

Data Fundamentals 

You’ll learn to use computer systems to process and analyse data. 

Multidisciplinary Teamwork 

Collaborating in multi-skilled teams, you’ll deliver a proof-of-concept for a digital product or service. 

Esports Production 

In this module, you'll explore the components that make up streamed content designed for online spectatorship. 

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.

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.

Media Lab

You'll explore the creative opportunities and ethical implications of media technologies and advertising platforms. 

Esports Event

You'll work in a team to deliver a livestreamed esports event, considering the impact of key decisions on spectator engagement such as:  physical vs. digital delivery, game specific factors, flow, length and mediation.  

Backed by the lessons learned in the Media Lab module, you'll also consider online promotion and community engagement. 

Collaboration

Working as part of a team, you'll work on 'Challenge Briefs' that reflect the sort of assignments you could expect to be working on in industry. Developing your 'soft skills', like communication, problem-solving, critical thinking and leadership, you'll sharpen your ability to work well as part of a group to produce outstanding work. 

Esports Studies 

In this module, you'll explore the historical context, theories and concepts that surround esports and related disciplines, such as sports and visual media.  

You can choose to take an optional placement year after your second year on a three-year programme, or after your third year if you’re studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year. 

You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the RealWORKS employability team. 

Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying. 

How you’ll study during your placement year 

You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks. 

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation. 

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth. 

The final year of your Esports & Livestreaming degree is all about preparing for industry. You'll gain vital entrepreneurial know-how 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. 

Teaching is geared around developing your professional practice and portfolio, helping you to build contacts and support your transition to employment, potentially including the creation of your own company. 

Modules

Professional Portfolio 

With guidance and mentoring, you'll advance and consolidate your knowledge of the enterprise and employment context of your relevant industry through the completion of a professional portfolio.

Future Skills  

You'll cultivate your professional journey, developing an understanding of your skills in the context of industry and employment. You'll be equipped with the confidence to articulate your knowledge and abilities, and evidence how you can apply them to real world challenges. 

Working on a collaborative or solo project, you'll deliver real results, whether that's a profit on some seed funding, a professional portfolio of work, or a solution to a real-world challenge from industry. 

Esports Live Performance 

You’ll plan, rehearse and deliver the inaugural broadcast that will kickstart a series of esports broadcasts. 

Future of Games 

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 

In the final module, you'll develop professional autonomy as you collaborate in multi-skilled teams to produce a market-viable service or product based on your own intellectual property. 

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.

 

If you apply for and enrol onto a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year, you’ll have the option to switch onto a five-year version including a placement year. That means you’ll complete the first three years of your course before completing a placement in industry in your fourth year and returning to Falmouth for the fifth year of your programme. 

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.

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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 be assessed

100% of your assessment will be coursework. 

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a variety of methods, including: 

  • Short-form theory essays 
  • Business cases 
  • Group and solo 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.

Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every staff member who teaches on the course.

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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.

Take a virtual tour

  • 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
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Careers

The following companies and roles could be potential destinations for graduates:  

  • Esports production companies such as ESL, PGL Esports, Esports Engine, or Dreamhack   
  • Esports white label companies such as those that help set up events like BlizzCon  
  • Community management positions at developer-publishers such as Activision Blizzard, Supercell, or Riot games  
  • Adjacent live streaming opportunities working for non-esports broadcasters and content creation hubs  
  • Streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube  

Specific potential roles include:  

  • Live streaming producer   
  • Event manager    
  • Technical/camera director    
  • AV/lighting technician   
  • Graphics director    
  • Replay operator/in-game observer   
  • Floor manager    
  • Technical manager   
  • Esport strategy analyst    
  • Esport community manager    
  • Shoutcaster/host   
  • Independent live streamer/content creator    
  • PR/marketing agent    
  • Esports product manager 

How to apply

Apply via UCAS

Ready to join us? You can apply through UCAS. You'll need to reference the course and University code (F33).

Apply now

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.

International applications

Course route UCAS code
Esports & Livestreaming BA(Hons) three year degree N881
Esports & Livestreaming BA(Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year FY60
Esports & Livestreaming BA(Hons) with placement year UCAS code available soon

We 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/BSc(Hons) three year degree 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points
BA/BSc(Hons) four year degree with placement year 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points
BA/BSc(Hons) four year degree with Integrated Foundation Year 80 – 120 UCAS Tariff points

Check the title of your course to see if it's a BA or BSc award. 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. 

Check how many points your qualifications are worth

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 may need to take a recognised language test. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.

For starting your studies in 2023

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

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

We’re looking for students who are interested in how esports productions are put together – from ideation to promotion to broadcast. You should be 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
£9,250 per year Full-time UK
£17,460 per year Full-time EU/international
£1,850 per placement year Full-Time UK and EU/international

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. 

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs

Typical course costs

Recurring annual costs 

£100  

One-off costs for the duration of the course 

£1500 - Personal computer 

A desktop and/or laptop with a streaming setup including a camera, microphone, and high-speed Internet connection are beneficial but not mandatory. 

Desktop PC Specifications 

  • Restock and Reloaded Gaming PC £899.99 
  • Processor: Intel Core i5 12400F 
  • Memory: 16GB (2x8GB) Corsair Vengeance LPX 3600MHz DDR4 
  • Storage: 1TB SSD 
  • Graphics: 12GB ASUS GeForce RTX 3060 
  • Windows 11 
  • Peripherals: Monitor, mouse, keyboard 

 

Laptop PC Specifications 

  • GIGABYTE G5 15.6" Gaming Laptop £799.00 
  • Intel® Core™ i5-10500H Processor 
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6gb 
  • 16 GB DDR4 (2933 MHz) 
  • 512 GB PCIe SSD 
  • Windows 11 
  • Peripherals: Monitor, mouse, keyboard

£30- £150 - Headset with microphone  

£25-£100 - Webcam  

£70 - Optional reading 

 

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 subject, you may need a specific type of computer. If you're unsure about what you might need, please contact our course advisors.

Ask a student

What better way to find out about life at Falmouth University than by asking our current students?

From course details and academic support, 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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