BSc (Hons) E-Sports Digital Technologies

Core units

• Games Design Principles: Explore fundamental game design principles, including player psychology, balance, immersion, and meaningful choices. Learn to create engaging gameplay experiences. 
• E-Sports Industry Awareness: Understand the dynamic E-Sports landscape, revenue models, and the impact of live streaming. Explore the range of teams, tournaments and leagues and gain insight into the commercial operation of a broad range of e-sports business activities.
• Streaming Fundamentals: Learn essential live streaming concepts, including technical aspects (encoding, bitrates), engagement strategies and the principles of designing and configuring an e-sports streaming system. 
• E-Sports Athlete Management: Dive into athlete management strategies, covering talent identification, training programs, health, and performance analysis. Understand the holistic approach to optimising E-Sports athletes’ performance.
• Digital Marketing and Content Creation: Explore digital marketing concepts (SEO, social media) and content creation strategies. Learn to create valuable digital content for platforms like Twitch and YouTube using a range of tools, techniques and technologies. 
• E-Sports Group Project: Work collaboratively on simulated real-world E-Sports project. Apply knowledge from other units to solve challenges related to events, content creation, and industry opportunities – resulting in a pitch presentation.

Core units

• Gaming Technology Innovations: Gain an insight into exciting new technological developments associated with gaming. Use innovative technology to explore how new competitive gaming platforms and devices are being developed.
• Commercialisation and Business Development: Develop a range of business knowledge and skills that will allow you to become a future entrepreneur and business owner! The unit will introduce you to key aspects of finance, legal, copyright and IP and business idea development through a series of practical learning activities.
• Streaming Production: Take your livestreaming skills to the next level! Using our state of the art workstations, you will develop the ability to plan, create and present your own e-sports live streams.
• E-Sports Digital Communities: Explore the social, cultural and ethical implications associated with e-sports – through the study of topics such as digital addiction, social media behaviours and the roles and responsibilities of online communities.
• E-Sports Event Management: Develop a range of practical skills associated with the planning and delivery of e-sports events. Working a group, you will be given the opportunity to plan and run an e-sports event.

You have the option to complete either an optional 4-week placement or a minimum 30-week work placement year which can be carried out anywhere in the world. The placement year offers a chance to gain experience and make contacts for the future.

Core units

• Data Analytics in E-Sports: Immerse yourself in the exciting area of data analytics, learning the essential role that a range of data sources play within the management of an e-sports team.
• Advanced Live Streaming and Broadcast: ‘Go live’ and make a contribution to a range of roles within a complex e-sports broadcast. Develop skills as a presenter, producer, director or one of the many technical roles associated with the live streaming production pipeline.
• Contemporary Topics in E-Sports: Be part of the emerging body of research and study of e-sports within the academic and professional practice communities. You will get the opportunity to study papers, read commercial reports and attend presentations from a range of practitioners and apply this knowledge to your own piece of original research.
• Professional Practice and Employability: Use all the skills and knowledge from the course to develop and market your brand and online portfolio – fine tune your CV and showreel and make contacts with potential future employers and partners. The end of year ‘expo’ will provide you the opportunity to maximise your future career prospects!
• E-Sports Individual Project: Extend and develop your own specific areas of interest within the e-sports subject area through the development of an extended individual project. This will fuse together a range of academic, practical and commercial skills.

A placement should be a highly rewarding experience for you and your employer and we do our best to ensure that everyone involved feels that they have got the most that they can from the experience.

Placements provide a great opportunity to make your first career steps and enhance your employability while you’re completing your studies. You’ll get the opportunity to:

•     Put the theory learnt throughout the course into professional practice
•     Enhance your study and help you decide on subject options (where appropriate)
•     Learn a wide range of skills such as time management, problem solving and team work (all of these are important to succeed in any career)
•     Make contacts, as it is not uncommon for our students to be offered permanent positions to return to after graduating
•     Gain a real insight into the discipline in roles that would be almost impossible to achieve for an outsider.

Many of our students, during their placement, are given responsibilities normally associated with graduate trainees.

We will provide a great deal of help and support to ensure you achieve a rewarding and satisfying placement. 

Our dedicated team of placement officers are there to guide and support you through the placement process and experience. 

They’ll help you plan your placement so make sure you get the right experience for you. That includes offering help and support if you need to move to another part of the UK – or another country – to get the most out of your time.

We have many links to outside agencies and organisations to best support you along your professional development. We’ve created close links over the years so our network of employers that are keen to work with placement students is always growing. Or if you want to arrange your placement independently, we can offer advice on how to do that too.

AccessBU

AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships

We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry

We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website. 

Direct entry

We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants

​We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application

We select candidates for this course by looking at your application; there are usually no interviews or selection activities needed. For that reason, make sure your application really stands out from the crowd, and leave us in no doubt as to why you should be joining BU. You can find some handy hints about filling in your UCAS form on our how to apply web pages.

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview or a portfolio review. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

If you are unable to meet the entry requirements, we may be able to make you an offer through AccessBU if you meet certain criteria e.g. you have been in care or live in an area where fewer people typically progress to Higher Education. If you don't meet our published tariff, we will accept you at least 8 points below if your personal circumstances match our AccessBU criteria. 

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

Completing the BSc (Hons) E-Sports Digital Technologies degree equips students with wide range of potential employability outcomes:

Content Creators and Streamers:

• Craft engaging content for streaming platforms.
• Optimise live streams, engage with audiences, and build a personal brand.

Event Managers and Organisers:

• Plan and execute E-Sports tournaments and events.
• Understand logistics, scheduling, and audience engagement.

Digital Marketers and Analysts:

• Leverage social media, data analytics, and SEO for effective marketing.
• Analyse industry trends and contribute to strategic decision-making.

Entrepreneurs and Business Developers:

• Explore business opportunities within the E-Sports industry.
• Understand revenue models, sponsorships, and partnerships.

Media Professionals and Broadcasters:

• Work in media outlets covering E-Sports.
• Create compelling content for broadcast and digital platforms.

Further study content

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course, including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Materials for laboratory and field-based teaching activity
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Free software download to your personal device of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus while you are studying, as well as access to applications provided on AppsAnywhere, subject to licensing and compatibility restrictions
• Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies.
• Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website. 
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas). Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website.
• You will need to meet the cost of any Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if required by your placement setting, including any Post Office verification changes. 
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study.
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full-time fee.

Prof Charles main research interests focusses on Computational Intelligence applied to Computer Games including Artificial Intelligence combined with Human-Computer Interaction. He has been involved in research on Interactive Storytelling which led to the development of several interactive systems which have won several awards.

Andrew has run his own successful music training and consultancy business, employing over 50 staff. His company provided training, support and mentoring to a wide range of customers throughout the UK and Europe through private contracts and government funded programmes such as New Deal for Musicians.

He now works within the Creative Technology department as the Deputy Head of Department,  providing strategic educational leadership.