Uni of Suffolk planning to launch esports undergrad course

4 April 2024

Esports in the UK are growing and the educational sector is turning into one of the primary pillars for the new, young industry. In order for esports in the UK to fully enter the mainstream, adoption is key and few segments are driving esports adoption in the United Kingdom as strongly as students. Just a few weeks ago, for example, we wrote an article about how the Cornwall College Group dominated the British Esports Championships and just a few days earlier, York College won the Esports @ BETT Student Championships 2024.

Apart from student esports teams and initiatives, the inclusion of esports in college and university courses is important as well. Besides the actual skills needed to compete in a certain game, esports education also teaches important skills like teamwork, creative thinking and digital literacy that can be of great value in other parts of society as well. That is why the University of Suffolk has now announced that they are planning to launch a brand-new esports undergraduate degree course.

Planned launch in 2025

With their plans to include a full esports undergraduate degree in their current course offering, the University of Suffolk is following the example of a growing list of institutes in the UK who are teaching an official esports-related degree. The new course would present a broad approach to the esports industry, focusing on topics ranging from game design to live streaming and event management, on top of the skills needed for competitive video gaming. The course is being developed in collaboration with dedicated industry experts for teaching at the University of Suffolk’s School of Technology, Business and Arts, and should be ready for launch in 2025.

"We are thrilled to announce our plans to create one of the first esports undergraduate courses in the East of England," says prof. Stuart Harmer, dean of the School of Technology, Business and Arts at the University of Suffolk, “It recognises the tremendous growth and potential of the esports industry […] We have witnessed a significant growth in students studying esports at colleges and schools in the region and by providing this course, we're offering these students a much-needed pathway that allows them an important progression into Higher Education in this industry.”

Internships and brand-new lab

The new esports undergrad degree at the University of Suffolk will also feature a considerable practical aspect. Besides the theoretical learning of skills, students will also gain practical esports industry experience through internships and specialised industry partnerships. On top of that, the university itself will also regularly organise their own live esports events, where students will be involved in the actual organisation of the events as well.

To support all of these developments, the University of Suffolk will also invest in a new state-of-the-art esports lab where events and tournaments can be hosted. The new area will include top-notch gaming equipment, including monitors, headsets and other essential hardware. This way, the university wants to prepare the next generation of esports industry professionals in East Anglia.