Esports

Study options

Award

MA

Key facts

Study option:
Full-time
Duration:
13 Months
Start date:
20 September 2021

Game changer

Become an expert in the legal, ethical and political dilemmas facing the industry

Industry first

The first dedicated esports Masters degree developed in partnership with industry

Pave the way

Contribute to the body of research in this growing industry

Take your learning to the next level with our MA Esports. Our postgraduate qualification is designed to prepare you to lead and manage the next generation of esports companies within this exciting industry.

Our MA in esports is a cutting-edge course designed to give you the skill set needed to work within a growing number of jobs in this flourishing industry.

Studying under internationally renowned course leaders at Staffordshire University London, you’ll learn exciting new skills that will enable you to fully immerse yourself in the esports ecosystem.

You will be expected to develop higher level research and analytical skills through the development of a substantive research project of your choice. The focus will be on strategic level management skills, influencing policies and practices in the industry and developing a critical awareness of the sociological, political and legal landscape.

Like esports itself, this practical course is fast and dynamic, and you’ll be thrust into a range of esports settings from the word go. You will be expected to network extensively and use your new found skills to shape the future of the industry.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MA Esports

Course content

You will develop a critical and investigative approach to the esports ecosystem as it continues to evolve at a record pace. Throughout the course you will develop skills that will prepare you to work in any sphere of the industry and develop your own pathway by choosing your own research topic to develop during the latter part of your course.

A focus on employability will be intrinsic throughout the esports award. The course covers careers talks, visits and guest speakers from industry along with the opportunity to take up a role overseeing the undergraduate teams on live events at each level.

In the final module you will develop your reflective practice and develop a research topic that interests you and maps to your future career plans and you will be assigned an expert in your chosen area to oversee your project.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Dissertation And Dissemination 60 credits
Esports Ecosystem And Metrics 30 credits
International Esport Policy And Planning 30 credits
Managing Esport Arena Strategies 30 credits
Research Methods And Esports Data 30 credits

Entry requirements

You will usually have achieved a 2:2 in a computing, games, business, events, marketing or digital related subject with evidence of engagement in esports.

Alternatively, you may have professional qualifications and/or experience. If you need to discuss the entry requirements please get in touch with us.

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

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Facilities

The Hall

Integrate yourself with the buzz of digital technologies in The Hall, a space dedicated to seminar groups, group discussions and class meetings. The space is fully flexible, and can be configured to suit the needs of groups of up to 30 students with electrical points and multiple seating areas.

Careers

Jobs in Esports are growing all the time and are roughly divided into management, technical and marketing. UK-based esports jobs website HitmarkerJobs.com posted almost 6,000 esports jobs from 45 different countries across five continents in 2018. 85.42% of jobs were English speaking and 20% were management and marketing.

Job roles included:

  • Esports Partnerships Manager
  • Social Media & Community Manager
  • Sales Director
  • Arena Specialist
  • People Operations Manager
  • Brand Manager
  • Account Manager
  • Head of Brand
  • Partnerships Manager – Esports
  • Communications Manager
  • Ecommerce Manager
  • Business Development Executive
  • Event Engineer
  • Head of Growth Marketing
  • Managing Editor
  • Director of Communications
Teaching and assessment

Teaching

We know that everyone learns differently. So, not only do we use traditional ways of teaching like lectures, we also use problem based learning to help you apply your skills.

For this course, you will:

  • Work with others on group work
  • Delve deeper into subject areas in workshops
  • Be expected to study independently

Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard. This means you can access a range of materials to support your lectures wherever you are.

We’ll also assign you a supervisor to support you throughout your final project.

Assessment

There are two types of assessments: practice (also called formative) or formal (also called summative).

Practice assessments do not count towards your final mark. These are your chance to test your understanding – and learn how to improve for the real thing.

You’ll have formal assessments at the end of each module. Where possible these are live projects set by industry, focusing on problem-solving and innovation. Assessment methods include:

  • Creation of portfolios
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • Blogs
  • Audio Recordings and accompanying scripts
  • And a 15,000 word dissertation for your final module

There are no exams.

Learning support

Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

  • Study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
  • Written English (including punctuation, grammar)
  • Academic writing (including how to reference)
  • Research skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Revision, assessment and exam skills (including time management)

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our AccessAbility Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

Feedback

Feedback is an important part of the assessment process and not only justifies the mark you receive but guides you on how to improve. Extensive feedback will be available throughout the course that will be constructive, develop your capabilities and motivate you to continue. Feedback will always be given in a timely manner to allow you to reflect on your progress and be a better critic of your own work.

Assessment feedback comes in a variety of forms throughout your studies and in a written format at the end of each period of study. At the end of modules once assessments are complete you will receive feedback in written comments, completed checklists/mark sheets, and in the case of demos and presentations direct feedback from the tutors.

Fees

For the course starting on 20 September 2021 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £9,750 per course £16,500 per course

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

Alumni discount

If you've previously completed a Staffordshire University undergraduate degree (excluding HND and foundation degrees) you may be entitled to a discount of up to 25% off your course fees for any subsequent postgraduate taught course (terms apply, see the alumni discount page for details). If you have any questions about how this relates to you, please contact feesandbursaries@staffs.ac.uk.

Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £11,570 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options; part-time, full-time and distance learning. 

For more information and how to apply visit masters loan.

Apply

Location Award Study option Start date
Staffordshire University London MA Full-time 20 September 2021 Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at Staffordshire University, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of Staffordshire University enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

Rated Gold for Teaching Excellence

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold logo
Shortlisted for University of the Year

Times Higher Awards 2020
Top 250 Young University

Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2020

Top 15 for Teaching Quality

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021