Birmingham City University will launch its own Esports Management degree for the 20/21 academic year.
The Esports Management degree is a full time, three-year-long programme, designed to give undergraduates the opportunity to experience a wide variety of roles used within esports.
In year one. students will receive an introduction to the esports ecosystem. Students will learn the basics of marketing, branding, and managing of esport teams and events.
Year two will improve upon first-year modules, in addition to learning how to interpret and analyse data, whilst studying contemporary issues in the industry.
In the final year, students will further study planning, research and marketing. Furthermore, law modules and a personal option will be available.
The degree’s webpage launched with a two-minute video from ESL talking about the esports industry.
“Birmingham City University are providing a genuinely insightful and exciting course to prepare students for the fast moving world of esports.”
Rob Black, COO ESL UK
ESL UK says this degree will give graduates a well rounded and strong understanding of the industry as a whole.
The degrees faculty contains two members of staff. Richard Oddy, who focuses on business and management, whilst Dr Russell Cowley is a retired professional hockey player.
The university also has a specialist Brexit Studies department. The department will help the university understand the impact Brexit will have on industries – including esports.
Student applications will need BBC or 112 UCAS tariff points from A/AS Level, with a minimum of 2 A-Levels.
The course will cost £9,250 a year for UK/EU students and will commence in September 2020.
Birmingham is one of the biggest destinations of esports in the UK. The city is home to ESL One Birmingham and the Insomnia Gaming Festival, making it an ideal home for esports students.
BCU creating an esports degree is a sign of growing interest in the industry. Staffordshire University introduced the first esports degree in the UK in 2017, with BCU and Chichester now offering their own.
