A new piece of research has found which UK universities have the most gamers, and which have the least, listing the top ten for each.
Going to university can be a daunting experience for many new students, but with the average gamer making five new friends through online play, gaming can be a great way for students to grow their social circle and settle into their university life.
To discover which university gave the most social opportunities to gamers, Uswitch broadband experts examined factors such as the number of members in each university’s gaming society Discord server, the number of Twitter followers for each gaming society, and the number of esports players playing for each university via tournament operator NSE.
It’s worth noting this list is just based on the number of gamers, and doesn’t take into consideration achievements like those of the Portsmouth Paladins, who have won NSE tournaments and played in the Collegiate World Championships, or the University of Roehampton, which has esports scholarships.
Nick Baker, online gaming expert at Uswitch.com, said: “Gaming can be especially beneficial for university students as it not only allows them to relax in between their hectic daily lives, but also allows them to form friendships with other students by playing with them or bonding over specific gaming interests.
“Gaming societies should be treated in the same manner as any other typical university society. It makes students feel accepted and a part of a community, which undoubtedly improves their social connections and mental health.”
Aside from the UK universities data, you can check out more 2023 online gaming statistics from Uswitch here.
The ten UK universities with the most gamers
| University | Discord members | Twitter followers | Active esports players | Total associated gamers |
| The University of Warwick | 2,359 | 1,435 | 488 | 4,282 |
| University College London | 2,964 | 386 | 194 | 3,544 |
| The University of Manchester | 1,834 | 1,243 | 163 | 3,240 |
| Swansea University | 1,514 | 1,317 | 314 | 3,145 |
| The University of Southampton | 2,195 | 410 | 361 | 2,966 |
| Imperial College London | 2,461 | 212 | 225 | 2,898 |
| University of Durham | 1,699 | 624 | 290 | 2,613 |
| The University of Bath | 1,933 | 409 | 205 | 2,547 |
| King’s College London | 1,724 | 404 | 225 | 2,353 |
| The University of Bristol | 1,916 | 154 | 211 | 2,281 |
With a total of 4,282 associated gamers, the University of Warwick was found to be at the top of UK universities for having the most gamers. Among all universities, Warwick has the most Twitter followers (1,435) and the most active esports players (488).
However, Warwick ranks third in terms of Discord members (2,359), behind University College London (2,964) and Imperial College London (2,461).
Following the opening of a dedicated esports gaming centre on the Warwick campus in 2021, Warwick’s esports scene has grown in popularity, and the University of Warwick was named UK’s Esports University of the Year for the fourth year in a row in NSE’s standings in 2022.
Elenore Li, Esports Centre Coordinator at the Esports Centre, said: “We are delighted that our efforts have been recognised, and we look forward to continuing to provide opportunities for students to engage with gaming both on and off campus.
“We have worked hard to create a supportive environment for our gaming community at Warwick. Our team of dedicated students and staff work tirelessly to provide a supportive and inclusive environment where gamers can come together, compete, and socialise.”
Elenore Li, University of Warwick Esports Centre
In terms of other UK universities in the list, University College London (UCL) ranks second with 3,544 associated gamers. UCL has the most gaming Discord members of any university, with 2,964 students registered to gaming society channels in total – 23% more than Warwick and 19% higher than Imperial College London.
UCL is the top-ranked university in London, with Imperial College London and King’s College London also ranking in the top ten.
The University of Manchester ranks third, with 3,240 associated gamers. The university has the third-most Twitter gaming society followers (1,243) amongst all universities, as well as 1,834 Discord members and 162 active esports players.
The UK universities with the least amount of gamers
| University | Discord members | Twitter followers | Active esports players | Total associated gamers |
| University of Cumbria | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| The University of Wolverhampton | 53 | 0 | 1 | 54 |
| Canterbury Christ Church University | 33 | 4 | 30 | 67 |
| Buckinghamshire New University | 65 | 0 | 6 | 71 |
| St. Mary’s University | 81 | 0 | 0 | 81 |
| Middlesex University | 82 | 0 | 1 | 83 |
| Leeds Trinity University | 81 | 0 | 5 | 86 |
| University of Suffolk | 70 | 21 | 11 | 102 |
| Bath Spa University | 37 | 20 | 63 | 120 |
| University of Wales Trinity Saint David | 102 | 39 | 0 | 141 |
The University of Cumbria ranked lowest out of all UK universities, with 15 members in total, all of whom were Discord members. The University of Wolverhampton and Canterbury Christ Church University obtained the next lowest scores, with 54 and 67 associated gamers, respectively.
UK universities have a solid esports scene, with NSE, NUEL and other tournaments available to them.
Read more esports and education articles on Esports News UK.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
