For transparency: Esports News UK editor Dom Sacco used to work full-time for British Esports between September 2016 and February 2021, and currently does some freelance work for them, producing their email newsletter
National federation British Esports and learning company Pearson have today announced new higher-tier BTEC qualifications will launch in the UK this September.
There’s the Level 4 Higher National Certificate (HNC, equivalent to the first year of an undergraduate degree) and the Level 5 Higher National Diploma (HND, equivalent to the second year of an undergraduate degree).
The new qualifications claim to offer a route into esports careers as well as offering transferable skills for the digital industries.
This continues the partnership between British Esports and Pearson, who launched the Level 2 and Level 3 BTECs in Esports back in 2020. These have been delivered in 160+ schools and colleges to nearly 10,000 students around the world.
International centres have already begun delivering the new Level 4 and 5 qualifications, with the UK set to begin delivery from September 2024.
The Level 4 Higher National Certificate and Level 5 Higher National Diploma consist of 30 units, ranging from esports management, to coaching and event production.
Higher National qualifications are designed to meet the demand for professional and technical education pathways, and are developed in partnership with employers and industry experts. They’re designed to offer a route to university and promote skills development, supporting the transition from Higher Education into employment.
The news comes after the first online Esports BTEC qualification launched in the UK last year. And in 2022, the first cohort of BTEC Esports students got their grades.
“When we partnered with Pearson four years ago to launch the world’s first Esports BTECs, we did so with the intention of creating a workforce well-prepared for the challenges and changes this fast-moving industry has seen,” said Kalam Neale, Head of Education at British Esports.
“We’re proud to have launched the Higher Nationals in Esports that will continue to strengthen the workforce of the future, and provide students with greater options and accessibility when pursuing a career in esports or in other creative industries.”
“What many people don’t realise is that there is a wealth of career opportunities around the esports sector, which calls upon a whole range of supporting roles and services, including the need for financial, legal, creative and digital skills,” said Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director, Vocational Qualifications & Training at Pearson.
“These new HNC and HND qualifications provide a seamless progression path for esports students eager to transition to the next level of their education journey – supporting the creation of long-term careers in the growing esports industry both in the UK and internationally.”
Freya Thomas Monk, Pearson
There are a number of colleges and further education institutions across the UK and internationally who will be delivering the Higher National Esports qualifications such as Newcastle and Staffordshire Colleges Group, RNN Group and The University of Technology and Management (UTM) Vietnam. And Sunderland College will be offering this new qualification with delivery from British Esports National Esports Performance Campus.
Sheree Rymer, Faculty Director (Creative, Digital & Computing) at Sunderland College, said: “It has been a pleasure for Sunderland College and the faculty to be working with British Esports. Our students have had access to outstanding world-class esports facilities at British Esports’ National Esports Performance Campus, and to be taught there has ensured our students are having the best training and skill development, to start their careers in the industry.”
For graduates of the Higher Nationals, a further range of esports degrees are available from universities for students who want to pursue a top-up qualification to obtain a Level 6 Degree.
“The progression by Pearson into Level 4 and 5 builds on their successful delivery of the Level 3 Esports BTEC. We are excited to see the growth of the industry and wider digital sector,” said Professor Philip Wilson, Executive Chair at the College of Esports. “This qualification is the perfect avenue to the top-up degree available from College of Esports for Level 6 and ultimately, Level 7.”
There’s more info in this Esports Careers and Skill Diversification infographic and and on the BTEC Higher Nationals in Esports web page.
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.
