Esports Level 3

Esports is by definition a multiplayer video game, played competitively for spectators, at events, normally by professional gamers.

This exciting and innovative course will provide valuable much needed skills, knowledge and expertise for the Esports, Games Design and Live Streaming industries.

• According to PWC, the UK esports market will see a 27.6% CAGR, reaching £8m in consumer ticket sales by 2021. Digital advertising in esports will increase to £12m by 2021, a CAGR of 46.2%.
• Esports is 21-35 age group representing 63% of the market. Women make up 31% of the audience and are most likely to watch when aged between 21-35.
• The largest prize pool event held in the UK to date was ESL One Birmingham, with a prize pool of $1 million, held at Arena Birmingham in May 2018.
• The UK is the home to some of the world’s top esports talent. One of the UK’s leading esports teams, Team Dignitas were acquired by the owners of the US basketball’s Philadelphia 76ers in September 2016.
• Major UK football clubs including Manchester City and West Ham have signed professional esports players.
• The UK’s largest gaming retailer, Game, acquired Multiplay, one of the UK’s longest established esports businesses, for £20m.
• There is also growing grassroots esports scene in the UK’s universities, with 3,000 players in the National University Esports League, representing 110 universities. (Source – UKIE 2020 https://ukie.org.uk/research#esports)

Esports is a fast growing and exciting area of the digital media industry. This course will provide an innovative, cutting edge and challenging learner experience preparing students for careers in the creative industries.

Learners will complete the full Level 3 Extended Diploma which attracts UCAS points equivalent to 3 A-Levels.

Over the course of the two years you will develop your theoretical and practical skills in Esports skill, strategy and analysis including;

• PC/mobile/console game analysis, context and content
• enterprise and entrepreneurship in the Esports industry
• health and wellbeing in Esports
• event management and broadcast

Along with the media classes, you will improve your English and Maths skills which will make you more employable and improve the quality of your media work. GCSE Maths and English resit classes may be part of your timetable depending on your GCSE entry grades. You will also attend group tutorials and 1-1 tutorials to support your study as well as enrichment activities, trips, visits and meeting guest lecturers from the industry.

The course has a wide range of equipment including the Creative Media Suite including a projection room, a PC suite and seven editing rooms equipped with computers running Adobe Creative Suite and modelling software. We have an extensive resource of camera, sound and lighting equipment. The Colchester campus also includes a well-equipped television studio with green-screen facility and a soundproof audio studio with technical support available.

5 GCSEs (9-4) including English and Maths, or Level 2 Functional Skills equivalent, or satisfactory results (Merit/Distinction) in a relevant Level 2 qualification and an interview.

Students could continue onto university or begin a career in in the Esports sector including work within Esports teams, or related gaming fields.