University of Roehampton to offer eSports scholarships

Big prizes have become available in eSports. Picture: callofduty.com

The University of Roehampton is to offer £1,500 a year to students who are good at computer games.

In what is believed to be the first scholarship in the UK for eSports or competitive video gaming, the money will be on offer to ten students starting their studies next year.

eSports have seen exponential growth over the last decade which has seen the emergence of professional players in multiplayer online battle games. Games played include Call of Duty and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. eSports are particularly popular in South Korea where professionalism first emerged but current estimates are predicting a global audience of over 400 million.

The University already offers scholarships for more traditional sports and this will be part of the Sport Roehampton scholarships programme. There is already a university gaming society and there are plans to create an eSports team.

Mark Ellul, the university’s registrar told the Press Association, “This scholarship is about recognising talent in a field that has a growing popularity both around the world and among our students.

“The University of Roehampton already has a successful sports programme, underpinned by financial and coaching support for students who excel in their chosen field, and this new scholarship is a natural progression from that as we seek to develop our wider offering in eSports.”

The scholarship will be open to students on any course, undergraduate or postgraduate within the university who shows a commitment to eSports alongside their academic studies.

July 9, 2018