BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma in ESports
What’s it about?
Esports (or electronic sports) is competitive video gaming, but it’s not just video gaming.
Esports is different from standard video gaming in that it is competitive (human-vs-human) and usually has an engaging spectator element to it, just like traditional sports. Also, like traditional sports, esports tournaments consist of amateur or professional gamers competing against one another for a cash prize.
The global industry generates more than £1 billion a year, and the average esports athlete makes around £3,500 per month. That is just the basic salary. Athletes can make a significant amount of extra income from sources such as tournament prizes, sponsorship, streaming on Twitch and YouTube content creation. (Source: www.ecomphox.com)
However, studying BTEC Level 3 Esports goes far beyond simply learning to be an expert gamer. This rapidly growing industry offers an enormous range of career opportunities. In addition to players, the British Esports Association states a need for:
Esports Career Pathways
Esports
Tech, digital and STEM
General
Coaches
Cyber Security Analysts
Marketing
Shoutcasters / Hosts
Software Engineers
Sales
Games Analysts
Network Engineers
Advertising
Journalists
Mobile Technicians
Branding
Administrators
Digital Engineers
Media Production
Referees
A.I. Developers
Events Management
Producers
UI / UX Designers
Social Media
Social Media Managers
VR developers
Design
Team Managers
Data Analysists
Business Development
Streamers
Network Managers
PR
Entry Requirements:
English and Maths
Contacts:
Mr J Olliver – Head of Amelix ESports Academy
The Canterbury Academy Sixth Form
Course Content:
The Extended Diploma is the equivalent of 3 A-Levels and carries the expected UCAS tariff points. The course duration is two years.
Student’s studies include:
- Ethics and current issues in ESports
- Nutrition for ESports performance
- Health, wellbeing and fitness for ESports players
- ESports skills, strategies and analysis
- Enterprise and entrepreneurship for ESports
- Producing an ESports brand
- Business applications of ESports and Social Media
- Psychology in Esports
- ESports Coaching
- Live-streamed broadcasting and video production
- Shoutcasting
- Customer Immersion Experiences
Progression:
The Esports world is your (digital) oyster- just take a look at the Career Pathways list above! Alternatively, progression to a related degree course is straightforward. In 2018, Stafford University offered the very first Esports degree in the UK. Since then, many other universities have expanded into Esports, including Oxford, Roehampton and York.