Students Offered £2,000 Esports Scholarships at Roehampton

Roehampton University rewards students with £2,000 to balance their studies with competitive esports gaming, promoting financial support in education.

As students gear up to head to university, discussions about finances and the cost of living have become increasingly important. Every year, a significant amount of scholarship funding remains unclaimed, mainly because many students are unaware of these opportunities.

This year, Roehampton University is stepping in with a distinctive offer: esports scholarships worth £2,000 for undergraduates and postgraduates who can balance their academic pursuits with excellence in competitive gaming. So far, the university has awarded over 100 scholarships.

Esports, which refers to competitive video gaming, distinguishes itself from standard gaming by incorporating spectators and organized tournaments, akin to traditional sports events.

Mark Ellul, formerly the registrar at Roehampton, commented on the initiative, stating, “This scholarship is about recognising talent in a field that has a growing popularity both around the world and among our students.” Award recipients are expected to participate in weekly university tournaments and represent their institution at various in-person events.

To qualify for the scholarship, students must meet specific ranking criteria in popular games; however, those just below the threshold who have significant followings on platforms like Twitch are also encouraged to apply.

Cameron Dray, a former esports scholar, discovered Roehampton’s initiative and was inspired by similar programs in the U.S., prompting him to see if there was anything available in the UK. The university initially offered £1,500, but increased the amount to £2,000 due to the rising popularity of the initiative and the success of the esports team.

“This money was crucial to me as it gave me the opportunity to study in a very expensive city without the need for part-time work,” Dray shared about his experience. He emphasized that the scholarship came with clear expectations that were transparently communicated during the application process. Dray urged students to take advantage of the numerous scholarships and bursaries that often go unclaimed, saying, “Many of these funds are available to more students than they realise, and everyone should be taking full advantage.”

The average student graduating in England leaves university with debts exceeding £47,500. Scholarships like the one offered at Roehampton are designed to alleviate some of this financial burden while providing additional support.

Thomas Cole, known as Pac in the esports community and a player specializing in the racing game Trackmania, expressed that such unique scholarships can motivate students academically by alleviating financial stress. “Uni students being paid to play a game alongside doing their studies, it’s definitely cracking. If I had gone to uni, I would have loved that,” he mentioned, adding that if the initiative does not negatively impact academic performance, it can encourage gamers to excel.

Tom Allingham, a student money advisor from Save the Student, frequently encourages incoming students to seek out scholarships and familiarize themselves with their universities’ offerings. He noted, “Unfortunately, I don’t think there is enough awareness on scholarships. There is a lot of funding that goes unclaimed because students don’t know that they’re eligible for it.”

As discussions continue regarding student life and the pressures faced by those preparing for university, initiatives like Roehampton’s esports scholarships are paving the way for financial support in education.