Roehampton University has announced a scheme that will pay selected students £2,000 a year to play esports alongside their academic courses. The offer is designed to support students who represent the university in organised competitive gaming while they pursue degree programmes.
Programme overview
The payment is intended for students engaged in esports activities as part of the university’s organised teams. While details such as the number of places and the selection criteria have not been disclosed in the summary, schemes of this kind generally aim to combine financial assistance with opportunities to train and compete for the institution in regional and national events.
Higher education and competitive gaming
Universities have increasingly recognised esports as a campus activity that can attract applicants and build community, mirroring the rise of professional and semi‑professional gaming worldwide. Institutions that run esports programmes often promote pathways into careers across the games industry, media and digital sectors, and may provide dedicated facilities, coaching and tournament participation as part of their offer.
Debate and implications
The introduction of paid esports places on campus can prompt discussion about priorities in higher education, including how extracurricular programmes are funded and how students balance competitive commitments with academic study. Proponents say such initiatives widen opportunities and reflect changes in student interests, while critics argue universities must ensure core teaching and wellbeing support remain central.
The Roehampton announcement adds to a trend of universities experimenting with novel recruitment and student-support strategies tied to extracurricular strengths. Observers say the expanding visibility of esports is encouraging more institutions to consider whether formalised competitive gaming can sit alongside traditional university sport and society activities.