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The University of Roehampton has introduced esports scholarships aimed at both undergraduate and postgraduate students who demonstrate the ability to excel academically while showcasing strong skills in video gaming. The initiative reflects the increasing popularity of esports globally and among the university’s student body. Mark Ellul, Roehampton’s registrar, emphasized that the scholarship is designed to acknowledge talent in this rapidly growing field.
Recipients of the scholarship are expected to actively participate in weekly university esports tournaments and represent Roehampton at live, in-person competitions. To be eligible, applicants must meet minimum ranking requirements in major esports titles. However, the university also welcomes applications from those who are close to these benchmarks but have significant followings on streaming platforms such as Twitch.
Cameron Dray, a former esports scholar at Roehampton, discovered the program while exploring similar scholarships offered by American universities. Initially, the financial support provided was £1,500, but due to the team’s success and growing reputation, the amount was increased to £2,000. Dray highlighted the importance of this funding, noting it enabled him to study in an expensive city without needing part-time work. He also appreciated the clarity and transparency of the scholarship’s conditions, stating, “There were requirements that came alongside the scholarship, but none that were unexpected or not transparent when applying.”
Dray encourages students to pursue all available financial aid opportunities. He advises, “Many of these funds are available to more students than they realise, and everyone should be taking full advantage.” Scholarships like Roehampton’s can significantly reduce the student debt burden, which for the average graduate in England exceeds £47,500. Thomas Cole, an esports athlete known as Pac, who focuses on the racing game Trackmania, believes that scholarships tied to gaming can help alleviate financial stress, thereby supporting academic progress. “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 said, adding that such scholarships motivate players to improve their skills without compromising their studies.
Tom Allingham, a student money expert from the Save the Student website, often advises new university entrants to actively seek out scholarships and bursaries offered by their institutions. He observes that “there is a lot of funding that goes unclaimed because students don’t know that they’re eligible for it,” and stresses the importance of awareness. Save the Student regularly shares information about various financial aid options, aiming to remind students that additional funding is accessible for a wide range of reasons
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