Esports Production BSc (Hons)
UCAS code: I600
About this course
Our BSc Esports Production degree is rooted in learning about the esports industry as a whole, with a focus on broadcast production at the heart of it.
Esports is leading the way in live events production, broadcast, and content creation. This is due to the nature of esports as an entertainment product and the level of technology that is contained within.
Understanding the scale and impact that esports has had on the entertainment industry, the broadcast industry, and now the sports industry is paramount to establishing a career working in the broadcast production industry and beyond.
Unlike other universities, we’re specialists in creative technologies. That means we’re in a unique position to draw upon our existing teaching expertise and industry contacts across gaming, technical events, production technology and broadcasting, and creative entrepreneurship to enhance your learning experience.
We also run our own commercial businesses, including a purpose-built esports and virtual production venue, which means you’ll learn and work alongside experts from the industry in a professional setting.
Our unique position means the degree offers a balance between academic and vocational modules. Alongside your rich practical learning experience, we also enable you to learn authentic research and employability skills, which are all key in fueling your career in the creative industries.
What you’ll study
You’ll learn and practice in our brand new esports hub and in our world-class live events complex, Metronome, which boasts a 400-capacity venue and industry-standard live events production workspace.
We're well-connected in the world of esports, playing host to tournaments and events for the NSE, British Esports Association and other organisations. All these real-life work experience opportunities will complement your learning.
Global Esports Industry (20 Credit Points)
Esports is now one of the most significant sectors within the global games industry. The growth of this market sector has led to new business opportunities, emerging technologies and social trends. This module introduces you to the technological, business-focussed and social factors that are related to the development of Esports through academic research and analysis. This knowledge and understanding is vitally important for the development of new business concepts, products or services related to Esports.
Broadcast Asset Development (20 Credit Points)
This module focuses on teaching you the fundamentals of industry standard asset creation software and typically the types of visual assets used in all broadcast media within an esports context. This will encompass learning 2D image creation and manipulation which will lead you to be able to generate brand assets and overlays. You will learn to create and implement motion graphics which will be used for stingers and any moving artwork. You will learn to edit video content to develop VT content, BTS and after movies.
Principles of Esports Production (40 Credit Points)
Esports has grown ten-fold in just over five years to a staggering global business. The games themselves have engaged players and viewers alike with developers and publishers always searching for the next big, competitive product. This module focuses on the mechanics and conventions of competitive games design, allowing you to conceptualise your own ideas in relation to competitive Esports games. This knowledge and understanding of how games mechanically work and why we play them is essential to game design, and will support the conceptualisation of/within your own game portfolio.
Production & Technology (40 Credit Points)
Being able to understand the importance of technology in Esports broadcasting is essential for those working in the Esports events industry. This module will allow you to explore the technical theory involved in broadcast technology for Esports, whilst developing your practical skills working with equipment.
Esports Event Operations (40 Credit Points)
This module focuses on event management through a range of key areas. You’ll study core event-planning strategies which include resource management and allocation, audience research and the user experience, and digital media production technologies, teaching you how to effectively push the event experience and journey to audiences.
Live Esports Broadcast Production (40 Credit Points)
You’ll further your knowledge of all the associated event production technology required to deliver a live esports event including broadcast, live sound, stage lighting, live video and streaming technologies. You’ll work with a range of technical and mathematical data to study and design the technology configurations that can support a live esports event. This module will have a strong practical emphasis in a workshop environment that will allow you to practise and evaluate skills and techniques using industry-standard technology and software. It is expected that you’ll specialise in one or more areas of production technology, and by working collaboratively you will have the skillset and understanding to deliver a successful esports event as a production team.
Professional Practice (40 Credit Points)
Vocational practice is at the heart of this degree. It is imperative that you learn by doing. What sits parallel to this is the ability to effectively capture what you’re doing, namely your growth as an individual and your accomplishments. And finally present them as a key part of your professional brand image. This module focuses on developing professional practices that underpin working in both freelance and full-time employment. This will include understanding the legal requirements for setting up your own business, or working independently as a sole trader. The module will adjacently cultivate a thorough and critical understanding of the role and function of social media practices within the creative media industry. Through research, study and working on live briefs set by esports clients, you will understand and apply innovations in the usage of social media to form your own digital self-marketing portfolio to support your exposure as an esports production specialist whilst building the fundamentals of working as a professional.
Emerging and Disruptive Technologies in Esports (20 Credit Points)
Esports as an industry is made up of multiple creative media industries combined. This has and will continue to result in great technological advancements which will impact the entire pipeline of esports content creation and presentation. The module and assessment will require you to analyse emerging technologies used throughout esports and gaming, events production, training and online streaming. Running adjacent to your technology investigation module, you will support the creation of a technology project that will be nurtured through your learning in this module.
Capstone Project (60 Credit Points)
This module encompasses all that you have learned throughout your studies into a final major project. The project is based on the development of a live Esports exhibition drawing in a variety of guests, sponsors, performances and tournaments. To achieve this, you’ll engage with a number of live events, from which you will critically analyse and evaluate techniques, and apply them to the design of your own event. You’ll focus on a core area of this event and apply innovation with technology, work collaboratively with other course areas, and as a result be the driving force behind a large-scale Esports spectacle.
Technology Investigation (40 Credit Points)
This module provides you with the opportunity to undertake sustained investigation into a specific area of live Esports production and broadcast, building on your previous knowledge, experience and skills acquired during Levels 4 and 5. This module will allow you to critically explore a specific issue or area of personal interest within your chosen field. You will achieve this by undertaking a self-initiated practical research project supported by tutor supervision. As part of this investigation, you’ll also enhance your abilities to communicate your findings with an audience and consolidate your skills in project management and self-directed work, both of which are vital for a career within the creative media industries. The module serves to acquaint you with the key skills and practices required to undertake and complete an independent research project. The module will also enable you to understand the role of Intellectual Property (IP) in supporting the creative economy and how you can identify and legally protect your ideas and innovations. The module will offer an insight into how you can manage and license your IP, and what you do if someone else uses your ideas or without your permission.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
How you're taught
Within individual modules the delivery of the material encourages increasing levels of skill development and student participation, ensuring that as you progress through the course, you become a more confident and independent learner. We aim to include a range of methods of delivery that may include;
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Group tutorials
- Academic tutorials
- Blended learning including online lectures and workshops
- Presentations and pitches
- Team working
- Independent learning
- Visiting industry professionals
All the modes of delivery are structured to develop ongoing abilities and skills through exploring ideas and problem-solving. The course will offer a broad range of assessment methods.
Our motto is ‘Do It For Real’. This means learning from teaching staff with industry experience, taking part in live projects, getting industry insights from guest lectures, and clocking up valuable work experience.
Industry Week
We hold an annual Industry Week, the biggest of its kind in the UK, where guest speakers and mentors from the music industry are invited in to talk to students. Our students have the opportunity to learn from people working in the industry right now, and can make invaluable contacts during this week.
Past Industry Week guests have included:
- Mark Garvey Candella - Director of Student & Education Programs at Twitch
- Unequalled Media
- FACEIT
- JD Wu - award-winning Technical Director
- Ubisoft
- Rockstar Games
- TSM
- Jacky - award-winning esports commentator
- Sumo Digital
Esports experience
We’re well-connected in the world of esports and, thanks to our world-class facilities we've played host to the NSE British University Esports Championship Finals and the British Esports Association Student Champs Finals.
We recently hosted a ‘Halo Clash Series’ international esports tournament for charity and the hugely popular ‘Six Memevitational’; a global celebration of the Rainbow Six Siege game with the biggest casters, pro players and content creators involved from around the world.
Students have been working with The NUEL and GGTech to host the Amazon University Esports UK and Ireland finals, with more tournaments with The NUEL on the horizon.
Roles they performed included:
- Technical Director
- Observer
- Replay Operator
- Graphics Operator
- Replay Operator
- Audio Engineer
- Production Assistant
It’s events like these that provide you with the opportunities to gain real-life work experience, learning from the pros and making those all-important industry connections.
Degree Show
In your final year you will exhibit your work as part of our End of Year Degree Show. This event includes all final-year students and is a great platform for you to showcase your work to key influencers across the creative industries.
Careers and employability
Your time at Nottingham Trent University doesn’t have to stop once you finish your undergraduate course. Choose to continue your studies on our postgraduate degrees that can help you further develop your skills and obtain the experience you need to get a head start in your career.
After an action-packed, intellectually stimulating three years, you’ll leave with a host of invaluable technical and critical thinking skills that will allow you to work in the esports industry, with a focus on production and technology. As technology continues to develop, you’ll be one step ahead in being able to adapt to emerging technologies.
You could find yourself working in areas such as event management, broadcast and production, marketing, games design, event production, or in a role as an analyst, streamer, observer, shoutcaster or consultant.
YouFirst – working with our Employability Team
Studying a degree at a popular university has many benefits, none more so than having access to a large employability team.
Our friendly, experienced careers consultants will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice you won't find in a book or on the internet. You can benefit from this at any time during your studies and up to three years after completing your course.
Campus and facilities
You’ll learn, practice and develop your skills in the very best facilities and technology for esports production and other emerging technologies, home to a busy schedule of amateur and professional tournaments, productions and other esports-related events; all of which will offer up unique work experience opportunities for students studying on the course.
Here are just some of the features:
- A 100-seater 4k sqft multi-event esports venue and content studio
- 4k broadcast and content creation infrastructure
- Virtual live productions with Unreal Engine
- 10m x 4m 4K LED video wall with LED wings
- Multiple shoutcaster and analyst studio
- Multiple streaming cubicles
- Green screen studio for virtual sets
- Scrim rooms and private warm-up rooms for competitors
Specialist kit
Within your esports studios within our campus, you will make use of the most prominent, industry-standard production technologies used in all broadcast, alongside cutting edge technologies used specifically in esports broadcasts.
This includes:
- Video Routers
- Production Switchers
- Broadcast Panels
- Replay Systems
- Graphics Software
- Cameras, PTZ Cameras and Control Systems
- Lighting and Lighting Mixers
- Audio Devices and Audio Mixers
- Audio Communication Systems
- Video Walls and Video Wall Drivers
You will make use of broadcast specific hardware technologies associated with the Blackmagic production workflow used to configure and manage signal flow. This will be coupled with a plethora of quality vision mixing tech, HD and 4K cameras, lighting equipment, comms systems, and space to create sets for different esports activities.
Within Confetti X, our esports venue you will make use of the Ross video broadcast workflow comprising state of the art vision engineering, vision mixing, graphics, replay, remote camera hardware and software systems. This is coupled with working with LED video wall technology in the purpose-built esports auditorium and the Disguise content mapping software solution. The venues lighting control and audio is managed by industry standard control hardware.
Our technology partners and providers include Ross Video, Blackmagic, DiGiCo, Riedel Communications, Avolites, MA Lighting, Disguise, Brompton Technologies and many more. All of the above work closely with us in not only providing tech, but also providing learning of their gear in the form of professional training, guest lectures, master classes and ultimately, putting you in line for greater employment prospects.
Entry requirements
- Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
- Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Contextual offers
A lower offer may be made based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer and we get data from UCAS to make these decisions. NTU offers a student experience like no other and this approach helps us to find students who have the potential to succeed here but who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Find out how we assess your application.
Other qualifications and experience
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS tariff points attached to specific grades, including A levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
- 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)
You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Fees and funding
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there's no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
Additional Costs
Your course fees cover the cost of studies, and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
All course-specific software and hardware is accessible on-site however it is encouraged that you invest in a workstation/gaming PC to aid your study and progression into the creative media industry and more so the games industry. A suitable workstation or gaming PC can cost from £650+.
Library books
Most study modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential textbooks, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing, photocopying and scanning information on the library website.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service:
- Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there's no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
- Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
Scholarships
We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.
Living costs
Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:
Paying fees
Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
How to apply
Application for this course is through the UCAS application form.
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.
Selection for this course takes place through UCAS application form.
Application deadline
This course starts in September and applications should be submitted by the UCAS deadline.
Applications received after this date will only be considered if places are still available, after all applications received by the deadline have been assessed.
Mature students
We welcome applications from mature students (over the age of 21) for this course. We will assess applicants of this nature on an individual basis.
If you are a mature student, you will still need to apply to us by UCAS form, but you don't necessarily need to meet our minimum entry requirements.
Writing your application and personal statement
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. So include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades,
Your personal statement is a really important part of your application. It's your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place! You've got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you're applying for. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.
Keeping up to date
After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page.
Getting in touch
For admissions related enquiries please contact us:
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 4200
You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.
Application advice
Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
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