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MA
Become an expert in the legal, ethical and political dilemmas facing the industry
Contribute to the body of research in this growing subject area
Be a part of the UK’s first dedicated esports master’s degree
Be part of the gaming phenomenon that’s watched by millions all over the world. Our Esports MA is designed to prepare you in the implementation of new research and practices vital to this growing industry. You’ll meet the people shaping the industry today, find out about the history of the sport and develop your own ideas on what the future might look like for Esports.
Sponsored by TeamSpeak, our MA in esports is a cutting-edge course designed to develop the research skills needed to work within a growing number of jobs in this flourishing industry.
Studying under subject experts in a university with one of the largest computer games schools in the UK, you’ll learn advanced research skills and critical awareness that will enable you to fully immerse yourself in the esports ecosystem.
You will be expected to develop higher level research and analytical skills through the development of a substantive research project of your choice. The focus will be on the cultural aspects of esports, influencing policies and practices in the industry and developing a critical awareness of the sociological, legal and political economic landscape.
Utilising the state-of-the-art equipment in the Esports Hub, you will have the opportunity to attend and organise the esports events that you are passionate about.
TeamSpeak Partnership
In 2020 established a unique partnership with industry giants TeamSpeak, who develop cross-platform communication with military-grade security, lag-free performance and unparalleled reliability and uptime. For you as a student, this means that your study will be embedded with the software you need to allow you to manage players and broadcast crews working in remote locations around the globe to create seamless productions.
On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MA Esports
Each module is designed to offer different disciplinary perspectives surrounding the culture and industry of esports, allowing you to bring your own experiences into discussion. You will develop a critical and investigative approach to the esports ecosystem, covering teams, leagues, tournaments, platforms, brands, games developers, investors and fans.
The International Esport Policy and Planning module gives you the opportunity to critically analyse the global economy of esports and focus on the legislative challenges facing the industry. In Managing Esports Arena Strategies, the various spaces and scales of different esports events are analysed with the aim of creating your own intervention into the event experience.
The Research Methods and Esports Data module introduces the use of research methods and ethics, which prepares students to learn and apply research independently from putting theory into practice. In the final dissertation focused module, students will develop a research topic of their own choice that reflects their interests and demonstrates their ability to apply skills they have developed throughout their course.
Video
Maxie Oliver, Esports MA student speaks about their experience at Staffordshire University.
The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.
Module code: ESPO70003
Module code: ESPO70000
Module code: ESPO70004
Module code: ESPO70001
Module code: ESPO70002
You will usually have achieved a 2:2 in a computing, games, business, events, marketing or digital related subject with evidence of engagement in Esports. Alternatively you may have professional qualifications and/or experience. If you need to discuss the entry requirements please get in touch with the course leader.
Join Matt Lewis, Technical Specialist, on a tour around the Esports Hub at our Stoke-on-Trent campus.
For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.
Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.
Our labs offer development facilities for multiple platforms, including PS4, Xbox360, Xbox One, phones, tablets and PCs. Underpinning the console specific solutions are development environments for languages including C, C++, C# and Java.
A customised esports lab for showcase and learning. Computer equipment is top of the range industry standard, featuring tournament level hardware and software, allowing for ease of use and the best in quality assurance.
Find out more about our Esports Hub.
After completing the Esports MA, you’ll be equipped to take on various research, community and event focused esports careers.
Interested in further study? After finishing your course, you'll leave with the skills you need for further academic study at PhD level.
Join Esports lecturer Stuart Kosters for a tour of our Esports Expansion room - new for 2020!
We know that everyone learns differently. So, not only do we use traditional ways of teaching like lectures, we also use problem-based learning to help you apply your skills.
For this course, you will:
Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard. This means you can access a range of materials to support your lectures wherever you are.
We’ll also assign you a supervisor to support you throughout your final project.
There are two types of assessments: practice (also called formative) or formal (also called summative).
Practice assessments do not count towards your final mark. These are your chance to test your understanding – and learn how to improve for the real thing.
You’ll have formal assessments at the end of each module. These could include essays, exams, or portfolios.
Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:
If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our AccessAbility Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.
Lecturer
Dr Josh Jarrett is a lecturer specialising in esports, with a background in game, fan, Internet, and cultural studies.
For the course starting on 20 September 2021 the tuition fees are:
If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.
If you've previously completed a Staffordshire University undergraduate degree (excluding HND and foundation degrees) you may be entitled to a discount of up to 25% off your course fees for any subsequent postgraduate taught course (terms apply, see the alumni discount page for details). If you have any questions about how this relates to you, please contact feesandbursaries@staffs.ac.uk.
Travel, and accommodation costs incurred by compulsory trips and visits away from the University that are directly linked to the learning requirements of a specific module.
The estimated cost of text books over the duration of the course. All essential text books are available from the library, but some students chose to purchase their own copies.
Travel, subsistence, entrance fees etc. incurred by optional trips and visits away from the University related to the course.
Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation
Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £11,222 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options; part-time, full-time and distance learning.
For more information and how to apply visit masters loan.
If you are offered a place at Staffordshire University, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.
Students of Staffordshire University enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.
Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2020
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Times Higher Awards 2020
The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021
Midlands Business Awards 2020
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