Why students are being paid £2,000 to play computer games

**Why Students Are Receiving £2,000 to Play Computer Games**

As university students nationwide prepare for the academic year, discussions about household finances and the cost of living are becoming increasingly common and intense. However, millions of pounds in scholarship and bursary funds remain unclaimed annually, with many students unaware of the available financial assistance.

This year, the next generation of gamers can apply for an esports scholarship from the University of Roehampton, which has already awarded over 100 such scholarships. The university's Overwatch Team was named Team of the Year 2022. But can students effectively balance their academic pursuits with their esports commitments? And is this scholarship trend likely to expand?

Esports, or electronic sports, refers to competitive video gaming. Unlike standard video gaming, esports involves spectators, similar to traditional sports, with gamers competing in high-stakes tournaments for cash prizes and trophies.

**Beyond Gaming: The Expectations of Esports Scholars**

Roehampton offers esports scholarships to both undergraduate and postgraduate students who demonstrate the ability to maintain academic progress while excelling in video gaming. Mark Ellul, the University of Roehampton registrar, stated, "This scholarship is about recognising talent in a field that has a growing popularity both around the world and among our students."

Scholars are required to participate in weekly university tournaments and represent the university at in-person events. While Roehampton mandates minimum rankings in major games for the scholarship, it will consider applications from those near the threshold who meet other criteria, such as having substantial followings on streaming platforms like Twitch.

Cameron Dray, a former esports scholar, discovered Roehampton through its esports scholarship. Inspired by similar programs in American universities, he investigated whether such initiatives existed in the UK. Initially, the university offered £1,500, but due to the team's performance and increasing popularity, the amount was raised to £2,000.

Dray emphasized the scholarship's importance, stating, "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." He added, "There were requirements that came alongside the scholarship, but none that were unexpected or not transparent when applying." Dray encouraged students to utilize all available scholarships, bursaries, and opportunities, noting, "Many of these funds are available to more students than they realise, and everyone should be taking full advantage."

The average graduate in England accrues over £47,500 in debt. Scholarships like Roehampton's can help reduce student debt and provide additional financial support.

Thomas Cole, an esports player known as Pac who specializes in the racing game Trackmania, believes that universities offering unique scholarships, including esports, academically motivate students by alleviating financial stress. He remarked, "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 continued, "If it doesn't let the academic side suffer, then I think being offered something like that really spurs on people to be better in gaming."

Tom Allingham, a student money expert from the personal finance website Save the Student, regularly advises incoming first-year students to seek out scholarships and learn about their university's offerings. He lamented, "Unfortunately, I don't think there is enough awareness on scholarships." He added, "There is a lot of funding that goes unclaimed because students don't know that they're eligible for it." Save the Student aims to share various scholarships and bursaries on its website, with Allingham stating, "What we try to get across is you can get extra funding for so many different reasons."