Esports Business Management (BSc Top-up)
Full-time
One year
September 2025
In a nutshell
Building on the foundation of an esports certification, our top-up degree offers an exciting opportunity to advance your qualifications by earning a full BSc degree in just one year. Open to all eligible students, this programme is an ideal choice for anyone looking to deepen their expertise in esports business management.
Through this programme, you can specialise in one of three major business areas within the Esports sector: becoming a strategist, an organiser, or an entrepreneur. This tailored approach allows you to focus on your strengths and career aspirations.
Helping you to further establish your industry knowledge, your final trimester offers you the opportunity to take part in a work placement at an esports company. This hands-on experience will help you refine your professional identity and apply the skills you've learnt throughout the course directly within the industry.
You will be studying in a bespoke immersive environment, built to host the digital requirements of the course. This includes an esports tournament arena, broadcasting equipment and an esports lab for teaching, learning and gaming.
This course has been developed with the help of industry leaders, meaning every module has been carefully considered and will help build the skills needed by future professionals in the ever-evolving esports industry.
“After assisting a passionate team at University of Salford on their esports-related workshops, the Esports Business Management academic program is a fantastic opportunity for students, in love with the world of esports/gaming, to learn and develop their skills professionally, across a multitude of sectors, at a high academic standard before transitioning into the industry.” - Kieran Wood – Co-Founder & Operations and Commercial Lead, Horizon Union.
The esports market has boomed in recent years, with increasing demand from viewers wanting to watch the most popular gamers in the world. The coverage of esports is only increasing, with demand expected to grow to 640.8 million viewers worldwide by 2025. In turn, this growth is creating thousands of jobs in this industry and fresh demand for graduates with specific skills and knowledge. This is your perfect opportunity to turn your interests into a stable, successful and fulfilling career.
You will:
- Demonstrate conceptual and critical thinking, analysis, synthesis and evaluation
- Apply decision-making methods to a business issues relevant to Esports
- Experiment and develop personal initiative and responsibility in undertaking complex investigations in the solving of organisational problems and issues.
- Select, organise, analyse and present information relevant to a management decision.
- Have the chance to complete a placement within the Esports industry in order to gain practical experience and practice your professional skills
- Research and develop a practical and attainable future career plan based on your individual strengths
options available
students accepted
This is for you if ….
You want to develop understanding and knowledge of the critical business contexts and disciplines within Esports
You seek engagement and network opportunities with industry through a work placement in order to enhance your employability, gain experience and identify your chosen career pathway
You wish to enhance your HND with a full bachelor of science (BSc) qualification which is recognised by industry
You wish to specialise into a specific area within strategy, organisation and enterprise within Esports
You want to study a unique course which will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to enter the up-and-coming and lucrative Esports industry
You want to have access to experts from industry and academics in order to develop your networks and knowledge with a view to working in the industry upon graduation
All about the course
CAREER FOCUSSED, HANDS ON LEARNING
Esports is an international sporting phenomenon within the global and digital marketplace, in 2021 the community had more than 3.24 billion video gamers across the globe.
The sector in the UK currently supports over 1,200 jobs and is rapidly growing. The course will draw upon the continued success of this national and international industry and provide a programme that will educate and inspire the next generation of industry professionals.
This future-facing course enhances your learning, understanding and qualification of Esports and the Esports industry. The top-up year will build off and enhance your skills and knowledge learned from the HND and will help to develop your career pathway while engaging with live professional networks through class engagement and work placements.
Networking and experience are among the most critical elements of gaining employment after you graduate and our industry placement module will put you into the thick of the action with an established Esports business. This will help you to practice what has been learnt thus far on the programme, develop your professional knowledge and understanding, engage directly with potential employers and networks with a view to creating a sustainable career in your chosen area of expertise.
LAUNCH@SALFORD
Interested in starting your own business? At Salford Business School we value entrepreneurial minds and aim to provide the support and resources needed for anyone wishing to build on a great business idea. Launch@ Salford is the incubation centre for business start ups providing a reception area, hot desk office space, private meeting rooms – and a networking lounge where you can grab a coffee and make those business connections. Launch@Salford also provides specialist support in the runnings of a start-up as well as opportunities to receive financial support
All Set? Apply Now
Data Analysis for Esports - Industry Metrics Project
In this module, you will be introduced to a variety of methods of analysis for management decision making, which will be practised on real data sets aligned to Esports. This project will focus on providing real-life challenges of data analysis, model building and decision making within esports realms. The decision-making techniques introduced in the module can be applied to a wide range of settings, such as interpreting market performance, forecasting growth, make or buy decisions, optimisation of scarce resources etc.
Customer Experience and Value Creation in Esports.
Providing an immersive customer experience is a critical differentiating factor for Esports businesses and is notably one of the fastest growing disciplines globally. This module will provide you with the skills to develop and implement a coherent customer experience strategy that is both practical and actionable. It will explore theories and concepts of experience management with a customer and client-centric focus by analysing the strategies, issues and dilemmas that are characteristic of the Esports service industry and the delivery of an engaging customer experience. You will learn how to use tools and processes to help you bring your organisation and brand closer to its customers focusing on creating value through relationship-building strategies, mapping the customer journey and engaging in innovation and excellence.
Esports Industry Placement
The placement module and intensive team-based learning environment will give you the chance to apply your skills in a real-world setting. You will gain an understanding and experience of organisational structure, internal processes and how development teams work within Esports, so you can identify with a clear focus on your next potential steps into industry. You can either locate your own placement by applying directly to the placement provider or speak to our employability team to identify and locate a relevant and suitable placement in the role of your choice within the Esports industry. The placement will run for 9 weeks during trimester 2 and you will return to campus with some critical experience in your deck.
Advanced Digital Marketing
This module aims to develop your core skills in digital and social media-based targeting and communication strategies. It’s a practical module where you will cover a host of topics; you will look at how to create an effective digital presence and consider the critical components of a digital marketing strategy and its strategic significance.
You will also extend you capabilities in digital brand awareness, search engine optimisation and search engine marketing, content optimisation etc.
You will be working in intensive case discussion sessions and group activities, and learning from guest lectures and insightful study materials to understand how the concepts that underpin digital and social media marketing support business success.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
Frequently asked questions
What is esports?
Esports is the name given to the professional gaming industry. Typically, esports takes the form of organised competitions that fans can view either in person or via stream.
What is an esports management course?
This innovative programme covers all sectors of the Esports industry. Students will have the chance to study modules on esports marketing, public relations, broadcasting, game development and event management as well as business modules in ethics and digital skills. This course has been developed with the help of industry leaders, meaning every module has been carefully considered and will help build the skills needed by future professionals in the esports industry
Is an esports course worth it?
An esports course is worth pursuing if you are passionate about the gaming industry and want to pursue a career in this rapidly growing field.
At the beating heart of it
Based at our picturesque Peel Park campus, just a five-minute journey from central Manchester, Salford Business School sits at the heart of Greater Manchester's thriving business and digital sectors, with close links and a campus at MediaCity.
Our student space on the sixth floor of the Maxwell Building offers dedicated areas for collaborative and independent study and break-out spaces like our student kitchen. Additionally, here you can find our in-school progression and careers teams to support your journey.
A global community
Salford Business School aims to foster the next generation of leaders and create a new vision of innovative and entrepreneurial leadership. We are integrated into the local business community as a hub for knowledge creation and exchange. We are proud that our industry collaborations and partnerships benefit students, businesses and the community.
When you arrive as an Esports student, you will have access to a bespoke immersive environment, built in the main to host the digital requirements of the course, this will include an Esports tournament arena, broadcasting equipment and an Esports lab for teaching, learning, and gaming.
Our goal is to prepare you for a fulfilling life and professional career. Along the way, you’ll learn to be curious, adaptable and confident, ready to meet the digital, ethical and sustainability challenges of the 21st century.
Dedicated support
Our in-school Student Progression Assistants ensure a smooth journey throughout your course. For non-course matters, our university-wide support service, askUS, is on hand to assist across a range of topics.
Our Careers and Employability team, along with in-school advisors, support your career journey with one-on-one appointments, drop-ins, industry events, networking opportunities, and more. Interested in starting a business? Our start-up incubator, Launch @Salford, offers expert insight and support.
Business in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester’s dynamic business and digital sectors play host to over 290,000 enterprises, providing you with rich real-world learning opportunities and industry-informed teaching.
Our diverse business collaborations - from start-ups to leading multinationals - drive local and global productivity and growth, positioning Greater Manchester as an internationally renowned business and digital hub.
What about after uni?
FURTHER STUDY
A postgraduate degree is a great option if you want to take your knowledge and skills to the next level. Salford graduates and alumni also receive a significant fees discount.
Learn about our postgraduate courses
EMPLOYMENT
The sector in the UK currently supports over 1,200 jobs and has a gross value added of £111.5 million to the UK economy. The course will dovetail with the world’s 5th largest consumer market for gamers within the UK.
With the demand for highly skilled graduates at an all-time high in the Esports industry, Salford Business School aims to equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary in order for you to gain a rewarding career in Esports. By combining theory with practical learning, this BSc top-up will provide the experience, as well as the industry-recognised qualification for you to be successful in this industry for years to come.
Below are some of the employment opportunities available within the Esports industry:
- Professional Player
- Shoutcaster (caster/host)
- Esports Data Analysist
- Esports Team Manager / Owner
- Tournament Organiser / Event Manager
- Content Creator / Journalist
- Community / Social Media Manager
- Marketing / PR Executive
- Sales and Partnership Manager
- Esports Agent
- Esports production and broadcasting
- Social Media Video Editor
- Brand Manager
Career Links
During the development of the programme, consultations with key industry leaders and business figures including Tom Dore chairman of the British Esports Federation, Kairos Media and Gravity Media have stated that employers would welcome graduates from this course. As such the content and materials delivered will be focused on the findings of industry and geared towards the benefit of your career progression and the broader Eco-system.
This will also enable critical networking opportunities for students with professionals who are working at the cutting edge of the industry and the establishment of long-term relationships as you develop your career pathway.
Applicant Profile
This degree is perfect for those interested in all things Esports. Whether you want to get involved with organising tournaments, have an interest in the tech side of Esports, want to get involved with the business of Esports or even become a professional player, this course will provide you with the practical skills and knowledge to get you there.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
All of our courses are taught and assessed in English, so as an applicant you must meet our minimum English language entry requirements. If you are an international student and not from a majority English speaking country, you will need IELTS 6 with no element below 5.5.
We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take the Pre-Sessional English course, or the International Foundation Year to gain entry onto this degree.
HND Esports Business Management
Applicants must successfully complete the HND Esports Business Management programme prior to enrolment.
Fees
Your tuition fees are regulated by the UK government who has proposed changes to tuition fees for UK students studying in England from 1 August 2025. The fee stated reflects this proposed change, but remains subject to parliamentary approval. Your tuition fees may increase in your first and each subsequent year of your programme to the maximum amount permitted by UK law or regulation for that academic year.
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2025/26 | £9,535.00per year |
| Full-time international | 2025/26 | £15,720.00per year |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
All set?Let's apply
Still have some questions? Register for one of our Open Days or contact us:
By email: enquiries@salford.ac.uk
By phone: +44 (0)161 295 4545
Enrolment dates
UCAS information
Course ID S03
Institution S03