DipHE Esports Enterprice and Management - Jessica Sharp-Burnett

We spoke to Jess to find out what it is like to study Esports Business Management at The University of Salford, and what advice there is to anyone who wants to take a similar career trajectory.

Hi, I'm Jess, a mature student studying Esports Business Management at The University of Salford. I have worked across several industries over the last 11 years, but now I have come to Salford to begin an alternate career path. 

What made you want to pursue a programme in this area?

In early 2025, I wanted a fresh start and to begin a new career pathway. So, I started looking at my options and where my strengths aligned with industry roles. I originally applied for a course in Event Management in the music industry elsewhere and was offered a place for 2027. Then, one night, while watching a Sideman video, KSI walks into a university and says, "I want to study YouTube." The staff member responded, "We don't have anything on YouTube, but we do have Esports Business Management courses". This is the first time I have ever experienced the so-called "light bulb" moment. This wasn't a course available when I was leaving school or college, so I never imagined it would be possible to study. Finding out about this at 28 was crazy news.

I religiously watch VCT (Valorant Champions Tour) and have a massive love for gaming. So, I decided to do some research into the available courses and the career pathways that would lead from them. The course at The University of Salford is centred on running events and understanding the Esports Ecosystem, not just what I was interested in. While browsing, I came across a pop-up ad stating that the course was available through clearing. I applied, and a month later, I secured my place!

Why did you choose to study at The University of Salford?

The main reason I chose Salford was proximity. I live in Oldham, which is only a Bus and Tram ride away. My sister studied Nursing here and had an amazing experience, which was a great selling point.

How has your programme been so far?

Incredible! I lost faith in the education system as a teenager and was extremely cautious about returning to education after so many years out. However, the lecturers, staff, and students at the University of Salford have been paramount to my journey so far. 

The support has been tremendous, and the course content is far more engaging and practical. I now have experience in public speaking through presentations, in writing reports on ethics, broadcast technologies, and the technological side of game development and content creation.

What's one of the best things about your programme?

The Lab. Anyone in my course would probably say the same. Having access to a state-of-the-art gaming and streaming suite is a plus. Additionally, the course content. My favourite so far has been the one I thought I would enjoy the least: Ethics & Integrity. Ryan, my lecturer, has a great approach to making this engaging and interesting.

What is the support like from your tutors?

Incredible! My APT support has been phenomenal so far. Any questions I have are answered clearly, and they are very patient.

What are your plans following completion of the programme?

I would like to work with Riot Games, the video game developer, or Fnatic, the Esports organisation. My dream is to run my own organisation with multiple teams within Overwatch, Valorant, League of Legends and CS:GO.

What would you say to someone else looking to study the programme?

Do it! Of course, investigate all outcomes and consider all options, but during my time here, I have had an amazing experience studying and trying new things. I have enjoyed taking part in events within the course itself and those run by students and faculty.

Find out more about studying DipHE Esports Enterprise and Management