Playing on the computer in exchange for 2,000 pounds: the surprising scholarship of a London university
The University of Roehampton in the UK provides scholarships to students who excel in competitive video games, and has already distributed more than 100 of them. While the average graduate debt in England exceeds the 47,500 pound mark, experts warn that millions of pounds in scholarships remain unclaimed each year, partly due to students' lack of awareness of their eligibility.
The University of Roehampton in the UK provides scholarships to students who excel in competitive video games (Esports). While the average graduate debt in England exceeds the 47,500 pound mark (192 thousand shekels), scholarships worth millions of pounds remain unclaimed according to financial advisory bodies - mainly because many are unaware of their existence and eligibility. Now this new scholarship is gaining momentum, with more than a hundred already distributed. It is not child's play: this is how competitive gaming became an economic empire. The university initially offered 1,500 pounds (about 6,000 shekels), but the amount was later increased to 2,000 pounds (about 8,000 shekels) - as reported by the BBC. The scholarship is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students, and one of the conditions is, of course, academic excellence and achievements in video games.
"The scholarship is intended to recognize talent in a field that is gaining popularity both around the world and among our students," said Mark Ellul, Registrar of the University of Roehampton.
Competitive gaming or esports is an industry that regulates competitions between teams or individuals who specialize in a particular game - it could be the football game FC, shooters like Call of Duty or Counter Strike, or other fighting games - and they compete against each other at the highest levels. It is an industry that is gaining momentum in the world and brings in billions every year. The total prize pool, for example, at the 2024 League of Legends World Championship was 2.23 million dollars. Scholarship recipients are required to compete in weekly university tournaments, as well as represent the university at official events. Roehampton requires minimum rankings in major games to receive the scholarship, but also reviews the applications of candidates close to the threshold, provided they meet other criteria - such as a large number of followers on streaming platforms like Twitch.
Cameron Dray, who previously received an esports scholarship, discovered Roehampton through the scholarship advertisement. Inspired by similar initiatives at American universities, he checked if something similar existed in the UK.
"This money was critical for me. It allowed me to study in a very expensive city without having to work part-time," Dray told the BBC. He added that "there were accompanying requirements for the scholarship, but none of them surprised me or were not transparent at the time of application."
