In 2019 the global esports industry was valued at nearly $865 million, and is projected to reach $1.79 billion in 2022. With that amount of financial growth comes job creation. In the UK alone, job vacancies related to the industry grew by 118% last year and vacancy tracking service Hitmarker expects that growth to continue at a steady rate.

At MidKent College we’re excited to be introducing a brand-new qualification to help students gain the skills and experience they need for an exciting career in competitive esports. Which will help them stand out when applying for jobs in this high-growth sector.

The level 3 Extended National Diploma in Esports is a 2-year programme aimed at meeting the upcoming demand for skills in the industry.

By studying Level 3 at MidKent College, students will gain a broad range of transferable skills that will enable them to excel in various roles in the esports industry. Careers could include journalistic analysis, broadcast and production, community management, cyber security, software development, games design, digital engineering and user experience (UX) design.

Our Esports qualification offers a unique opportunity to study a sector that crosses over multiple subject areas such as sport, marketing, business enterprise, IT and the creative industries.

In the first year of the programme, students will focus on getting to grips with the foundations of esports. Through industry sector research projects, current trends and ethical issues that exist together with an insight into career opportunities. Students will also explore health, wellbeing and fitness for esports players. Together with enterprise, entrepreneurship and branding. This is underpinned by skills, strategies and analysis.

A summer project will link year 1 and 2 and will be followed by studies in psychology and coaching.

During year 2, students will design, market, film, stream and host a live event resulting in an end of year showcase which takes place in our state-of-the-art theatre to fellow students, parents and guests.

Extra-curricular activities will involve setting up and participation in a College-wide Esports Association, the MidKent Mariners, with regular meetings and participation in local and national esports tournaments and competitions.

Specifically, you will study the following units:
Year 1

• Introduction to Esports
  
• Ethical and Current Issues in Esports
  
• Health, wellbeing and Fitness for Esports Players
  
• Nutrition for Esports Performance
  
• Esports Skills, Strategies and Analysis
  
• Producing an Esports Brand
  *Enterprise and Entrepreneurship in the Industry
  
• Social Media (summer project)
  Year 2
  
• Social Media
  
• Psychology for Esports Performance
  
• Esports Coaching
  Final Year Project
  
• Esports Events
  
• Live-Streamed Broadcasting
  
• Video Production
  
• Shoutcasting
  
• Customer Immersion Experiences