Roehampton Offers £2,000 Esports Scholarship for University Students

The University of Roehampton has launched an esports scholarship program that offers students up to £2,000 to support their education while competing in competitive video gaming. As families prepare for the new academic year and rising university costs, unclaimed scholarships and bursaries remain a persistent issue across the UK. Roehampton’s initiative stands out by recognizing both academic achievement and gaming talent.

The University of Roehampton’s esports scholarship targets undergraduate and postgraduate students who demonstrate excellence in competitive gaming, particularly in titles like *Overwatch* and *Trackmania*. To qualify, applicants must meet minimum rankings in major esports titles or show strong influence on streaming platforms such as Twitch. Selected scholars are expected to compete in weekly university tournaments and represent Roehampton at in-person esports events.

Pedro Aguiar, the university’s esports coordinator, explained that the scholarship aims to acknowledge growing interest in competitive gaming among students. “This scholarship is about recognising talent in a field that has a growing popularity both around the world and among our students,” he said.

The financial support can be crucial for students in expensive cities like London. Former scholar Cameron Dray received £2,000, which helped him focus on his studies without needing part-time work. “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 said. Dray encouraged students to explore all available funding opportunities, noting that many scholarships go unclaimed due to lack of awareness.

Esports player Thomas Cole, known as Pac, praised universities offering unique scholarships like Roehampton’s. “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,” he said.

Despite the benefits, awareness remains a challenge. Tom Allingham, a student money expert from Save the Student, highlighted that many students miss out on funding simply because they aren’t aware it exists. “There is a lot of funding that goes unclaimed because students don’t know that they’re eligible for it,” he said. Save the Student actively promotes available scholarships to help students reduce financial stress.

With graduate debt in England averaging over £47,500, programs like Roehampton’s esports scholarship offer meaningful support. The university has already awarded more than 100 scholarships, and similar initiatives may grow as esports continues to gain recognition in higher education.

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