Why students are being paid £2,000 to play computer games

Explosive growth in esports popularity has led to the University of Roehampton offering lucrative scholarships to talented students who can excel both academically and in competitive video gaming. The esports scholarship, now worth £2,000 per recipient, is designed to recognize and support students who can balance their studies with esports excellence.

Roehampton's esports coordinator Pedro Aguiar explains that scholars are expected to compete in weekly university tournaments and represent the university at in-person events. To qualify, applicants must meet minimum rankings in major games or have large followings on streaming platforms like Twitch. Former esports scholar Cameron Dray attributes his ability to study in an expensive city to the scholarship, which helped him avoid the need for part-time work.

He encourages other students to take advantage of all financial opportunities available to them, as many funds remain unclaimed due to a lack of awareness. Esports player Tom Allingham, nicknamed Pac, believes scholarships that allow students to pursue gaming alongside their academic pursuits reduce financial stress and motivate them to excel in both areas.

However, student money expert Tom Allingham notes there is insufficient awareness about existing scholarships, leading to a significant amount of unclaimed funding.