What Prospective Students Want, Esports Sector Needs, and Academia Сan('t) Provide
In 2020-2021, despite the overall repercussions caused by the pandemic, the esports and gaming industry witnessed unprecedented growth, expanding in all directions, human resources being no exception. This growth has highlighted the need for specialised workforce training and skill development like never before. News on the launchings of new programs in universities and colleges across the globe poured in with remarkable regularity, and everyone seemed to discuss the significance of esports in education and education in esports.

Everything changed in 2023, when the overall post-COVID drop impacted the gaming industry and led to the beginning of the "esports winter". Along with the tech giants, esports businesses had to lay off their staff, disband squads, consider delisting, and shut down. And yet, the number of esports degree programs continues to grow, most of them being bachelor's degrees in esports business, administration, and management. In the current state of play, we started to wonder:
To find answers to these questions, we talked to C-level and HR representatives from the leading esports organisations and commissioned a survey, conducted by the market research company OnePoll, of esports fans aged 16-19 y.o. from Brazil, France, Germany, the UK and the U.S. on their vision of esports-related higher education programmes.
This online survey of 1,000 people aged between 16 and 19 years old interested in esports (200 each in Brazil, France, Germany, UK, US) was commissioned by ex corp. and conducted by the market research company OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society's code of conduct. The survey was conducted online using panel members who are credited to participate in surveys. Respondents were targeted using screening questions and profile data in order to ensure the correct demographic was achieved. This survey was overseen and edited by the OnePoll research team. OnePoll are MRS Company Partners, corporate membership of ESOMAR and Members of the British Polling Council.
This is a condensed version of our research findings. For more details and insights, please
download the full report.
Both who has written the course
& modules, and who is teaching the courses are the big questions, and the latter is a key problem and challenge
in the space.
— Sam Cooke, Managing Director and
Co-Founder at Esports Insider
03
44% of the survey respondents said that they were likely to consider pursuing a degree in an esports-related field.
04
Currently, there is no consensus about the feasibility and academic and practical value of esports degree programs. Esports degrees can be useful as an entry point to the field and a source of transferable skills. However, concerns have been raised about the lack of specialised knowledge taught in these programs and the qualifications of staff, questioning the value of these degrees for the industry. A deeper dive into the current discussion.
02
For bachelor's programs, the average cost is $25,727 per year in the U.S., $10,285 per year in other countries. For master's programs, $27,660 per year in the U.S., and $9,211 per year in other countries.
The cost of education is listed separately for the U.S. and rest of the world since the former has significantly higher figures, which do not allow for a representative average.
01
There are 70+ bachelor's (56) and master's (17) degree programs in esports available in Europe, North America, and Asia, with 36 of them based in the U.S. and 18 in
the UK.
As of May 2023. Our main focus is on generic esports degrees. Thus, included are primarily generic bachelor's (3-4 years) and master's (1-2 years) degrees with the having mentions of "esports", "business", "management", "administration", "communication", and "marketing" in their titles. We excluded degree programs, whose titles contain the words "coaching", "performance", "production", "event", "broadcasting", etc., which are more specific, don't have direct analogies with long-established degree programs, and therefore, have a more precise application to the esports field.
01
55% of respondents think that having an esports-related degree will enhance their chances of employment in the esports field. 69% believe that having an esports-related degree would be valuable to employers in the future.
02
In the esports industry, recruiters usually look for a combination of skills, experience, achievements, previous workplaces, esports knowledge, and educational background. Education is not the most important consideration. When it does matter, academic institutions with a solid reputation are given more weight depending on the role being applied for. Also, seeking for master's level programs may be more beneficial in terms of hiring prospects.
03
45% said that a passion for esports is important when deciding to pursue a degree in an esport-related field. This was followed by: Higher earning potential (39%), Career opportunities (37%), and Influence of role models/ successful figures in esports (29%).
04
Some esports organisations already have a few employees holding bachelor's level esports-related degrees, both as interns and as regular staff. Yet, these people were hired for a variety of reasons, with their education having secondary importance. However, recruiters believe that mentioning an esports degree in one's CV is beneficial as it shows commitment, especially for newcomers passionate about esports. Have a closer look at the industry's expectations.
01
55% of respondents think that having an esports-related degree will enhance their chances of employment in the esports field. 69% believe that having an esports-related degree would be valuable to employers in the future.
02
In the esports industry, recruiters usually look for a combination of skills, experience, achievements, previous workplaces, esports knowledge, and educational background. Education is not the most important consideration. When it does matter, academic institutions with a solid reputation are given more weight depending on the role being applied for. Also, seeking for master's level programs may be more beneficial in terms of hiring prospects.
03
45% said that a passion for esports is important when deciding to pursue a degree in an esport-related field. This was followed by: Higher earning potential (39%), Career opportunities (37%), and Influence of role models/ successful figures in esports (29%).
04
Some esports organisations already have a few employees holding bachelor's level esports-related degrees, both as interns and as regular staff. Yet, these people were hired for a variety of reasons, with their education having secondary importance. However, recruiters believe that mentioning an esports degree in one's CV is beneficial as it shows commitment, especially for newcomers passionate about esports. Have a closer look at the industry's expectations.
“If I were asked by the students what is the best way to enter esports, I probably would never answer "do an esports degree". I will most likely say, "Do the best degree you can in your biggest skill so you can become a world-class professional in your area".”
— Alban Dechelotte, CEO at G2 Esports
“The educational program is incredibly helpful in providing students with a better understanding of the esports business landscape and ecosystem. … If the student develops an extensive understanding of our space and can apply their insights from the program and additional work experiences related to the field, it can be a significant advantage and a win for the entire esports industry.”
— Khalilah El-Amin, VP, People & Culture at Team Liquid
01
42% of respondents think they are likely to work in the esports industry in the future in the following areas: Health and wellness (29%), Entertainment and broadcasting (25%), Education (24%), Players’ management (incl. coaching) (23%), and Business and administration (20%).
02
Esports is still a very young industry, and its job market demand is uncertain, industry experts say. There are concerns regarding the lack of opportunities for future graduates of esports degree programs to find jobs within the industry.
03
Industry experts recommend becoming a general professional expert first, to specialise in esports later. Moreover, interviewees have pointed out that the lack of professionals with specialised knowledge in one of the esports fields is currently a problem. This issue can be addressed by providing proper professional training within educational institutions. More insights on what to do to have a good start in the industry.
It appears to me that if a person has already decided to apply to this program and learned something, even if the information is not very relevant because it is not taught by the right instructors, it at least demonstrates the person's proactivity and willingness to develop in this direction. So, it's a good signal to take a closer look at a person, and it certainly increases their chances of being hired.
— Oleksii Kucherov, COO at Natus Vincere
What do you consider important when deciding to pursue a degree in esports-related fields?
Passion for esports
High earning potential
Career opportunities
in the esports industry
Influence of the role models or successful figures in esports
Recommendations
from parents/
teachers/counsellors
45% said that a passion for esports is important when deciding to pursue a degree in an esport-related field. This was followed by: Higher earning potential (39%), Career opportunities (37%), and Influence of role models/ successful figures in esports (29%), with respondents from the U.S. leading in these answers (53%, 47%, 38% respectively) compared with respondents from France (26%, 27%, 33% respectively).
© OnePoll [2023]; base n = 1000
Recommendations
from parents
/teachers
/counsellors
Compelling promotion campaign of the educational institution
0
100
200
300
400
500
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