West Suffolk College
UCAS Code: P009 | Higher National Diploma - HND
Entry requirements
A level
Access to HE Diploma
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
UCAS Tariff
About this course
This Higher Education Esports course provides a seamless progression pathway for Level 3 Esports students and offers new opportunities for Access to Higher Education learners, particularly those interested in broadcasting and content creation.
Designed to meet the growing demands of the esports industry, the course develops key skills such as event management, creative broadcasting, branding and sponsorship, content creation, and on air talent.
Students will benefit from hands on learning in the college’s state of the art XR Lab, a facility purpose built for esports, where they will gain experience using industry standard tools and software.
The course emphasises real world application, with opportunities to organise grassroots esports tournaments involving local schools and the wider community. Graduates will be well prepared for roles such as event managers, broadcast producers, content creators, and presenters, with skills that are also transferable to related industries like media production and digital marketing.
With a strong focus on employability, professional networking, and practical experience, this course equips students with the knowledge and confidence to excel in the rapidly growing esports sector.
Modules
Level 4 (Year 1)
Unit 401 – Esports Ecosystem - This unit explores the rapidly growing esports industry, its key stakeholders, career opportunities, structural challenges, and governance issues, enabling students to analyse the ecosystem, future developments, and formulate strategic career plans.
Unit 402 – Skills and Tactics Analysis
This unit equips students with the knowledge and skills to analyse and enhance individual and team performance in esports through gameplay evaluation, fostering critical thinking, adaptability, and evidence-based strategies essential for roles like athletes, coaches, or performance analysts in the evolving esports industry.
Unit 403 – Event Planning and Delivery
Plan, budget, deliver, and evaluate engaging esports events, equipping them with organisational, administrative, and financial skills relevant to careers in event planning and management.
Unit 404 – Planning an Esports Project
Pearson-set project required, enabling you analyse esports industry drivers and propose evidence-based solutions to business-focused challenges.
Unit 408 – Audio-Visual Production
Enabling them to enhance audience experiences, meet industry demands, and prepare for dynamic roles in esports event production.
Unit 409 – Streaming and Broadcasting
Mastering platforms, workflows, audience interaction, and technical setups, preparing them for roles in creating engaging, high-quality, and interactive content for a global audience.
Unit 410 – On-Air Talent
Developing performance, voice mastery, storytelling, and collaborative skills for roles in esports talent teams, equipping them with communication and analysis expertise applicable to casting, hosting, and various professional fields.
Unit 406 – Branding and Sponsorship
Focusing on creating distinctive brand identities, forming effective sponsorships, analysing target audiences, and using data-driven methods to evaluate and enhance the impact and ROI of branding strategies in the esports industry.
Level 5 (Year 2)
Unit 501: Professional Development
Creating personal development plans, develop management skills, and learn the importance of continuing professional development (CPD).
Unit 502: Esports Research Project
Selecting research topics, explore methodologies, and present findings to stakeholders, addressing real-world esports challenges. Assessed through a Pearson-set assignment.
Unit 506: Content Creation
A key driver of audience engagement and digital marketing. Exploring existing esports content and how it increases public engagement, develop media content plans, and create campaign content in video, visual, and audio formats.
Unit 507: Set Design
Designing in creating immersive and engaging esports experiences. Exploring design principles, branding, 3D modelling, and the integration of lighting, audio, and video systems. Emphasising sustainability, augmented reality (AR), and interactivity to enhance viewer engagement while considering environmental practices.
Unit 508: Creative Direction and Narratives
This unit focuses on the role of narrative in esports media products, exploring how engaging stories captivate target audiences. Students will study different types of narratives and theoretical concepts to create original concepts for media products such as videos, documentaries, or broadcasts.
Unit 512: Emerging Technologies
This unit explores the impact of emerging technologies, such as VR, AR, AI, and cloud-based solutions, on the esports industry. Examining how these advancements enhance gameplay, audience engagement, and business models while considering trends, benefits, risks, and ethical implications.
Unit 504: Social Media Managment
Focus on social media management in the esports industry, highlighting its role in audience engagement, brand growth, and sponsorship opportunities. Creating and execute content strategies, analyse emerging platforms, curate diverse content, and use metrics to measure performance.
Assessment methods
Projects, Report, Portfolio, Review, Reflection, Action Research.
Students enrolled in this programme are required to gain a work placement in the sector to support the completion of projects in both year one and year two. While students are encouraged to secure their own placements, West Suffolk College offers support and guidance if needed to help them find suitable opportunities within the industry.
Tuition fees
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University Studies and Professional Development Centre
Creative Technologies
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