Manchester City Esports Academy Level 3

If you’re serious about building a career in esports, gaming or the digital and creative industries, the Oldham College Esports Academy Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Esports, delivered in partnership with City in the Community and Manchester City Esports, could be for you. This two-year programme is designed to develop your technical, creative and professional skills.

You will explore the many different career opportunities within the esports industry, from competitive gaming and coaching to broadcasting, content creation, events, business and games design.

Across the two years, you will study topics including:

• The Esports Industry - understand how the professional esports industry operates and the organisations involved
• Esports Skills, Strategies and Analysis - develop competitive skills and explore performance analysis and strategy
• Esports Enterprise and Entrepreneurship - explore how esports businesses and organisations are developed and managed
• Health and Wellbeing for Esports Athletes - understand how physical health, fitness and wellbeing can support esports performance
• Producing an Esports Brand - develop your own esports brand and explore branding, promotion and audience engagement
• Shoutcasting - develop the skills required to commentate and present competitive esports
• Nutrition for Esports Athletes - explore the importance of nutrition and healthy lifestyles for esports performance
• Esports Events - plan, organise and deliver esports events
• Live-Streamed Broadcasting - develop skills in live broadcasting and streaming esports content
• Video Production - create and develop professional esports video content
• Games Design - explore the processes involved in designing and developing games
• Social Media and Business - understand how social media is used to promote esports organisations and businesses
• Esports Coaching - develop coaching skills and explore how to support player and team development
• Esports Psychology - explore the psychological factors that can influence performance
• Ethical Issues in Esports - examine important ethical and professional issues affecting the industry.

As part of the Oldham College Esports Academy, you will have opportunities to put your learning into practice through competitive esports, live events, broadcasting, content creation, coaching, analysis and industry-style projects.

Our partnership with City in the Community and Manchester City Esports provides opportunities to gain valuable insight into professional esports and the wider industry. You will also benefit from our links with Williams Esports and other industry organisations.

Throughout the two years, you may have opportunities to take part in trips, visits and experiences such as to DreamHack, City Football Academy, Williams Esports, esports teams, universities and the National Esports Performance Centre. Opportunities will vary throughout the programme. 

You will complete 35 hours of work experience as part of your study programme, giving you the opportunity to develop your professional skills and gain experience in a real working environment.

You will also have opportunities to work on industry-style projects and live briefs, helping you build a portfolio of work that demonstrates your skills to future employers or education providers.

This course is assessed through a combination of coursework, practical projects, presentations, industry-specific assessments and demonstrations of professional skills.

Lessons can include:

• Competitive esports and performance analysis
• Esports coaching and team development
• Live events and tournament organisation
• Streaming and broadcasting
• Shoutcasting and presenting
• Video and content production
• Games design
• Social media and digital marketing
• Enterprise and business projects
• Research and written assignments
• Industry-style projects and live briefs
• Employer and industry engagement.

You will be expected to become increasingly independent and professional as you progress through the course.

The course focuses on learning by doing, giving you opportunities to apply your knowledge to realistic industry situations and develop work that can contribute towards your portfolio.

You will receive regular feedback from tutors and industry professionals where appropriate, helping you improve your skills and prepare for your next step.

The Oldham College Esports Academy Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Esports can prepare you for progression into employment, higher education or further specialist training across the esports, gaming, digital media and creative industries.

Esports is a rapidly developing industry with a wide range of careers both in front of and behind the screen. Your skills and experience could support progression towards roles such as:

• Professional Esports Player
• Esports Coach or Performance Analyst
• Team Manager
• Tournament or Event Manager
• Shoutcaster, Commentator or Host
• Streamer and Content Creator
• Video Producer or Editor
• Social Media and Community Manager
• Digital Marketing
• Broadcasting and Production
• Games Designer or Games Tester
• Esports Business and Enterprise
• Project Management.

Successful completion of the Level 3 Extended Diploma can also provide a pathway into higher education.

At Oldham College, successful Esports Level 3 students can progress onto the HNC and HND in Esports at University Campus Oldham, allowing you to continue developing your knowledge and skills at a higher level without having to leave the college environment.

You could also progress to university or other higher education courses in areas such as:

• Esports and Esports Management
• Games Design and Development
• Digital Media
• Broadcasting and Media Production
• Business and Marketing
• Computing and IT
• Creative Media
• Sports and Esports Management.

Individual higher education courses may have specific entry requirements.

Whether your ambition is to compete, coach, analyse, broadcast, create content, run events, design games or work in the business side of esports, the Oldham College Esports Academy can help you develop the skills and experience to move towards your chosen career.

Through our partnership with City in the Community and Manchester City Esports, alongside our wider industry links, you’ll gain valuable insight into the professional esports environment.

By the end of the two years, you will have developed your technical, creative, communication, teamwork and professional skills, with opportunities to progress into employment, the HNC or HND in Esports, university or further specialist training.