Law student Julia Cwierz gets cash to support her computer gaming
Picture: @JuliaCwierz
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The University of Roehampton has given out the first award as part of its scholarship programme for computer gaming.
Law student Julia Cwierz is to receive a bursary of £1,500 a year to go towards gaming expenses and computer equipment.
She is currently a Diamond tier player in the League of Legends a multiplayer online battle arena game . Her intention is not to become a professional gamer but the grant will allow her to improve her skills.
In what is believed to be the first scheme in the UK for eSports or competitive video gaming, the money will be on offer to ten students starting their studies.
eSports have seen exponential growth over the last decade which has seen the emergence of professional players in multiplayer online battle games. Games played include Call of Duty and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. eSports are particularly popular in South Korea where professionalism first emerged but current estimates are predicting a global audience of over 400 million.
The University already offers scholarships for more traditional sports and this award is part of the Sport Roehampton scholarships programme. There is already a university gaming society and there are plans to create an eSports team.
I am thrilled to be the first person in the UK to have been granted a Roehampton eSports scholarship!
— Julia Cwierz (@JuliaCwierz) January 11, 2019
ESports is a form of competition using video games and it is a significant factor in the video game industry which is actively developed. #RoehamptonUniversity #eSports pic.twitter.com/uyeXSlF9pT
Mark Ellul, the university’s registrar said when originally announcing the award, “This scholarship is about recognising talent in a field that has a growing popularity both around the world and among our students.
“The University of Roehampton already has a successful sports programme, underpinned by financial and coaching support for students who excel in their chosen field, and this new scholarship is a natural progression from that as we seek to develop our wider offering in eSports.”
The scholarship was open to students on any course, undergraduate or postgraduate within the university who showed a commitment to eSports alongside their academic studies.
January 18, 2019
