Esports (BTEC) – From Sept 2026

BTEC Level 3 Esports Specification

Introduction

The Pearson BTEC International Level 3 qualifications in Esports are designed for learners in the 16–19 age group, who wish to pursue a career in esports via higher education to access graduate entry employment with businesses, and those who are looking to progress into employment

What do these qualifications cover?

The content of this qualification has been designed to support progression to particular roles in esports, either directly into entry-level roles linked to these occupational areas or, more likely, via particular higher-education routes in the particular areas.

The qualification content has been designed in consultation with employers, professional bodies and higher-education providers to ensure that the content is appropriate for the progression routes identified.

All learners will be required to take mandatory content that is directly relevant to progression routes in all of the identified areas. In addition, learners take optional units that support the progression route identified in the qualification title.

For example, learners taking the qualification as part of a workbased learning qualification for esports could take units such as:

• Live-streamed Broadcasting
• Esports Events.

Learners looking to follow a coaching or teaching route could take units such as:

• Psychology for Esports Performance
• Nutrition for Esports Performance
• Corporate Social Responsibility in Sport.

Additionally, learners could choose units that relate to a number of roles in the sector but which contribute to their understanding of those roles in a vocational context, such as:

• Esports Enterprise Launch
• Customer Immersive Experiences

Course requirements

Five GCSEs at grade 4-9.

How is the course structured?

Mandatory units: There are seven mandatory units, of which four are assessed using a Pearson Set Assignment. Learners must complete and achieve a Pass or above in all mandatory units.

Optional units: Learners must complete four optional units.

Mandatory units:

1 Introduction to Global Esports – set assignment, GLH 60

2 Esports Skills – internal assessment, GLH 60

3 Esports Strategies and Analysis – internal assessment, GLH 60

4 Market Research for Start Up Business – set assignment, GLH 60

5 Enterprise and Entrepreneurship in the Esports Industry – set assignment, GLH 60

6 Health and Wellbeing for Esports Players – set assignment, GLH 60

7 Esports Events – internal assessment, GLH 120

Optional units:

8 Ethical and Current Issues in Esports – set assignment, GLH 60

9 Live-streamed Broadcasting – internal assessment, GLH 60

10 Esports Branding – internal assessment, GLH 60

11 Video Production – internal assessment, GLH 60

12 Games Design – internal assessment, GLH 60

13 Business Applications of Esports in Social Media – internal assessment, GLH 60

14 Shoutcasting – internal assessment, GLH 60

15 Esports Coaching – internal assessment, GLH 60

16 Psychology for Esports Performance – internal assessment, GLH 60

17 Nutrition for Esports Performance – internal assessment, GLH 60

18 Corporate Social Responsibility in Esports – GLH 60

19 Esports Law – internal assessment, GLH 60

20 Esports Enterprise Launch – internal assessment, GLH 60

21 Customer Immersion Experiences – internal assessment, GLH 60

22 Computer Networking – internal assessment, GLH 60