University Pays Students £2,000 to Play Video Games. Yes, Really.

Forget student loans and ramen noodles. At the University of Roehampton, you can snag a £2,000 scholarship just for being really, really good at video games. Because apparently, that's where we are now, and honestly, it makes a certain kind of sense.

This isn't just about blowing off steam between lectures. We're talking esports — competitive video gaming with an audience, much like, well, actual sports. And Roehampton is leaning into it, offering these scholarships to both undergrads and postgrads who can balance their studies with serious gaming prowess.

Get Paid to Game

Mark Ellul, the university's registrar, put it simply: esports is huge, globally and among their students. So, why not recognize that talent? Scholars are expected to compete in weekly university tournaments and represent the school at in-person events. They need to hit minimum rankings in major games, but if you're close and have a massive following on Twitch, they'll still give you a look. Because influence, darling, is everything.

Cameron Dray, a former esports scholar, found Roehampton through this very program, inspired by similar setups in the U.S. The scholarship started at £1,500 and jumped to £2,000 thanks to the team's success. Dray credits the cash with allowing him to study in an expensive city without needing a soul-crushing part-time job. Let that sink in: gaming paid his way.

The Unclaimed Cash Pile

Dray's a big believer that students are leaving money on the table. He urges everyone to hunt for scholarships and bursaries, noting that too many don't realize they qualify. Considering the average English graduate walks away with over £47,500 in debt, a few grand for playing Trackmania (shout out to player Pac, who specializes in it) sounds pretty good.

Thomas Cole, aka Pac, thinks these unique scholarships actually motivate students by taking some of the financial sting out of university life. He wishes he'd had such an opportunity. Tom Allingham, a student money expert from Save the Student, backs this up, emphasizing that tons of funding goes unclaimed every year for all sorts of reasons.

So, next time someone tells you to get off the computer, just tell them you're training. For your scholarship. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying for the future of higher education.