Student Champs Support

The Student Champs is the UK’s largest amateur grassroots esports tournament, designed by British Esports for students aged 12+ and open to all Secondary Schools, Further Education (FE) Colleges and Alternative Provision (AP) Schools throughout the UK.  

Engaging a wide demographic of young people, this extracurricular team-based activity helps students develop key transferable skills such as critical thinking and analysis, resilience, tolerance, flexibility, complex problem solving, digital literacy, social emotional learning (SEL) and much more!

Competing in the Student Champ provides students with the opportunity to master their aptitude for competitive play or get hands-on in a variety of creative roles broadcast, production, marketing, shoutcasting, coaching and more.

First established in 2016, The Student Champs continues to help provide an avenue to motivate and inspire students and has featured in excess of 5,000 players and 700 teams throughout its history.

For more information on the Student Champs, visit the Student Champs.

The entry fee for the British Esports Student Champs is £60 (inc VAT) per Champs academic year, plus a £12 (inc VAT) administration fee (per team entered). 

There is no limit to the number of teams that a school or college can enter into the Open.

There is an entry limit of one team per school or college for the Nationals.  

There is no requirement to pay additional fees for entering both Winter and Spring splits.

There is no fee attached to individual player participation.

Please note, the entry fee is non-refundable.

Visit Terms and Conditions.

We do not provide schools, colleges, players, teams or any other participants with keys or codes to purchase any games featured in the British Esports Student Champs.

Access to the games featured in the British Esports Student Champs, specifically those you wish to participate in, will be required prior to the start of the competition.

To participate in the Student Champs, players must be aged 12+ and registered to a school or college that is eligible to play in the Student Champs.  Players must be registered full-time, or part-time at their school or college and study a minimum of 4 hours a week.  Players studying online are also eligible to participate. 

For more information on the Student Champs, visit the Student Champs.

The Student Champs is open to all students aged 12+ at secondary schools, Further Education (FE) colleges and Alternative Provision (AP) schools throughout the UK. 

Entry criteria for the Student Champs requires schools and colleges to be registered with the Department for Education or Education Scotland, or Colleges Scotland.  A school or college must be able to provide a unique reference number if requested and accredited to deliver RQF Level 2 and/or Level 3 (SCQF Level 5 and/or Level 6) qualifications.

For more information on the Student Champs, visit the Student Champs.

There are many benefits to participating in the British Esports Student Champs, especially when in conjunction with a national qualification such as the BTEC in Esports.

Through participating as a player, students are exposed to high-end competitive gaming, featuring some of the best student talent from across the UK.

Through participating in one of many support roles, students are gaining valuable hands-on experience and transferable skills that will attract future employers.

Students participating in esports typically study a range of other related academic subjects such as Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Creative Media, Sport and Games Development.

Here are just some of the many benefits that participation includes:

• Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving
• Leadership and Communication
• Social Awareness and Empathy 
• Creativity and Originality
• Decision Making and Dexterity
• Multitasking and Concentration
• Digital Literacy and Cognitive Skills
• Perseverance and Resilience
• Cross Curricular Engagement and Improved Attendance
• Healthy Gaming Habits and Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Furthermore, students involved in the British Esports Student Champs can use their participation towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award as part of their Skills Activity.

For more information, visit the Student Champs.

We broadcast our Student Champs fixtures and coverage of major events including the Commonwealth Esports Championships, the Global Esports Games, and other IOC and EOC sanctioned esports events.

Subscribe to Twitch or YouTube to stay up to date with all the latest streams, broadcast and other video content.

You can also catch all of the latest action via Watch.

We actively encourage practicing for the British Esports Student Champs in your spare time, however, we strongly advise that this is considered in moderation, similar to any other passion, hobby, or sport.

A balanced lifestyle, healthy diet, regular exercise and positive mental well-being are all critical components of being successful, in any capacity. 

We recommend that teachers also allow students time to practice throughout the academic day, during lunch breaks, or even after school.  This will allow students to bond as a team and develop well rehearsed strategies in their game of choice.

We strongly advise that teachers or appropriate adults are able to supervise any practice sessions.

We strongly advise that all participants competing in the British Esports Student Champs do so from the supervision of their classroom or esports centre. 

However, special dispensation can be afforded to students who are unable to do so.

*This should not have any impact on the scheduled playing time of fixtures.

The British Esports Student Champs take place throughout the academic year, with registrations kicking off in September. 

All registrations must be complete by September 30th.  No exceptions will be made to late submissions.

Winter fixtures take place throughout the months of October, November and December.

Spring fixtures take place throughout the months of January, February and March.

Fixtures take place on a regular weekly basis, with the main tournaments taking place every Wednesday (League of Legends, Overwatch 2, Rocket League, and VALORANT *aged 16+ only), starting at 4pm (GMT).

Other selected tournaments take place on Tuesdays (Fifa 23 & Street Fighter VI) and Thursdays (Apex Legends), starting at 4pm (GMT). 

All participants should be ready and able to play by 4pm (GMT).

The British Esports Student Champs LAN Finals, typically played on a live stage in front of an audience, take place in April.

On occasion teams will be permitted to reschedule their fixtures, depending on the tournament format.  However, this rescheduled fixture must take place within the same week as the original fixture, and is at the discretion of the opponents, as both teams must agree.

For more information, please read our Student Champs Handbook.

The entry fee for the British Esports Student Champs is £60 (inc VAT) per Champs academic year, plus a £12 (inc VAT) administration fee (per team entered). 

There may be a requirement for your school or college to purchase additional IT equipment (hardware that supports specific games, peripherals such as headsets, comfortable chairs to aid with posture etc).

We strongly recommend leveraging existing infrastructure (such as an IT classroom) and liaising with other stakeholders throughout your institution to ensure your equipment, facilities, and safeguarding protocols are fit for purpose.