The University of Roehampton is offering esports scholarships worth up to £2,000 to students who can balance competitive video gaming with their academic studies, with more than 100 awarded so far. The initiative highlights a wider problem in UK higher education: millions of pounds in scholarships and bursaries go unclaimed each year because students are unaware such funding exists, at a time when the average English graduate leaves university with debts exceeding £47,500.

Scholars must compete in weekly university tournaments and represent Roehampton at in-person esports events, with the university setting minimum game rankings for eligibility, though it will consider applicants close to that threshold who have other strengths, such as large streaming followings. The scholarship began at £1,500 before rising to £2,000 following the team's improved performance and growing popularity; former recipient Cameron Dray said the money let him study in an expensive city without needing a part-time job. Student finance experts, including Tom Allingham of Save the Student, say awareness of such funding remains low and encourage students to actively seek out scholarships and bursaries.