Manchester University has partnered with South Korean esports organisation Gen.G Esports to join its Practicum Abroad programme.
The collegiate programme offers a three-week course abroad for students to learn about the esports ecosystem in Seoul, South Korea.
“This is our most ambitious programme since the launch of our Gen.G Practicum Abroad program,” said Arnold Hur, CEO of Gen.G. “Bringing together some of the best universities in the country to expand their educational programs on campus.
“The students will be fully immersed in Korea with hands-on experiences to give them a 360-degree view of the esports industry.”
The Practicum Abroad programme allows students to gain hands-on experience with esports. Individuals will gain insights from professionals, partake in lectures and Q&A sessions with Gen.G leadership, and visit historical sites in South Korea. Furthermore, there will be custom esports programming and professional networking.
“We are incredibly excited to partner with such an amazing esports organisation like Gen.G to provide our students here at Manchester with an amazing opportunity to travel to Seoul and learn the esports industry from the best in the business,” added Garrett Schieferstein, Director of Esports at Manchester University.
“This travel abroad experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn more about esports on a global scale and experience South Korean esports/culture.”
According to the official site, a single student can also sign up for the programme for $5,450 (~£4,056), and must be enrolled in a 4-year US or international accredited university from 2024/2025 or 2025/2026.
Universitys and Esports in 2025
In 2025, esports has become more integrated within Universities, either through collegiate tournaments or specialised programmes.
Back in August, the University of Limerick announced a collaboration with peripheral giant, Logitech, through a €2.5m (~£2.15m) research project to gather data on gamers habits.
Various universities, such as Middle Tennessee State University, have opened up esports concentrations on its campuses to teach students about the competitive gaming scene. Others, like the University of Suffolk, have gone as far as sharing plans for upcoming esports facilities.
