The scheme will be available to students enrolling in 2019.

A London university is launching what it claims to be the UK’s first scholarship for students who showcase skills in eSports.

The University of Roehampton has announced that like its other sports scholarships, it will now offer scholarships to those who demonstrate aptitude in the field of competitive gaming.

The new scheme, which will become part of the university’s Sport Roehampton scholarships programme, will be offered to 10 students enrolling in 2019, with applications expected from September this year.

eSports is the activity of competitive video gaming and has grown exponentially in recent years, with well-known games such as Call of Duty now hosting live competitions in sold-out arenas for multi-million-pound prizes.

(Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Mark Ellul, the university’s registrar said: “This scholarship is about recognising talent in a field that has a growing popularity both around the world and among our students.

“The University of Roehampton already has a successful sports programme, underpinned by financial and coaching support for students who excel in their chosen field, and this new scholarship is a natural progression from that as we seek to develop our wider offering in eSports.”

The university currently has a gaming society and said it has plans to create an eSports team next year.

The scholarship will be worth £1,500 a year and will support a student on any course, at any level, undergraduate or postgraduate within the university.

Students who apply for Roehampton’s scheme will also be required to show their commitment to eSports alongside the academic programme, the university said.