Charles Thompson
Study Type: School Leaver Vocational
Study Location: Joseph Wright Centre
Subject Studied: Games Design and Esports
Games design course at DCG leads Charles to world’s first dedicated esports HE college
Former Derby College Group student Charles Thompson is on a BA Honours degree in games design at the College of Esports, the world’s first university-level institution dedicated to the business of esports.
He is in his first year at the specialist college – based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford – and he’s enjoying every minute.
Charles, 25, has always had an interest in video games but was unaware that courses in esports existed until a relative sent him a link to Derby College’s Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Esports.
He said: “I had a look at the course and saw that part of it involved games design, so thought ‘Why not? Let’s go for it.’
“My teachers, Ami and Josh, were fantastic, and the friends I made at Derby College made my time there all the better.
“The course content was quite challenging but that made it possible to aim for higher grades. I left with a distinction star.
“I’d enrolled at my local FE college when I first left school but had to drop out for health reasons. Going to Joseph Wright Centre got me back into education after that earlier hiatus in my studies.”
Through the esports college’s strong links with the gaming and esports industry, Charles has the opportunity to work on commercial projects, give feedback, help host events and design models.
He added: “It gives you the chance to gain industry experience and get your name out there. I’ve always been interested in how video games work; the how and why companies create them the way they do.
“I eventually want to be a games designer with one of the big companies, designing games that people will love to play.”
I had a look at the course and saw that part of it involved games design, so thought ‘Why not? Let’s go for it.’ “My teachers, Ami and Josh, were fantastic, and the friends I made at Derby College made my time there all the better. “The course content was quite challenging but that made it possible to aim for higher grades. I left with a distinction star.