ESVÖ Supports New Esports Degree Programme

Starting in autumn 2025, FH Joanneum will offer "E-Sports Business and Management" for the first time at its Bad Gleichenberg campus. In implementing this, the university is relying on close cooperation with the industry, including the Austrian Esports Association ESVÖ.

The new degree programme is a specialization within the Master's programme in Health, Tourism and Sports Management. It will be a part-time programme is free of charge and according to the FH Joanneum is aimed at anyone who wants to turn their passion into a professional career  – for example as an e-sports event manager, tournament organiser, content creator or e-sports marketing professional.

The four-semester master's programme was developed in close cooperation with leading representatives of the Austrian esports scene. Representatives from VulkanLAN, the Austrian E-Sports Association (ESVÖ), A1 and other experts and insiders were instrumental in designing the programme. The result is a practical curriculum that combines management skills with in-depth industry knowledge. "Esports has long been more than just a trend. It is a growing industry with enormous potential – and we want to train specialists for it," explains FH programme director Eva Adamer-König.

Manuel Haselberger from ESVÖ adds: "In order to keep pace with the enormous growth of esports in Austria, we need well-trained specialists and managers. The master's programme at FH Joanneum fills this gap and combines economic skills with in-depth industry knowledge."

A bachelor's degree is required to participate in the master's programme. There is a particular focus on compatibility with work and involvement in the e-sports environment: the programme is designed to be taken alongside work and is also aimed at event managers already working in the industry, as well as active gamers, streamers and people who already work in other roles in the industry. Interested parties can apply for the programme, which begins on 29 September 2025, and obtain further information at any time.

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