Key Takeaways
- The National Student Esports Vita Student partnership began in February 2026, becoming the headline sponsor for university esports in the UK.
- This partnership includes branding, content creation, and community engagement, supporting competitions throughout the academic year.
- Vita Student will directly engage with the student gaming community, especially during the British University Esports Championship.
- National Student Esports, founded in 2018, organizes leagues and tournaments across multiple game titles, fostering a grassroots esports movement in UK universities.
- Tom Dore has been appointed as Managing Director to oversee strategic growth for National Student Esports.
The National Student Esports Vita Student partnership was announced in February 2026. Vita Student has become the headline partner of National Student Esports for the 2026 season. The agreement covers the full calendar of university esports competitions and activities.
National Student Esports is the official governing body for university esports in the United Kingdom. It organises structured leagues and student-focused tournaments across multiple game titles.
Scope of the National Student Esports Vita Student Partnership
The National Student Esports Vita Student partnership includes branding, content creation, and community engagement initiatives. Vita Student will support competitions and student participation throughout the academic year.
The partnership applies to the British University Esports Championship. This competition runs annually and involves universities from across the UK. Teams compete in titles such as Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Valorant.
The championship awards points across multiple games. The university with the highest total score at the end of the season receives overall recognition.
Background of National Student Esports
National Student Esports was founded in 2018. It has developed into a large grassroots esports community within UK universities. The organisation works with partners including British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) and gaming charity SpecialEffect. Commercial partners have included brands such as Pot Noodle.
The organisation recently appointed Tom Dore as Managing Director. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Global Esports Federation. His role includes overseeing strategic growth and commercial relationships.
Role of Vita Student in the Partnership
Vita Student is a student accommodation provider operating in the UK and Spain. Through the National Student Esports Vita Student partnership, the company will engage directly with the student gaming community. The agreement supports competitive events and year-round activities.
The partnership represents a headline commercial agreement for the 2026 National Student Esports season.
Source: https://esportsinsider.com/2026/02/national-student-esports-nse-vita-student-partnership
