Registrations open 15 June Registrations open 15 June Registrations open 15 June Registrations open 15 June Registrations open 15 June

NZ ESPORTS X UTSNZ

NZ ESPORTS UNI SERIES

The NZ Esports Uni Series is a nationwide university esports league giving students the chance to represent their campus, compete with their peers, and be part of New Zealand’s growing tertiary esports scene.

Open Official Page View Standings
Games Valorant + Overwatch
Entry Fee Free
Apex Edition 13 July - 23 August
Format Social + Competitive
Game Titles

2026 Games

Pending Minimum Numbers & Publisher Licensing

// 2026 Game Title

VALORANT

5v5 competitive tactical shooter built around communication, utility usage, decisive entries, and coordinated defensive setups. It is the flagship team title in the current Uni Series roster.

Students enter as campus teams and play in Social or Competitive divisions, with university points feeding the wider leaderboard.

Format 5v5 Team Title
Platform PC
Divisions Social + Competitive

// 2026 Game Title

OVERWATCH

Team-based hero shooter that rewards balanced role play, fast adaptation, and clear shot-calling across objective modes. It gives the Uni Series a second campus-first team pathway alongside Valorant.

Students enter as campus teams and play in Social or Competitive divisions, with university points feeding the wider leaderboard.

Format 5v5 Team Title
Platform PC / Console
Divisions Social + Competitive
How It Works

How teams get from sign-up to points.

1

Pick your division

Students can choose between two divisions: Social, for teams who want a more relaxed way to compete for their university, and Competitive, for teams aiming to challenge for the national title.

2

Register with a uni email

Students register directly through play.nzesports.org.nz using their university email and student ID.

3

Play weekly online rounds

Weekly rounds with flexible rescheduling during the week, helping teams compete during busy semesters.

4

Earn points for your university

The top placed team in each game from each university counts towards the overall university leaderboard, with the leading overall university crowned at the end of the series.

Yearly Timeline

2026 Timeline

A full-year view of both 2026 seasons, from season one running in April and May through the upcoming second season in July and August.

2026 series calendar

Two splits across one university season

Season One runs from 27 April to 27 May 2026. Season Two registrations open on 15 June, with league play running from 13 July to 23 August 2026.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

27 April 2026

Apex Edition begins

The Apex Edition officially begins on 13 July 2026, opening the second season of the year.

Current Leaderboard

Standings

Current leader

#1

University of Canterbury

27 points

Leading the current Apex Edition table with 15 Overwatch points and 12 Valorant points.

Open the winners page
FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Any enrolled university student can take part, provided they have a valid student number and university email address. Recent graduates from the past two years are also eligible to play.

Only two titles are listed for the current Uni Series: Valorant and Overwatch.

Yes. Students can choose between Social and Competitive divisions, depending on how they want to take part in the league.

Registration is student-led through the NZ Esports platform . Students sign in with their university email, form a team, and enter directly on the official tournament page .

No. The current format is fully online, so no travel or venue is required.

The Uni Series is team-only at this stage. Individual students are encouraged to connect with their campus esports club or student association to find a team.