European University of Madrid - European University of Madrid Scholarships for High-Level Athletes

What you get

You will receive a 25% discount on your tuition fees for the entire duration of your studies. The tuition fees cover the teaching-related portion of the costs. You will also receive free access to the university’s sports facilities, covering an area of over 30,000 m2, a flexible timetable that adapts to your training schedule, access to virtual learning resources, and a personal tutor from your faculty. The degree programme is offered by the Universidad Europea, which has campuses in Madrid, Valencia, Málaga (Andalusia) and the Canary Islands, and also offers online degree programmes. It is aimed at elite athletes who wish to combine top-level sport with a university degree. Each year, 40 places are available: 20 in Madrid, 10 in Valencia, 5 in the Canary Islands and 5 in Andalusia.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are starting a Bachelor’s, Master’s or postgraduate programme, or a higher vocational qualification (FP Grado Superior) at the Universidad Europea.
• Athlete status: You are a recognised elite athlete (DAN/DAR) or compete in the highest senior category of your sport. You can provide proof of this by submitting a valid certificate from your sports association.
• Nationality: You can apply from any country. As a foreign athlete, you will need a certificate from your national federation confirming your competitive status, your international results from the last 5 years, a valid sports licence, and proof that you have not been subject to any serious doping ban.
• Field of study: Open to all degree programmes, with the exception of a list of excluded programmes, including, in particular, medicine, dentistry, nursing, veterinary medicine, biomedical sciences, psychology, certain physiotherapy programmes, and programmes taught in English.
• Sport type: Athletes competing in Olympic disciplines or sports featured in the Spanish university championships will be given preference, although this is not a requirement.

How to apply

Please email your application to the Admissions Office of the campus where you wish to study. Please attach your academic and sporting CVs, as well as your valid athlete’s certificate. You must enrol at least two weeks before the start of your degree programme. A selection panel assesses applicants primarily on the basis of their athlete classification, their international results and their academic achievements. You will be notified of the decision by email.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding is strictly limited. You must hold the status of a recognised elite athlete, which already restricts the pool to a small group of competitive athletes. As there are only 40 places available across all locations, the best athletes in Olympic disciplines or disciplines in which university championships are held have the best prospects. If you clearly meet the sporting criteria and apply early, your chances are good.