Northumbria Focus Sport Scholarship / Northumbria Sport Individual Scholarship

What you get

Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne offers two sport scholarships to support student athletes during their studies. The package is mostly practical support, not just cash. You get a sport scholar kit, strength and conditioning coaching, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, unlimited access to the Sport Central gym and pool, sport psychology and nutrition advice, anti-doping workshops, and academic flexibility so you can fit training around your degree. The Focus Sport Scholarship covers the university's five focus sports (basketball, football, rugby league, rugby union and volleyball, men and women) and adds performance analysis support. The Individual Scholarship is for athletes in other sports who compete nationally or internationally. Money can be part of the package, but it is not automatic. A panel awards it only to the top performers, so not every scholar receives cash on top of the services. The university does not publish a fixed amount. Where money is paid, it comes as a tuition fee reduction, a bank transfer, or both.

Who can apply

• Sporting level: You compete at academy, national or international standard, or can show strong evidence of outstanding potential.
• University: You have an offer from Northumbria University's Newcastle campus, or already study there.
• Course: Any undergraduate or postgraduate course, studied full time with at least 60 credits a year.
• Nationality: UK (home) and international students can both apply.
• Your sport: Priority goes to Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth sports and to sports in the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) programme. Other sports are looked at case by case.
• Which scholarship: Choose Focus Sport if your sport is one of the five focus sports. Choose Individual if you are on a national governing body (NGB) performance pathway in another sport.

How to apply

You apply through the online form on the scholarship page, which stays open all year. For a September 2026 start the deadline is 31 August 2026, with later intakes closing on set dates through 2028. If there are more eligible applicants than scholarships, the university invites you to an interview.

How realistic are your chances?

The support services are open to any student athlete who meets the sporting and academic bar. So if you clearly compete at academy, national or international level and study at Newcastle, joining the programme is realistic. The cash top-up is far more contested. A panel awards it only to the strongest performers, and not everyone gets it. Applying early and showing a clear competitive record helps, especially in the priority Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth and BUCS sports.