University of Nottingham - The University of Nottingham Sports Scholarship

What you get

You will receive a sports scholarship worth up to about 9,600 EUR (£8,000) for one year, awarded by the University of Nottingham to student athletes. The money is intended to cover your training and competition costs. There are three tiers, so the amount you receive will depend on which tier you are offered: for example, from £1,000, up to £4,000, or up to £8,000.. In addition to the funding, you will receive free access to the university’s sports facilities and gym, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning training, support in the areas of nutrition and sports psychology, and advice on doping. You’ll also be assigned a personal mentor as your point of contact at the university, flexible study arrangements (for example, Wednesday afternoons off for competitions) and official university kit.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are applying to the University of Nottingham in the UK or are already enrolled there.
• Study level: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme, in every academic year. You must earn at least 60 credits per year.
• Field of study: Any subject.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, whether they are from the UK, the EU or other countries.
• Sporting level: You take part in competitions at academy, national or international level, or can demonstrate your outstanding potential by providing convincing evidence.
• Your sport: Preference is given to Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth sports, as well as sports from the BUCS university programme. Other sports are considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Reapply each year: The grant is valid for one year, so you must submit a new application for each subsequent year.

How to apply

You submit an expression of interest form (a short form in which you state that you would like to be considered). The university recommends that you do this alongside your UCAS application by 15 October. The final deadline for expressions of interest is 1 December for the following academic year. Once you have applied, the sports team will contact you. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, not on a fixed date.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is open to students of all disciplines and nationalities, but is restricted to the field of sport: you must compete at national or international level or demonstrate clear potential for top-level performance. This means that the pool of applicants is limited to serious athletes. If you are already training at this level in an Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth or BUCS sport, your prospects are good, particularly in the lower performance tiers. It is advisable to apply early, in parallel with your UCAS deadline, as places are allocated on a rolling basis.