5 sports scholarships for international students in the UK and Europe

If you’re a high school student-athlete looking to go pro, sports scholarships to the UK and across Europe are a great way to start.

Over US$3.4 billion worth of athletics scholarships are provided annually to around 180,000 athletes, according to BBC.

Being a student-athlete is exactly what it sounds like: Not only are you attending classes like every other student at universities, but you are also representing your institute to compete against other universities in your division.

It comes with other perks, too.

You’ll be playing in national tournaments under a sports scholarship. Source: AFP

Why you should apply for a sports scholarship

Sports scholarships are offered to help students progress in their chosen sport, while they pursue a degree.

Training and competing at a high level is expensive. Time, physical and mental health, and training sessions all require money to maintain, and with a packed schedule, there is little to no possibility that every student can get a part-time job to alleviate the costs.

The funding that comes with sports scholarships will help relieve some of the pressure and make balancing everything more manageable.

You don’t have to be studying a sports-related course either. Recently, the University of Nottingham awarded Meng Zhou and Yiyi Tao sports scholarships for their outstanding achievements in badminton, and they will be studying the MA Educational Leadership and Management course whilst continuing to train with the support of the university’s sports department.

Sports scholarships are often awarded at different levels or tiers depending on students’ level of performance and ability. The higher the tier, the greater the awards and benefits available.

Aside from money, there are perks such as:

• Access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources
• Athletics union memberships
• Coaching and mentorship by trained professionals
• Sports psychology support
• Sports gear, clothing, equipment, merch
• Free or discounted accommodation

How to apply for a sports scholarship

To apply, there are some basic criteria you can expect to have to meet, according to UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service), the UK’s shared admissions service for higher education.

• Your sport is recognised by the Athletic Union and/or British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).
• You’ve competed at a regional, national, or international level in the last 12-18 months.
• You qualify for home fee status and live in the UK.
• You’ve accepted an offer for a qualifying, full-time undergraduate course at that university – you may have to accept this as your firm choice too.
• You meet the grade requirements and conditions that come with your offer.

You can normally apply online by completing a short application form through your university of choice. Additional criteria may include writing an essay about your top sports achievements, your sports goals for the future, and how a sports scholarship with the university will help you achieve these.

Additional references may be required as well, such as a supporting statement or a letter of recommendation from people such as a National Governing Body (NGB) coach or performance director, team manager, or sports teacher.

If you’re looking to study in either the UK or Europe, here are five universities offering sports scholarships that can support you in your athletic endeavours while helping you achieve academic success:

Five institutes in the UK and Europe offering sports scholarships

International Sports Scholarship Programme, University of Stirling 

The University of Stirling offers one of the largest high-performance sports programmes in the UK, helping student-athletes combine a flexible degree study with success in competing at the highest levels of sport. 

The International Sports Scholarship Programme offers generous financial support of up to 5,000 pounds (US$6,466.25) per year. The scholarship is open to both undergraduate and taught postgraduate students who have demonstrated excellence in their sport. Some of their core sports include football (men and women), tennis, triathlon, rugby, golf, swimming and curling. 

Student-athletes who compete in other sports are still free to apply for this scholarship if they meet the criteria. Successful applicants get a comprehensive package of coaching, state-of-the-art facilities, performance mentoring and access to the latest innovations in sports research. 

In 2024, the university awarded prestigious sports scholarships to over 150 athletes spanning 28 sports. Recipients included several Olympians — British swimmers Katie Shanahan and Angharad Evans, Zimbabwean swimmer Paige van der Westhuizen and Trinidad and Tobago judoka Gabriella Wood.

For more information about performance sports at the University of Stirling, click here. 

WLV Sports Scholarship Programme, University of Wolverhampton 

The University of Wolverhampton offers three types of sports scholarships with two tiers — Gold and Silver.

Each package provides a financial award — 500 pounds (US$646.62) for Silver, 1,000 pounds (US$1,293.25) for Gold – and a tailored range of support services. You’ll gain gym membership access and additional training for strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, and other academic and lifestyle resources.

Though the scholarships are assessed on a case-by-case basis, athletes whose sport features within the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) programme are prioritised. 

To be eligible for the WLV Sports Scholarship Programme, you must fulfil these criteria:

• Compete at a regional, national or international standard in your sport
• Be enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at the University of Wolverhampton. 

More information about the scholarship here.

Student-athletes are expected to balance sport, study and play. Source: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images North America/Getty Images/AFP

Newcastle University

Home of Newcastle Football Club, Newcastle is a renowned sports city. It’s almost natural that Newcastle University consistently places itself in the top 10 in BUCS.

The performance sports programme at Newcastle University offers multiple sports scholarships and funding for student-athletes enrolled at the university, including disability sports scholarships. 

Scholarships are open to current students, both undergraduate and graduate, in any year of study. Sports scholars are eligible to receive funding of up to 10,000 pounds (US$12,932.50).

Other criteria include achieving regional, national or international standards within the last 12 months and being a member of the National Governing Body’s (NGB) performance squads. Read here for more information on eligibility. 

For other sports scholarships, check it out here.

The Trinity Sports Scholarships, Trinity College Dublin

Trinity College Dublin is a leading destination for high-performance athletes who wish to excel, on and off the field. Supported by renowned academics, experienced coaches, and world-class facilities, the college provides athletes and teams with an environment that nurtures development and unlocks hidden potential.

There are several high-tier sports scholarships available to student-athletes, offering 30-40 high-performance scholarships each year, as well as a number of specific rugby scholarships. 

There are different tiers of scholarships, ranging in value, worth up to 3,500 pounds (US$4,526.38). While the scholarships are mostly offered to undergraduate students, postgraduate students are welcome to apply under the Trinity College Dublin Global Graduate Sport Scholarship programme, which offers similar benefits.

To be eligible, you’ll have to apply under sports recognised by Sport Ireland. Applications will be assessed sport by sport, with the athlete’s home national structure and international ranking factored into the final decision. Sports on the Performance Pathway & Olympic sports will be given preference.

Check out what Trinity College has to offer student-athletes here. 

Most sports scholarships offer free access to their university’s gym facilities and equipment. Source: AFP

UL Sports Scholarships, University of Limerick

Similar to Newcastle University, the University of Limerick in Ireland offers its students sports scholarships in three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

Depending on the level, students can get subsidised accommodation, training and gym membership valued at up to 10,000 euros (US$10,917.05).

The UL Sports Scholarships are designed for athletes to pursue and excel in their sport while undertaking academic study at the university.

Applicants for UL Sports Scholarships will automatically be considered for a number of other sport-specific scholarships, such as The Michael Hillery and Jacinta O’Brien Athletics Scholarship, ‘Paddy Dooley Rowing Scholarship and The Plassey Campus Company/Swim Ireland Bursaries.

UL’s campus boasts some of the best sports facilities in Europe and has a track record of developing world-class talent in a wide variety of sports. 

Disclaimer: This article was last updated on March 12, 2025.