Sporting Excellence Scholarship

Up to 6 student sporting excellence scholarships in each academic year

At University College Birmingham, we are proud to offer up to 6 sporting excellence scholarships each year. Each successful applicant will have access to not only a financial support package to help with the cost of competitions, training, and equipment, but can also access a tailored programme which may include Nutrition guidance, Sports Psychology, Strength and Conditioning and a free gym membership.

	Individual Athlete	Elite Performer	Talented Performer
BUCS Entry Fees	✔️	✔️	✔️
UCB Branded Kit	✔️	✔️	✔️
Strength and Conditioning		✔️	✔️
Nutrition		✔️	✔️
Sport Psychology		✔️	✔️
Sport Therapy		✔️	✔️
Gym Membership		✔️	✔️
Financial Support		✔️	✔️

Elite Performer

An ‘Elite performer’ package would be available to students competing at the international level and could be awarded up to £3,000 funding towards competitions, training costs, and equipment* over 3 years**. Additional grant awards may be available, subject to panel approval.

Talented Performer

A ‘Talented performer’ package would be available to students competing at a regional or county level or above, with the potential to progress. It could be awarded up to £1,500 funding towards competitions, training costs, and equipment* over 3 years**.

* Equipment must be directly relevant, and the requirement justified
** Funding split equally over 3 years

Selection Criteria and Eligibility

These scholarships are open to applicants from any country. Applicants must demonstrate excellence in sporting achievement.

Applicants must have accepted an offer of a place in a full-time programme taught at University College Birmingham. The chosen programme should be for at least one year, leading to an academic award at the Higher Education level. Applicants must not have previously been enrolled in the SES programme and must not have been enrolled in the same level of study (repeating, deferred, etc.).

The award of a Sporting Excellence Scholarship is subject to any necessary visa clearance by the UK immigration authorities. However, if a visa is not permitted, the Scholarship will be withdrawn, and there is no automatic reconsideration at any future point.

How to apply?

Applicants must complete the application form using the link below. Ensure that the scholarship category applied for is clearly noted, and provide full documentary evidence of sporting excellence with the application.

Submit application

Application deadline

Although there are a limited number of scholarships in this category each year, applications can be considered for entry as soon as you have applied for a place on an undergraduate (FdA, FdSc, BA or BSc) or postgraduate (MSc, PG Dip.) at UCB. Applications will be considered in strict turn and, as there is only a small number of these scholarships available, early applications are more likely to be successful.

Completed applications must be received by Friday, 3 October 2025.

Who delivers the support?

Each area is led by one of our highly qualified sports staff, with some areas supported by our training students.

Ed Benskin

I completed my MSc in Strength and Conditioning at the University of Northampton in 2021.

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Matthew Holmes

I have worked in sport for more than 12 years in a number of roles including personal training, strength and conditioning, sports coaching and sports nutrition.

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William Crossen

I am a BPS and HCPC-accredited sport and exercise psychologist, who has worked with England Para-Football, Everton Ladies Football Club and Tranmere Rovers Football Club.

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Gareth Bate

Gareth is a graduate sports therapist who has worked in a combination of private practice, elite and professional sport as well as academia over the past 16-years.

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Scholarships and waivers

We provide a range of support to encourage access to our courses, from academic and sporting scholarships to different awards for international students.

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