Performance Sport

We recognise and reward sporting success providing individuals support to excel in their studies and sporting ambitions.

We offer a series of scholarships, bursaries and performance programmes that are designed to give elite sport athletes the opportunity to fulfil their sporting potential.

Whether you’re competing at a national or academy level in a recognised University BUCS Sport or competing in an Olympic Sport at major international competitions, we have a range of financial support and performance packages available. Eligible current and prospective students are invited to apply. Each award is available on an annual basis and valid for one year.

Performance Sport Programme

Sport Scholarships

Our High Performance Sport Programme

If you are an elite-level athlete or aspiring to compete at national or international level, we have the expertise and facilities to create an environment that will help you thrive.

Our High Performance Sport Programme has been designed to offer elite-students-athletes in football, rugby and netball a host of support services that aim to:

Enable students to continue to train and compete at the highest level while studying
Provide the best support and training environment for students
Increase the performance levels of athletes
Deliver an athlete-centre care service

Each high performance sport will have a dedicated team of high quality coaches and support staff who will work closely with the athletes to provide high quality support to allow athletes to achieve the highest possible standards.

Recognised Sports

We have a select group of sports (football, rugby and netball) that contribute to the High Performance Sport Programme at University of South Wales.

Football (Men's and Women's)
Rugby (Men's and Women's)
Netball (Women's)

Apply to Programme

Performance Sport: Football

Find out more about the features and benefit for university students considered elite-level footballers.

Performance Sport: Netball

Find out more about the features and benefit for university students considered elite-level netballers.

Performance Sport: Rugby

Find out more about the features and benefit for university students considered elite-level rugby players.

Sport Scholarships

Scholarships available at different levels for students who compete at a national or professional level and want to represent the University in BUCS Sports.

Sport Scholarship

How to apply

Osian Roberts and Steve Savage, USW Sport

Sport Bursary

Receive a ‘one off’ grant of up to £500 to support your sport. Your sport needs to be recognised by a Sports Council with an affiliated national governing body.

Sport Bursary

How to apply

Vice Chancellor’s Award

If you’re competing in an Olympic Sport at major international competitions, you could be eligible for a financial award of up to the value of £500.

Vice Chancellor’s Award

How to apply

Sport Scholarships

The University of South Wales offers a range of Sport Scholarships worth up to £1,500 for students who compete at a national or professional level and want to represent the University in BUCS Sports in one of our three recognised performance sports: Football, Rugby, or Netball.

There are three different categories of scholarship offered to sport scholars which varying financial awards and sport scholar perks. Each category has its own eligibility criteria as detailed below:

🏆 Platinum Scholarship: £1,500, plus £215 FitZone card | 📄 Profile: National U20s/U21 or senior cap.

Our Platinum scholarship is only available to students competing at a national level. Professional level sport scholarships are available within our gold and silver categories.

🏆Gold Scholarship: £1,000, plus £100 FitZone card | 📄 Profile: National U18 cap*

Equivalent professional level sport representation is also considered for football and rugby. Football: Professional U23 Contract or club represented in UEFA Champions League, Europa League or equivalent. Rugby: Professional U21 Contract or representation at a rugby premiership level.

🏆 Silver Scholarship: £500, plus £100 FitZone card | 📄 Profile: National U16s*

Equivalent professional level sport representation is also consider for football and rugby. Football: Professional football at 16-18 years old or current member of a premiership club. Rugby: Professional U18 Contract or representation at a rugby premiership level.

Additional Sport Scholarship Perks for all categories include:

British Universities and College Sport Fees
Athletic Union Fees
Sports conditioning programme
Free physiotherapy and rehab provision
Sport seminars
Mentorship

Sport Bursary

The Sports Bursary is a 'one off' grant of up to £500* to support students with their sport alongside their studies and is further complemented by University sport gift card (£100 FitZone card), conditioning programme and associated expenses relating to BUCS competitions up to £120.

Many students in receipt of a bursary will use the financial aware to support costs associated with entering an international championship or to cover travel, training or entry expenses. Please note to be considered for a Sports Bursary, your chosen sport need to be classified as a Sports Council 'recognised' sport with an affiliated national governing body.

Whilst many award recipients represent the University in BUCS competitions, to ensure all students have an opportunity to apply for financial support it is not a condition to represent the University. There will be a number of recognised sports that the University does not currently compete in as part of the BUCS competitions.

*Please note: You will not be eligible for this bursary if you are already in receipt of a Sport Scholarship.

Vice Chancellor’s Award

The Vice Chancellor’s Sport Award is financial award of upto £500 and is available for students whose sports are not currently within the BUCS programme, but are of exceptional standard in Olympic Sports. These ‘one off’ awards are intended to support students of exceptional sports standard who are competing in major international competitions. Limited awards are available each year to the maximum value of £500.

How to apply?

The process to apply for a financial support package depends on the award you wish to obtain and your category eligibility. Before you apply, we recommend reviewing the eligibility criteria for each award.

All applicants and current students are required to complete our online application form if they are seeking to obtain support, this applies to all sport scholarship, bursaries, awards, and performance sport programmes.

Once you complete your application, you will receive an automatic notification by email. If you do not receive this notification, please contact [email protected] to confirm receipt. You will then receive confirmation of your eligibility, and subject to meeting the terms and conditions.

Final confirmation of receipt of award will be confirmed once assessments are undertaken and prior to start your course. Please note: Any award can only be activated once you have successfully enrolled onto your course.

Applications accepted: 2023-24 Academic Year
Performance Sport and Scholarship deadline: Friday 13 October 2023*

*Please note: The above deadline is only applicable to our sport scholarships and performance sport programme. Our Sport Bursary and Vice Chancellor's award can be applied for at any time throughout the year.

Apply online

Apply for a one-off sport award when you need it.

You can apply for our ‘one-off’ sport bursaries and Vice Chancellors award at any time throughout the year.

Unlike our performance programme and sport scholarships, these one-off awards are designed to support you and your training needs when you need it most, for example in you're competing in a major international competition.

Financial Awards

Application enquiries

For further queries regarding the sport scholarships, bursaries and awards available email [email protected] or call: (01443) 654747.

Who can apply?

Any student full or part-time studying at the University of South Wales. Part-time students must be studying a minimum of 60 credits per year to be eligible and represent the University in BUCS. You can apply each year at any stage during your studies.

How many awards can I apply for?

You can apply each year of your study, whether you are a full-time undergraduate, part time or postgraduate students providing you meet the pre-requisite eligibility criteria. If you have to re-sit a year you will not be able to reapply for the same year again.

Do I need to join a Students' Union team?

Only students who have joined the Students' Union Clubs are eligible for a Sports Scholarship. All applicants must have paid the Athletic Union affiliation to be eligible to apply for a sports scholarship. You must sign up, attend trials and training and pay to join the Students' Union Club. The cost will vary depending on the club. The fees include all costs for the year and most include a ‘kit pack’ for your sport.

If you are successful in being awarded a sports scholarship and meet the commitments of the scheme, you will receive a full refund for the club affiliation later in the academic year. If you are not successful or have not met the terms of the scholarship, you will not receive a refund.

Are full-time professional athletes permitted to apply?

You will not be eligible for a University of South Wales sport scholarship if you are currently a full-time professional athlete.