Scotland’s national sports scholarship programme, Winning Students, is inviting applications for its 2017/18 intake of individual scholar athletes.
As well as working with member institutions to offer benefits including academic flexibility, Winning Students provides scholarship funding to help students achieve their sporting and academic goals.
The programme currently supports more than 150 students, with some very high-profile sporting scholars.
Laura Muir, now firmly established as one of Britain's top middle-distance runners, is training to be a vet at the University of Glasgow while Paralympic cycling champion Karen Darke is studying psychology and Spanish through the Open University in Scotland.
Karen said: “Winning Students gave me the opportunity to change my academic focus and it’s great to get advice about the direction of my studies as a scholar athlete.
"As part of the programme I am lucky enough to be given flexibility when it comes to studying and competing, and it’s much easier to manage when the people you’re working with understand the pressures and can help co-ordinate solutions.
"As an athlete, it’s not enough just to be physical all the time and I find studying offers a good outlet from training.
"The support from Winning Students has allowed me to combine competing with my studies, so I can continue training at the highest level whilst keeping in mind what I might do in the future after sport."
So who can apply?
Applications are now being sought for Individual Scholarships, which apply to athletes competing in individual and small combination sports such as athletics, gymnastics and weightlifting.
The national sports scholarships are open to current students and to school leavers preparing to start their studies in September 2017.
Students competing in badminton, canoeing, curling, football, golf, hockey, judo, orienteering, rowing, swimming, tennis and triathlon should not apply for Individual Scholarships as athletes in these sports are nominated directly by the appropriate governing body of sport.
To be considered for support, applicants should meet the general selection criteria and performance levels outlined on the Winning Students website
Jason Atkins, Winning Students Programme Co-ordinator, said: “Individual Scholarships provide student athletes with the funding and academic flexibility to combine sport and study effectively. I would urge applicants to consider the criteria and complete a nomination form as soon as possible.”
Find out more
Individual Scholarship applications are invited by current and prospective students by 11.59pm on Wednesday 19 April to be considered for funding support from September 2017.
Visit the Winning Students website to see the full criteria.
