Individual athletes and other sports
If you love sport...
Embracing a diversity of sporting talent, we are actively seeking student athletes engaged in BUCS team sports and individual athletic pursuits, to welcome into our performance sport programme.
At Essex, performance sport goes beyond teams. We support individual athletes competing at national and international level across a wide range of disciplines. Our Performance Sport scholarships programme is built to help talented student-athletes thrive academically while pursuing excellence in their sport, with tailored support spanning coaching, strength & conditioning, lifestyle support and performance services.
Our current scholars include national and BUCS champions, international representatives and para athletes, from gymnastics and karate to athletics, swimming and strength sports. Recent highlights include BUCS Gymnastics Championship gold and bronze, national-level karate success, and international para-swimming performances, showcasing the breadth of elite talent supported at Essex.
Whether you’re an individual performer, ex-academy or international athlete, or looking to push your performance to the next level alongside your degree, Essex offers a flexible, athlete-centred environment designed to support your ambitions, in sport, study and beyond.
Example programme
Our comprehensive sports programmes are designed to nurture talent and fuel your passion for sport whilst offering academic support for athletes.
Scholars can also have access to:
- Strength and conditioning coaching
- Use of our onsite Sports Therapy Clinic
- Access to campus accommodation
- Workshop programmes with guidance in psychology and nutrition
- Complimentary gym membership
- Access sports science testing
- Timetables individual / small group workouts
- Twin international gymnasts Emily and Abigail Roper, studying Sports & Exercise Science, secured 1st and 3rd places (respectively) in the All-Around at the 2025 BUCS Gymnastics Championship
- Undergraduate sports scholar Joshua Ngoka, set a new junior powerlifting world record and crowned number two in the world at the Powerlifting Federation Sub-Junior & Junior World Powerlifting 2025 tournament
- Para swimmer Corey Hare brought home two gold medals at the English Masters National Championship, plus three lifetime bests (50m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly and Freestyle) and eight medals (including three gold, 3 silver and two bronze) to become a triple East Region Para Champion at the BUCS Short Course Championships 2025
Backing home advantage
Making sure our student-athletes experience a fully supportive environment.
- You'll make use of our outstanding facilities including state-of-the-art gym, Human Performance Unit and personalised Strength & Conditioning sessions with coach Jemma Pemberton.
- Our Performance Analysis and Coaching Room is equipped with a 100-inch touchscreen TV and sound system allowing playback of videos to break down and highlight tactical improvements.
- Our Athlete Village has dedicated accommodation for sports scholars and student-athletes located near our sports facilities, and just a short walk from the lecture theatre building.
Scholarships and bursaries
Applications for our sports scholarships and bursaries for the 2026-27 academic year have now closed, and will reopen for the 2027-28 academic year in October 2026. Successful awards will only be offered subject to acceptance on a course at our Colchester Campus. Please be sure to read through the requirements and terms and conditions ahead of applying.
We offer fee waiver scholarships up to 100%, cash bursaries plus additional support packages are available to financially support our sports athletes.
Applicable to athletes playing at academy, county, national or international level in the UK or equivalent in your home country.
A scholarship is more than financial support, it’s a full performance package designed to help you thrive in sport and study. Check out what you'll receive as an Essex sports scholar and our scholarship types and awards.
| Scholarship type | Award |
| Tier 1 - Tuition Fee Discount * | Tuition fee discount up to 100% |
| Tier 2 - Cash Bursary | Cash bursary (of varying amounts) |
| Tier 3 - Performance Package | Access to performance package benefits, with a value up to £1500 |
*Available for top-performing athletes; requires commitment to the programme. Some exceptional athletes in receipt of a Tier 1 scholarship may also receive additional financial support.
Details and Deadlines
The deadline for tennis scholarship applications for 2026-27 closed at the end of May 2026, but will reopen October 2026 for the 2027-28 academic year.
Awards are offered based on successful course applications at the University of Essex, Colchester campus. It's crucial to meet the academic entry conditions for your chosen course to be eligible for a sports scholarship.
If you have any further questions or need assistance with the application process, please don't hesitate to email performancesport@essex.ac.uk.
![Twin international gymnasts Emily and Abigail Roper place 1st and 3rd, respectively, in the All-Around at the 2025 BUCS Gymnastics Championship wearing red long-sleeve sparkly University of Essex and Believe Leotards]()
"We came here on the Open Day and we were blown away. Studying here is brilliant and we get the full potential of our university experience whilst also benefitting from our training."
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Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS)
We are proud to be a Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) delivery site. As a Sport England funded partnership between talented athletes, the University of Essex and national governing bodies of sport, we work together to develop the best young talent within the UK.
The TASS Dual Career Accreditation Scheme recognises an education institution’s commitment to dual career support for talented athletes who are in full time education. We are pleased to offer an enhanced level of academic flexibility and understanding to allow our athletes the ability to balance their studies with a demanding but rewarding sporting schedule.
Alongside a playing career, we also have a range of opportunities to support your professional growth, to navigate a path through placements including, but not limited to, Sports Therapy, Performance Analysis, Sport Science and game day support.
Your future
During your time at Essex, seize the chance to elevate your transferable skills. We provide platforms that spotlight your talents for potential employers in the UK. Your journey extends beyond the playing field, laying the groundwork for a successful and fulfilling career. Our performance programme is designed to help you prepare for a future career in or around your chosen field some way after your time here at the university comes to an end.
Read about some of the successful athletes, past and present on our Performance Sport Blog.
