Performance Sport

Individual athletes and other sports

Sports hall, Essex Sport

Alongside our focus sports, we are looking for scholars competing in other team sports and individual athletes to contribute to our performance sport programme.

You’ll have access to our outstanding facilities such as the Essex Sport Arena, home of the Essex Rebels. With state-of-the-art 160 station Technogym-equipped gym, with 8 lifting platforms, spin, dance and mind-and-body studios, multi-space courts including game day show court, climbing wall, synthetic turf and grass football pitches plus rugby, lacrosse and American Football pitches and on-site sports science testing and therapy clinic.

Alongside a playing career, we also have a range of different opportunities to help develop your professional career through placement opportunities including but not limited to Sports Therapy, Performance Analysis, Sport Science and game day support.

The University reserves the right to vary the number of scholarships awarded based on the profile of applicants and the number of full-time versus part-time students applying for the scholarships. For 2023-2024, there are up to 22 post-graduate awards for international students (full-time only) with a discretionary 25% fee discount across all focus sports and individual athletes.

Scholarship fee discounts

Alongside performance coaching, recipients of the Performance Sport Scholarship programme also receive additional support services package benefits such as free kit, use of facilities and access to a range of support services worth up to of £1,500 per year (details outlined below). Our Performance Sport Scholarship programme has three different tiers:

Scholarship type; Award
Tier 1* Tuition fee discount up to 100%, performance coaching and support services package.
Tier 2 Cash bursary (of varying amounts), performance coaching and support services package (available for undergraduate students only).
Tier 3 Performance coaching and support services package.

*Some exceptional athletes in receipt of a tier 1 scholarship may also receive additional financial support.

Fee discounts available for students commencing their studies at Essex in 2024-25 are:

Number of awards Scholarship Award
22 x PG awards for international students (full-time only) 25% fee discount


Apply for a scholarship
Boxing Athlete training at the Colchester Campus Gym
Boxing Athlete training at the Colchester Campus Gym
Essex Sport Colchester Gym
Essex Sport Colchester Gym
Rugby player in black about to be tackled by two other players in green and gold tops
Athlete Village

Both returning students who have previously represented the University in BUCS competitions, and new students who can evidence their level of performance in school, county or national level competition are welcome to apply to live in the Athlete Village.

Find out more about the Athlete Village