Performance Sport

Volleyball

Celebrating volleyball victory

Led by former Great Britain Volleyball captain Head Coach, Alex Porter, the volleyball programme here at Essex is one of the best in the country. 

As a Volleyball England Senior Academy, with a long-standing partnership with Tendring Volleyball Club, Women’s Super League Champions 2019, and Team Essex Volleyball Club, whose men’s team plays in the Volleyball England National League playing Volleyball at Essex is like none other.

As a member of the Essex Rebels you'll have access to Essex Sport Arena, on the University’s award-winning Colchester Campus in the National Volleyball Super League – England’s highest level for volleyball teams and a wide range of different facilities to make sure you are prepared both on court and off of it.

The Essex Rebels Volleyball performance pathway

The programme

The Essex Rebels Volleyball performance pathway is leading the way for universities as a that provides:

  • Performance Coaching
  • Strength and Conditioning Coaching
  • Performance Analysis
  • Access to Physiotherapist
  • Use of the onsite Sports Therapy Clinic
  • Access to on-site accommodation
  • allocated lifestyle advisor
  • Comprehensive workshop programme
  • Complimentary Gym Membership
  • Timetabled individual/small group workouts
  • Team Training sessions

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.

Under tier 1 of the Performance Sport Scholarship programme, we award a number of tuition fee discounts to students on University of Essex undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research courses.

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

Number of awards Scholarship Award
Up to 8 PG awards for international students (full-time only) Between 50-100% fee discount
Up to 12 UG or PG awards for UK students Between 50-100% fee discount**


Apply for a Volleyball scholarship

Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme

The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) is a Sport England funded partnership between talented athletes, the University of Essex and national governing bodies of sport. We work together to bring the best out of our country’s most exciting young talent.

TASS helps athletes – aged 16-plus – to balance sport within the rest of their lives, be they in education, training or another form of personal development.

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. The Dual Career Accreditation Scheme acknowledges an enhanced level of academic flexibility and understanding within an institution, allowing talented athletes to balance their studies with a hectic sporting schedule.

Our accolades

Accolades include:

  • BUCS National Championship Finalists 2022
  • BUCS Premier South Winners 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022
  • BUCS National Champions 2019
  • Volleyball England National Student Cup winners 2017 – 2019
  • There are also opportunities for coaching, officiating, and Performance Analysis within our volleyball programme.

    Essex Blades volleyball match
    Essex Blades volleyball match
    Celebrating volleyball victory
    Celebrating volleyball victory
    Flic Chambers University of Essex Volleyball team
    Being a part of the Women's Rebels Volleyball Programme has allowed me to flourish as an athlete, a student at the University of Essex, and as a person in my general life. I have learnt lots of valuable lessons being on the programme, as well as meeting people that I now call friends for life. Excluding the generous benefits of being on the performance programme such as S&C coaches, free gym memberships, components of fitness testing throughout the season, and access to the one-of-a-kind facilities at the Essex Sports Arena; The Rebels Volleyball Programme allows every athlete to reach their full potential as a successful Student- Athlete.
    Flik Chambers UoE Women’s Volleyball 1st Team Player, 2021 – Current

    For more information on our performance volleyball programme please contact performancesport@essex.ac.uk or for information on our professional teams please contact essexrebels@essex.ac.uk

    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