Apply for the Sport Excellence Programme

Yes, the Sport Excellence Programme is open to students from any course at Solent University. You just need to have accepted an offer for, or be currently enrolled on, a full- or part-time undergraduate or postgraduate course.

Solent offers a wide range of courses across many subject areas, giving you the flexibility to pursue your academic interests alongside your sporting ambitions. Some courses may naturally have more structured schedules or higher contact hours, and this is where our dedicated athlete support officer provides a key role in your support network, helping you to successfully balance your studies and sporting commitments.

If you’d like support identifying an appropriate course, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we’re here to help.

Yes, you can still apply. If your sport is either represented at the Olympics or Paralympics, recognised by British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), or listed as a Sport England recognised sport, we encourage you to apply.

Being injured at the time of application is not a problem. Please complete your application honestly, including your current level of play and injury status.

Our selection criteria focus on athletes who are either currently competing or showing clear potential to compete. We understand that an injury doesn’t prevent you from demonstrating that potential, and we take this into careful consideration during the application process.

We understand that relocating for university may mean you haven’t yet joined a club, may be going through a trials process, or haven’t secured regular access to training facilities. We take these factors into account when reviewing your application. Please be as clear as possible within your application when outlining your previous experience, current goals and potential.

We are also happy to support you in finding a suitable local club, coach or training environment once you’re here.

No, meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee a place. Selection is competitive and depends on the number of applications received, as well as the overall standard of applicants in that cycle. We encourage you to clearly highlight your sporting achievements, potential, and how you align with the values of the programme to give your application the best possible chance.

Unfortunately, if you've missed the application or expression of interest deadline, we won’t be able to consider you for this academic year.

However, you’re very welcome to apply for the next academic year when applications reopen. If that’s something you’re interested in, we encourage you to get in touch and let us know, we’ll make sure you’re kept in the loop and notified when the next application window opens.

Yes, absolutely. Places on the Sport Excellence Programme are limited and awarded on a yearly basis, so we actively encourage unsuccessful applicants to reapply in future years.

An unsuccessful outcome doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not competing at an appropriate level, it may simply be that, in this cycle, a high number of applicants were performing at an even higher competitive level or demonstrated stronger alignment with the programme’s values. In the instance that you may not be at a suitable level yet, with continued progress within your sport, you could be a strong candidate in the future.

We’re happy to provide feedback to help you strengthen future applications, as well as signposting other services and available support. Our aim is to support growth and success in sport, and we’re committed to helping as many student-athletes as we can.

No, the programme does not currently offer discounts or financial support for tuition fees, accommodation costs, or reduced entry grade requirements.

However, all successful applicants receive a tiered bursary (Bronze, Silver, or Gold) to help support their sporting commitments and living costs. Additional funding opportunities may also be available through the university, and we’re happy to signpost and support you in applying for these where relevant.

As an accredited dual career institution, Solent is committed to supporting student-athletes in balancing sport and study. Academic flexibility is available for timetables and assessment deadlines, although the level of flexibility can vary by course.

We also understand that extended time away, such as for international training camps or competitions, can come with extra costs. There are additional university grants and funding opportunities available, and we’re here to help guide and support your applications for these.

If you already receive support through TASS, your club, or NGB, this programme is designed to complement and enhance what you’re already getting. We can work in two main ways:

• We’ll help facilitate and coordinate your existing services while you’re on campus, including providing supervision to ensure you can train effectively alongside your studies.

• If there are areas where your current support doesn’t fully cover your needs, we can tailor all athlete services to fit around your schedule and fill any gaps.

In addition, some athletes choose to focus on personal development areas outside of their existing programme, such as improving speed and agility, working on nutrition strategies, or accessing sport psychology support. Our team offers impartial expert guidance in these areas too, and we're here to support those goals alongside your current commitments. Our aim is to provide flexible, athlete-focused support that fits around you.

No, a place on the Sport Excellence Programme is awarded for one academic year at a time. You’ll need to reapply each year to be considered for continued support.

Returning athletes are welcome and encouraged to apply again. Re-selection will consider sporting progress, engagement with the programme, and continued alignment with the Solent values.

Yes. As a part of the programme, we ask all student-athletes to take part in a few citizenship opportunities throughout the year. These are small commitments that help you give back to the University community and celebrate your role within it.

This could include things like:

• Attending an open day to represent your course or the Sports Excellence Programme.
• Volunteering at a University-wide event or initiative.
• Participating in our annual media day for individual and team photos.

These opportunities are a great way to engage with the wider University, build connections, and contribute to the supportive and inspiring environment we aim to create for all our student-athletes.