Scholarships at University of St Mark & St John

Marjon Sport Performance Scholarships support talented athletes to achieve their sporting potential while also succeeding in their studies.  Our scholarships combine performance support services with financial assistance to help you excel in your sporting career.

They are open to athletes of international, national or regional standard whether you are a team sport player or participate in an individual sport. This includes athletes who have been offered Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) support and World Class Programme funding from Sports Aid and UK Sport.

Three tiers

There are three tiers of scholarship available. Each provides the athlete with performance support worth up to £2000 per annum. Depending on your level of performance, you may benefit from financial support of up to £1500 per annum too.

The tiers are:

• Tier 1 - Senior National/International Athlete. You have represented your country at Senior Level in the last 12 months or are currently competing at that standard.
• Tier 2 - Age Group National Athlete, or Member of a National Development Squad. You have represented your country at age group level or have been a member of a National Development Squad in the last 12 months or are currently competing at that standard.
• Tier 3: Regional Representative, Member of National League Team/Academy, Step 5+ (Men) and Step 4+ (Women) standard or equivalent. You have representated at this level in the last 12 months or are currently competing at that standard. 

Performance support

All Sport Performance Scholarships provide performance support options worth up to £2000 per annum. Depending on your level of performance, you may benefit from financial support too.

The performance support available to all scholarship holders are:

• Free use of Marjon Sport & Health Centre – this includes use of our state of the art gym, swimming pool, sports halls, tennis courts and astro pitches.
• Free use of Marjon Sport & Health Clinic - including exercise-based rehabilitation, injury prevention, electrotherapy, taping, sports massage and more.
• Complimentary membership of Marjon Sports Federation and a Marjon Sports team – this covers the cost of your training and insurance.
• Your costs for entering BUCS championships and competitions will be paid for when you represent Marjon.
• One set of Marjon sports clothing – a sports tee-shirt, a hoodie and tracksuit trousers.
• Ongoing Sport Psychology support.
• Twice weekly sessions in our strength and conditioning suite plus your own customised strength and conditioning programme overseen by one of our coaches.

Tier 1 and 2 athletes have access to ‘academic flexibility’, which means that when exams and assessments clash with competitions the University will work with you to do as much as we can to flex around those commitments. Also, if applicable, tier 1 and 2 athletes will have their entry fee to the University Games paid by the University.

You’ll be invited to a Welcome for Sport Performance Scholars at the start of the year. Here you’ll meet both the staff who are there to support you and your fellow Sport Performance Scholars. Our athletes tell us the opportunity to connect with one another is very helpful, as they can support one another in pursuing both their sporting and studying ambitions.

Financial support

Students who are awarded a Sport Performance Scholarship may be eligible for financial support to put towards kit, equipment, travel, competition entries, nutrition etc.

Financial support is worth up to £1,500 per year for tier 1, up to £1000 per year for tier 2 and up to £500 per year for tier 3 athletes.

The level of financial support available to you will be confirmed when you are offered your scholarship to help you budget for the year ahead.

When to apply?

• Applicants will be notified of the outcome by 7th of April 2021 and if successful they should confirm whether they expect to be taking up our scholarship offer by the 1st of May 2021.
• A second round of applications will be available for late applicants and clearing applicants, this will open from 10th of August to 7th of September 2021.
• Applicants will be notified of the outcome by 12th of October 2021. Second round awards are subject to there being remaining funding after the main round.
• If you have been awarded a Sport Performance Scholarship you need not reapply for subsequent years. We will reconsider you in subsequent years and you will be invited to meet the Sports Federation team to review your sporting performance over the year.