Sports Scholarships

The 2023/24 Sports Scholarship application process has now closed and all applicants will receive a decision by email, week commencing 18th September.

If you are a student looking to attend Leeds Beckett University in the 2024/25 academic year, please see the information on our current sports scholarship programme below.

If you have any questions or would like to speak to the Head Coach of your specific sport, please contact us at sport@leedsbeckett.ac.uk and a member of our team will get back to you.

Thank you.

Women's rugby - team huddle
Carnegie American Football player

'High Performance' and 'Focus Sport' scholarships

We have been supporting students to reach their potential through the scheme since 2002. Famous alumni that have benefitted from the scheme include Lucy Bronze, Alistair Brownlee, Alex Yee, Emily Scarratt, Vicky Fleetwood, Laura Weightman and Tom Bosworth.

Each year we award a number of Sports Scholarships to high performing athletes who are committed to upholding the values of the university, represent us in BUCS events and who demonstrate the ability to progress and achieve high levels of success within their chosen sport.

The indoor running track in Carnegie School of Sport building on Headingley Campus
Rugby Union at Varsity

High Performance Scholarship

This award is for student athletes who are competing at a very high level in individual or team sports. This would mean attendance at major Senior Championships such as Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth Games. Or be a top ranked age group athlete. In team sports a player would need to be a in a Senior or age group National team that competes in an International Tournament.

N.B. We are well aware that athletes and team players who compete at an International level already have excellent support from their clubs, sponsors and national governing bodies, therefore we will endeavour to put together a bespoke scholarship package that is best suited to their needs rather than providing access to a service or services that are not needed.

Financial contributions would be up to the value of £3,000.

Focus Sport Scholarship

These awards are for students who compete at a high level in one of our ten focus sports and could include support in all the areas mentioned below with a cash honorarium of up to £1,500.

  1. American Football

    • GB adult programme member
    • Extensive experience and high performance levels in European leagues
    • Extensive experience and high performance levels in North American leagues/divisions
  2. Athletics

    • Age group Internationals (achieving qualification standards for major age group championships)
  3. Cricket

    • Must have have played International cricket with major countries or associate countries, County 1st or County 2nd level.
  4. Football

    • Men
      • Be a regular contributor to a 1st team squad in step 4 of non league or above.
      • Part of a professional academy to U18 or older.
      • Senior or age group international.
    • Women
      • Be a regular contributor to a 1st team squad in tier 4 or above
      • Be part of a WSL/championship academy.
      • Senior or age group international.
  5. Futsal

    • Be a regular contributor to 1st team squad in National Futsal Series.
    • Senior or age group international.
  6. Netball

    • Home Nation Senior / Age Group International.
    • Super League squad player (including training partner.)
    • NPL player with 3 years playing experience (80% court time.)
  7. Rugby League (M)

    • Championship 1 or 2 player.
    • England / GB Age Group International.
  8. Rugby Union

  9. Tennis

    • A player to have or have had an ATP or WTA point/s. i.e. they have had a world ranking.
    • Have or have had a Junior ITF top 500 ranking or reaching quarter finals or of a British Tour or a Junior UK rank in the top 20 nationally.
  10. Triathlon

    • Standard: Proven record of winning individual BUCS medals in either Duathlon, Sprint Triathlon and/or Olympic distance triathlon in the previous 2 years.
    • Alternatively having placed in top 10 at World U-23 championships or Top 5 at European U-23 championships.

Scholarship packages

High Performance Scholarship

Receive up to £3,000

Focus Sports Scholarship

Receive up to £1,500

Both 'High Performance' and 'Focus Sport' scholarships also provide the following:

  • Athletic Union membership
  • Sport Beckett membership
  • Free access to fitness classes
  • Free access to athletics track
  • Free access to swimming pool
  • LBU injury clinic support
  • Strength and conditioning support
  • Performance workshops
  • Nutrition workshops
  • Dual career support
  • Sports kit

As a TASS Dual Career Accredited University all sport scholars will receive Dual Career support to help them balance sporting and academic commitments.

The indoor running track in Carnegie School of Sport building on Headingley Campus

Important Information

We have a limited number of Scholarships to award in 2023/24 and therefore in addition to requiring you to meet the above criteria we will give priority to students who can demonstrate that they will make a significant contribution in their respective sport.

Meeting the criteria does not equate to entitlement to a scholarship.

World Student Games representation or equivalent

Where a Leeds Beckett Student is selected to represent British Universities in the World Student Games or an International tournament and are required to make a financial contribution then we will give them an award of up to £500.

N.B. The full £500 will only be awarded when the contribution is equal to or more than £500.

Get in touch with the Carnegie sport team