University of Aberdeen Development Trust Sports Bursary Scheme

The University of Aberdeen’s Development Trust Sports Bursary Scheme is funded each year by the Development Trust through fundraising, the support of business, and alumni of the university. A Sports Bursary award is made on a one year renewable basis, and is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Around 10-20 sports bursaries will normally be available. The number and scale of awards will depend on the availability of funding and will reflect the relative standard of the applications each year.

Bursaries will normally be awarded in one of four categories:
Gold: up to a maximum of a £1000 cash award, plus a bursar package
Silver: up to a maximum of a £500 cash award, plus a bursar package
Bronze: up to a maximum of a £250 cash award, plus a bursar package
Bursar: access to some or all elements of the bursary programme, without a cash award

Bursar package: this package itself is worth several hundred pounds and includes; gym membership at Aberdeen Sports Village, strength and conditioning support, physiotherapy, seminars, yoga sessions, and exclusive sports bursar clothing. Where appropriate, university staff may also be a point of contact for elite sports performers applying for academic flexibility.

Sports: applicants performing at a high standard from any sport are encouraged to apply, however students from athletics, swimming, and rowing will be particularly welcomed. In recent years our bursar supported sports have included trampolining, shooting, hockey and rugby, as well as rowing, athletics & swimming.

Criteria: all applicants need to demonstrate and clearly evidence their sporting performance during the current or most recent season. Evidence may vary by sport. For example, in athletics, your Power of 10 ranking and athlete profile could be used. In other sports, performance against for example, a qualifying standard for the BUCS championships could be used as a benchmark. Applicants from those involved in team sports will be expected to differentiate their individual performance, and to demonstrate representative honours and/or a realistic expectation of playing at national league level or above. In all cases, some form of evidence is required.

Closing date for applications is normally in September each year. 

For full details including application dates please see the Sport and Exercise website: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/sportandexercise/performance/bursaries/