Performance Para sport

Para sport performance programmes

For student athletes competing at a high level, we currently offer integrated performance programmes in the following para sports:

Our philosophy is to ensure that wherever possible and appropriate, our performance programmes are fully integrated, meaning our para-athletes train together with non-disabled athletes and with the same coaches and support staff.  We do however recognise that in some cases, para-athletes have unique needs and therefore we are always looking to ensure our programmes can meet those needs.

Athletes on performance programmes benefit from access to professional coaches and a comprehensive range of performance support services delivered by a professional interdisciplinary team.

We will also look to provide whatever support possible to those athletes who come from sports outside our performance programmes. We already have athletes successfully training and competing in a number of other sports. We look to create partnerships with National Governing Bodies and other sporting bodies to provide the best possible athlete development experiences.

Competing for Loughborough University as a Para-Athlete

British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) is the national governing body for higher education sport in the UK and is responsible for providing para sport competition opportunities.  At Loughborough, we are always looking to ensure that students have the opportunity to compete in BUCS events.  The current para sports can be found through their website.

Scholarships and bursaries

Para athletes who show outstanding potential may be made a scholarship offer to come and study at Loughborough.

In addition to sport scholarships we also offer a number of cash bursaries for disabled athletes who meet bursary eligibility criteria.

We are proud to have so many student para-athletes who have competed at the Paralympic Games or World Championships, including:

Loughborough is also home to a large number of non-student para-athletes who are part of NGB World Class Programmes which are based on campus such as British Athletics, British Triathlon and British Weightlifting.  In addition, a number of NGB World Class Programmes use Loughborough for training camps.