Sports Bursaries
We are committed to attracting the best student athletes, and in recognition of the costs involved in competing at a high level in sport, offer two bursaries in addition to our sport scholarship scheme.
These two bursaries are the Performance Programme Bursary and the Mature Athlete Bursary. To be considered for either of these sport bursaries, you must:
- Be a UK national and assessed as paying UK tuition fees
- Have applied and be in receipt of an offer from Loughborough University by 30 June in the appropriate application cycle
- Be registered on a full-time undergraduate degree course at Loughborough University at the start of academic year 2026/27
- Select Loughborough University as your firm choice institution (CF) if an incoming student.
The awards will not be confirmed until after the University has received examination results, verified declared household income information, confirmed which students have successfully secured a place to study at Loughborough, and confirmed places within performance programme squads and/or received confirmation of BUCS representation.
Receipt of support is not a guarantee of support in future years, and the criteria is subject to annual review.
Please note that these bursaries are not available to students from Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Performance Programme Bursary
Cash bursaries of £1,000 are available for athletes representing Loughborough University in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) competition as part of our performance programmes. Support is annual and paid directly into your bank account in three equal instalments per year.
To be considered for the Performance Programme Bursary you must meet the standard criteria listed above, and:
- Have a household income of less than £30k
- Represent Loughborough University in BUCS as part of our performance programme first team squads.
Please note that your sponsors (usually your parents) must give their consent to share their financial information with the University in order for you to be considered for the award.
You do not need to make a separate application to the University in order to be considered for the Performance Programme Bursary. However, you will need to have made an application to the relevant student finance award agency. Your eligibility will be assessed during November/December and if you are eligible you will receive an e-mail from Loughborough Sport.
Loughborough’s sports with a performance programme are athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, cycling, football, hockey, netball, rugby union, swimming, squash, triathlon, tennis and women's wheelchair basketball.
Please note that if you are eligible for more than one of the Loughborough University Bursary, Care Leaver Bursary, Opportunity Scholarship or Sport Performance Programme Bursary, you will receive the largest of these awards only.
No application is required for the Performance Programme Bursary.
Mature Athlete Bursary
Cash bursaries of £1,000 are available for mature athletes representing Loughborough University in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) competition. Support is annual and paid directly into your bank account in three equal instalments per year.
To be considered for the Mature Athlete Bursary, you must meet the standard criteria listed above, and be 21 or over when you commence the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree course or foundation year, for the first time, at Loughborough University.