Sports Scholarship Programme 2026/27

The Brunel University of London Sports Scholarship Programme supports talented student-athletes to achieve their potential in both sport and education. Scholars benefit from financial assistance, specialist performance services and access to high-quality training facilities on campus.

There are two scholarship levels available:

Elite Sports Scholarship

For student-athletes competing at the highest levels of their sport. Elite scholars receive the full range of core scholarship benefits and may also qualify for participation and performance-related cash awards.

Performance Sports Scholarship

For talented student-athletes competing at national level or demonstrating the potential to make a significant impact for Brunel Sport and in BUCS competition. Performance scholars receive the same core scholarship benefits and  qualify for BUCS medal-related cash awards, but do not receive the standard participation-based cash bursary.

Priority sports

Priority will be given to athletes competing in Brunel’s Performance Sports:

Athletics, American Football, Football, Futsal, Netball and Volleyball.

Applications from athletes in other sports are also welcomed, particularly those competing in BUCS. Exceptional athletes from non-BUCS sports may also be considered.

Please be aware that we don't accept applications for Rugby Union, as this sport has it's own Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Scholarship Programme.
More details on this programme can be found further down this page.

Sports Scholars receive the following benefits:

• Upto £3,000 cash award (Dependent on scholarship level)
• 25% tuition fee reduction
• £1,000 reduction on on-campus accommodation fees
• Access to Athlete-Friendly Accommodation close to Brunel’s sports facilities
• Free access to the Indoor Athletics Centre and Sports Centre Gym
• Weekly complimentary sports massage sessions with our external physiotherapist
• Complimentary Sports Scholar kit
• Free access to strength and conditioning, nutrition, sport psychology, physiology and biomechanics, and lifestyle support
• Free Union Sports Membership
• The option to purchase a parking permit, including for students living on campus

The complete scholarship package is worth up to approximately £7,500 for home students and £11,300 for international students, depending on course fees, scholarship level and eligibility for cash awards.

Cash awards are linked to scholarship level, sport, BUCS participation and BUCS performance.

Elite Sports Scholars

Eligible Elite scholars can receive:

• Team sport athletes: participation based payments of up to £1,000.

• Individual sport athletes: participation based payments of up to £400, plus medal-based payments, as per the below.

• • BUCS Gold medal: £1,000
  • BUCS Silver medal: £500
  • BUCS Bronze medal: £250

Performance Sports Scholars

Performance scholars do not receive a standard participation based cash payment but do qualify for BUCS medal awards.

• BUCS Gold medal: £1,000
• BUCS Silver medal: £500
• BUCS Bronze medal: £250

Cash awards are subject to scholars meeting the relevant participation and performance requirements. Eligible BUCS medal payments apply to top tier competitions, and the maximum total cash award is £3,000 per scholar in one academic year. Further terms and conditions apply.

Anyone can apply for a Brunel University Sports Scholarship, provided they meet the academic entry requirements for their chosen course and have received a conditional or unconditional offer to study at Brunel.

Scholarships are available at Elite and Performance levels. Applicants should meet at least one of the following criteria:

Elite Sports Scholarship

• Competing at elite or professional level
• Funded by a National Governing Body
• Senior international representation
• A top-five UK age-group ranking or equivalent
• The potential to win a medal at a leading BUCS competition

Performance Sports Scholarship

• Competition at national level
• A top-15 UK age-group ranking or equivalent
• The potential to reach a BUCS final

For team sports within Brunel’s Performance Sport Programme, athletes may also be considered through coach nomination. They must be among the strongest players in their team and demonstrate the ability to make a significant impact at BUCS level.

Applications are welcomed from athletes across all BUCS sports. Athletes competing in non-BUCS sports may also be considered where they are performing at an exceptionally high level and would be a valuable addition to the programme. 

Please be aware that we don't accept applications for Rugby Union, as this sport has it's own Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Scholarship Programme.
More details on this programme can be found further down this page.

Meeting the criteria allows an athlete to be considered but does not guarantee a scholarship. All awards are determined by the Brunel Sports Scholarship Panel.

Complete and submit the online application form to be considered for a Sports Scholarship. Please see the application form here.

Applications for the 2026/27 academic year close on 31st August 2026.

Late applications, including those submitted through Clearing, may be considered at the discretion of the Sports Scholarship Panel and will be subject to scholarship availability.

For further information or support with your application, please contact Chris Hepworth at chris.hepworth@brunel.ac.uk.

James Cracknell

• Sport/Event: Rowing
• Degree: MSc Sport Sciences (1999)
• Achievements: 2× Olympic Gold Medallist (2000, 2004); 6× World Champion; one of Britain’s most decorated endurance athletes

 Audley Harrison

• Sport/Event: Boxing (Super-heavyweight)
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences & Leisure Management (1999)
• Achievements: Olympic Gold Medallist (2000 Sydney)

 Kate Richardson-Walsh

• Sport/Event: Hockey
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences (2003)
• Achievements: Olympic Gold Medallist (2016); former Great Britain captain; 375 international caps

 Tom Aggar

• Sport/Event: Para-Rowing
• Degree: MSc Sport Sciences (2013)
• Achievements: Paralympic Gold Medallist (2008); 4× World Champion

 James Fox

• Sport/Event: Para-Rowing
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences (2011)
• Achievements: 2× Paralympic Gold Medallist (2016, 2020); 5× World Champion

Heather Fell

• Sport/Event: Modern Pentathlon
• Degree: BSc Physiotherapy (2004)
• Achievements: Olympic Silver Medallist (2008)

Kathy Smallwood-Cook

• Sport/Event: Athletics (100m–400m)
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences & Biology (1981)
• Achievements: Multiple medals across Olympic, World, European & Commonwealth competitions

Kelly Sotherton

• Sport/Event: Athletics (Heptathlon)
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences with Leisure Management (1998)
• Achievements: Olympic Bronze Medallist (2004 & 2008)

Abi Oyepitan

• Sport/Event: Athletics (200m, 4×100m)
• Degree: BA Politics & Sociology (2001)
• Achievements: Commonwealth Gold & Silver (2010) and Bronze Medallist (2002)

Alan Pascoe

• Sport/Event: Athletics (110m hurdles, 400m hurdles)
• Degree: Physical Education (1971)
• Achievements: Olympic Silver Medallist; Commonwealth & European Champion

Iwan Thomas

• Sport/Event: Athletics (400m, 4×400m)
• Degree: BSc Leisure Management & Sport Sciences (1995)
• Achievements: Olympic Silver Medallist (1996); World Championship Silver Medallist (1997)

Ashley Bryant

• Sport/Event: Athletics (Decathlon)
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences (2013)
• Achievements: Commonwealth Games Silver Medallist (2014)

Melissa Courtney-Bryant

• Sport/Event: Athletics (1500m, 3000m, XC Relay)
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences (2014); MSc Sport & Exercise Psychology (2017)
• Achievements: Multiple European medallist; Commonwealth Games medallist

Perri Shakes-Drayton

• Sport/Event: Athletics (400m hurdles, 4×400m)
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences (2011)
• Achievements: Multiple World & European Championship medallist

Tony Adams

• Sport/Event: Football
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences (2006)
• Achievements: Arsenal captain; multiple Premier League titles; widely regarded as one of England’s greatest defenders

Eniola Aluko

• Sport/Event: Football
• Degree: LLB Law (2008)
• Achievements: 100+ England caps; leading figure in women’s football

Richard Hill

• Sport/Event: Rugby Union
• Degree: BSc Geography & Sport Sciences (1995)
• Achievements: Rugby World Cup Winner (2003)

Agustín Pichot

• Sport/Event: Rugby Union
• Degree: Business Studies & Sport Sciences (2002)
• Achievements: Argentina captain; World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee

Ben Gollings

• Sport/Event: Rugby Sevens
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences (2005)
• Achievements: All-time leading points scorer in World Rugby Sevens Series

Tom Shanklin

• Sport/Event: Rugby Union
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences (2004)
• Achievements: Most capped Wales international centre

Ron Wilson

• Sport/Event: Rugby Union
• Degree: Building Technology (1977)
• Achievements: Scotland international fly-half

Maud Muir

• Sport/Event: Rugby Union
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences (2022)
• Achievements: England international prop; Rugby World Cup Winner (2025)

May Campbell

• Sport/Event: Rugby Union
• Degree: BSc Sport Science with Business (2018)
• Achievements: England international forward; Rugby World Cup Winner (2025)

 Montell Douglas

• Sport/Event: Athletics (100m, 200m)/Bobsleigh
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences (2008)
• Achievements: Olympian in both Summer (2008) & Winter Games (2022); one of only two British winter and summer Olympians; Gladiator on the famous British game show

Emma Ania

• Sport/Event: Athletics (4×100m relay)
• Degree: BSc Medical Biology (2007)
• Achievements: Olympian (2008)

Julie Hollman

• Sport/Event: Athletics (Heptathlon)
• Degree: Sport Science with Geography & Environmental Issues
• Achievements: Olympian (2008); Commonwealth Games competitor (2002 & 2006)

Nick Buckfield

• Sport/Event: Athletics (Pole Vault)
• Degree: Religious Studies & Sport Sciences
• Achievements: 2× Olympian; multiple major championship appearances

Brad Hall

• Sport/Event: Bobsleigh
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences (2015)
• Achievements: 3× Olympian; World & European Championship medallist

Toby Olubi

• Sport/Event: Bobsleigh
• Degree: BSc Economics (2008)
• Achievements: Winter Olympian (2018); Gladiator on the famous British game show

Greg Whyte

• Sport/Event: Modern Pentathlon
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences & Geology; PGCE Physical Education (1990)
• Achievements: 2× Olympian; World & European medallist

Paul Dickenson

• Sport/Event: Athletics (Hammer Throw)
• Degree: Physical Education (1971)
• Achievements: 2× Olympian; BBC athletics commentator

Catherine Murphy

• Sport/Event: Athletics (400m, 4×400m)
• Degree: LLB Law (1997)
• Achievements: Olympian; European medallist; multiple international finals appearances

Brett Garrard

• Sport/Event: Hockey
• Degree: Business Studies & Sport Sciences (1999)
• Achievements: Olympic hockey player (2000 & 2004); Great Britain captain

Roger Hammond

• Sport/Event: Cycling (Road)
• Degree: Management & Materials Technology (1996)
• Achievements: Professional road cyclist; 1x Olympian (2004) and finished third in the famous Paris-Roubaix (2004)

 Abi Ekoku

• Sport/Event: Athletics (Discus, Shot Put)/Rugby League
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences & Geography (1990)
• Achievements: Commonwealth Games athlete; professional rugby league player

Paul Stimpson

• Sport/Event: Basketball
• Degree: BSc Sport Sciences & Geography (1980)
• Achievements: 120+ caps for Great Britain & England; former England captain

Tyri Donovan

• Sport/Event: Athletics (400m hurdles)
• Degree: English Language and English Literature (2021)
• Achievements: Semi-finalist at the World Championships (2025); fifth on the UK all-time list

James McMurray

• Sport/Event: Athletics (1500m, XC Relay)
• Degree: BSc Physiotherapy (2020)
• Achievements: European cross-country relay medallist (2019) and World Indoor Championships (2026) competitor

Emma Nwofor

• Sport/Event: Athletics (60m hurdles)
• Degree: BSc Sport, Health and Exercise Science (2018)
• Achievements: European Indoor Championships (2021) and World Indoor Championships (2026) competitor