The scholarship

Winning Students scholarships are individually tailored to each athlete's needs, complimenting existing support. Awarded annually, scholarships can value up to £5,500 each year.

Across the nine core scholarship sports, athletes are nominated by their governing body. There are also individual scholarships available in non-core sports, with athletes nominated by their sport or by their college or university.

Nominations are submitted to the University of Stirling, Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence, which manages the scholarship programme.

Core sport nominations are confirmed provided the athletes meet the full selection criteria while individual scholarships are considered by a select group of the programme's Advisory Board.

Scholarships can be spent flexibly on a number of support services from accommodation to match fees and the individual needs are agreed by the athlete in consultation with their sport and with their college or university Winning Students co-ordinator.

Scholar expectations

Scholarship support is provided with a number of agreed expectations in return. Scholars must:

• Represent their home nation or demonstrate capability of playing in future major tournaments and events

• Fulfil and demonstrate a high level of commitment to their agreed annual training and competition programme

• Compete in their agreed annual competition schedule

• Display a high standard of sporting and personal conduct compatible with the interests of sport and the name Winning Students

• Represent their institution and act as an ambassador for their institution

• Produce academic work of the appropriate standard to meet the criteria of the academic study programmes undertaken

Performance levels

The scholarships are designed to give student athletes the best possible platform to succeed academically and in their chosen sport.

The sportscotland institute of sport (SIS) is responsible for performance sport in Scotland, working closely with UK Sport to prepare and develop sports and athletes aspiring to perform as part of Team GB at Olympic Games and Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.

Winning Students stengthens the existing system by working closely with and consulting SIS at every opportunity.