Top 10 sports scholarships for international students
The ten most valuable university sports scholarships open to international athletes, from Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada and the UK, plus US athletic scholarships and Olympic Solidarity, all checked on official pages.
For a talented athlete, the right scholarship can pay for a degree and a sporting career at the same time. But sports scholarships for international students are harder to find than most people think: many university schemes are for local students only, and others never say whether you can apply.
We checked more than 80 sports programmes on their official pages on October 31, 2026, and picked the ten that are both open to international athletes and offer the most value or support.
The list at a glance
| # | Scholarship | Country | Value (as stated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CityU Outstanding Athletes Entrance Scholarship | Hong Kong | Up to HK$250,000 a year |
| 2 | NTU Talent Scholarship (sports) | Singapore | Tuition, S$6,500 a year living, housing, talent grant |
| 3 | UVic Vikes International Athlete Award | Canada | $100,000 (Canadian) over 5 years |
| 4 | PolyU STARS Scholarship | Hong Kong | Up to full tuition plus HK$60,000 a year |
| 5 | NCAA Division I athletic scholarships | United States | Up to tuition, room, board and books |
| 6 | Nottingham sports scholarships | United Kingdom | Packages up to £13,500, plus £5,000 for international students |
| 7 | Loughborough Sports Scholarship | United Kingdom | Up to £5,000 a year plus performance support |
| 8 | Stirling International Sports Scholarship | United Kingdom | Up to £5,000 a year |
| 9 | Durham Global Sport Awards | United Kingdom | Up to £5,000 a year |
| 10 | Olympic Scholarships for Athletes | Global | USD 1,500 a month (through your NOC) |
1. CityU Outstanding Athletes Entrance Scholarship, Hong Kong
City University of Hong Kong offers non-local student-athletes up to HK$250,000 a year. Undergraduates get full tuition for up to four years plus a residence scholarship for hall fees, subject to availability, and master’s students get full or partial tuition for one year. It covers 18 sports, from athletics and badminton to fencing, rugby, swimming and tennis. Deadline: 30 January 2027.
2. NTU Talent Scholarship, Singapore
Open to all nationalities, the Nanyang Technological University Talent Scholarship covers subsidised tuition, S$6,500 a year for living costs, up to S$2,000 a year for housing, a talent grant of up to S$8,000 and a computer allowance. It has no bond beyond the standard Tuition Grant bond.
3. UVic Vikes International Athlete Award, Canada
The University of Victoria pays international athletes $20,000 a year for up to five years, $100,000 in total, for any varsity sport. It is open to entering and transferring international undergraduates.
4. PolyU STARS Scholarship, Hong Kong
PolyU’s STARS route lets talented non-local students, including athletes, gain admission even if their exam results do not show their full ability. The top tier is a renewable full-tuition scholarship plus HK$60,000 a year.
5. NCAA Division I athletic scholarships, United States
The largest system in the world: the NCAA says more than $4 billion in athletics scholarships is awarded every year. Most are partial, but they can cover tuition, room, board and books. Read how US sports scholarships work.
6. University of Nottingham
Nottingham’s packages range from £2,500 in services to bronze, silver and gold packages worth £4,500 to £13,500, plus a £5,000 International Sporting Excellence Scholarship towards fees.
7. Loughborough University
Up to £5,000 a year for athletes at least at junior international level, with coaching, sports medicine, science, nutrition, psychology and academic flexibility. Postgraduates in listed sports can get a £12,000 fee discount.
8. University of Stirling
Open to all nationalities, up to £5,000 a year, with specialist programmes in golf, tennis, swimming, football, rugby and triathlon.
9. Durham Global Sport Awards
Up to 20 awards of up to £5,000 a year for international and European students. First-round deadline: 7 December 2026.
10. Olympic Scholarships for Athletes
Through the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity programme, athletes aiming for Los Angeles 2028 can receive USD 1,500 a month for training, coaching, medical support and travel. You cannot apply directly: your National Olympic Committee applies for you.
How we ranked them
We included only programmes whose official pages confirm that international (or non-local) students can apply, then ranked them by the value and length of support. Values are as stated on official pages; currencies differ, so compare carefully.
Honourable mentions
- Hartpury Andrew Beacham Scholarships: £5,000 a year for international students in its sports academies.
- Lingnan University Elite Athletes Scholarships: full or half tuition plus most of the hostel fee, open to overseas athletes.
- R&A Golf Club Scholarship: up to £10,000 a year for education plus £5,000 for golf development, open worldwide.
- Stipendium Hungaricum for swimmers: free tuition in Hungary plus USD 500 a month from World Aquatics.
Next steps
Read our guides to sports scholarships in the USA, UK and Canada, and browse every listing under the Sports tag.