Supporting Scotland’s future sporting talent – together
Winning Students 100 works in partnership with sport governing bodies to identify and support student athletes with the potential to succeed at the highest level.
Winning Students 100 is a national programme delivered in partnership with sportscotland, the Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Student Sport and Scotland’s colleges and universities.
Governing bodies play a vital role in the programme – helping to identify athletes with the potential to progress and succeed, while supporting a system that enables them to balance high-performance sport with their education.
Are you a Sport Governing Body with an athlete that could benefit from Winning Students 100 support? Let’s work together.
Why partner with Winning Students 100?
A joined-up approach to athlete development
By working together, we can ensure talented athletes are supported in a way that reflects both their sporting ambitions and academic commitments.
Through working with Winning Students 100, governing bodies can:
Contribute to a more sustainable high-performance system in Scotland
Support athletes through a recognised national scholarship programme
Help reduce financial barriers to training and competition
Strengthen athlete retention within education pathways
Athletes benefit from:
Up to £3,000 funding
Academic flexibility to effectively balance academic and sporting pursuits
Additional funding is available for athletes from areas of high deprivation (as determined by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation)
How is Winning Students 100 supported?
Winning Students 100 is a three-way partnership between sportscotland, Scottish Funding Council and Scotland’s tertiary education sector.
The programme is governed by an Advisory Board, comprising representatives from:
the tertiary education sector
Scottish Funding Council
sportscotland
Scottish Student Sport
A Management Group, consisting of representatives from these organisations provides operational guidance and support to the programme. Daily operations are managed by the University of Stirling.
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How it works
Identifying and supporting athletes
Each year, governing bodies are invited to nominate athletes for consideration as part of the Winning Students 100 cohort.
The process includes:
Nomination – Governing bodies identify eligible athletes based on agreed criteria
Application – Athletes submit an application outlining their sporting and academic commitments
Selection – Awards are made based on performance level, potential and need
Support – Successful athletes receive funding and access to tailored support
Eligibility
Athletes who are British passport holders, studying at least 60 credits at a college or university in Scotland.
Athletes from Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth sports* are eligible to apply.
Athletes should be aged 16 years or older.
*sports must be included within the 2026 Winter Olympics/Paralympics, the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, or the 2028 Summer Olympics/Paralympics, to be eligible.
General Selection Principles
To be considered for a Winning Students 100 Scholarship, athletes should have attained the following level in their sport (listed in priority order):
Olympic/Paralympic representation at a previous games
Commonwealth Games representation at Birmingham 2022
GB World Class Programme selection (at present)
GB/Scotland Senior International selections at a previous major Championships
GB Junior Squad Representation at a previous major Championships
World University Games representation at a previous Championships
Other recent international representation will be considered by the management committee based on merit/strength of competition.
In addition:
An athlete must be committed to compete within a governing body’s performance programme for the scholarship award year.
An athlete must demonstrate excellent conduct as a student, high-performance athlete and role model for the Winning Students 100 Programme.
How do student-athletes apply?
Student-athletes apply directly via our online portal
The link for applying is circulated via governing bodies and institutions each summer
The Winning Students 100 Management Group considers applications and makes recommendations to the Winning Students 100 Advisory Board for award
What is the role of Sports Governing Bodies in Winning Students 100?
Governing bodies are central to the success of the programme.
Your role includes:
Identifying and nominating suitable athletes
Encouraging athlete applications
Endorsing athlete nominations in line with the selection criteria
Supporting athlete development and progression
Providing insight into performance level and potential
Working collaboratively with partners across the sector
Priority Sports
A maximum number of six scholarships can be awarded per sport, with the exception of Priority Sports, which can have a maximum number of twenty scholarships per sport, subject to meeting the stipulated criteria.
Priority Sports will be determined by the level of strategic contribution to the HE/FE sector by a Sports Governing Body, over the last five years, and the cash investment value therein.
