The Elite Athlete Programme is the flagship scholarship programme for international-level athletes at Queen’s University Belfast and represents the highest sporting award available to student-athletes.

The programme provides tailored support to those competing at the top of their sport — including international, national, and professional levels. Athletes are selected into two tiers, receiving up to £5,000 per year (Tier 1) or £3,000 per year (Tier 2) in support.

This package may include access to strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, sports science services, performance lifestyle support, and academic flexibility. The Elite Athlete Programme enables athletes to pursue sporting excellence while achieving their academic goals within a high-performance university environment.

Queen’s Sports Academies provide high-performance student-athletes with a structured and supportive environment to excel both academically and athletically. Each of our five academies — in Rugby, GAA, Soccer, Rowing, and Hockey — is led by a dedicated Development Officer, ensuring sport-specific expertise and tailored athlete development.

Academy members benefit from access to professional coaching, integrated performance services, and academic flexibility. Eligible students may also receive financial support of up to £1,500 per year, helping to offset the demands of high-level competition alongside their studies.

Performance criteria for each Academy can be found on their page.

The Sports Bursary Programme at Queen’s supports high-performance student-athletes competing in sports outside of our priority academies. This programme provides a structured and supportive environment to help athletes balance their academic and sporting commitments.

Each bursary recipient works closely with a dedicated Development Officer, Ruairi Taylor, who offers tailored guidance to meet their individual needs. Students on the programme benefit from access to performance support services, academic flexibility, and a financial award of up to £1,500 per year to assist with the demands of elite competition.