High Performance Academy

Staffordshire University Sport’s High-Performance Academy aims to provide the best possible personalised schemes for highly talented athletes, coaches and officials and their individual needs.

Our main objective is to help enrich, develop and improve the student experience whilst studying at the university. Within the HPA, high performing sporting students can apply to any of the three yearlong tailormade scholarship or development schemes, depending on their requirements whilst studying here at the university.

We offer three schemes, one scholarship scheme, the Performance Athlete Scholarship Scheme (PASS) and two development schemes , the Talented Athlete Development Scheme (TADS) and our Coaching & Officiating Development Scheme (CODS).

All schemes consist of the same basic support package which includes:

• Strength and conditioning
• Nutrition advice
• Sports psychology
• Sports therapy sessions
• Academic flexibility
• HPA kit bundle
• Dual career mentoring
• Free gym and facility access
• Free BUCS membership 

Performance Athlete Scholarship Scheme

Applying to be part of PASS requires applicants to compete at either a regional, national or international stage within the past 2 years, evidence will be required on submission. Once accepted onto the scholarship, PASS athletes will have access to the following additional benefits:

• Bursaries (up to £3,000 depending on level of competition)*
• 1 to 1 strength and conditioning coached sessions
• 1 to 1 sports psychology sessions
• Higher levels of academic flexibility
• St Georges Park athlete testing/experience days
• Dual career TASS qualified mentoring

*to receive this funding students must be on a full time undergraduate course.

Talented Athlete Development Scheme

When applying for TADS, applicants must be currently competing at a regional or national standard or show evidence that they are able to do so. TADS athletes will have access to the following additional benefits:

• Group strength and conditioning coached sessions
• Group Sports psychology sessions
• St Georges Park athlete testing/experience day
• Access to small amount of funding
• Free BUCS competition entries
• Dual career advice

Coaching & Officiating Development Scheme

Coaching applicants must have or be in the process of achieving a UKCC Level 2 (or equivalent) in a sport recognized by Sport England. Officiating applicants must be currently officiating at a regional, national or international level. Added benefits to the scheme consist of the following

• Dual career mentoring
• Additional fund access
• Career pathway development