New scholarship scheme launched for talented athletes and teams

Top sporting performers receive College support throughout their studies - News

Monday 16 October 2006
By Naomi Weston

A new scheme aimed at supporting the College's elite sports performers and aiding their sporting development while they studying at Imperial, has been launched by Sport Imperial.

The Developing Excellence Scheme (DES) is open to any full-time student at the College and offers support of up to £2,000, which includes help towards travelling expenses and massage treatments, if they are performing to a high standard in their chosen sport. In addition, it applies to students who have aspirations to compete nationally and internationally, or represent Imperial in British University Sports Association (BUSA) and other approved competitions.

This is the first year Sport Imperial will be awarding full scholarships under this scheme. There will be a limited number of awards available every year and and a panel from Sport Imperial will assess applications and award the athlete support. For the current academic year 10 awards have been given to students in the following sports: athletics and cross country, tennis, table tennis, sailing, rowing and ice hockey.

The support is available to individual athletes and performance or development teams. The Developing Excellence Scheme may cover coaching, equipment, entry fees, travel costs, support services, nutrition, and physiological testing.

Nick Gore, Sports Development Officer, says: "DES is an excellent support resource for Imperial students who are serious about their sporting aspirations and development as well as their academic objectives. We are keen to offer support to students in a varied programme of sports and raise the profile of Imperial's sporting performance within UK University sport and beyond. The scholars this year are all high achieving athletes and we'll be watching their progress closely."

The Developing Excellence Scheme is now one of three scholarship programmes the College runs. Rowing scholarships were intoduced in 2003 and the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) is a government funded programme started in 2004.

All recipients of the scholarships are asked to honour Imperial sporting fixtures and assist the College in promoting the profile of their sport.

Students interested in applying for the DES award should visit the website
Website: www.imperial.ac.uk/sports/development/des.htm