Top athlete and studying
Are you an elite international athlete and want to study with us? You can do so with the Elite Sports Regulation! Thanks to extra support, you can combine your sports career with an education at the AUAS.
Conditions for Elite Sports Support
You are eligible for support if you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Your sports level is comparable to the standards of NOC*NSF, the Dutch sports organisation. Together with sports federations, they have drawn up minimum requirements for an athlete to qualify as a talent or elite athlete. This usually involves performing at the level of the national (youth) team or close to it.
- You practice a sport at the level of recognised finals of European Championships, World Championships or the Olympic Games, which sport is included in the most recent List of Elite Sports and International Competitive Sports Disciplines of the NOC*NSF.
Note: We don't have university sports teams, so you have to be active in your own national team or at the highest Dutch sports level.
Applying for elite sports status
You get elite sports status for a maximum of one academic year and you have to reapply every year. You will be notified by email whether you qualify for elite sports status.
Allow for an application processing time of 30 days.
Applications for academic year 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 can be submitted by filling in the form below.
Intake interview
If you qualify for elite sports status, the relevant elite sports coordinator will invite you for an intake interview. During this intake interview, we will discuss your elite sport status, how to best combine study and elite sports, and possible bottlenecks.
The interview focuses on both the short term (your first year of study) and the long term. We discuss how your sporting career relates to your studies and whether there are any future developments that may affect your studies.
After the intake interview
If the elite sports coordinator approves elite sports status during the intake interview, you will receive official confirmation of your elite sports status by email.
Facilities
What does elite sports guidance involve? This includes:
- additional study guidance on planning your study and training schedule;
- the possibility of taking tests remotely;
- the option to indicate preferences for timetable times;
- and help in applying for financial compensation for study delays due to your dual career.
Please note that the facilities available may vary from course to course. The elite sports coordinator of the faculty where you will study will inform you about this.
Financial compensation
As an elite athlete, you may be eligible for financial support, as stipulated in the Student Charter. If you want to take advantage of this, contact the student counsellor.
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