IDA SHEFFIELD SCHOLARSHIP
OPPORTUNITY
What we are offering?
We are offering a unique scholarship opportunity for exceptionally strong overseas-fee-paying undergraduate students joining both the University of Sheffield and Inspire Development Academy (IDA) in September 2026.
Financial breakdown of the combined scholarship presented by the University of Sheffield and IDA Sheffield
| The University of Sheffield | IDA Sheffield | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £10,000 University fees discount | £10,000 football programme waiver | £20,000 |
| Year 2 | £2,500 University fees discount | £10,000 football programme waiver | £12,500 |
| Year 3 | £2,500 University fees discount | £10,000 football programme waiver | £12,500 |
| £45,000 |
For clarity, the figures outlined above include a £10,000 reduction on the student-athlete’s university fee in Year 1, along with a full waiver of the £10,000 football fee.
Year 2: A £2,500 discount will be applied to the university fee in year 2, in addition to a full £10,000 football fee waiver.
Year 3: A £2,500 discount will again be applied to the university fee in year 3, along with a full £10,000 football fee waiver.
For more information on our Scholarship Event, click on the button below.
Who can apply??
- You must begin an undergraduate degree at the University of Sheffield in September 2026; all courses are eligible except Medicine (A100/A101) and Dentistry (A200).
- You must have selected Sheffield as your firm or insurance choice by 4:00pm (UK time) on Wednesday 3 June 2026.
- At the point of registration you must be signed with Inspire Development Academy.
Application Process
1.
Applications are open. Click here
2.
Deadline: Saturday 21/03/25
3.
Applicants notified: 28/03/25
4.
Scholarship acceptace 03/06/25
Selection Process
This is a competitive process and not all applications will be successful. A panel of senior members of staff will select the strongest applications and will be looking for the following:
- Applicant has a strong academic profile.
- Applicant has a strong athletic profile and professional development potential.
- Applicant has given examples of achievements which represent excellence and initiative in educational, voluntary, or extra-curricular areas.
- Applicant has shown leadership and character qualities aligning with the Inspire Development Academy values.
- Applicant has attended the Inspire Development Academy Spring Break Camp, Sunday 15 March - Saturday 21 March 2026 in Sheffield for an in-person assessment. The deadline to register for the Spring Break Camp is Friday 6 March 2026.
Further information
- Your programme must be scheduled to commence at the University of Sheffield in autumn 2026.
- You must remain part of IDA for the duration of your course or you will no longer be eligible to receive the award.
- To apply you must hold an offer for a course studied in full at the University of Sheffield. All undergraduate degree courses are eligible with the exceptions of Medicine (A100/A101) and Dentistry (A200).
- For tuition fee purposes you must be self-funded and eligible to pay the overseas tuition fee.
- You must not be a sponsored student*.
- You must enter a degree programme at the University of Sheffield in year 1.
- For scholarship purposes all MArch programmes are considered as postgraduate taught programmes and are not eligible for this or any other undergraduate scholarship.
- The University of Sheffield reserves the right to review and change scholarship provision.
- If you are selected for a scholarship, subject to the eligibility and award criteria you will be guaranteed the award in your first year of study only.
- In subsequent years you will be awarded the IDA Sheffield Academic Scholarship worth £2,500 per year subject to scoring 60%, or above (wmg), and achieving a minimum of 120 credits in the previous academic year. The IDA Sheffield Academic Scholarship is not applicable during any years in industry or any compulsory or non-compulsory years abroad as part of your degree.
- The scholarship cannot be awarded in conjunction with any available scholarships from the Department or Faculty you will be studying in.
- The scholarship cannot be awarded in conjunction with any funding from an external sponsor**, excluding from the Inspire Development Academy or a loan, which has to be paid back in full.
- If you are selected for a scholarship and you fail to meet the conditions of your course offer you will no longer be eligible to receive the award.
- If you are selected for a scholarship and you change your degree programme to begin your studies again at level 1 of a new degree programme you may forfeit your scholarship.
- The scholarship will be applied as a tuition fee discount only, there is no cash alternative.
- The decision of the scholarship panel is final. No scholarship application or decision appeals will be considered.
- All decisions made by the University are made in good faith, if a scholarship is awarded on the basis of predicted grades and you do not achieve your predicted grades but you are permitted to join the University, the University reserves the right to remove the scholarship.
- If you are selected for a scholarship and you subsequently join the University via clearing you will no longer be eligible to receive the award.
- This scholarship cannot be deferred to a future year of entry. If you decide to defer entry to another year you forfeit this award.
- The scholarship cannot be provided during any intercalating years of study.
- If you are offered the scholarship, we’ll ask that you confirm acceptance of your scholarship by a fixed date. You must also choose the University of Sheffield as your firm or insurance choice before 4.00pm (UK time) on Wednesday 3 June 2026.
- The award winner will need to provide a photo and short paragraph about winning the scholarship to be used in future internal and external promotional materials.
- As the recipient of a scholarship, you may be asked to appear in external facing publicity materials, we will not share any personal details about you without your prior consent.
- The scholarship cannot be awarded in conjunction with any other scholarship or discount offered by the University unless explicitly stated.
* Sponsored student is defined as being in receipt of a total sum of funds that matches or exceeds the original tuition fee required by the University, before any scholarships, discounts or rewards are applied.
** Government or governmental organisation – international, national or regional; research council; charity; private enterprise; or any similar organisation.
IDA Sheffield Core Values
Respect
The recognition and valuing of each individual and their ideas, contributions, and perspectives. It involves treating everybody with fairness, professionalism, and consideration, fostering an atmosphere of trust and collaboration.
Integrity
Being honest and consistent in you’re actions, even when in a high pressure environment. Leading to strong personal and professional relationships on and off of the pitch.
Resilience
The ability to quickly adapt, recover, and maintain performance in challenging, high-pressure situations, Believing in you’re abilities. To stay motivated and productive, learn from failure or setbacks to continuously improve.
Professionalism
The attitudes, behaviours, and practices that players and staff maintain to achieve the best levels of performance possible. Demonstrate a dedication to improving their skillset and knowledge of the sport.
What Our Players Say About Us
