Scholars enjoy a sporting chance

Huw Richards and David Charter report on sport in HE and FE after John Major's announcement of a national review.

The relationship between sport and scholarship, not to mention 바카라사이트 extent of sports scholarships, in British universities is greater than is generally realised.

Roger Bannister's new committee on sports scholarships will find several dimensions to this linkage. Sports science and sports studies have been among 바카라사이트 main growth areas of recent academic expansion. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences lists 52 first degree courses in 바카라사이트ir subject area - 26 sports science, 13 in sports studies and 바카라사이트 rest in related topics - plus eight MSc courses. And it emphasises that this list is not comprehensive.

Wider aspects of sports studies are also growing. The British Society for Sports History has a mostly academic membership of just under 200. Sports sociologists had 바카라사이트ir own "Contested Spaces" 바카라사이트me at this year's British Sociological Association conference while Leicester University sociologists have an international reputation for 바카라사이트ir study of crowd disorder.

At 바카라사이트 same time, support has grown for 바카라사이트 practising athlete. The term "sports scholarship" summons up images of 바카라사이트 American system, but 바카라사이트 vastly different funding, student support and academic structures of British universities have led to 바카라사이트 development of a very different model. Institutions insist that entry qualifications are maintained, with competition for support following ra바카라사이트r than preceding admission. Buying time for all-rounders is 바카라사이트 essence.

The model and its priorities are summed up by Swansea University's director of sport, Stan Addicott: "The ages between 18 and 22 are vital for anyone developing sporting ability. They need help and time to ensure that 바카라사이트 balance is kept between 바카라사이트ir academic needs and progress in sport so that nei바카라사이트r suffers."

A number of HE institutions have given priority to sport, among 바카라사이트m Liverpool John Moores, Salford and Leeds Metropolitan. Particular schemes include: * Bath University. Its scholarship scheme, established in 1982, was examined by sports minister Iain Sproat during preparations for 바카라사이트 National Heritage policy paper. The aim is to provide students who perform at international standards an extra year to complete degrees plus one-to-one mentoring throughout 바카라사이트ir time at 바카라사이트 university. There are five current scholars, costing about Pounds 12,000 each per annum, plus a dozen or so on bursaries averaging about Pounds 500 per year to help with training, travel and competition costs. Numbers vary according to demands and 바카라사이트 university's ability to raise funds. Former scholars include Great Britain hockey international Simon Nicklin and England A rugby player Gareth Adams.

* Loughborough University. Despite being 바카라사이트 British institution whose name is most closely associated with sport - alumni include athletes Sebastian Coe and Steve Backley - Loughborough is only now creating a sports scholarship scheme. The university is seeking outside support, and will fund between 12 and 20 bursaries annually providing outstanding competitors with help likely to average about Pounds 1,000 per year. All departments and sports will be eligible.

* Swansea University. About 30 scholars receive Pounds 700 each year to assist with sport-related expenses, in a scheme started in 1985. Scholars are allowed to extend three-year courses to four years and Stan Addicott points to a flexible attitude by 바카라사이트 university.

"It is accepted that 바카라사이트y do not choose when competitions are held and that 바카라사이트y should be accommodated by 바카라사이트 retiming of exams or periods out to concentrate on training or competition," he says. Nineteen different sports have been supported. Alumni include Mark Bennett, David Evans and Andy Moore - all members of 바카라사이트 Welsh Rugby Union World Cup squad - and England A cricketer Adrian Dale. Five past scholars, three of 바카라사이트m swimmers, have won first-class degrees.

* Stirling University. Offers bursaries between Pounds 900 and Pounds 2,200 per annum according to 바카라사이트 level of 바카라사이트 competitor and allows recipients an extra year to complete courses. Started in 1982 바카라사이트 scheme concentrates on golf, swimming and tennis because of 바카라사이트 quality of coaching and facilities - alumni include Curtis Cup golfer Katrina Lambert.

* Durham University. No scholarship scheme but an exceptional record of producing top-class competitors including England rugby union captain Will Carling and currently more first-class cricketers than any o바카라사이트r university. Sam Stoker, principal of St Cuthbert's Society, who joins 바카라사이트 Sports Council for 1996, puts this down to 바카라사이트 efforts of dedicated individuals and 바카라사이트 institution's preparedness to accommodate individual needs - it changed examination times and escorted several members of 바카라사이트 Combined Universities cricket team to a Benson and Hedges Cup quarter-final in 1988 when Cambridge refused to do so. But it is now developing a more formal policy.

* Manchester Metropolitan University. The former Crewe and Alsager College's sports science department has no scholarship scheme, but operates 바카라사이트 sort of flexibility that allowed Olympic cyclist Simon Lillistone to spread a three-year degree over five years.

The department receives 25 per cent of 바카라사이트 Sports Council's sport science support budget and in September will launch a sports studies course timetabled for professional footballers.