US Sports Scholarships for UK Athletes
Olympic Sports Scholarships has helped 196 British athletes study and compete at US universities on sports scholarships, more than from any other country. We guide you from your first GPA review to your first day on campus.
Our 2027 track record
The UK is the biggest group we work with. Our founder competed in the US and represented Great Britain during his time there, and our team has helped over 430 track and field athletes make the move.
57% of our athletes compete in NCAA Division I and 36% in Division II, with the rest in the NAIA or junior college. Across the programme, our athletes include 9 world medallists, 2 European champions and 11 European medallists.
British athletes we've placed
Wasn't qualifying for English Schools when he first contacted us. Now a European Cross Country silver medallist and one of Britain's fastest ever over 3,000m.
Read George's storyWorld U20 silver medallist. We secured him a full scholarship at Texas A&M, with additional costs covered on top.
Read Otis's storyHis times weren't what a programme of that level usually recruits, but we positioned him with bigger schools and he earned a full scholarship.
Read Jailan's storyCame to us late in the process. We guided her step by step to a warmer climate and a programme built around the 800m.
Read Grace's storyWhy British athletes choose the US
- Study for a degree and train full time, without choosing between university and sport.
- Scholarships can cover tuition, accommodation, meals and books.
- Full-time coaching, elite facilities and weekly competition against the best young athletes in the world.
- A US degree and an international network that stays with you for life.
England and Scotland: what US universities look at
US universities look at your last four years of secondary school, the same span as US grades 9 to 12. The qualifications are different in England and Scotland, so we assess them differently.
- Years 10 and 11: GCSEs (graded 9 to 1 in England). You need at least five GCSE passes in different subjects to show you have completed secondary school.
- Years 12 and 13: A-levels, or equivalents such as BTEC Level 3. These extend your record and must build on the GCSEs you already hold.
- Grades used: each GCSE and A-level grade is converted to a US grade and averaged into your GPA. Core subjects count most: English, maths, the sciences and humanities.
- S3 and S4: National 5s. You need at least five National 5 passes to show you have completed secondary school.
- S5: Highers. S6: Advanced Highers or further Highers. These extend your record beyond S4.
- Grades used: the results on your Summary of Attainment certificate from Qualifications Scotland (formerly the SQA). Only full National Courses count, not individual units.
Records from the ninth year of schooling onwards are requested, along with proof that you have completed school. We check exactly which of your results count during your GPA review.
Step one: your GPA review
Every OSS journey starts with a GPA review. US universities judge academics on a grade point average (GPA) out of 4.0, so we convert your school grades into a US GPA and check it against each division's standard. You find out which levels you qualify for today, and what to improve before coaches look at you.
| Level | Academic standard for new student-athletes |
|---|---|
| NCAA Division I | 16 approved core courses (English, maths, science, social science and others) with a core-course GPA of at least 2.3 |
| NCAA Division II | 16 approved core courses with a core-course GPA of at least 2.2 |
| NCAA Division III | Each university sets its own admissions standard |
| NAIA | Graduate from high school; a GPA of about 2.0 is typically required |
| Junior college (NJCAA) | Graduate from high school (or the equivalent) |
SAT and ACT scores are no longer needed for NCAA Division I and II eligibility (since January 2023). Standards can change, so we check the current rules with every athlete.
For UK athletes, that means your GCSE or National 5 grades already matter: they are a big part of the GPA coaches see when they first look at you. A weak GCSE or National 5 in a core subject can often be balanced by strong A-levels or Highers, which is why an early review helps.
School calendar vs the US calendar
Both calendars finish in time for an August start in the US, but the dates are different, so the timing of your recruiting is different too.
| England | Scotland | |
|---|---|---|
| School year | September to July | Mid-August to late June |
| Final exams | A-levels in May and June of Year 13 | Late April to early June (22 April to 2 June in 2026) |
| Results | A-levels in mid-August; GCSEs a week later | Early August (4 August in 2026) |
| Last school year | Year 13 | S6 (some athletes go after S5) |
| US start | August, the same summer | August, the same summer |
Final results arrive only days before many US semesters start, so coaches recruit you on your predicted grades and your results so far. Your final results then complete your eligibility.
Your 18-month recruiting timeline
US recruiting runs on a cycle of about 18 months before you start university. Starting earlier is better: an early GPA review gives you time to fix weak subjects, and coaches build their lists well ahead of each intake.
Where do your times stand?
US coaches recruit on performance. Our Standards Engine shows the times and marks US programmes look for in every track and field event, from NCAA Division I to the NAIA. Distance runners can also compare road and cross country results in our cross country scholarships guide.
How OSS gets you there
- Free assessment and GPA review: we review your results, calculate your US GPA and tell you honestly where you could compete.
- Strategy (4 to 6 weeks): we agree your goals, build your recruiting profile and choose the right level and universities.
- Discovery (8 to 12 weeks): we present you to the right coaches across our 312 university collaborators and manage the conversations.
- Execution and support (2 to 4 weeks): we help you compare offers and sign, then guide your eligibility, F-1 student visa and move to campus.
Ready to take your sport to the US?
Start with a free assessment and GPA review, or read our free guide first.
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