World Cups and championships come and go, but the love for football endures.
Call it soccer; call it football. Whichever name it holds, it is the most popular sport in the world. In the 2023/24 season, 229 million people attended football matches in Europe, a new record.
As such, it is little surprise that Europe is considered the best place to kickstart a football career and the home of many great European football scholarships.
With the high tuition fees and the rising cost of living in Europe, pursuing football here may seem unachievable for many international students. After all, the average tuition fee for non-EU students is estimated at 6,000 euros to 45,000 euros (US$6,334 to US$47,504) a year for those studying in a public university.
But with European football scholarships, you don’t have to give up on your dreams just yet.
Whether you are an undergraduate or postgraduate student at university, these European football scholarships were created to encourage students studying in Europe to grow in academic excellence while exploring their passion for the sport.
These scholarships subsidise the cost of tuition fees while helping students build their careers in the most beautiful game in the world.
Turn your passion into a career with these European football scholarships
University of Bournemouth, England
The University of Bournemouth created the BU Sport Scholarship to fund students interested in pursuing sports while studying. This scholarship is available to all domestic and international students pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate programme at the university.
Valued up to 5,000 pounds (US$5,278), the scholarship helps recipients in their sporting development, such as coaching, equipment, competition entry fees, travel expenses, or other support services. It is aimed at high-level athletes in sports, including football. Each applicant will be assessed by the school coach before being accepted.
Upon receiving the scholarship, students will represent the university in their British University and College Sport (BUCS) programme (League and Individual), as well as their club at the regional, national or international level.
Maynooth University, Ireland
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth, more commonly known as Maynooth University, is ranked in the top 90 global Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024.
Here, several European football scholarships are offered to undergraduate and postgraduate male and female players yearly. Recipients get coaching and guidance, as well as access to excellent sports facilities and a financial bursary, depending on your award.
First-year international students will even have the benefit of getting priority for on-campus accommodation.
Recipients of the scholarships will be guided and trained to the highest category of the national league and compete in different competitions each year.
MSM International Soccer Academy, Czech Republic
In 2015, the MSM International Soccer Academy established the “Your Chance” scholarship programme to support aspiring football players in achieving their dreams.
This European football scholarship seeks highly talented football athletes with dreams of playing professionally, offering them a free one-year education programme in the Academy in the Czech Republic and training with a European club in Prague.
Better yet, players are supervised by one of the best football clubs in the country: Sparta Prague.
And your football training, you’ll also have the unique opportunity to learn the Czech language, enroll in a Czech university, and simultaneously train and play professional football there.
University of Stirling, England
The International Sports Scholarship Programme, established by the University of Stirling, is one of the largest high-performance sports programmes in the UK. The university has supported more than 700 students and even sent athletes to the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.
It was designed to provide financial support to talented athletes eager to develop their skills and pursue a career in sports. The campus is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring that each student is given the opportunity to practise.
The scholarship is open to all EU and non-EU undergraduate and postgraduate students at the university. Along with financial support, on-campus accommodation, and academic flexibility, students will also receive national standard training and access to the equipment needed.
Did you know that Son Heung-min’s agent once said that Son was so determined to make himself a success in Europe that he learned German by watching episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants? Source: AFP
Heidelberg University, Germany
Heidelberg University – also known as Ruperto Carola – was established in 1386 and is Germany’s oldest university. Here, it offers the Elite Sports Scholarship Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region, supporting athletes in their balancing act between studies and top-class sports.
This sports scholarship is open to any active athlete studying or would like to study at Heidelberg University, the University of Mannheim, or the Mannheim Business School. All scholarship holders receive a monthly stipend of 100 euros (US$106).
Beyond that, you’ll have help in coordinating your daily routine, have access to dual career advisors who can mediate between athletes and professors when seminar or exam dates collide with important training camps or competitions, and receive individualised tutorials when needed.
University of Edinburgh, Scotland
Ranked 27th in the QS World University Rankings and fifth in the UK, the University of Edinburgh is the place to be if you want to be supported academically and in your football-playing career.
With its range of athlete scholarships available, student-athletes in both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes here can reach their full potential. Awards here for those interested in European football start from 1,000 pounds (US$1,268) per year and can go up to 10,000 pounds (US$12,682) annually.
Note that, like other UK universities offering sports scholarships, you should be ready to be fully involved in university sports and in particular BUCS Competitions.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on November 14, 2024.