NTU Sport Scholarship and Performance Squad terms and conditions

1. Scope and Purpose

These terms and conditions apply to all NTU Sport Scholars and Performance Athletes (“Student Athlete”) for prospective and current students of NTU. Please review these terms before submitting your application.

These terms outline the standards of behaviour, and the commitments and obligations required of you as a Student Athlete during your time on either the NTU Sport Scholarship Programme and/or as a member of the Performance Squad (whichever the case may be), and the procedures that may apply if the standards are not met.

The NTU Sport Scholarship Programme and the Performance Squad Programme (the “Programme(s)”) are the available levels of support (financial or otherwise) which are provided to you during your engagement on your Programme. The Programmes include, without limitation; sports coaching, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, nutrition, sport psychology, performance lifestyle, academic flexibility support, NTU club subs, BUCs entry fees, high performance centre (HPC) access, playing kit and leisure wear kit. If you are on the NTU Sport Scholarship Programme, you have access to the NTU Pink Plus Gym Membership.

If you are a Performance Squad member, you have access to the NTU Pink Gym Membership. These Terms apply to Student Athletes throughout the sporting pre-season and during any NTU holidays including the summer holidays, whether on or off the University’s premises and include non-University related activities. By signing this document, you are agreeing to all the terms and conditions contained within which are a requirement of you being either an NTU Sport Scholar or Performance Athlete. These terms and conditions incorporate the following policies of the University:

• NTU Sport Health Commitment Statement
• Either the NTU Pink Plus or Pink Gym Membership Terms and Conditions (as
  applicable)
• NTU Sports Club Membership Terms and Conditions
• NTU Sports Club Behaviour Standards
• NTU Student Code of Behaviour
• NTU Sports Scholar Code of Conduct (Appendix 1)

which together with these terms and conditions form the agreement between the University and the Student Athlete (“Terms”). Please ensure that you have reviewed all the Terms before accepting an offer of a place on your Programme. All of the above policies are of equal importance and application to your Programme. You are required to comply with these Terms during the Programme. In the event of a conflict between any of the above policies and/or these terms and conditions, NTU reserves the right to decide, on a case-by-case basis and at its absolute discretion, on the appropriate action or disciplinary procedure it may wish to apply provided that action is within the scope of these Terms.

2. Eligibility and Application for the Programmes

• Be currently enrolled on an undergraduate or postgraduate degree course at
  NTU; or
• in the process of applying to become an NTU student for the next academic
  year with NTU as your first-choice institution; and
• Be physically able to compete in their sport; and
• Declare any injury or illness which may prevent you from competing in any
  UK inter-university British Colleges and Universities sport competition
  (“BUCS”), either at the time of application or promptly when the injury/illness
  occurs.

2.2. The allocation of a Scholarship and/or a place on the Performance Squad is competitive and so not all applications received will be successful.

2.3. The continuation of any Programme will be dependent on you making satisfactory academic and sporting progress. Failure to achieve both satisfactory academic and sporting standards may result in the termination of your Programme. Your Scholarship and/or place on the Performance Squad may be held in addition to any other awards or assistance you may be eligible to receive from the University or other funding bodies.

2.4. Successful applicants will be notified of their Scholarship and/or their place on the Performance Squad entitlement prior to the start of the academic year.

2.5. Applicants who are unsuccessful in their application to receive a Scholarship and/or place on the Performance Squad may re-apply each year of their undergraduate or postgraduate course.

3. Applications for NTU Sport Scholarship Programme

3.1 A scholarship is a non-repayable cash award (“Scholarship”). The award of a scholarship is based on your sporting achievements and you being in receipt of an offer to study at NTU. They are highly competitive, discretionary and cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, even if you meet all the relevant criteria your application may not be successful. Scholarships are applied as either a deduction from your tuition fees, a bursary or a combination of both. Where applicable any bursary payments are paid in instalments. There are no restrictions on how you spend any bursary payment. If you are successful in receiving a bursary payment, such payment will be payable in 3 equal instalments in accordance with the following payment schedule:

• December
• March
• May

3.2. Each award is made for a period of one academic year, after which Student Athletes must re-apply for the following year. Being the recipient of a Scholarship does not automatically guarantee that you will receive a Scholarship in subsequent years.

Selection and allocation

3.3. Scholarships will only be awarded to those successful applicants who meet the eligibility criteria at the time of allocation.

3.4. Applicants must apply via the Sports Scholarships page. Information on application opening and closing dates can be found on the home page.

3.5. There will be a panel process to support the University’s selection of applicants.

3.6. Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be emailed the outcome of their application after the panel has met.

3.7. The University cannot be responsible for any errors or omissions in the information supplied to it and on which eligibility decisions are based. All award decisions are made at the University’s discretion. The University’s decision on the interpretation of eligibility criteria is final and there is no right of appeal.

3.8. You cannot be considered for an award if you have not completed the appropriate application form to apply for our Scholarship scheme and provided all information requested. Awards cannot be claimed retrospectively.

3.9. The University reserves the right to alter its eligibility and allocation criteria.

4. Applications for Performance Squad Membership

Membership of the performance squad as a performance athlete is based on your sporting achievements and you being in receipt of an offer to study at NTU. Membership is highly competitive, discretionary and cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, even if you meet all the relevant criteria, you may not be successful in selection to the squad.

5. Your Commitment to your Programme

5.1. BUCS

5.1.1. You are required to represent NTU in all BUCS competitions for your sporting discipline. Attendance at these competitions is compulsory unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Sport Scholarship Team or Head Coach (as applicable).

5.1.2. In the event of illness or injury which prevents you competing at BUCS for a temporary duration during your Programme you must supply evidence such as doctor’s note in advance of any competitions.

5.1.3. You must download the BUCS Play app to check the dates of your event and ensure you enter all competitions for your sporting discipline before the deadlines shown on the BUCS Play app and/or as notified to you by the Sports Club Committee / NTU Sports Co-ordinator / NTU Sport Development Officers (as the case may be).

5.1.4. You should provide BUCS with all necessary details required for registration and entry to your BUCS event or competition promptly when you are required to do so.

5.1.5. Any fines incurred by you during any BUCS events or competitions shall be your responsibility.

5.2. NTU Hockey Student-Athletes

If you are in receipt of a place on the Hockey Programme, you are required to represent NTU Hockey in all weekend and BUCS competitions you are selected for. You will not be able to play externally for another hockey club during this time. Attendance at these competitions is compulsory unless otherwise agreed in writing by the NTU Head of Hockey and the NTU Sport Scholarship Team. If alternative arrangements are agreed in writing, NTU reserves the right to reduce or remove any Programme support.

5.3. Support Sessions

5.3.1. You shall attend all support sessions provided as part of your Programme. This support includes training, strength and conditioning, performance lifestyle, physiotherapy, Scholarship meetings and any other relevant sessions provided. Attendance at these sessions is compulsory unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Sport Scholarship Team, or Head Coach (as applicable) prior to the start of the session.

5.4. Promotional Events

5.4.1. You shall represent NTU Sport at promotional events. You commit to attending at least one promotional event per term on request by NTU. Promotional events include but are not limited to; NTU open days, recruitment events and/or press and public relations opportunities.

Further information on how to sign up for this will be provided to you at the start of the Programme and throughout the academic year via email or the MS Teams Sport Scholarship group page.

5.5. Promotion of Sport at NTU

5.5.1. It is a mandatory requirement of your Programme to allow NTU to promote your sporting achievements both internally at NTU and externally to the wider NTU community and the public for the duration of your Programme. Such promotion may include, but is not limited to, the use of your personal information such as your name, photograph, video, sport, participation in the scheme, course of study and sporting achievements for the following purposes:

• Publishing the information on NTU’s website for promotional purposes.
• Publishing the information on NTU’s official social media channels for promotional purposes, this includes but is not limited to: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
• Publishing the information for official promotional events and open days held by NTU.
• Publishing the information in printed format for use on flyers, performance guides and prospectuses.
• Publishing the information in promotional videos or electronic screen displays across NTU.

5.5.2. To confirm your agreement to the above, you must read, complete and sign the consent form at Appendix 2.

5.6. Other Scholarships

5.6.1. You are free to engage in independent sponsorship. However, this must not conflict with the interests of NTU. You must ensure independent scholarship is for appropriate brands which do not harm the reputation of NTU (e.g. no tobacco or alcohol brands). If you are unsure about the appropriateness of sponsorship, you must speak to a member of the Scholarship Team.

5.7. Clean Sport

5.7.1. NTU supports the missions of UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in achieving clean sport, through its commitment to clean sport (NTU Clean sport | Nottingham Trent University). You must adhere to anti-doping regulations.

5.7.2. You must play, train, and compete in line with the spirit of the sport and in adherence with relevant regulations, as set out by the 2021 WADA Code.

5.7.3. You are expected to access and engage with the educational support on offer through NTU Sport and UKAD. This includes online resources, online education courses and workshops provided by NTU staff, trained as UKAD Educators.

5.7.4. We expect that you go to the UKAD website athlete area, to familiarise yourself the resources available to you.

5.8. Behaviour

5.8.1. You agree to the conditions of the NTU Sport Scholar and Performance Athlete Code of Conduct, which sets out behavioural expectations from Student Athletes (Appendix 1 of this document).

5.8.2. Your attendance, engagement and commitment to the Programme will be monitored throughout the year. Failure to adhere to the requirements of the NTU Sport Scholar Code and Performance Athlete of Conduct (Appendix 1 of this document) may result in your suspension or removal from the Scholarship and/or the Programme.

5.8.3. You acknowledge that you are also bound to the NTU Student Code of Behaviour. In the event of a serious breach of the NTU Sport Scholar and Performance Athlete Code of Conduct, NTU reserves the right to escalate such breaches to be managed through the NTU Student Code of Behaviour in its absolute discretion.

5.9. Changes to Study

5.9.1. If you suspend or withdraw from your studies, or change your course or mode of study, you must notify the Sport Scholarship Team or Head Coach of your change in circumstances immediately, as it may affect your continued eligibility for your Programme, and, if applicable, you may not be eligible to receive any future award payments in that academic year.

5.10. Repeating or Deferring your Studies

5.10.1. Awards may be paid during any repeat period of study. This includes a repeat of the same course of study (i.e. if a student fails year 1) which is taken again in a subsequent academic year. It also includes studying for a different course in the same academic year (i.e. if a student receives a Scholarship and then changes courses part way through the year).

5.10.2. If you defer or withdraw and restart your studies, any award already offered will become void. You will have to re-apply if you re-start your studies subsequently and want to be considered for a Scholarship then (i.e. the following year). Even if you were originally successful in your application, that does not mean that you will necessarily be successful in any application made for an award subsequently.

5.10.3. Any other break or absence during your studies will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

5.11. Suspensions and Withdrawal

5.11.1. You may withdraw from the Programme voluntarily at any time by notice in writing of your wish to leave the Programme by emailing the Sport Scholarship Team at sportscholarships@ntu.ac.uk.

5.11.2. On withdrawing from the Programme, you will no longer be able to access any related services including, but not limited to; sports coaching, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, nutrition, sport psychology, performance lifestyle, academic flexibility support, NTU Pink Plus or Pink gym membership, NTU club subs, BUCs entry fees, high performance centre (HPC) access, playing kit and leisure wear kit.

5.11.3. If you have not yet competed for the University, you will not be eligible for any associated financial awards.

5.11.4. If you have already received part of your award, you will not receive any further financial awards that may be due.

5.11.5. NTU Sport retains the right to withdraw a Scholarship at any time and seek repayment of any monies already paid to anyone for any reason, including but not limited to:

1. A lack of adherence with the NTU Sport Scholar and Performance Athlete Code of Conduct (Appendix 1 of this document).
2. A lack of adherence with the University wide NTU Student Code of Behaviour or Sports Club Behaviour Standards.
3. A significant decrease in sporting performance or retirement from sport.
4. Failure to represent NTU in the BUCS competition without prior written agreement in accordance with clause 5.1.1.
5. Failure to declare an injury or illness which may prevent you from competing in BUCS in accordance with clause 2.1.
6. Where the University determines that you have misled the University about any aspect of your eligibility.

5.12. Appeals

5.12.1. If a Student Athlete wishes to contest the decision or penalty imposed by NTU Sport for a breach of these terms and conditions, they are entitled to submit an appeal in writing to the Sport Scholarship Team at sportscholarships@ntu.ac.uk on the following grounds: (a) That significant new or additional evidence is available that was not available during the original investigation (evidence must be submitted along with the appeal); or (b) That there was a material failure by NTU to follow its own procedures; or (c) That the outcome including any penalty was not reasonable in all the circumstances (i.e. no reasonable decision maker, taking into account all the relevant facts, could have reached that decision).

5.12.2. If a Student Athlete wishes to submit an appeal they must do so in writing to sportscholarships@ntu.ac.uk within 10 working days of receiving the email notifying them of the decision, detailing the reasons for the appeal and stating the grounds on which the appeal is being made. Any appeal will be acknowledged by a member of the Sport Scholarship Team within 5 working days of receipt.

5.12.3. When submitting an appeal, the Student Athlete should set out their concerns clearly and succinctly and provide evidence to support their appeal explaining how their request for an appeal falls into one or more of the grounds set out at section 5.12.1 above.

5.12.4. The Director of Sport will consider the information submitted and make a decision as to whether the request for an appeal is based on one or more of the permitted grounds and within the prescribed timeframe, and will notify the Student Athlete within 5 working days of receipt of the appeal.

5.12.5. If the Director of Sport considers that the grounds are not satisfied, the Student Athlete will be informed of the decision to reject their request for an appeal and a Completion of Procedures Letter will be issued.

5.12.6. If the Director of Sport concludes that the appeal falls within one or more of the permitted grounds, the Director of Sport will review all information collated for the original decision, together with any new evidence presented, (but may contact the Student Athlete and/or anyone else involved in the matter if considered necessary).

5.12.7. The outcome of the appeal can be that the Director of Sport shall either uphold the original decision or make a different finding which may overturn the original decision. The Director of Sport may send the matter back to the same or a different member of NTU Sport to consider again.

5.12.8. The outcome of the appeal is final and will be communicated to the Student Athlete in writing, with reasons for the decision, within 20 working days of the appeal request being accepted.

5.12.9. In the event that the Student Athlete remains dissatisfied with the outcome of the appeal they may make a complaint to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) provided they have been issued with a Completion of Procedures Letter (COP). The Student Athlete must have first exhausted the internal appeals process and have received a COP from NTU. The COP will explain how they can submit a complaint to the OIA. The deadline to submit a complaint to the OIA is 12 months from the date of the COP. I hereby confirm that I have read the above Terms and associated policies and understand my obligations under them. By providing my signature below, I confirm that I accept the Terms and agree to be bound personally by them and to comply with my obligations as set out within.

Download our NTU Sport Scholarship and Performance Squad Terms and Conditions (PDF, 161KB)