Combining study and top-level sports

The Top-Level Sports Scheme offers students the opportunity to obtain professional athlete status at NHL Stenden. In view of their top-level sports commitments, students with professional athlete status at NHL Stenden are eligible for manageable study programmes insofar as this can reasonably be required of the university of applied sciences.

Professional athletes qualify for professional athlete status when they have talent or professional athlete status that is recognised by the NOC*NSF through a relevant sports association, when they have A status, selection status or high potential status or when a sports association grants them international talent status, national talent status, promising status or regional status.

If you have a different status but practice top-level sports at a comparable or higher level, we still recommend that you talk to the Top-Level Sports Coordinator to discuss the options of qualifying for NHL Stenden professional athlete status.

You must discuss the options concerning qualifying for professional athlete status with the Top-Level Sports Coordinator before starting your programme. This discussion is also required if you are already a student at NHL Stenden. You can request your meeting through Student Info.

The Top-Level Sports Coordinator will agree the necessary amendments to your study programme with you and your programme in order to draw up a manageable study programme for you. Your customised contract will be discussed twice a year to assess whether it needs to be revised.

If the combination of study and top-level sports results in a delay to your studies, you may be eligible for a financial allowance from the Student Financial Support Fund, subject to certain conditions. The main condition is that you receive student finance from DUO.

Some professional athletes are eligible for financial support from the Student Financial Support Fund. Contact Student Info to discuss this with the Top-Level Sports Coordinator.

There are several options for support with planning. The person offering support will usually be someone associated with your study programme, but there are other options such as peer coaching at the Study Success and Student Welfare workshop. The Top-Level Sports Coordinator (who you can contact through Student Info) will be happy to tell you more about this.

There are lots of options, all of which need to be discussed and approved by the study programme. Talk to the Top-Level Sports Coordinator to discuss the options. If an exception can be made in your case, this agreement will be specified in your customised plan.

The Top-Level Sports Coordinator will work with you and your study programme to decide where customisation is required in the context of your study programme and to identify whether there is room for flexibility within reasonable limits. These agreements will be set out in a ‘Customised Provisions for Top-Level Sports’ agreement, which (depending on what is requested) will then be submitted to your study programme's examination committee for approval. The examination committee for your study programme will assess the request and formally decide whether you are eligible for the customised provisions that have been requested.

The Top-Level Sports Coordinator will work with you and your study programme to decide where customisation is required in the context of your study programme and to identify whether there is room for flexibility within reasonable limits.

The Top-Level Sports Coordinator will work with you and your study programme to decide where customisation is required in the context of your study programme and to identify whether there is room for flexibility within reasonable limits. These agreements will be set out in a ‘Customised Provisions for Top-Level Sports’ agreement, which (depending on what is requested) will then be submitted to your study programme's examination committee for approval. The examination committee for your study programme will assess the request and formally decide whether you are eligible for the customised provisions that have been requested.

As an athlete, it’s wise to create a safety net for yourself in class. Your fellow students can help you by switching on their laptops so you can follow lessons, letting you see their notes from anything you missed and asking lecturers to record lessons. Always discuss the situation and ask what the options are. Students and lecturers are often willing to help.

The Top-Level Sports Coordinator will work with you and your study programme to decide where customisation is required in the context of your study programme and to identify whether there is room for flexibility within reasonable limits. These agreements will be set out in a ‘Customised Provisions for Top-Level Sports’ agreement, which (depending on what is requested) will then be submitted to your study programme's examination committee for approval. The examination committee for your study programme will assess the request and formally decide whether you are eligible for the customised provisions that have been requested.

Communication is key! Tell your fellow students, lecturers and study career counsellors that you’ll be attending a training camp. Find out if you can still attend any lectures and, if necessary, request postponement of your deadlines. If possible, draw up a summary of all your training times, training camps and competitions at the start of the academic year.

Stay in touch with the Top-Level Sports Coordinator and decide together whether you can still be recognised as a professional athlete.

Make an appointment with the Top-Level Sports Coordinator. Together, you’ll discuss the best solution for your studies. It might be a good time to catch up on any study delay that you’ve incurred.

Before you begin your studies, you need to make an appointment with the Top-Level Sports Coordinator to discuss what is expected of you and what you can expect from the university of applied sciences and study programme. We’re happy to discuss the options with you. The Top-Level Sports Coordinator may look into whether customised provisions are required and what form they will take, and coordinate this information with you and your study programme. If possible, draw up a summary of all your training times, training camps and competitions at the start of the academic year. This summary will show you where any sports commitments conflict with your study schedule and will allow you to make agreements accordingly.

You will be expected to inform us of your professional sports commitments and fulfil your study requirements where possible. This is a dual career and you have rights and obligations on both sides.

Your sports association will be expected to provide evidence that you play sports at a professional level. They will also be expected to make allowances for your studies and support you in this aspect of your career.

If you have any questions, you can contact Student Info to make an appointment with the Top-Level Sports Coordinator.