Record number of sport scholars welcomed at Manchester Metropolitan University
- A record number of student-athletes have been awarded sport scholarships at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), helping them to success both in competition and in classroom
More than 55 student-athletes will be provided with a tailored package of support including nutritional advice, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, as well as contributions towards tuition fees.
The scholarships are part of the University’s ambition to become a world-leading centre for sport as the new state-of-the-art facility for Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport approaches completion in 2022.
This development is part of the University’s £380m investment programme to transform the campus over the coming years.
A university spkesman said: “Opening in 2022, the university’s Institute of Sport building will be a world-class centre to champion everything that sport can do – from strengthening communities and building a healthier society, to inspiring the next generation and pushing the limits of human performance.
“This will be the latest addition to a number of world class facilities the Sports scholars have access to, such as the Manchester Aquatics Centre – near the university on Oxford Road – and the National Cycling Centre on the Sportcity campus in eastern Manchester.
“There is the Platt Lane sports complex in Fallowfield too, which is a former training centre of Manchester City FC and now owned by the university.
“The complex provides top-quality pitches and a range of recently refurbished fitness suites and informal learning areas.”
Manchester Metropolitan’s performance sport officer, Callum Jones, said: “We are really happy to be able to support so many elite student-athletes for the 2021-2022 academic year.
“The programme has seen a steep improvement in recent years in terms of the standard of athletes we are now attracting, and this year continues that trend.”
Athletes from all over the world from countries such as the USA, China and South Africa will be joining MMU, with specialist sports ranging across 18 different disciplines including athletics, karate, netball, rugby, and swimming.
Current scholars include Olympic long-distance runner, Marc Scott, who holds a European 5,000m record, who is returning to MMU for his MSc in business, management and policy.
Paralympic gold and silver medallist at Tokyo 2020, Tully Kearney also returns to finish her final year of her master’s degree in human physiology.
One of many new scholars joining Scott and Kearney is Dan Clark, an Olympian and a current Manchester Giants basketball player.
He is the all-time leading scorer for Great Britain and is the current national team captain with more than 100 caps.