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Photo: Jeff Holmes
The Winning Students 100, Scotland’s national sport scholarship programme, has announced its 2025-26 cohort, marking a record-breaking year for applications and reaffirming its status as a world-leading dual-career programme.
This year’s intake will see 106 student athletes supported as they pursue excellence in both sport and academia. Spanning 31 sports and 18 further and higher education institutions, this year’s in-take of athletes represent the brightest of young sporting talent based in Scotland.
The scholarship is funded by the Scottish Funding Council, sportscotland, and Scotland’s higher education and further education sector and managed by Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, the University of Stirling.
Winning Students was established with Scottish Funding Council funding in 2008 and saw over 1,700 scholarships awarded during its first phase. Well known athletes who have benefited from the scheme include Olympic medallists Laura Muir, Duncan Scott, Vicky Wright and Seonaid McIntosh.
Several of this year’s athletes have represented Team Scotland and Team GB at the highest level, with many setting their sights on the world stage, with aspirations to compete at the likes of the Winter Paralympic and Olympic Games and the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Among them are athletics star Megan Keith, who has been named as part of Team Scotland for Glasgow 2026, artistic gymnastics talent Cameron Lynn, Edinburgh-based swimmer Archie Goodburn, ice hockey player Ruby Newlands and Dumfries and Galloway College curler Logan Carson and Paralympic swimmer Toni Shaw.
Designed to empower Scotland’s most promising sporting talent to excel both academically and athletically, the prestigious Winning Students 100 programme provides athletes with grants of up to £3,000.
The programme works with colleges and universities to offer additional support such as academic flexibility, ensuring student athletes can balance the demands of high-performance training, international competition and rigorous academic schedules.
Winning Students 100 also has a dedicated hardship fund, which provides additional support to student athletes from areas of higher deprivation, making athletic opportunities more accessible to more people.
Cathy Gallagher, Chair, Winning Students 100 Advisory Board said: “Winning Students 100 is a bold and forward-thinking investment in the future of Scottish sport and education. The programme positions Scotland as a true pioneer, delivering a comprehensive support system that empowers athletes to achieve their full potential.
“The programme is about cultivating well-rounded leaders who are prepared for success in all aspects of their life. This year’s record-breaking applications highlight the programme’s reputation as a world leader in dual-career support, and we are proud to champion these exceptional individuals.
“This dual focus on academic and sporting excellence has made Winning Students 100 a powerful platform for success. By working closely with sportscotland, the Scottish Funding Council, partner institutions, and national governing bodies, we ensure that the programme continues to deliver value to students, parents, institutions, and funders alike. Together, we are shaping the future of Scottish sport and education.”
Artistic gymnast Cameron Lynn, who studies Sport Business Management at the University of Stirling, said: “Winning Students 100 is a massive help in terms of my studies, my training and performance. This next year is very important leading up to the Commonwealth Games, as it is a home Games, and I’m really looking forward to competing for my country if I’m selected. Being a Winning Students 100 scholar helps me massively in my preparations for the Games and allows me to perform and study to the best of my abilities.”
For more information about Winning Students 100 and the 2025-26 cohort, visit www.winningstudents-scotland.ac.uk
