2026 Sport Scholarships Open For Adelaide University Students

Adelaide University Sport and Fitness (AUSF) officially opened applications for 2026 scholarships on Monday 19 January, in line with scholarships offered by the new Adelaide University. Across the 11 scholarships opened for applications, funding for new recipients in 2026 will exceed $50,000.

Additional funding from multi-year scholarships previously awarded will push this figure even higher, and travel grants such as the Pathway to Performance Grant provided for events throughout the year will further support the thousands of students who study and play sport at a club, state, national or international level.

Returning in 2026 is the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Adelaide University Sport and Fitness (AUSF) Scholarship, to be provided to a current Australian elite coach or athlete who is committing themselves beyond their training and competitions to pursue tertiary education opportunities at Adelaide University. Last year's AIS/AUSF Scholarship was awarded to Isaiah Muller, a para student-athlete competing for Australia in Goalball. The scholarship provides up to $5,000 of financial support per annum for up to three years.

The People's Choice Credit Union Scholarships are also back, with $1,000 awarded to each of three recipients - in the fields of Women in Sport, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Athlete, and Regional Athlete.

Anja Felderhof, who took home the Women in Sport scholarship in 2025 and went on to win both Silver and Bronze at the UniSport Nationals in Rowing in October, said at the time that "this scholarship will support me as I represent both Adelaide University Boat Club and South Australia on the national stage, allowing me to continue training and competing at the highest level, and giving back to the club and community that has helped shape me as both an athlete and a leader."

New to the list of scholarships in 2026 are the University Basketball League Scholarships, awarded to one member of the men's UBL team and one member of the women's UBL team. The AU Waatu has grown throughout their four years in the national tournament, with both teams setting their best-ever win-loss records and ladder positions in 2025, and the women's team making the UBL Finals for the first time. This new scholarship demonstrates a commitment to the program, with Adelaide University now one of the longest-serving teams in a league that keeps growing bigger with each passing year.

Club-specific scholarships show a deep and continuing commitment to AUSF-affiliated sports clubs, with members of the Adelaide University Hockey Club ($2,000), Rugby Club ($2,000) and Soccer Club (one male and one female, $2,000 each) each having their own scholarships to apply for, as well as the Don Stranks Scholarship ($2,000) exclusively for members of the Adelaide University Cricket Club or Football Club.

The Adelaide University Presidents Scholarships are further designed to promote clubs, with five scholarships of $2,000 each provided to first-year students who join and compete with - and make a considerable contribution for - an Adelaide University Sport and Fitness club. To engage the recipients with their club long-term, the scholarship provides for club membership fees in subsequent years, over and above the initial $2,000.

2025 AUSF Presidents Scholarship recipient Ahmed Nawasany was one of the breakout stars and a consistent starter for the AU Waatu UBL squad last year, earning himself an Intervarsity Certificate of Merit at the 117th Annual Blues Awards in November.

Scholarship applications are open until Friday 13 March 2026. For the full list of scholarships, eligibility guidelines, and to begin your application, head to our Grants and Scholarships page.