Sport Coaching Bursary

St Mary's University offers a sport coaching bursary of up to £300 for current students to fund coaching, officiating and other sports qualifications. The bursary is open for applications throughout the academic year and has provided over £10,000 in funding to 72 students since 2019, supporting them to gain qualifications across 12 sports alongside First Aid courses. The program aims to enhance students' employability by helping them develop coaching, leadership, teaching and volunteering qualifications that employers value. Students who gain qualifications through this bursary may have opportunities for paid coaching roles, including positions with the university's SIMMSport children's sport programs. Research by British University & Colleges Sport (BUCS) shows that engaging in sport and gaining coaching qualifications is associated with salary increases of between £4,200 and £5,600 compared to those who do not engage.