Introduction
Performance Sport at DCU
At DCU, we are proud to support the next generation of performance athletes, from rising stars to international champions and Olympians. Our Performance Sports programmes are designed to help talented student-athletes excel in both their sporting and academic pursuits, ensuring they achieve their full potential. Through our tailored supports, athletes receive high-quality sporting, academic and professional development, and the chance to compete at national intervarsity and, European and World University Games levels, all while building a strong foundation for success.
High-performing athletes can apply for two programmes:
- CAO Points Concession Scheme: Reduced CAO points to 1st year of an undergraduate academic programme.
- Sports Scholarships: Providing athletes with enhanced support, resources, and recognition to excel both on and off the field.
Initiatives
A DCU sports scholarship can help you achieve your athletic and academic goals, while remaining flexible enough to support your evolving needs. Benefits may include:
DCU was first awarded Sport Ireland Institute’s full accreditation for Student-Athlete Support in 2022 and received re-accreditation in December 2024.
This award recognises DCU’s best practice in the area of dual career athletes' support, enabling student athletes to successfully combine their sport and education while at DCU.
The ASAS award is founded on the principle of providing equal opportunities for all high-performing student athletes to seamlessly integrate sports and education. The accreditation identifies specific dual-career criteria that third-level institutes must meet to attain accreditation.
The DCU Performance Athletes Regulations for Academic Flexibility are designed to allow students who are performance athletes to combine representative sporting commitments with their academic responsibilities. While the University will make reasonable accommodations to allow students to balance their sporting and academic commitments, will depend on the requirements of the particular academic programme. To avail of the DCU Performance Athletes Regulations for Academic Flexibility students must apply in writing to DCU Sport and meet the high performance standards below.
The student-athlete must be representing their country at a major international competition, be involved in preparation immediately preceding an international competition, or be taking part in a major national championship. The following may be classified as performance athletes:
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Those competing at Olympic, World and European standard
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Those who are involved in preparation immediately preceding an international competition
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Those who are participating in a major international championship.
Click Here to view the full DCU Performance Athletes Regulations for Academic Flexibility
Focus Sports
As part of the DCU Sport and Physical Activity Strategy, the university has identified four focus sports: Athletics, Gaelic Games, Rugby, and Soccer. These focus sports receive additional resources to support high-performance programmes and achieve competitive success. DCU Sport works in partnership with student clubs and National Governing Bodies of Sport in these sports to nurture talent and offer initiatives and pathways from participation to competitive and high-performance levels.
The selection of focus sports is based on DCU's track record of excellence, outstanding high-performance facilities, expert support, and alignment with the university’s strategic vision. DCU Sport also actively supports the growth of other sports, offering pathways to help them develop and potentially achieve focus sport designation in the future.