Griffith University has announced a new partnership with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to support Australia’s elite athletes pursue their academic and sporting goals simultaneously.

The AIS-Griffith University Sports Scholarship provides targeted funding opportunities over three years to help athletes succeed in sport and in life while studying.

Griffith University has a long-standing commitment to fostering an environment where sport and education coexist harmoniously through its Griffith Sports College. Griffith Sports College has a strong track record of supporting elite athletes by offering scholarships, flexible study options and individual academic and sporting support. This new scholarship category, designed for elite Australian athletes, will further cement Griffith’s role in supporting Australian sport.

At the recent 2024 Paris Olympic Games, 38 Griffith athletes competed, including 20 current students, 15 alumni and 3 members of the Griffith Swim Club. Griffith University athletes performed exceptionally well at the Games, collecting 10 gold medals, 8 silver and 6 bronze medals. In terms of performance, they were ranked second in the world behind only Stanford University in the USA.

Jackson Collins, Bachelor of Business, who won the silver medal in the K-4 kayak competition in Paris, knows the importance of balancing studies and elite-level sport.

“It’s important to create career paths for yourself alongside training and playing the sport and supporting Griffith to create a life after sport has been great. They help you organise exams and flexible timetables so you can focus solely on competition preparation.

“I’ve had to rely on it several times and without that support I would have failed and had to repeat the subject. So Griffith’s support is a big help to me because I would have to wait until I finished my sports career to start then and then you have four years before you can even start a career outside of sport.”

Professor Bronwyn Harch, Vice President (Industry and External Engagement) at Griffith University, said the MOU strengthens the University’s reputation as a leading, elite athlete-friendly institution committed to providing flexible educational solutions that meet the unique needs of high-performance athletes.

“This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting Australia’s elite athletes with scholarships that help athletes achieve excellence in all areas of their lives and we are honoured to be part of their journey,” Professor Harch said.

Matti Clements, Executive General Manager of AIS Performance at the Australian Sports Commission, said: “We know that the combination of sport and studying are a promising combination.

“The AIS is committed to supporting athletes to achieve their goals in sport and in life. This is critical to the success ethos that is at the heart of Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy.”

The AIS Griffith University Sports Scholarship is available to athletes who are nationally recognised by the National Athlete Categorisation Framework and who participate in AIS-funded high performance sport programs.