With flexible study options and multiple study locations, Massey has been recognised as Aotearoa New Zealand's first athlete-friendly university.
Our Academy of Sport is a programme for emerging and high performance athletes, supporting you to achieve your best academically and in your sporting career.
What Massey offers athletes
No other New Zealand university gives the level of flexibility to elite athletes as Massey does.
Study options such as on-campus, off-campus, mix-mode, full-time or part-time academic work mean you can fit your study around your sporting commitments. You can also change your study approach if you need to attend major events like World Champs, Commonwealth Games or the Olympic Games.
As a high-performance athlete, you can apply for the Academy of Sport programme and associated scholarships and support each year.
Within the Academy, our High Performance Coordinators will be your first point of contact to make the most of combining your sporting and academic careers. We can help you plan how to complete your academic work alongside your sport commitments, and make adjustments so you can compete in major events. We understand the life of elite athletes.
Massey also offers athletes other support like:
- a travel fund to help with costs for international competition
- the annual Massey Blues Sports Awards
- sporting facilities on all of our campuses.
Massey Academy of Sport
The Massey Academy of Sport programme is split into four levels to provide appropriate support for all student-athletes from regional representatives to professionals.
Platinum
Platinum includes Prime Minister’s Scholarship recipients and other elite level athletes who are professional or franchise-level players. Consideration may be given to other elite athletes competing in HPSNZ invested sports.
Because as a Prime Minister's Scholarship recipient you already have access to sport-related support personnel, the Academy of Support mainly gives you academic advice and help. You may receive the following benefits from the programme:
- academic planning assistance and advice
- access to the Academy of Sport Online Resource Hub.
You may be a member of both Platinum and Gold or Platinum and Silver at the same time.
Gold
Gold level athletes are selected recipients of the Gold level Academy of Sport Scholarship or the Elite Sports Scholarship.
Massey University Academy of Sport Scholarship
Massey University Elite Sports Scholarships
You may be a member of both Platinum and Gold. As a Gold member you may receive:
- Gold Level Academy of Sport Scholarship of $7,500 for first year students (pro-rated for part-time students)
- Elite Sports Scholarship of $2,500 for students in second year and above (pro-rated for part-time students)
- gym membership at our sport and recreation centres
- sport science services including strength and conditioning, nutrition and sport psychology
- practical group seminars on topics like anti-doping, media training, mental skills, public speaking, time management and self promotion
- Massey Academy training apparel to wear and keep, in recognition of being in the programme
- individualised help with balancing your academic and sporting career through our High Performance Coordinators
- access to online resources and recordings.
Silver
Silver level athletes are selected recipients of the Silver level Academy of Sport Scholarship or are selected for the Silver level without a scholarship in second year and above.
Massey University Academy of Sport Scholarship
Massey University Elite Sports Scholarships
You may be a member of both Platinum and Silver. As a Silver member you may receive:
- Silver Level Academy of Sport Scholarship of $3,000 for first year students (pro-rated for part-time students)
- gym membership at our sport and recreation centres
- sport science services including strength and conditioning, nutrition and sport psychology
- practical group seminars on topics like anti-doping, media training, mental skills, public speaking, time management and self promotion
- Massey Academy training apparel to wear and keep, in recognition of being in the programme
- individualised help with balancing your academic and sporting career through our High Performance Coordinators
- access to online resources and recordings.
Bronze
Bronze level will be launched in 2024 and includes athletes not already included in the other programme levels. Non-athletes such as coaches or officials may only be included at Bronze level. Bronze members will fulfil at least one of the following criteria:
- Competing at a minimum level of regional representation or equivalent in their sport.
- Coaching or officiating at a minimum of regional representative level or equivalent.
- Member of Massey’s Global Student-Athlete programme.
- Officially representing Massey University at a UTSNZ event during the relevant year.
You may apply for Bronze at any point of the year. As a Bronze member you may receive:
- academic planning assistance and advice
- access to the Academy of Sport Online Resource Hub
- discounts on selected services and apparel when available.
Applications and entry to the Academy
Platinum
You are automatically included in the Academy of Sport programme at Platinum level if you are a Prime Minister’s Scholarship recipient or franchise player.
High Performance Sport New Zealand - Prime Minister's Scholarships
You may also self-identify to a High Performance Coordinator for inclusion, if you believe you are eligible for Platinum.
Gold and Silver
To become a Gold or Silver member of the Academy of Sport you need to apply for either the Academy of Sport Scholarship or the Elite Sports Scholarship.
First year students
Applications are due in August of the year before you start.
Apply for a Massey Academy of Sport Scholarship
Second year and above
Applications are due on 1 November for support in the following year. Current Academy of Sport members must re-apply.
If you are a current student but are not a member of the Academy of Sport, you are also welcome to apply.
Apply for the Elite Sports Scholarship
Postgraduate students
A limited number of postgraduate student athletes may also be considered for Silver level support without a financial scholarship.
If you wish to apply for Silver as a postgraduate student, you must apply for the Elite Sports Scholarship by the closing date. Although not eligible for the financial scholarship, you will be considered alongside other applicants for inclusion in Silver.
Bronze
Applications for Bronze level will be accepted at any time during the year from 2024 onwards. Bronze applications will open in January 2024.
Bronze members must re-apply each year.
Testimonials from our athletes
"With the support of Massey University and the Academy of Sport, I was able to chase my sporting dreams while continuing to study. Assistance balancing my schedule and planning study to ensure I could manage my workload was a massive help towards achieving my goals. Thanks to the Academy's close connections and similarities between campuses, having to change my course of study and relocating from Palmerston North to Auckland was a smooth transition. If it wasn't for the Academy's support, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today." — Mac Wilcox, New Zealand Hockey Representative
"Being a professional footballer and playing for the NZ Football Ferns means that I am based overseas and frequently travelling for international events. As a distance student, Massey University does a great job at enabling me to pursue my professional footballing career. I know I have a finite career as an athlete, so I recognise that it's important to think about my future beyond just my sport. This continuous support provided by Massey University's Academy of Sport in both one's academic and athletic life is world-class and means I can now excel in both incredibly important facets of my life." — Paige Satchell, New Zealand Football Representative
"Massey University continually supports me in achieving my athletics goals. As my sport involves frequent overseas travel, I require a flexible schedule via distance learning. The encouraging and understanding attitude shown by lecturers means I can comply with all the university requirements while fitting these into my training and competing requirements. This environment allows me to excel in both my chosen sports and academics, setting me up for a successful future." — Olivia Eaton, New Zealand Athletics Representative and New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Representative
"I'm a massive advocate for living a balanced lifestyle, so studying while pursuing my athletic career was the obvious choice after leaving high school. Massey was the perfect fit for me, with its willingness to support athletes to achieve their dreams in the sporting arena. Their distance programme is perfect for athletes who are on the road, and without Massey there is no way I would have been able to gain a qualification while competing." — Hamish Kerr, New Zealand Athletics Representative
Academy of Sport staff
High Performance Coordinators
Our High Performance Coordinators will help you balance your academic and sporting career. You can also contact them if you think you are eligible for Platinum.
Tamara Scott-Valath
Contact us
For further information on the Academy of Sport programme, scholarships and support please contact a High Performance Coordinator or email hpc@massey.ac.nz.