Elite athletes
We support elite athletes on and off the field.
Run your own race—and study on your own terms
If you have a passion for sport, or outstanding athletic ability, we can help you study on your own terms. We’ll help you balance your online classes with demanding training schedules and competitions.
We support athlete academic success, and when the time is right, vocational transition:
- For active student athletes
We offer sports-focused university degrees including sports science and sports management.
- For elite athletes transitioning to a professional career
We’ve got hundreds of courses for your life outside of sport.
Athlete education programs
Sports-focused university degrees
Develop expertise in the science and management of sport. You’ll gain an advantage in today’s competitive sports industry. Explore online sports courses in areas including exercise science, coaching, nutrition, and rehabilitation.
Undergraduate UND-ESS-DIP
Postgraduate ACU-HPS-MAS
Undergraduate TUA-SPD-DIP
Professional skills courses
Develop your skills outside of sport for success in the workforce—without putting your current sporting career on hold. After sport, elite athletes transition to careers including business, psychology, journalism, and more.
Undergraduate GRF-BUS-DEG
Available majors
- Major in Marketing
- Major in Human Resource Management
- Major in Management
- Major in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Major in Sport Management
- Major in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Major in International Business
- Major in Political Science and International Relations
- Major in Contemporary Marketing
Undergraduate MAQ-PSY-DEG
Undergraduate LAT-ART-DEG
Available majors
- Anthropology
- Archaeological and Heritage Studies
- Asian Studies
- Creative and Professional Writing
- Crime, Justice and Legal Studies
- Digital Media
- English
- Ethics and Social Justice
- Hindi Studies Beginners
- History
- Human Geography
- International Studies
- Linguistics
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Psychological Science
- Sociology
- Sustainability and Development
- Visual Cultures
Undergraduate CUR-NET-DEG
Proudly supporting Australian elite athletes’ higher education
We’ve supported elite athletes to achieve their educational goals, including Olympic diver and Commonwealth Games champion Anabelle Smith, and star striker Socceroos football player Bruce Djité.
“ It’s in my control, it’s in my hands, how I transition outside of professional sport.”
— Bruce
“ Studying online has enabled me to pursue my studies and be overseas to compete at the same time”
— Anabelle
Why do elite athletes choose Open Universities Australia?
Choose a start date that suits your athletic commitments
Access universities from across the country, without setting foot on campus
Enrol with confidence and we'll handle the admin
Pause study when you need to prioritise training and competitions
Dictate your own timetable, including how many subjects you take at once
Get in to uni no matter your academic history
Key sporting partnerships
We’re passionate about helping elite athletes achieve their dreams in and out of the sporting arena. Our sports partnerships mean we can offer elite athletes specialised support to succeed in their educational endeavours.
Elite Athlete Education Network (EAEN)
Open Universities Australia is an endorsed national member of the Elite Athlete Education Network.For the duration of their study, EAEN supports elite athletes engaged in sports at a national or international level.
Explore EAEN support and services.Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS)
Since 2012, we’ve sponsored VIS programs for Olympians, Paralympians, and world champion athletes.VIS provides a state-of-the-art training environment for athletes and scholarship programs to enable them to achieve their sporting potential.
Explore VIS services and scholarships.
Elite athlete stories
Meet 3 athletes who are nailing the balance between work, sport and study
They’re our nominees for the 2023 Open Universities Australia Performance Lifestyle Award—and their stories are sure to inspire you.
How a World Champion athlete is broadening her horizons
From hitting the slopes as an Olympian to hitting the books through online education, Laura Peel’s journey is anything but ordinary.
How we help elite athletes prepare for life after sport
Together with the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS), we make studying easier for some of Australia’s most talented athletes.
Building strength beyond the field
For many athletes, retirement from sport can feel like the end – but Football star Bruce Djité is readying himself for an exciting chapter two.
We're here to guide you there
Our student advisors can assist you with enrolment, help you plan your studies, and answer questions about how studying through Open Universities Australia can get you from where you are today, to where you want to be tomorrow.