Are you an elite athlete? Do you want to combine your sports career with academic studies? Great! Then the University of Skövde may be the right place for you. Here you will find the project Elite Sports Friendly University, which will make it easier for those who have an elite sports career and who also want to invest in an education.

Many elite athletes strive to prepare for a future professional career that can begin after their sporting career. Playing sport at elite level requires a significant investment of time, making it challenging to simultaneously invest in training for future professional opportunities.

- "In order not to have to choose between sports and studies, the University of Skövde, through the concept Elite Sports Friendly University (EVL), gives an elite student athlete the opportunity to combine their sport with education at an academic level," says Anna-Karin Pernestig, project manager for Elite Sports Friendly University, University of Skövde.

University of Skövde collaborates with the Swedish Sports Confederation

The University of Skövde, in collaboration with the Swedish Sports Confederation, has developed "Guidelines for local regulations for elite athletes' dual careers", which sets out the obligations of the University of Skövde towards the student-athlete, as well as the obligations of the student-athlete towards the University of Skövde.

For the more than 1,000 student-athletes studying at a university that offers dual careers, the reactions have been positive. Being able to get in earlier for a written exam when it clashes with a match, or that sport has increased their performance in their studies are some examples.

Melina combines studies in Skövde with handball

Melina Pilav is in her second year of the Design Engineering program and plays handball at an elite level. For her, the opportunity to combine handball with studies was crucial.

- If there hadn't been an elite-friendly university, I would probably have started working instead. It felt like a security that the university is aware of what my everyday life looks like and can adapt to this. For me, it was natural to choose Skövde because I already had contact with handball in the city, says Melina.

For the University of Skövde, the project has produced several results, one of which is increased collaboration with the surrounding community.

- We also look positively on the collaboration with RF-SISU Västra Götaland and their sports consultants to develop the elite sports environment for students, says Anna-Karin Pernestig.

Are you curious to learn more about the project? Maybe you are an elite athlete and want to combine your studies with your sport? Read more about the Elite Sports Friendly University at University of Skövde >>

Read more about studying in Skövde and the University of Skövde here >>