Sports Scholarship Programme: Pathways, Requirements and Admission Process

The Saudi Sports Scholarship Programme is one of the initiatives designed to develop Saudi sporting talent and professionals both academically and at the professional level.

With several tracks and related programmes, understanding the full picture can be difficult: is this an academic scholarship or a professional sports opportunity? In reality, sports scholarships are not one single pathway; they are a collection of programmes managed by different organisations. Some are overseen by the Ministry of Education (such as the Excellence Path and Wa’ed Path), others by the Ministry of Sport or the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (such as Future Falcons), and others are private partnerships between Saudi institutions and international clubs (such as Soaring Talents).

In this article, you will learn the differences between types of sports scholarships, when IELTS is required and when it is not, and how to choose a programme that suits you.

What Is the Sports Scholarship Programme, and How Do Its Tracks Differ?

The Sports Scholarship Programme aims to develop Saudi athletes and sports professionals through two main routes: academic pathways that lead to accredited university qualifications in sports-related majors, and specialist sports programmes that focus on hands-on athletic training at international clubs and academies, such as the Future Falcons scholarship programme for talented young footballers.

Differences Between Academic Sports Pathways and Specialist Sports Programmes

A Practical Example Showing the Difference Between Sports Scholarship Tracks

If you are a talented footballer aged 14–16 who wants to train with European clubs, specialist sports programmes such as Future Falcons or Soaring Talents are the appropriate option. You will not need IELTS or university admission, but you will undergo technical tests to prove your football ability.

However, if you are a 17–18-year-old secondary-school student looking to study for a bachelor’s degree in sports management in the United Kingdom, you will need an academic scholarship pathway such as the Excellence Path. You will need at least IELTS 6.0 and admission to an approved university, but you will earn an internationally recognised academic degree.

In short, choosing between these two routes depends on your career goals:

• Want to become a professional player or coach? Choose a specialist sports programme.
• Want to work in club or federation management or sports research? Choose an academic pathway.

Both routes provide valuable opportunities, but their requirements and outcomes are entirely different.

Main Sports Scholarship Pathways in Saudi Arabia

Choose your programme based on your age, qualifications and professional goals. Saudi Arabia provides two types of sports scholarships: academic pathways under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Programme, and specialist sports programmes focused on developing young football talent.

First: Academic Scholarship Pathways Under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Programme

Academic sports scholarships include the following pathways:

1. Wa’ed Path (Employment-Linked Scholarships)

Wa’ed stands out as an employment-linked scholarship route: employment contracts are signed with leading national organisations before studies begin.

The pathway aims to train Saudi professionals in motorsport management in cooperation with the Saudi Motorsport Company, offering scholarships in engineering and fields related to the sports sector.

Rather than simply obtaining a qualification, the goal of this route is to move into a specific job after graduation. This model connects studies with labour-market needs and provides greater career stability after the scholarship period.

Who is the Wa’ed sports scholarship suitable for?

If you are a university graduate seeking a specialised professional qualification in motorsport management and a guaranteed job after graduation, this pathway is suitable for you.

2. Excellence Path (International Majors and Universities)

This pathway focuses on full academic study leading to a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral qualification at leading international institutions in in-demand sports specialisations.

Sports-related majors available through the pathway include:

• Sports Management
• Sports Tourism
• Sports Science

The Sports and Sports Management major includes related fields such as tourism, tourism management and hospitality connected with the sports sector.

The pathway targets students who have received admission from internationally ranked universities appearing on specified lists.

Its main advantage is the opportunity to study in high-quality academic environments, with a requirement to maintain strong academic performance throughout the study period.

Who is the Excellence Path suitable for?

If you want an accredited university degree in sports management or sports science and plan to work in Saudi Arabia’s or the international sports sector, the Excellence Path is the better option.

Also read: Teacher scholarships: programmes, requirements and application.

Second: Specialist Sports Scholarship Programmes (Football)

Alongside academic pathways, the Ministry of Sport and sports federations oversee specialised programmes focusing on the technical and professional development of athletes.

These programmes do not depend solely on university study. Instead, they emphasise daily training, international exposure and participation in professional environments abroad. Key examples include:

1. Future Falcons — Football Scholarship Programme for Talented Players

Future Falcons is an initiative of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation targeting talented footballers in younger age groups (14–20 years old).

The programme sends players to Europe for comprehensive technical, physical and psychological training at international academies, preparing them to join European clubs or return to strengthen the Saudi Professional League.

It operates in a professional training environment in Spain with comprehensive technical supervision, including individual skill development, tactical discipline and adjustment to European styles of play.

Programme Duration and Training Stages in Spain

The Future Falcons sports scholarship runs across several training periods based on the approved plan, often divided into annual stages that may be renewed following performance evaluations.

Training stages include:

• Dedicated football training in Salou, Spain
• Two complete training seasons
• 40 matches per year against teams of different levels in Spain and Europe
• Participation in the International Champions Cup with European clubs

Players undergo continuous assessment, which determines whether they remain in the programme or progress to a higher professional stage.

Who Can Join the Future Falcons Scholarship?

The programme is intended only for exceptional talents, not everyone who enjoys football. You need high technical ability to qualify.

Players are nominated through training camps organised by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, including:

• 18 training sessions
• A range of technical drills
• Physical and technical performance measurements

From 90 players, 47 are selected to join the final group.

2. Soaring Talents Programme

Soaring Talents is a joint initiative involving three organisations: Riyadh Air, Mahd Academy and Atlético Madrid, aimed at talented young Saudi football players.

Its goal is to develop Saudi football talent through comprehensive scholarships for training at Atlético Madrid’s high-performance centre in Spain.

What the Soaring Talents Programme Provides:

• Advanced professional training with Atlético Madrid
• Specialised academic education (not an official university programme)
• Full nutritional and medical support
• Potential opportunities to join European clubs after the programme

Who Can Join Soaring Talents?

Players are nominated exclusively through Mahd Academy; direct applications are not accepted.

How It Differs from Future Falcons:

• Future Falcons: Government supervision through the Saudi Arabian Football Federation
• Soaring Talents: A private partnership between Riyadh Air, Mahd Academy and Atlético Madrid

Both programmes develop footballers, but Soaring Talents includes additional educational support within its scholarship.

3. SAFFIR Scholarship (Football Research)

The SAFFIR Scholarship is dedicated to supporting doctoral researchers conducting specialised research into football-related sciences in cooperation with recognised international universities.

It is overseen by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation Research Institute (SAFFIR) and focuses on areas such as performance analysis, sports medicine, sports data and sports management.

The goal is to build a scientific foundation for advancing football from a research perspective, not just a technical one. This pathway is for researchers rather than players, and requires enrolment in a recognised doctoral programme.

Research Fields Offered by SAFFIR:

The programme covers 12 football-related research areas:

• Humanities (history, sociology and anthropology)
• Economics (ownership models, revenues and the impact of major events)
• Legal affairs (player contracts, transfers, artificial intelligence and sports law)
• Branding, communication and national identity in football
• Historical and cultural dimensions
• Geopolitics and soft power
• Technology, big data and artificial intelligence
• Schools and education in a football context
• Social responsibility and sustainability
• Football development and football for development
• Security and sports health
• The impact and legacy of major sporting events

Who Is a SAFFIR Scholarship Suitable for?

If you are a doctoral researcher studying a football-related subject—economics, law, history, technology or similar—this programme offers annual funding and access to an international research platform.

SAFFIR Scholarship Annual Application Dates:

• Applications open: 16 June
• Applications close: 10 September
• Results announced: 21 October
• Scholarship begins: 1 January

What Are the Admission Requirements for Sports Scholarships?

Admission conditions vary considerably depending on the type of sports scholarship, but they can be divided into general requirements shared by most programmes and additional conditions for each individual programme.

General Sports Scholarship Requirements (Common to Most Programmes)

1. Saudi Nationality

Saudi sports scholarship programmes target Saudi students and athletes. Some programmes may accept applicants with valid residency under exceptional conditions, but Saudi citizens are always given priority.

2. Target Age Group

Every programme specifies its own appropriate age group:

• Sports training programmes, such as Future Falcons: generally ages 14–20
• Academic degree programmes: 18 and above, depending on the academic stage
• Research programmes: Postgraduate students (master’s or doctoral level)

3. Educational Qualifications

• Sports training: Secondary-school certificate or equivalent (in some programmes)
• Academic study: University admission approved by the Ministry of Education
• Research programmes: Enrolment in an approved doctoral programme

4. Medical Fitness

All programmes require a medical report confirming that you have no health conditions preventing you from travelling or participating in sports.

Read more about the sports scholarship programme, its pathways and requirements.

Specific Conditions for Each Sports Scholarship Programme

1. Excellence Path (Sports and Sports Management)

Conditions:

• Secondary-school average: At least the percentage required by the university (often 80% or higher)
• General Aptitude Test: A score of at least 70
• Approved university admission in Sports and Sports Management
• IELTS: 6.0 or higher, depending on university requirements

2. Wa’ed Path (Sports Management)

Conditions:

• University qualification: A bachelor’s degree in a related field
• Work experience: Previous experience in the sports sector is preferred
• Proof of English-language proficiency
• Commitment to employment after completing the programme

Note: This is an employment-linked programme, meaning the sponsor commits to employing you after graduation.

3. Future Falcons Programme

Main conditions:

• Specific birth years (currently: born in 2005)
• Pass technical trials administered by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation
• Pass physical and technical measurements
• Obtain parental consent if you are a minor

How Are Players Selected?

Players are nominated through training camps and trials that include:

• 18 training sessions
• Multiple technical exercises
• Technical and physical performance measurements

Out of 90 players, 47 are selected to join the programme.

4. Soaring Talents Programme

Conditions:

• Nomination through Mahd Academy (no direct applications)
• Demonstrated football ability
• Commitment to the entire programme (training, education and cultural exchange)

5. SAFFIR (Research Programme)

Academic conditions:

• Enrolment in a doctoral programme at a recognised university
• Research subject: Must relate to football (history, economics, law, technology, management, etc.)
• English proficiency: Writing the thesis and correspondence in English

Additional requirements:

• A detailed research proposal covering:
  • Research objectives
  • Research questions
  • Research methodology
  • Current progress and future publications
• A letter of support from your academic supervisor
• An updated curriculum vitae

Programme duration: One year, extendable for a further year.

Important warning: Do not rely on unofficial information from forums or personal accounts. Always consult the official source because requirements may change from one season to another.

Read our comprehensive guide to the latest scholarship requirements.

Does the Sports Scholarship Programme Require IELTS?

Not every sports scholarship programme requires IELTS. The difference depends on the nature of the programme: direct sports training, academic study or a research programme.

Programmes That Do Not Require IELTS

1. Future Falcons Programme

Future Falcons focuses on technical and physical development in Spain and does not require an English-language test, as training takes place in Spanish and Arabic with interpreters. The emphasis is on football skills rather than university study.

2. Soaring Talents Programme

Soaring Talents combines sports training with specialised academic education but does not require IELTS because the education is part of the scholarship and not a formal university programme.

Programmes That Require IELTS

1. Excellence Path (Sports and Sports Management)

If you wish to study Sports and Sports Management within the majors available on the Excellence Path for overseas scholarships, you need:

• Admission to an approved university
• IELTS 6.0 or above, depending on the university and destination country

2. Wa’ed Path (Sports Management Diploma)

Wa’ed requires proof of English-language ability through IELTS or equivalent tests because training involves direct communication with international experts.

3. SAFFIR Scholarship (Doctoral Researchers)

SAFFIR requires full proficiency in English, including writing the doctoral thesis in English and conducting all correspondence with the institute in English.

Learn more about IELTS scores required for overseas scholarships.

Do You Need IELTS Preparation?

If you are targeting an academic programme that requires IELTS, you need effective preparation to achieve the required band score.

GoIELTS.ai helps you prepare with realistic IELTS mock tests that simulate the real exam, including instant AI-powered marking so you can track your progress accurately.

Register for free on GoIELTS and try your first mock test.

Available Sports Majors and Approved Universities

If you choose an academic pathway (Excellence Path or Wa’ed Path), you need to understand the available majors and the universities accepted by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education.

First: Sports Majors Approved Under the Excellence or Wa’ed Path

1. Sports Management

Study of how sports organisations, clubs, federations and major sporting events are managed. This includes:

• Sports club management
• Sports event management (the World Cup, Olympics, etc.)
• Sports marketing
• Sports law

2. Sports Science

Study of the scientific aspects of sporting performance. This includes:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Nutrition
• Sports Medicine
• Sports Psychology

3. Sports Tourism

Study of how sports can be used to strengthen tourism. This includes:

• Organising sports tourism events
• Managing sports tourism facilities
• Developing sports tourism products

4. Sports Coaching

Study of advanced sports coaching methods. This includes:

• Modern coaching techniques
• Player development
• Technical performance analysis

5. Sports Facility Management

Study of how sports stadiums and facilities are managed and operated.

Second: Approved Universities Within Sports Scholarship Pathways

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education approves universities according to international rankings. There is no fixed list, but these are some prominent universities offering recognised sports programmes:

In the United Kingdom

• Loughborough University (ranked among the best worldwide for sports science)
• University of Birmingham
• University of Edinburgh
• Manchester Metropolitan University

Learn about the best US universities for scholarship students.

In the United States

• University of Florida
• Ohio State University
• University of Michigan
• Texas A&M University

Read about IELTS for UKVI for United Kingdom visas.

In Australia

• University of Queensland
• Deakin University
• Victoria University

In Canada

• University of Toronto
• University of British Columbia

Learn about the best universities in Canada for scholarships.

How to Apply for the Sports Scholarship Programme: Step by Step

Application steps vary by programme, but most follow the general process below.

Step 1: Choose the Programme That Suits You

Before anything else, ask yourself:

• How old are you?
• What academic qualifications do you have?
• Do you want sports training or an academic degree?
• Do you have an IELTS result?

Use the following table:

Step 2: Gather the Required Documents

Each programme asks for specific documents, but the following are common basic requirements:

General Documents

• Copy of a valid national identity card
• Certified copy of your secondary-school certificate
• University degree certificate (for academic programmes)
• Updated academic transcript
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Recent personal photograph

Additional Documents by Programme

For academic programmes (Excellence Path and Wa’ed Path):

• University admission or conditional offer letter
• IELTS certificate (6.0 or above)
• Letters of recommendation (2–3 letters)
• Personal statement

For training programmes (Future Falcons and Soaring Talents):

• Parental consent for minors
• Medical report confirming physical fitness

For SAFFIR:

• Detailed research proposal
• Letter of support from an academic supervisor
• Proof of enrolment in a doctoral programme

Tip: Prepare two copies of every document: an original and a certified copy. Some organisations request original documents.

Step 3: Monitor Application Dates

Every programme has a specific application season. If you miss it, you may have to wait until the following year.

Approximate application timelines by programme are:

Excellence Path

• Applications: Throughout the year (depending on the university)
• Best time: September–November for admission in the following year

Wa’ed Path:

• Applications: Announced on the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Programme website

Future Falcons Programme

• Registration: Usually June–July
• Technical trials: August–September
• Programme begins: September–October

SAFFIR Programme

• Applications open: 16 June
• Applications close: 10 September
• Results announced: 21 October
• Scholarship begins: 1 January

Tip: Follow the supervising organisations’ official Twitter/X and Instagram accounts. Application dates are often announced one or two months in advance.

Step 4: Submit Your Application Through the Official Website

Apply only through the supervising organisation’s official website. Beware of fake websites and intermediaries.

Official application links:

Future Falcons: When applications open for the Future Falcons sports scholarship, registration is made available on the Saudi Arabian Football Federation website.

Excellence Path and Wa’ed Path: Applications are submitted through the Safeer scholarship portal.

SAFFIR: Applications are made through the Saudi Arabian Football Federation Research Institute website.

Soaring Talents: Direct applications are not accepted. Candidates are nominated through Mahd Academy.

Step 5: Prepare for Tests or Interviews

Some programmes require technical tests or personal interviews.

Future Falcons:

• Technical trials: Football skills, physical fitness and technical evaluation
• 18 training sessions to assess players

Wa’ed Path:

• Personal interviews with the scholarship committee
• English-proficiency testing if you do not have IELTS

SAFFIR:

• No interviews (evaluation is based on the research proposal)

Tip: If technical trials are required, train carefully beforehand. Do not rely on talent alone.

Step 6: Wait for Results and Track Your Application

After applying, check your application status regularly.

How to follow up:

• Sign in to your account on the official website
• Check your email every day
• Follow the organisations’ official social-media accounts

When are results announced?

• Future Falcons: Within one month of the trials
• SAFFIR: 21 October (a fixed date)
• Excellence Path: Depends on the university and application date

If you are accepted:

• Read the offer letter carefully
• Follow all stated instructions
• Report or register your attendance on the specified date

If you are not accepted:

• Do not lose hope; you can try again next year
• Review the areas you need to improve (technical skills, academic grades or IELTS)
• Strengthen your qualifications and reapply

Learn about requirements for bachelor’s scholarships.

Conclusion

Saudi sports scholarship programmes provide different opportunities to develop your sporting skills or study academic sports majors at leading international universities and academies. The important thing is to choose the programme that fits your level and ambitions and to prepare carefully for its requirements.

Remember:

• Not all programmes require IELTS (sports training programmes generally do not)
• Define your goal first: sports training or academic study?
• Prepare your documents early rather than waiting until the last minute
• Follow the official websites for announcements and updates

If you are serious about securing a sports scholarship, start now. Check the requirements of the programme that suits you and prepare yourself both academically and athletically.

About the Content Team at GoIELTS

GoIELTS creates specialized content for IELTS with contributions from writers experienced in education and test preparation.

We follow clear editorial standards for accuracy and quality — read our Editorial Policy

✍️ Nirmeen Hosny

Content writer and researcher with six years of experience in scientific and academic fields. I create Arabic academic content in a clear and accessible style. I have extensive experience in IELTS preparation and currently work with GoIELTS to develop in-depth educational content that helps students improve their skills across all sections of the test. By providing advanced strategies and IELTS-focused guidance, I help students work toward higher band scores and stronger overall performance on the exam.

View all articles by Nirmeen Hosny

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