Helping Student-Athletes from South Africa and Beyond to Succeed at UK Universities

Southern African Students

Tailored Support for Athletes
from Southern Africa

Over the past few years, The Student Sport Company has proudly supported students from across Southern Africa in pursuing their university education alongside their sporting ambitions in the UK.

We’ve developed a comprehensive, step-by-step process that provides free, personalized guidance at every stage of the journey.

Here’s How We Can Help

For many student-athletes from Southern Africa, understanding how sport and study work together at UK universities can be challenging, but that’s exactly where we come in.

From identifying tailored university options and connecting you with UK coaches, to guiding you through applications, visas, and even postgraduate opportunities, we’re here to support every step of your journey.

Personalised University Options

We will identify opportunities that best align with your academic performance, preferred sport, and personal goals. This ensures you won’t have to compromise between your education and athletic ambitions.

UK University Coach Connections

We will connect you directly with UK university coaches, allowing you to explore training schedules, playing opportunities, and the specific support they can offer to help you excel both academically and athletically.

Application Support

Once you’ve selected your preferred universities, we will guide you through the application process for your chosen course. Our experienced team is equipped to assist with both undergraduate and postgraduate applications, ensuring students at all levels receive expert guidance.

Visa Guidance

After accepting an offer, our dedicated pre-departure team will assist you in securing housing and navigating each step of the student visa process. We’ll make sure you’re fully prepared for your move to the UK and ready to start your course.

Postgraduate Opportunities

Many of our students choose to stay in the UK after completing their bachelor’s degree to pursue postgraduate studies. We offer ongoing support to help you transition smoothly into postgraduate programs, building on the success of your undergraduate experience.

Our Recent Success Stories

Since 2023, we’ve proudly helped students from South Africa and Zimbabwe, as well as from Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, secure recruitment to UK universities.

Matthew Schonken

Hellenic Academy

BA Business & Management
Cardiff Met University (2024)

Jet Ellis-George

Rhodes University

MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology
University of Essex (2024)

Edson Matlombe

Trichardt School For Christian Education

BEng Computer Science
Anglia Ruskin University (2023)

Natheerah Noor

Varsity College Cape Town

MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology
University of Essex (2024)

Joshua Taylor

Jeppe High School For Boys

BSc Sport Coaching
Solent University (2022)

Temwani Kaila

Lusaka International Community School

BSc Economics with International Finance and Banking
Nottingham Trent University (2024)

Tshila Munyai

CTU Pretoria

Mechanical Engineering 
University of Derby (2024)

Joshua Mbaiwa

Rainbow High School

BEng Engineering
Manchester Met University (2024)

Our Network of UK Universities

Our international applicants, including those from Southern Africa, are studying at a diverse range of institutions across the UK. The following list highlights the universities that have made offers to our students in recent years:

  • Anglia Ruskin University
  • Loughborough University
  • University of Essex
  • Bournemouth University
  • Manchester Met University
  • University of Derby
  • Coventry University
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • University of Stirling
  • Durham University
  • Solent University
  • UWE Bristol

Our Recent Success Stories

Since 2023, we’ve proudly helped students from across Southern Africa — including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia — secure recruitment to UK universities.

Natheerah Noor

Natheerah Noor

MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2024 Entry, Varsity College Cape Town, South Africa

I am at a loss for words about how much The Student Sport Company has supported me along the way. They guided me through every stage of the procedure, making sure I never felt overwhelmed and made it simple to understand.



They even went so far as to help me choose universities to think about and finish my applications for any university of my choosing. It looked too good to be true at first, but they are the real deal. Even when everything was up to date they would still check in with emails or video calls. They also helped me reach out to other important people such as hockey coaches.



I will always be grateful to The Student Sport Company! Truly the best, would highly recommend their service.

Matthew Schonken

Matthew Schonken

BA Business & Management, 2024 Entry, Hellenic Academy in Harare, Zimbabwe

I had fairly limited knowledge about the university options and opportunities that might be available to me in the UK. The Student Sport Company provided me with amazing support throughout the process.

We started with an online meeting where I was able to describe what I was really looking to achieve; this allowed SSC to get to know me and understand what might work for me. The team then arranged online meetings with various universities for me, and were available for feedback sessions where I was able to get guidance and input and discuss the options.

I eventually accepted an offer from a University which I did not even have as an option when I started the process – thanks to The Student Sport Company.

Jett Ellis-George

Jett Ellis-George

MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2024 Entry, Rhodes University, South Africa

I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience working with The Student Sport Company team.



They were extremely helpful and supportive, and always available to assist with any and all things to do with the search and application process.



I thank Shaun and Harry for their efforts, as this would not have been possible without them.

Tshila Munyai

Tshila Munyai

BEng Mechanical Engineering, 2024 Entry, Impaq Online School, South Africa

Working with The Student Sport Company was great!


Some part of me feels that I should have contacted them earlier but I’m so happy I took the leap.


The Student Sport Company team answered all my questions clearly and helped me understand everything about the process, from the start to the very end.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’re always here to help with any questions throughout your application process, including those coming from regions such as Southern Africa — but below are some of our most frequently asked questions.

Our services are completely free of charge. The Student Sport Company is here to support students in every step of their journey to the UK.

This includes helping you identify suitable UK universities, completing your applications, and guiding you through the student visa process—all at no cost to you.

Entry requirements vary between UK universities. However, with years of experience supporting students from across Southern Africa, we can evaluate your qualifications and recommend universities where you have a strong chance of securing an offer.

We have successfully helped students with the following qualifications progress to study in the UK:

  • International Baccalaureate (IB)
  • National Senior Certificate (NSC) – South Africa
  • ZIMSEC GCE A-Level – Zimbabwe
  • Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE)
  • Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE)

We can connect you with universities that offer a wide range of academic programs, including foundation degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and PhDs.

You can choose from over 100 subject areas, such as Business Management, Engineering, Sport Science, Zoology, and many more.

Yes! Any student enrolled at a UK university is eligible to participate in university sports. Whether you’re continuing your athletic career or trying a new sport, UK university sports programs offer excellent opportunities.

Yes, a variety of scholarships are available, including academic, sport, and international scholarships.

While these scholarships can help reduce tuition and living costs, they typically do not cover all expenses. We’ll guide you to scholarships that fit your profile and help you develop a budget for your studies.

Absolutely! Our free service supports any student who wants to study in the UK, whether you’re an athlete or not. We’ll help you find the right academic program and university based on your interests and qualifications.

To start the process, simply provide us with your academic and sporting history by completing our online application form. Once we have your details, we’ll guide you through the next steps of the process. The application from is available here.

We’re Here To Help

Our dedicated team of student-athlete advisors has years of experience helping international students from South Africa successfully navigate the application process to study in the UK.

We’re committed to connecting with prospective students and their families to address any questions or concerns.

Schedule a call with us at a time that suits you using our online calendar.


Get In Touch

Have questions or ready to start your journey?

Fill out our form, and one of our student-athlete advisors will get back to you promptly!