DiSE opportunities are available to National Governing Bodies (NGBs) that successfully complete their annual bid submission to SportsAid. This bid must demonstrate alignment with the Sport England strategic plan and the NGB talent pathway, as well as showcase sporting expertise, athlete safeguarding, specialised delivery, educational quality assurance, and collaborative efforts with an educational partner.

Each National Governing Body (NGB) has their own acceptance criteria that may take into account various factors, including funding eligibility, the suitability of educational qualifications, sporting talent, progression within the NGB pathway, attendance records, attitude, behaviour, commitment levels, and recommendations from coaches and school or college tutors.

Please refer to your NGB DiSE website for further details on their policy.

NGBs will have a schedule of delivery which you will be able to view on their relative website. DiSE is a two-year qualification which some NGBS will complete within the minimum 18 month period and no longer than the Maximum of 24 months.

There is currently an annual allocation of 1550 DiSE places which are distributed across all sports that are registered to delivery the DiSE qualification.

NGB’s decide the best DiSE delivery model to suit their chosen athletes, the appropriate practitioners and national delivery sites to ensure geographical accessibility. Some NGB’s choose term time delivery based within educational institutions and timetabled around main programmes of study. Others choose a combination of a camp-based and remote model; some offer remote delivery and some a mixture of all.

It is important you understand you will be studying two full time educational courses, and the commitment and diligence required. This dual programme will not suit all. It is highly recommended you liaise with your parent/guardian, tutor, coach and NGB so you fully understand the workload involved to empower you to make the right decision. If you decide not to take a DiSE place it will not affect your sporting progress or your place on your NGB’s talent pathway.

Your main programme of educational study is always the priority. DiSE NGB’s and coaches work with you to embed your DiSE journey and delivery around your main study programme timetable. A variety of delivery and assessment methods will be used to maximise naturally occurring DiSE evidence and assessment opportunities to avoid overload.

You can complete DiSE if you can demonstrate your meet the eligibility criteria for completing DiSE.
Please refer to your NGB DiSE website for the eligibility criteria.

It is encouraged that you contact your NGB to inform them that you are applying for a DiSE place, and that you are from the Channel Islands. This will enable you to discuss appropriate and realistic positions on you physically being able to complete DiSE and what your DiSE learning journey will require from you and the support that you can receive from your NGB.

Athletes based in one of these locations will be assessed on a case by case basis. Please contact your NGB to enquire on your behalf.

Athletes from the Isle of Wight are able to enrol on DiSE as log as they meet the other eligibility requirements.

Please contact your NGB to discuss your eligibility for the DiSE programme.

If you turn professional in your sport whilst completing DiSE, and can complete the programme as long as you are able to continue to show commitment to completing what is needed to pass the qualification.

The aim of the Level 3 DiSE programme (worth 64 UCAS points) is to support a diverse cohort of young athletes in the talent system to combine sport and education. DiSE aims to support these athletes to develop the skills, knowledge, and competence to pursue sporting excellence alongside developing the skills and qualifications for a post athletic career, which may include a career within the sporting workforce. DiSE provides a comprehensive syllabus to support young athletes to gain an additional qualification and achieve their full potential within the NGB talent pathway as well as their future career.

The Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) is a programme funded by Sport England and managed by SportsAid. Sport England receives the DiSE programme funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport which is then awarded to SportsAid; the charity then works with the relevant national governing bodies and learning providers to distribute and monitor the programme funding as necessary.

NGBs and Learning providers employ exceptionally skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced coaches and sports experts to implement DiSE deliveries. These professionals possess a comprehensive understanding of the GB talent and performance pathway as well as sporting subject matters, ensuring that DiSE units align with the necessary pathway criteria.

This programme is specifically for talented athletes identified by the National Governing Body (NGB) through the Talent Pathway, who are actively involved in training and competition in their sport to achieve success at the highest level. Eligible athletes are typically between the ages of 16-18 or those aged 19-24 with an Education Health and Care (EHC) Plan.

DiSE is a Sport England funded programme managed by SportsAid.

Sport England is responsible to the DfE and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for providing the strategic direction to ensure the alignment of the DiSE programme with: The Sport England Talent Plan, individual NGB talent strategies, and wider Government, sporting and education priorities. In 2022 Sport England appointed SportsAid as the delivery partner of the DiSE programme.

SportsAid are responsible for the administration and governance of the annual submission process which determines which sports receive places on the DiSE programme and how many places they receive.

DiSE seeks to deliver a complementary programme, allowing students to combine sport and education, so that they have the skills, knowledge and qualifications to pursue a dual career in high level sport alongside separate paid employment in the future.

Your DiSE deliverer will happily coordinate with your educational tutor where needed to inform them about the DiSE program and to assure them that it will not disrupt your academic pursuits.
It is your responsibility to communicate with your main study programme tutor to update them on this additional commitment you have taken on.

It is essential for you to maintain effective communication with both your educational tutor and your DiSE deliverer, providing them with updates on your progress, experiences, and any obstacles you may encounter along the way.