The Top-Level Sport and Culture Regulation aims to make it possible for students to combine their studies with top-level sport or top-level cultural activities. To this end, three types of support are offered to recognised athletes, artists, and performers studying at the University of Twente, including tailored study guidance, (free) use of university facilities, and financial support in the event of a study delay.
This scheme applies to both able-bodied and disabled athletes.
Definition and Application of the Regulation
The support offered by the University of Twente enables athletes, artists, and performers to responsibly combine their sport or cultural activities with their academic studies. The scheme is intended for both regular top-level athletes and athletes with a disability.
The Top-Level Sport & Culture Scheme provides three types of facilities for top-level athletes and top-level culture practitioners:
1. Tailored Study Guidance: Once per quartile, or more frequently if desirable, students meet with their study adviser to develop an integrated sport/culture and study plan. Special attention is given to potential conflicts and possible solutions, aiming to create a realistic and feasible plan. Students are responsible for timely communication and must adopt a proactive attitude.
2. Free Use of UT Facilities: Athletes can use sports facilities (e.g., gym) free of charge. Artists and performers can consult the Top-Level Sport and Culture committee regarding available facilities.
3. Financial Support for a Study Delay: This support is available only for students with a Category 1 status. Part 3 of the StOF regulation applies. A study delay caused by top-level sport or top-level cultural activities is discussed and recorded annually with the top-level sport coordinator.
Conditions
To be eligible for this regulation, a student must meet the following criteria:
Top-Level sport
There are two categories with the following criteria:
Category 1: Top-level athletes recognised by their sports federation, which must itself be recognised by NOC*NSF, holding one of the following statuses: A, HP (High Potential), Bond (Federation), IT (International Talent), NT (National Talent), or Promising. International top-level athletes with a comparable status are also eligible.
Category 2: Athletes competing at the highest national senior or junior level, or athletes who previously held a Category 1 status and are expected to return to this level soon. Students participating at national level in cultural activities such as orchestras, theatre, cabaret, or other art forms may also be eligible.
The time commitment must amount to at least 10 hours of training and/or four sport-specific (team) training sessions per week, excluding travel time.
Top-level culture
The student must have a cultural career with demonstrable time commitment and significant achievements in competitions or exhibitions. Individual assessments determine whether a student qualifies for Category 1 or Category 2 status.
Ambassador Role
All recognised top-level athletes and top-level culture practitioners must be willing to act as ambassadors for the University of Twente regarding their achievements. Specific agreements may be made in this regard.
Application procedure
To qualify for this scheme, a student must submit an application annually before 1 December of the current academic year to be recognised as a top-level athlete or top-level culture practitioner. Applications are submitted via the online application form. An exception may be made for students who are granted official NOC*NSF status after 1 December.
The Top-Level Sport & Culture Committee will make a recommendation to the Committee on Personal Circumstances (CPO), which will decide within eight weeks of receiving the application and inform the student of its decision:
- Recognition as Category 1;
- Recognition as Category 2;
- No recognition.
Throughout the academic year, students must be able to demonstrate that they continue to qualify as either Category 1 or Category 2. Applications concerning periods that have already passed will not be accepted.
Top-Level Sport Applications
The application must include:
- A personal statement describing the type of sport, the number of training hours per week, and a brief overview of the sports career (competitions and achievements);
- An official statement from the sports federation indicating the current level of performance.
Top-Level Culture Applications
Applications for top-level culture must include:
- A personal statement describing the type of cultural activity, the number of hours dedicated to it, and a brief overview of the cultural career (competitions and achievements).
what to do?
You apply for the status every year. To do this, you schedule an appointment with the responsible student counsellor/elite sports coordinator. In that conversation, we discuss what your upcoming sport and academic year will look like and evaluate the past year. What went well? We can use that information to facilitate the students even better.
De committee Topsport/Topculture
To apply for the status, you make an appointment (annually) with the student counsellor/top-level sport/culture coordinator. You can make an appointment by calling the secretariat: 053-4892035.
Vincent knows everything about the use of the sports facilities on campus. It is advisable to make an appointment with him so that you know exactly what is possible and available.
Lars is a board member of the Student Union. The Student Union represents the interests of all UT students when it comes to extracurricular activities such as board work, top-level sports and top-level culture.
Nicole is the registry of the Top-level sport/culture committee. If you have any questions about the processing of your application or about applying for compensation , you can contact her.