Education and elite sports
When elite sports and education must work together
The Syddansk Elite scheme proves crucial for both study choices and everyday study life.
We have just finalised our user survey and would like to share two results that particularly caught our attention.
Better opportunities to combine sport and education
The survey clearly shows that Syddansk Elite plays a central role in students' ability to combine sport and education. As many as 76.2% of respondents indicated that Syddansk Elite has made it easier for them to balance their programme of study with their sporting commitments to a high or very high degree.
This result is particularly noteworthy in a period when interest in studying at SDU among elite athletes has increased significantly. Many of these students live far from the campus they are enrolled at, creating an increased need for flexible solutions.
At the end of 2025, 163 students were enrolled, of which 76 lived on Funen, 66 in the rest of Denmark and 21 abroad. This means that more than half of the students in the scheme live a considerable distance from their programme.
The Syddansk Elite scheme influences where elite athletes choose to study
The support students experience in their everyday lives is not only reflected in their ability to balance sport and education. It also has a significant impact on their choice of educational institution. The study shows that 44.3% of the students surveyed would probably not - or certainly not - have chosen to study at SDU if Syddansk Elite did not exist.
In other words, the scheme is not just a help in their everyday study life; it is a crucial factor in many elite athletes choosing SDU as their place of study.
Want to know more?
Students of SDU can apply to become part of Syddansk Elite. So please spread the word about Syddansk Elite. It can make a big difference for students who combine elite sports with their programmes of study. Read more at sdu.dk.
On SDUnet, lecturers and other interested parties can find tips and tricks for the next meeting with a student who is part of Southern Denmark Elite. Read more on the Service Page Teaching.