Basketball

Our comprehensive basketball programme is designed to nurture talent and fuel your passion for the sport whilst offering academic support for athletes.

A typical week will entail:

• Five 2-hour basketball training sessions
• One BUCS competition fixture
• One individual Strength & Conditioning session
• One – two performance analysis film sessions
• A game at the weekend

Players will also have access to:

• Daily on-court performance coaching
• Strength and conditioning coaching
• Performance analysis
• Use of our onsite Sports Therapy Clinic
• Access to campus accommodation
• Allocated lifestyle advisor
• Workshop programmes with guidance in psychology and nutrition
• Complimentary gym membership
• Access sports science testing
• Timetables individual / small group workouts 

Applications for our coveted sports scholarships and bursaries for the 2025-26 academic year are now open. Successful awards will only be offered subject to acceptance on a course at our Colchester Campus. Please be sure to read through the requirements and terms and conditions for the awards before applying. 

Future student-athletes eager to grow, develop, and strive for personal excellence are able to apply for our sport scholarships for 2025-26 from October. If you're up for the challenge and meet the academic eligibility criteria, we have generous fee waiver scholarships up to 100%, cash bursaries plus additional support packages available to financially help support your time here with us.

Applicable for high performance undergraduate or postgraduate student athletes playing at elite National Governing Bodies or Federation pathway programmes (Basketball England EABL, WEABL or international equivalent).

Alongside performance coaching, recipients of the Performance Sport Scholarship programme may also receive additional support services package benefits such as free kit, use of facilities and access to a range of support services worth up to of £1,500 per year (details outlined below). Our Performance Sport Scholarship programme has four different tiers:

*Some exceptional athletes in receipt of a tier 1 scholarship may also receive additional financial support.

Under tier 1 of the Performance Sport Scholarship programme, we award a number of tuition fee discounts to students on University of Essex undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research courses.

Basketball Fee discounts for students commencing their studies at Essex in 2025-26* are:

*subject to change 

Details and Deadlines

Deadline for basketball scholarship applications is 31 May 2025.

Sports bursaries are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and are linked to successful course applications at the University of Essex. It's crucial to meet the academic entry conditions for your chosen course to be eligible for a sport scholarship.

It's essential to adhere to these deadlines to ensure your eligibility for a sport scholarship at the University of Essex. Applications after this deadline will not be considered.

If you have any further questions or need assistance with the application process, please don't hesitate to email performancesport@essex.ac.uk

We are proud to be a Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) delivery site. As a Sport England funded partnership between talented athletes, the University of Essex and national governing bodies of sport, we work together to develop the best young talent within the UK.

The TASS Dual Career Accreditation Scheme recognises an education institution’s commitment to dual career support for talented athletes who are in full time education. We are pleased to offer an enhanced level of academic flexibility and understanding to allow our athletes the ability to balance their studies with a demanding but rewarding sporting schedule.

Alongside a playing career, we also have a range of opportunities to support your professional growth, to navigate a path through placements including but not limited to Sports Therapy, Performance Analysis, Sport Science and game day support. 

Coach Ashley Cookson has had a globe-trotting 16-year career steering sides in Sweden, Australia and Canada and is determined to bring further success for the Essex Rebels. He joined the University as Head of Basketball Performance in 2023, taking the reins of the Essex Rebels Women’s team to build on a successful season which saw the side set a nationwide attendance record and launch into the playoffs.

Coach Ross Norfolk graduated from the University of Essex with a BA in Sports Management in 2012. With over a decade’s worth of basketball coaching experience, his passion for the Essex Rebels started as a volunteer assistant coach at the birth of the Performance basketball programme back in 2015. Since making his appointment official, the Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Coach of the Essex Rebels Men’s team is hungry to seek out the most talented ballers to reach the top of the NBL divisions whilst driving future talent through the programme’s multi-faceted approach.

Sport scholars through our programmes have gone on to personal and academic success, venturing into professional playing contracts, coaching roles and rewarding employment opportunities.

During your time at Essex, seize the chance to elevate your transferable skills. We provide platforms that spotlight your talents for potential employers in the UK. Your journey extends beyond the courts, laying the groundwork for a successful and fulfilling career.

Read about some of the successful athletes, past and present on our Performance Sport Blog.