Discover how former NCAA Division I tennis player Eva turned graduation into the beginning of an unforgettable postgraduate experience in the UK.
For many NCAA student-athletes, graduation marks the end of years of training, competition and unforgettable memories representing their university.
But for those who aren’t quite ready to step away from their sport, the UK’s unique postgraduate pathway allows US graduates to continue competing while earning an internationally recognised master’s degree.
Instead of saying goodbye to the sport they’ve dedicated years to, student-athletes can experience another season, represent a new university, explore a different country and create lifelong memories both on and off the court.
Former NCAA Division I tennis player Eva Golembiovski did exactly that.
Australia To NCAA To UKOriginally from Australia, Eva spent four years competing at NCAA Division I level with Delaware State University. During her collegiate career, she helped the Hornets enjoy one of the most successful periods in program history, earned MEAC All-Academic honours and captured the 2024 HBCU National Doubles Championship. After graduating in 2025, Eva reached out to Play Overseas to explore postgraduate opportunities before accepting a scholarship at at Leeds Beckett University, study an MSc in Sports and Exercise Therapy and continue competing . |
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Eva’s Story, In Her Own Words
In the video below, Eva shares why she decided to continue her student-athlete journey in the UK, what life has been like studying overseas, and why pursuing a postgraduate degree while continuing to compete proved to be the perfect next step after graduating from the NCAA.
Highlights from Eva’s Postgraduate Year Overseas
For Eva, pursuing a postgraduate degree in the UK was about far more than simply extending her tennis career. It was an opportunity to earn another qualification, represent a new university, experience life in a different country and make the most of everything that comes with being a student-athlete overseas.
From returning to the court and earning a master’s degree to exploring the UK and creating lifelong memories, here are some of the highlights from Eva’s postgraduate journey overseas.
Returning To The CourtUnlike the NCAA, the UK university system allows postgraduate students to continue competing regardless of their previous collegiate eligibility or how long ago they graduated. For Eva, that meant extending her student-athlete career by competing in BUCS (UK equivalent to NCAA), enjoying another season of competitive tennis while continuing to train, improve and represent a university team. |
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One Year Master’sFor many US college graduates, the opportunity to earn a master’s degree in just one year is one of the biggest attractions of the postgraduate pathway. Alongside continuing her tennis career, Eva completed an MSc in Sports and Exercise Therapy bringing her one step closer to achieving her long-term ambition of pursuing a career as a physical therapist. |
Discovering The UKOne of the unique advantages of studying overseas is the opportunity to experience life beyond campus. Throughout her year in England, Eva made the most of living in the UK, travelling to some of the country’s most iconic destinations and creating memories with friends and family along the way. |
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A Season To RememberMoving to a new country after graduation is a leap into the unknown, but it’s often those experiences that leave the biggest impression. From the moment she arrived in Leeds to the day she graduated, Eva embraced every opportunity, making the most of a year that perfectly captured what the UK postgraduate pathway is all about. |
Finding the Right Fit With Play Overseas
Working closely with Play Overseas, Eva was introduced to a number of universities across the UK, each offering a different combination of academic programmes, scholarship opportunities and tennis environments.
With interest coming from multiple universities, we helped Eva to:
Discover UK University Options
Connect with University Coaches and Staff
Identify Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunities
Navigate Postgraduate Applications
Understand the UK Student Visa Process
From identifying the best postgraduate fit and managing her UK university application to supporting her transition to England, Play Overseas guided Eva through every stage of the process, making the move overseas as straightforward as possible.
“Play Overseas were my first ever experience with an agency, I didn’t know what to expect. I would send an email and you guys would reply within hours so I was like wow, they actually want to help me. Any question that I had, and I had a lot of questions, you guys would always reply, and the support meant a lot.”
Ready for Your Own Overseas Journey?
If you’re interested in playing another season while pursuing a master’s degree and experiencing life in a new country, we’re here to help.
Our service is completely FREE! From helping you identify postgraduate scholarship opportunities, connect with coaches and find universities that match your academic and athletic goals, we’ll support you every step of the way through your journey to the UK.
Start exploring your options today!
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