NCAA Graduate Laurel Maynor Secures UK Postgraduate Tennis Scholarship

Conference Carolinas Recognises Laurel’s Next Chapter

Laurel’s post-NCAA journey was recently recognised by Conference Carolinas, which published a feature celebrating her collegiate tennis career and upcoming move overseas.

During her time at Converse University, Laurel represented the Valkyries with distinction and served as team captain for three seasons. Her leadership, commitment and contribution to the programme made her an important member of the Converse women’s tennis team.

Featured by Conference Carolinas

Celebrating Laurel’s Collegiate Career

The conference recently highlighted Laurel’s achievements at Converse University and her upcoming opportunity to continue competing overseas while pursuing a master’s degree.

Read the Conference Carolinas Feature→

From NCAA Tennis to a UK Master’s Degree

Graduation does not necessarily have to mark the end of a student-athlete’s competitive career.

After receiving interest from universities across the UK, Laurel considered several postgraduate opportunities before accepting a scholarship with one of the country’s leading university tennis programmes.

The opportunity will allow her to continue competing while completing a 12-month master’s degree and experiencing life as an international student-athlete in England.

For Laurel, the move represents an opportunity to build on her four years of NCAA tennis while pursuing her academic interests in Sport and Exercise Psychology.

For former NCAA and NAIA athletes, the UK offers an opportunity to continue competing beyond NCAA eligibility while earning a postgraduate qualification.

Play Overseas supported Laurel throughout the recruitment process, helping her identify universities that matched her academic interests, tennis background and ambitions for life after the NCAA.

Postgraduate Tennis Scholarships and BUCS Competition

UK universities compete through British Universities and Colleges Sport, commonly known as BUCS. Its national tennis leagues and championships provide former NCAA players with the opportunity to represent their university while working towards a postgraduate qualification.

Depending on the university and the strength of the applicant, student-athletes may also be considered for UK university sports scholarships and other financial awards.

A Growing Pathway for Former College Tennis Players

This fall, Laurel will join a growing and diverse group of former NCAA and NAIA tennis players whom Play Overseas has helped secure postgraduate tennis scholarships in the UK.

These student-athletes will study for their master’s degrees while continuing their competitive careers in BUCS tennis leagues at universities throughout the country.

Their moves reflect the growing awareness of the UK as a genuine post-college pathway for student-athletes who are not ready to stop competing after graduation.

Finding the Right Opportunity with Play Overseas

At Play Overseas, we provide a completely free service to graduating and former college athletes looking to continue their sport while pursuing a master’s degree in the UK.

Our team helps student-athletes explore suitable universities, connect with university coaches and understand the opportunities available throughout the recruitment process.

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  Identify suitable UK university sport programmes
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  Connect with university coaches and recruitment staff
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  Explore postgraduate scholarship opportunities
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  Navigate university applications and admissions
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  Receive guidance on visas and relocation to the UK

From identifying suitable programmes to preparing for life overseas, we aim to make the transition from US college sport to UK university sport as straightforward as possible.