As our postgraduate recruitment for Fall 2026 continues, we explore why more former US college athletes are choosing the UK and how Play Overseas helps student-athletes navigate the process.
For many NCAA and NAIA student-athletes, the end of their college career in the United States can feel like the end of competitive sport altogether.
However, for hundreds of former college athletes each year, the United Kingdom provides an exciting opportunity to continue competing while studying for a postgraduate degree.
At Play Overseas, we are continuing to support student-athletes in securing Fall 2026 postgraduate opportunities at UK universities and there is still time for graduating seniors and recent graduates to begin the recruitment process.
Why Former NCAA & NAIA Athletes Are Choosing The UK
The UK has become an increasingly popular destination for former US college athletes looking to extend their athletic careers while investing in their long term future.
Continued Athletic Eligibility
Your college career does not have to end after senior year!
Unlike the NCAA, previous years of competition in the United States do not impact a student-athlete’s eligibility within UK university sport.
This means graduating seniors can continue competing while studying for their master’s degree in the UK.
Every year, former NCAA DI, DII, DIII, NAIA and NJCAA athletes continue their sporting careers at UK universities across a wide range of sports.
One Year Master’s Degrees
Earn your master’s in just 12 months!
One of the biggest advantages of studying in the UK is that most postgraduate degrees can be completed in just 12 months.
This allows student-athletes to continue competing while gaining an internationally recognised qualification in a shorter timeframe than many equivalent programs in the United States.
There are hundreds of postgraduate course options available, including MBA Programs, Sport Management, Engineering, Business, Psychology, Data Science, Marketing, and many more.
Postgraduate Athletic Scholarships
Use your US college athletic experience to lower your tuition costs!
Many UK universities offer postgraduate scholarships to talented former college athletes.
These scholarships can help reduce tuition costs while giving athletes the opportunity to continue training and competing at a high level.
Scholarship opportunities vary depending on the university, sport and athletic level of the student-athlete.
High Level UK University Sport
Compete in a serious, competitive college sport environment!
When studying in the UK, former NCAA and NAIA student-athletes have the opportunity to compete within British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS), the national governing body for university sport in the UK, while also potentially competing for external club teams alongside their university commitments.
Student-athletes regularly compete alongside and against former US college athletes, elite British athletes and international students from countries all over the world, creating a highly competitive and globally diverse sporting environment.
Many UK universities continue to invest heavily in facilities, coaching staff and performance sport environments, helping student-athletes continue competing at a high level while completing their postgraduate degree.
It’s Not Too Late To Apply For Fall 2026
There are still ample postgraduate recruitment opportunities available at UK universities for Fall 2026.
University coaches across the UK are still actively looking to add student-athletes to their rosters ahead of the Fall 2026 season and many institutions continue to offer significant postgraduate scholarship opportunities across a wide range of sports.
There is still time for student-athletes to secure:
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University offers -
Postgraduate scholarships -
Athletic recruitment opportunities -
Student visas for Fall 2026 entry
Student-athletes can begin their UK university recruitment journey by creating a free Play Overseas profile below.
Meet Some Of Our Recent Fall 2026 Commitments
Play Overseas has already helped a growing number of former NCAA and NAIA student-athletes secure postgraduate recruitment opportunities at UK universities for Fall 2026.
These student-athletes will be continuing their athletic careers overseas while pursuing master’s degrees and competing within UK university sport.
Meet some of the former US college athletes who have already committed to UK universities through Play Overseas for September 2026 entry.
Marley Lambert
Tennis
University of Denver | NCAA D1
Sport Management
Jaben Mars
Basketball
Johnson & Wales University | NCAA D3
Public Health
Lyla Devereaux
Soccer
Menlo College | NAIA
Sport & Exercise Nutrition
Who Are We Looking For?
Play Overseas is actively looking to connect with graduating and former NCAA, NAIA and USCAA student-athletes who are interested in continuing both their athletic and academic careers in the United Kingdom.
We are currently recruiting student-athletes across a wide range of sports, including:
How Play Overseas Helps
Play Overseas is a free UK based student-athlete recruitment service that helps graduating NCAA and NAIA athletes continue competing while completing postgraduate degrees at UK universities.
Since 2016, we have successfully supported more than 500 former US college athletes from NCAA DI, DII, DIII, NAIA and NJCAA programs across the United States in continuing their athletic and academic careers in the UK.
Our team helps student-athletes:
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Explore university options |
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Connect with university coaches and staff |
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Identify scholarship opportunities |
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Navigate postgraduate applications |
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Understand the UK student visa process |
Start Your Recruitment Journey
If you are a graduating senior, recent graduate or former college athlete interested in exploring postgraduate opportunities in the UK, we would love to hear from you.
You can begin your recruitment process by creating a free Play Overseas profile below, or schedule a call with our team directly to learn more about your opportunities in the UK.
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