The University of Queensland (UQ) has awarded 46 UQ Sporting Scholarships to student-athletes for 2026. Among this year’s recipients are Olympians Tatum Stewart and Ria Thompson, along with Paralympians Rachael Watson and Gabriella Smith, in a diverse cohort of athletes representing 26 sports.
The scholarship recipients include 30 female and 16 male student-athletes from across the University, enrolled in a broad range of disciplines. The Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Behavioural Sciences has the highest representation among this year’s scholarship holders, with 18 recipients in the 2026 program. The Faculty of Business, Economics and Law is also strongly represented with 11 scholarship recipients.
All recipients will have access to UQ Sport’s Elite Athlete Program, helping them balance academic commitments with the demands of high-performance sport. UQ Sport Chief Executive Officer Ian Fitzpatrick said that the UQ Sporting Scholarships and Elite Athlete Program are central to helping student-athletes thrive at UQ.
“Through financial support and access to the Elite Athlete Program services, we’re helping them manage the demands of high-performance sport and university study. We want these scholarship recipients to feel supported in pursuing excellence in both study and sport.”
“Our student-athletes continue to raise the bar, and this year’s scholarship cohort reflects the strength, diversity and ambition of sport at UQ.”
Olympic bronze medallist Ria Thompson, who is studying a Doctor of Medicine at UQ, spoke at the Sporting Scholarship launch event about her experience as a student-athlete:
“I’m extremely grateful that I have been able to pursue both academic and sporting journeys, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to have access to the ongoing support of the Sporting Scholarships program.”
With the support of the UQ Sporting Scholarships, this year’s recipients will continue to develop as both students and athletes, strengthening the pipeline of talent and leadership shaping the road to the Brisbane 2032 Games.
View the full list of 2026 UQ Sporting Scholarship recipients
Media: UQ Sport Marketing, [email protected]
