How to secure a Warwick sports scholarship

Trevor Lau swapped being an athlete-first student for a student-first athlete. Backed by a sports scholarship, he’s balancing elite sport with career ambition, and redefining what success looks like beyond the court.

Hi, my name is Trevor Lau, and I’m from California. I did my undergrad at California State University, Northridge, where I played Division 1 volleyball and majored in finance. Now, I’m studying an MSc Business and Finance, and playing on the volleyball team here at Warwick.

I found out about the sports scholarship from some of the executives in the club and immediately applied, knowing that volleyball would continue to be a big part of my life. However, I chose to come to WBS because I wanted to focus more on my career. I’ve always known that volleyball wasn’t going to be my future.

Why choose Warwick for an MSc?

After graduating, I wanted to go somewhere that would challenge me academically the same way I had been challenged athletically.

Since applications for Master’s courses in the US are generally due earlier, and one of my previous teammates went to Nottingham and told me he had a great experience, I started looking at courses in the UK. After talking to some people from the club, I decided that Warwick is a perfect fit.

In the past, I’ve always been more of an athlete than a student, and I’ve always spent more time training than studying. Being a student-athlete at WBS has been a much different experience. Now I’m definitely a student before an athlete. I even missed a game to go to a seminar, something I’ve never even considered. It’s been tough to get used to, but every day I get more accustomed to it.

With that being said, I’ve loved my time at WBS; it’s been exactly what I wanted it to be from the standpoint of challenging me and forcing me to learn. I wanted to get my Master’s degree because I felt that I didn’t know enough to get my career started the right way. Here, with the curriculum and the addition of fewer volleyball obligations, I’ve been able to get a better grasp of the subject and explore careers and topics on my own.

Outside of what I wanted to get out of an education, WBS has granted me so much that I didn’t expect going into this year. Unlike my previous university, the course does a lot to bring the students closer together. Throughout the year, WBS has run so many mixers and events, for example, the finance winter ball, which I think has played a huge role in creating lasting friendships within the course.

How to balance Master’s studies and social life

The resources have also been extremely helpful. I wasn’t really sure what it was like to be at a top business school until I got here. Not only are the lectures and seminars great, but we are blessed with an abundance of resources to help in our careers. So far, I’ve been able to meet 1-on-1 with career advisors who have helped perfect my resume, sign up for a mock assessment center, and attend career fairs with representatives from companies in specific industries.

Going back to volleyball, although it’s less of my life than it has been in the past, I attribute most of my nonacademic enjoyment to it. Playing volleyball here has given me a community and a group of friends from the first week. It’s also a great outlet and hobby to take your focus off the constant studying.

How to achieve a WBS scholarship

My advice for someone applying for the sports scholarship is to not be afraid to brag about yourself, and even if you don’t know if you qualify, apply anyway, because there are a few different levels for the scholarship. I would highly advise students to take a Master’s program at WBS.

It’s a great university with lots of resources to help you succeed in the classroom as well as in your future career. The course is catered to helping you succeed in your career and meet so many people from all over the world.