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Linda Suchá, a successful Pilsen athlete and the current academic champion of the Czech Republic in the triple jump, who studies at the Faculty of Education of the University of West Bohemia, will be supported by the UNIS programme for the fourth year in a row. However, for the first time, due to savings, the Ministry of Education will not offer her a regular monthly amount for above-standard performances through the university. Until last year, top athletes could get between 5,000 and 15,000 CZK a month in the form of a scholarship.

So far, 20 students have signed up for the programme at UWB for 2025 and others can still apply. Last year there were 17 athletes with scholarships under stricter conditions. "We know that for some athletes, membership in the project has lost its meaning. Without direct financial support, it is very difficult to combine their dual career as a top athlete and a student at UWB. Even so, we believe that the programme has a lot to offer and we encourage athletes to continue to apply," said Václav Salcman, UNIS project coordinator at UWB. Other members of the UNIS programme at UWB for several years now have been, for example, world champion in archery Marie Horáčková or Paralympic swimmer and Olympian Vendula Dušková.

Another significant change is the abolition of the age limit. The project is now open to athletes over 26 years of age and those who are already registered at the Victoria VSC, ASC Dukla Praha and Olymp Centre for Sport of the Ministry of the Interior Affairs. Proof of status as a representative of the Czech Republic in the Olympic and other selected sports, as well as the Paralympic Games, Deaflympics or World University Games, remains a key criterion for inclusion in the project.

Athletes can continue to benefit at least from the services offered, which include sports medicine, physiotherapy, sports psychologist or nutrition counsellor and food supplements. "We will continue to do our best to help our athletes/students together with the program tutor, Adriana Ujkanovičová. The main focus of our support will be the coordination of studies in terms of individual exam plans, consultations and the proper course of studies," explained the main benefit of the programme for the students Václav Salcman.

Interested applicants can apply throughout the year. Specific information on UNIS UWB for 2025 and the application form can be found at this link.