Everything you need to know, answered honestly.
This page answers the questions every family asks about visas, academic requirements, timelines, and scholarship values. Every question answered directly, specifically, and in plain language.
Guidance reviewed against the linked official sources on . Rules, fees and school policies can change. Confirm the current requirements with the governing body, the college’s compliance or international student office, and your US embassy or consulate before acting. This is general guidance, not a guarantee of funding, eligibility or visa approval.
The recruiting timeline.
The most common mistake UK and Gulf families make is starting the process too late. Understanding when things happen gives your athlete the best chance of the right outcome. The ages and months below are CSG planning estimates, not governing-body deadlines or a promise of an offer.
Begin understanding the pathway and preparing your profile. Permitted recruiting activity depends on the sport, division and school year. Contact us for a free initial view of your athlete's trajectory.
Your athlete has enough competitive experience for a meaningful assessment, sufficient time to complete NCAA Eligibility Centre registration, and comfortable runway to the right offer.
Work begins with footage, academic records, any school-specific admissions testing, and competitive history. We build the profile and target coaching staff at matched programmes.
Communication and offers are evaluated within the applicable recruiting rules. NCAA contact dates vary by sport, division, communication type and school year; there is no single date for all athletes. NAIA has different rules, including restrictions involving enrolled athletes and transfers.
Official sources: NCAA: recruiting, signing and scholarship guidance · NAIA: official handbook and bylaws
Multiple workstreams run concurrently: the relevant eligibility review, school-specific admissions tests if required, academic documents and enrolment paperwork. Visa steps follow acceptance by a SEVP-approved school and receipt of an I-20. CSG guides each stage.
Fall (August) or Spring (January) intake. Most international athletes begin in Fall. Full arrival briefing for Foundation clients. Premium clients receive check-ins throughout the first semester.
How scholarship splitting actually works.
An equivalency limit expresses a team's permitted athletic aid as a number of full scholarships that can be shared among players. NCAA D2 and NAIA soccer use this model. NCAA D1 schools participating in the House settlement instead operate under roster limits; NJCAA aid depends on its division. Actual awards depend on the school's budget and rules.
Official sources: NCAA: Division II scholarship limits · NCAA: Division I settlement and roster rules · NAIA: official handbook and bylaws · NJCAA: scholarship rules by division
A full athletic scholarship may cover tuition and fees, accommodation, meals and course-related books. Many awards cover only part of these costs. The value depends on the college's published costs and your written agreement. Academic aid may be combined with athletic aid, subject to the applicable rules.
Official sources: NCAA: recruiting, signing and scholarship guidance
Can scholarship offers be negotiated?
Before accepting a written athletics aid agreement, ask the college whether the amount or mix of aid can be adjusted. NCAA Division I and II signing dates and contact restrictions apply; signing can stop other NCAA schools from recruiting you. Read the agreement and ask the compliance office about your obligations before committing. CSG advises families on these conversations.
Official sources: NCAA: recruiting, signing and scholarship guidance
How long does a scholarship last? Is it guaranteed for four years?
Read the award period in your written agreement. Many NCAA awards last one academic year, while Division I schools may offer multiyear awards. Renewal and cancellation rules vary, and Division I core guarantees provide additional protections. If an NCAA school proposes reducing, cancelling or not renewing aid, written notice and an appeal opportunity are required. Ask the financial aid and compliance offices which protections apply to your offer.
Official sources: NCAA: recruiting, signing and scholarship guidance · NCAA: Division I settlement and roster rules · NAIA: official handbook and bylaws · NJCAA: current handbook and eligibility rules
Can my athlete receive both athletic and academic scholarship?
Often, yes, but combining awards is subject to the governing body's rules and the college's aid policies. Ask the financial aid office for the complete package and remaining annual costs in writing. Do not assume an academic award can simply be added to an athletic offer.
Official sources: NCAA: Division II scholarship limits · NAIA: official handbook and bylaws · NJCAA: scholarship rules by division
Academic requirements – what you actually need.
Academic eligibility is a genuine requirement at every level. UK and Gulf qualifications are recognised but must be formally evaluated. We handle this process for every athlete we work with.
| Level | Governing body | Core courses | SAT or ACT | For UK & Gulf students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA D1 | NCAA Eligibility Centre | 16 approved core courses; minimum 2.3 core GPA | Not required for NCAA initial eligibility | Country-specific records and athletics certification |
| NCAA D2 | NCAA Eligibility Centre | 16 approved core courses; minimum 2.2 core GPA | Not required for NCAA initial eligibility | Country-specific records and athletics certification |
| NAIA | NAIA Eligibility Centre | Graduation; 2.3 overall GPA route or alternative criteria | Not required on the 2.3 GPA route; may support an alternative | International documents and eligibility review |
| JUCO | College certifies NJCAA eligibility | Graduation or accepted equivalent; college requirements | Check individual college admissions policy | College reviews international records and eligibility |
Official sources: NCAA: initial eligibility requirements · NCAA: international qualifications and documents · NAIA: freshman eligibility requirements · NJCAA: current handbook and eligibility rules
Do UK GCSEs and A-Levels count for NCAA eligibility?
The NCAA Eligibility Center reviews UK credentials using its country-specific academic standards. Recognition is not automatic certification: submit the official academic records and proof of graduation requested in your account. The NCAA carries out its own eligibility review; a separate college admissions evaluation may also be required. CSG guides families through the document requirements.
Official sources: NCAA: international qualifications and documents
Do UAE, Qatari, or Saudi qualifications count?
The NCAA Eligibility Center reviews international records according to the education system and credentials earned, not simply where the school is located. Check its country-specific guidance, including the correct profile for British, American or IB curricula, and supply official records and translations as requested. CSG recommends beginning preparations well ahead of the intended start date.
Official sources: NCAA: international qualifications and documents
Does my athlete need to take the SAT or ACT?
NCAA Division I and II initial eligibility no longer requires SAT or ACT scores for students first enrolling full time on or after 1 August 2023. NAIA freshmen can qualify through the 2.3 overall high-school GPA route without a test; alternative routes may use test scores. Colleges can still require admissions or English-language tests separately, so check every target school's policy.
Official sources: NCAA: initial eligibility requirements · NCAA: removal of initial-eligibility test requirements · NAIA: freshman eligibility requirements
What if my athlete's grades are not strong enough for D1 or D2?
We address this honestly at the consultation stage. If an athlete's academic profile does not meet NCAA D1 or D2 thresholds, the most effective route is typically the Junior College pathway. Two years at JUCO gives an athlete the opportunity to build their academic record and football profile. Our founder followed exactly this route – from JUCO to Creighton University, NCAA Division I.
The F-1 student visa – step by step.
F-1 is the usual visa category for international students coming to a US college for academic study. The steps below are a general overview: individual circumstances and embassy procedures can differ. Follow the current government instructions and your college's international student office guidance. CSG supports preparation but cannot guarantee approval.
First, apply to and be accepted by a SEVP-approved college or university. A scholarship is not a visa requirement, but you must demonstrate how your study and living costs will be funded.
Official sources: US Department of State: student visa instructions
The school's designated official registers you in SEVIS and issues Form I-20 after you meet its requirements. The form includes your SEVIS ID, programme start date and estimated costs.
Official sources: US Department of State: student visa instructions
As reviewed on 1 October 2026, the I-901 SEVIS fee for new F-1 applicants is $350, separate from visa application fees. Use the SEVIS ID already printed on your I-20 to pay at FMJfee.com and retain the payment receipt. Check the current fee and any exemptions before paying.
Official sources: ICE: I-901 SEVIS fee guidance · Pay the I-901 fee at FMJfee.com
Complete the DS-160 through the US Department of State's Consular Electronic Application Centre and print the confirmation page. Follow your embassy or consulate's instructions for the separate visa application fee and appointment process.
Official sources: US Department of State: DS-160 application · US Department of State: student visa instructions
Interviews are generally required, with limited exceptions. Appointment availability and processing times vary; follow the current instructions of the US Embassy or Consulate where you apply.
Official sources: US Department of State: student visa instructions
New F-1 students may enter no earlier than 30 days before the programme start date. A visa does not guarantee admission: the port-of-entry officer makes that decision. Carry your I-20 and required documents, and confirm arrival arrangements with the school's international student office.
Official sources: US Department of State: student visa instructions
Life as a British or Gulf athlete in the US.
No amount of preparation fully eliminates the adjustment required when a young athlete arrives in a foreign country for the first time. What we can do is give you the most honest, specific picture of what that adjustment looks like.
What does a typical day look like?
How do academic and athletic commitments interact?
What are the biggest challenges for UK athletes?
What are the biggest challenges for Gulf athletes?
Can my athlete return home during holidays?
What degree does my athlete graduate with?
More questions, answered directly.
What age does CSG work with?
CSG works with male and female athletes aged 14–20. Athletes will not travel to the US until they are at least 18 years of age. Athletes up to the age of 20 can be successfully placed, particularly at NAIA and JUCO level.
My athlete plays for a professional academy. Is that an advantage?
Yes, significantly so. Professional academy experience is one of the strongest indicators US college coaches look for in international recruits. An athlete from a Championship or Premier League academy carries an implicit endorsement of standard. We treat every athlete with the same honest assessment process: academy background strengthens the case but does not replace it.
My athlete was placed by another agency and it was not the right fit. Can you help?
Yes. This is more common than most families realise, and it is part of the reason CSG was founded. If your athlete is already at a US programme that is not working, there are legitimate transfer pathways at every level of the NCAA and NAIA system. Contact us directly and we will give you an honest view of the options available.
Does CSG work with female athletes as well as male?
Yes, CSG actively serves both male and female athletes from the UK and the Middle East. We assess the athlete's academic and sporting profile against suitable programmes and the scholarship rules that apply to each school.
Ask our founder directly.
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