The American educational system is the only one that allows students to combine competitive sports with university studies. Additionally, thanks to hockey scholarships, athletes can cover a percentage of their academic expenses. Often, there are even opportunities to add academic scholarships that further reduce total costs.

The institutions offer hockey scholarships in the United States and Canada to their team members, allowing athletes to fund their studies through hockey.

Thanks to this opportunity, athletes can live an experience that provides many advantages over the Spanish system: balancing studies and sports, traveling completely free across the United States and Canada with the sports team, earning an academic degree from an institution in the United States or Canada, learning perfect English, meeting people from many different countries, and living unforgettable experiences. For all of these reasons, athletes are opened to a world of possibilities through hockey.

Each sports league has limits on the number of hockey scholarships available, and within those limits, the institution allocates the scholarship funds as it sees fit.

Coaches at educational institutions distribute full and partial hockey scholarships to the team members. Usually, one must be among the best players on the team to receive a hockey scholarship. There are also other opportunities called “walk-ons,” which allow players to join the team without a scholarship in the United States or Canada. After one year in this position, depending on the player’s performance, they may earn a hockey scholarship for subsequent years.

The number of available hockey scholarships at each educational institution varies. Each sports league has a maximum number of scholarships they can offer, but they may offer fewer scholarships than the limit if they choose to do so.

A clear example is the universities that make up the Ivy League (a prestigious academic league like Harvard), which do not offer athletic scholarships.

Furthermore, hockey is a sport where coaches can divide the number of scholarships among the team members. For example, in NCAA Division I, men’s hockey coaches can divide the value of 12.6 scholarships among as many players as they want.

Women’s hockey, on the other hand, in NCAA Division I, is a sport with a maximum of 18 scholarships, so if a player has the right level, it is possible to earn a full hockey scholarship.

The goal of Awex Education is to help athletes from all over the world gain access to an educational institution in the United States with an athletic and/or academic scholarship. Therefore, we seek the best centers for each athlete, as well as the maximum athletic and/or academic scholarship.

Here’s how the process of obtaining a Hockey scholarship at an American educational institution works. The first part is where the athlete needs to work to achieve the best possible athletic and academic results:

1. Achieve the Highest Hockey Level Possible: The higher the athlete’s level, the greater their chances of obtaining a hockey scholarship in the U.S. Additionally, they will have a wider range of options to choose from. It is important to plan shooting training and competition schedules to reach the best possible marks.
2. Achieve the Highest Academic Level Possible: It is very important to focus on studies to reach the highest academic level. This way, we can have more options available and even obtain academic scholarships to reduce the annual cost. Proper preparation for the TOEFL and SAT exams is essential.

In the second part of the process, we at Awex Education take over. It is very important to contact Awex Education well in advance and start preparing the process early. This will increase the chances of obtaining a sports scholarship in the United States and provide more options to choose from. We recommend starting the process between 1 and 2 years before the intended start date in the U.S.

We analyze the individual case and their chances of obtaining an athletic scholarship in the United States based on the hockey level, academic performance, and expectations of the student and their family. At Awex Education, we provide this FREE evaluation with no obligation and meet with the athlete and family to explain the real possibilities. Once the family decides to start the process, we handle the following steps:

• We study the individual case of each athlete, sports level, academic level, and preferences regarding educational institutions. We look for options that best match your preferences and sports, academic, and financial profile. We talk to the family and examine what they are looking for to offer them the best options that meet the family’s requirements.
• We create a personal tracking sheet for each athlete’s case. In this tracking sheet, we plan with the family the steps to follow, exam dates, preparation for these exams (depending on the league’s focus), as well as short-term, medium-term, and long-term objectives of the process.
• We offer support for SAT and TOEFL exam registrations.
• We offer support in creating the sports video with advice and guidance to obtain a good video. The video is very important as it is used to recruit players. We handle the final editing of the athlete’s video.
• With the final video in hand, we create an academic and sports profile of the athlete to contact hockey coaches.
• We start contacting institutions that match the athlete’s profile and preferences. We work with most educational institutions in the United States, from all states that correspond to the athlete’s profile.
• We negotiate with each coach or institution to obtain the maximum scholarship and the best possible conditions for each athlete.
• We present a report with several options with enough time to make a decision. The report includes information such as: name of the institution, location, size, academic level, sports level, price without scholarship, scholarship amount, annual price to pay…
• We offer several options within the budget. We will always provide several alternatives so that families can choose among them.
• We help the athlete and their family in choosing the institution, we advise and guide, but the final decision is made by the family.
• We handle the signing of the final offer from the educational institution with which the athlete wants to commit.
• We carry out the admission procedure for the academic leagues in which the school competes (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA).
• We carry out the admission process with the chosen institution (sending transcripts, sending SAT and TOEFL exams, admission paperwork…).
• We finalize the meal and accommodation plans for the athlete.
• We take care of obtaining health insurance in the U.S.
• We handle the processing of the student visa for the U.S. with each athlete.
• We organize the flights and arrival of the athlete to ensure they have someone upon arrival.
• We help with the arrival at the institution with advice and assistance with questions (sending money, banking cards, questions on initial arrival in the U.S.).
• We assist in obtaining academic work within the institution.
• We provide support throughout the athlete’s stay in the United States for anything they need, school changes, questions, or necessary paperwork. All at NO additional cost.
• When students are in their 3rd or 4th year of university, we offer a course at an English university that prepares them for the job market and helps them obtain job offers.

In addition to all this, a very important factor that makes a difference in our service is the personal approach. We are in constant contact with our athletes and their families. We communicate via WhatsApp or calls, and in case of an emergency, you can contact us at any time outside office hours.