Aquatic Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) for Swimming

April 25, 2024

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2026 applications now open! Please scroll down for more information. The application form can be found at the bottom of the page.

To find out about the DiSE programme information, please click here.

Find details of the DiSE swimming eligibility criteria and how to apply below.

Eligibility & Performance Criteria (Swimming)

Athletes must meet both the eligibility criteria, and performance criteria, to be considered for the programme.

Eligibility criteria

1. To be eligible for DiSE programme funding, a student must meet the following criteria:

a. Be aged 16 to 18 (or aged 19 to 24 if they have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan), when they start the programme. (Born between 1 September 2009 and 31 August 2010 – athletes are usually 16 at the start of the programme, as it is a requirement that they are in full time further education (FE) for the duration of the two-year programme.

b.Subject to paragraph 2 below, be enrolled on a state funded study programme and be studying towards an academic (e.g. A levels) or technical qualification (e.g. NVQs or City and Guilds).

c. Be on a talent pathway managed by their sport’s National Governing Body (NGB).

d. Must not be employed by their sport body or club on a professional contract.

2.The requirement in paragraph 1b. “be enrolled on a state funded study programme”, does not apply to students who attend a fee-paying school for their main study programme in the following circumstances:

a. The student is in receipt of the school’s means-tested bursary of at least 50% fee remission; or

b. The student is in receipt of a talent / ability-based scholarship of at least 50% but were this not to be the case then they would have otherwise qualified for the school’s means-tested bursary of at least 50% fee remission; or

c. At least 50% of the student’s fees are being paid by a third sector organisation but were this not to be the case then they would have otherwise qualified for the school’s means-tested bursary of at least 50% fee remission.

d. With regard to students eligible under paragraph 2 a., 2 b. or 2c., the relevant NGB should take all reasonable steps to confirm a student’s eligibility with the student’s fee-paying school before the student is enrolled on or starts the DiSE programme.

Swimming Performance Criteria (September 2025 intake)

Athletes must meet the Swim England criteria below:

Born between 1 September 2009 and 31 August 2010 – athletes are usually 16 at the start of the programme, as it is a requirement that they are in full time further education (FE) for the duration of the two-year programme
Represent England (verified on Swim England membership)
Live in England (or Wales)
Times used for selection to the DiSE programme will align to Olympic and Paralympic events and taken from the Swim England long course national rankings, to be achieved between 1st January 2025 and 4th August 2025
The highest ranked swimmer from long course performances in each Olympic/Paralympic event will be selected
Further selections can be made from second, third etc. ranked positions until maximum numbers are achieved
Swimmers ranked in multiple events will be selected on their highest ranked event
Where swimmers have equal rankings for multiple events, the highest World Aquatics points score will be used to determine the event selected

It should be noted that any exceptional performances may be included at the absolute discretion of the Swim England National Talent Officers.

Swimmers will be expected to commit fully to all aspects of the programme. As a minimum, swimmers will only be considered where they are equal to, or in excess of the below World Aquatics Points (WAP). Please note, achieving these points does not guarantee selection to a talent programme;

Sex	WAP (long course)
Male	600
Female	650

Para-Swimming

Hold BS/IPC classification S1 to S14
Swimmers who are part of the Para-Swimming Talent Programme 2024 and meet the above performance criteria will receive automatic nomination. Not all nominations will be awarded places as there are limited spaces available on the DiSE programme.
As a minimum, swimmers will only be considered where they are equal to, or in excess of the below British Para-Swimming Points (BPSP). Please note, achieving these points does not guarantee selection to a talent programme.

Sex	Impairment	BPSP (long course)
Male & Female	Physical (1-10)	450 event 1 & 350 event 2*
Male & Female	Visual (11-13)	450 event 1 & 325 event 2
Male & Female	Intellectual (14)	600 event 1 & 500 event 2

*PI selection 2 strokes where impairment allows

Open Water Swimming

Podium placed swimmers at the following event will be considered for selection, at the discretion of the Swim England Swimming National Talent Officers and DiSE Manager: GoCardless Swim England Open Water National Age Group Championships 2025 (26th July, Rother Valley Country Park).

Alumni

An extensive list of DiSE Diving alumni have gone on to enjoy continued international success on the world stage.
Past alumni of athletes to obtain the DiSE qualification include: