California Tour 2026: Graduate Pathways from San Diego to San Francisco

California Tour Recap: Graduate Pathways from San Diego to San Francisco

This week we wrapped up our California Tour, travelling from San Diego up to San Francisco and spending time on campuses across the state. The tour was focused on conversations with athletes and student-athlete development teams about postgraduate study abroad and the different pathways available once athletes reach the next stage of their academic or sporting journey.

Across the week, we visited San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego, University of Southern California, University of California, Los Angeles, and University of California, Berkeley. At each stop, the emphasis was on open, practical discussion rather than presentations, with time to explore how studying overseas can fit alongside sport, career planning, and life after undergraduate study.

Pathways for athletes at different stages

A key theme throughout the tour was that there is no single “right” moment to look overseas. We spoke with athletes at a range of stages, from those early in their college careers who are starting to think long-term, to those approaching the end of eligibility and actively planning their next move.

Conversations covered:

• Master’s programmes in the UK and Australia
• Scholarship structures and funding options
• How competitive sport fits alongside study overseas
• Differences between US and international systems, both academically and athletically
• How overseas study can support broader career and personal goals

What stood out was how valuable it is to have these conversations in-person. Athletes were able to ask nuanced questions, explore options that hadn’t previously been on their radar, and get a clearer sense of what life and sport overseas actually look like beyond headlines or assumptions.

Working with student-athlete development teams

Alongside athlete sessions, we spent time with student-athlete development and support teams on each campus. These discussions focused on how international postgraduate study fits within wider development pathways and how overseas options can sit alongside existing academic and career planning conversations.

Rather than a one-off event, the goal of the tour was to build ongoing relationships and ensure universities have access to up-to-date information they can draw on when supporting athletes who are considering their next step.

LA counsellor Lunch & Learn

As part of the California Tour, we also hosted a Lunch & Learn for LA-area counsellors and advisors. This session created space for discussion around international postgraduate pathways, the types of students and athletes who tend to benefit most from overseas study, and how these options can complement domestic graduate routes.

These conversations are an important part of building shared understanding across athletic and non-athletic support networks, particularly as more students look globally when planning postgraduate study.

The opportunity for US campuses

For US universities, hosting a campus visit as part of a tour like this offers a flexible, fun way to expose athletes to international postgraduate options.

Campus activities can include:

• Athlete-focused workshops or drop-in sessions
• Small group discussions tailored to specific athlete populations
• Lunch & Learn sessions with student-athletes & athlete development teams
• Tabling in athlete spaces

Each visit is shaped around the campus schedule and priorities, with the aim of adding value to existing support structures rather than duplicating them.

Universities interested in hosting a future visit are encouraged to get in touch to explore what a campus session could look like.

Thank you to our partners

A sincere thank you to all of our US campus partners who welcomed us this week and made time for thoughtful, engaged conversations.

We’re also grateful to the international universities who joined us throughout the tour: University of Melbourne, Loughborough University, St Mary's University, Twickenham, Manchester Metropolitan University, and University of Gloucestershire. Their willingness to engage directly with athletes and support teams is what makes these tours effective.

The California Tour reinforced the growing appetite for international postgraduate pathways and the importance of making space for these conversations on campus. We’re looking forward to continuing this work and returning to campuses across the US in the months ahead.

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