Spitze in Schule & Sport
Registration 2025/26: Registration is currently not yet possible. Information about registration for the school year 2025/26 will be announced in January!
Concept – What is it about?
The project „Spitze in Schule & Sport“ (“Excellence in Education & Sports”) gives young athletes the opportunity to prove themselves through their outstanding achievements in both school and sports – and to be recognized and honored for it.
Recognition is given in the form of mini-scholarships and an official award ceremony for the winners.
For the absolute TOP performers – the two best overall – there is an additional place in the “Elite Sports & Studies” program, a unique program in Austria that allows elite athletes to develop both academically and athletically to their full potential.
Already during their school years, “Excellence in Education & Sports” shows young people how they can best combine their athletic career with their education – creating a springboard for their future success.
Target Group – Who can participate?
Young athletes from all over Carinthia who are attending a secondary school (grades 9–13) that concludes with a matriculation exam (Matura) can participate.
Award – Who will be honored and for what?
The top three youth athletes (male and female) from each school grade level across Carinthia, who demonstrate the best overall performance in both school and sports, will be honored.
The ranking is based on the combined results of academic grades and athletic achievements.
The awards for the top three (male and female) athletes per grade level are as follows:
The awards for the overall top two athletes from all grade levels are as follows:
The top two athletes will receive a guaranteed spot in the “Spitzensport & Studium” (“Elite Sports & Studies”) program.
Award for all winners:
All winners will be officially honored (in autumn 2025).
Process – How does it work?
The young athletes must register via a form by no later than August 31, 2025: (See below: TO REGISTER). By the submission deadline, the participants will list their best academic and athletic achievements from the current year (period: September 1, 2024 – August 30, 2025).
Evaluation – Point System
A maximum of 40 points can be achieved in each area, school & sports, resulting in a total maximum score of 80 points. See the graphic for more details.
Evaluation – School
In the school section, a maximum of 40 points can be achieved. This is based on the number of assessed subjects (8 subjects) and the points awarded for each subject (from 5 points for a “Very Good” to 1 point for a “Fail”). See the graphic for more details.
Subject Selection
8 subjects from 4 thematic areas will be assessed.
Thematic Areas:
- Social Sciences & Economics
- Natural Sciences
- Languages
- Creative Subjects
1 subject from each thematic area is compulsory:
- GERMAN from Social Sciences & Economics
- MATHEMATICS from Natural Sciences
- ENGLISH from Languages and Focus Subjects
- CREATIVE SUBJECT from Creative Subjects and Focus Subjects
Additionally, 1 more subject is chosen from each of the 4 pillars/thematic areas.
For all students who have no or only 1 additional subject available in a thematic area, they may choose 1, 2, or 3 further subjects from their focus subjects.
If no additional focus subjects are available, students may select up to 3 additional subjects from the compulsory subject in each pillar/thematic area.
This means: For each pillar/thematic area, at least 1 subject (1x compulsory subject) and a maximum of 4 subjects (1x compulsory + 3x selectable subjects).
Exception: Creative Subjects pillar/thematic area: here, 1 subject per pillar is also possible.
The subjects are shown in the following graphic.
Evaluation – Sports
In the sports section, a maximum of 40 points can be achieved. This is based on the 10 points that can be earned for results at each of the 3 levels:
- Regional Level
- National Level
- International Level
Additionally, being part of a squad (or equivalent depending on the sport, such as an academy, Future Teams, etc.) at the regional level accounts for 5 points. Membership in a national squad earns 10 points (this is considered as a total for squad membership and includes the 5 points for the regional squad, if a dual membership in both regional and national squads exists).
See the graphic for more details.
On each level (regional level, national level, international level), points can be earned based on the best placement. A maximum of 10 points can be earned for 1st place, with decreasing points down to 8th place, which earns 3 points. For participation without a top 8 placement, 2 points are awarded.
See the graphic for more details.
Athletic Achievements:
The top results of the season will be evaluated. All results from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, will be considered.
Detailed information about competitions, tournaments, etc., will assist in the accurate recording of results. Squad memberships should also be mentioned where applicable.
Results – How do I submit my grades and sports achievements?
The submission deadline for academic & athletic achievements ends on 31 August 2025, so that the summer season can be included for athletes.
A form for entering academic & athletic achievements/results will be activated in Calendar Week 27 (1 June 2025) and will be accessible online.
The submission of results is possible at any time from 1 July until 31 August 2025. We will do our best to review the submitted information/results for completeness as quickly as possible, and subsequently send a confirmation email to all participants. Should we require any additional information, we will contact you as soon as possible.
Kick-off Event
The official launch of the “Spitze in Schule & Sport” (“Excellence in Education & Sports”) project took place in the presence of Carinthian Governor Peter Kaiser during the kick-off event on November 22, 2024, at the University of Klagenfurt.
Awards Ceremony 2025
The awards ceremony for the winners took place on December 16, 2025, at the University of Klagenfurt in the presence of Governor Peter Kaiser, Vice Rector Doris Hattenberger, Regional Councilor Peter Reichmann, and Director of Education Isabella Penz. They were supported by the academic elite athletes and role models Nadine Weratschnig, Hanno Douschan, and Magdalena Lobnig.
FAQ
By when do I need to submit my results (school & sports)?
The deadline for submitting academic & athletic achievements ends on 31 August 2025, so that the summer season can be taken into account for athletes.
The form for entering academic & athletic achievements/results will be activated in week 27 and will be accessible online.
What if a school subject I want to choose is not listed?
If the school subject is not listed, please inquire at: Aline [dot] Laengle [at] aau [dot] at
Are there guidelines on which school subjects I can choose?
Yes, you can choose 2 subjects from each thematic area (pillar) (no more, no less). It is also important that each subject has at least 2 hours per week.
Contact
Cooperation Partners
University Sports Institute Klagenfurt (USI), Universitätsstraße 63, 9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Tel.: +43 463 2700 9402, E-Mail: usi [at] aau [dot] at
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