UK
While not as comprehensive as the US, it is definitely possible to play competitive sport in the UK alongside your education. At the competitive level, students expand their athletic skills and play inter-university competitions that are run by British Universities & Colleges Sports (BUCS) and Scottish Student Sport (SSS). Through these leagues, students not only have the opportunity to play across the UK, but also potentially at the European and international level. A few UK universities that are particularly active in recruiting and competitive when it comes to their athletic programs include Leeds Beckett University, Loughborough University and University of Stirling.
In the UK, all universities take part in the same national competition leagues and so universities are not distinguish by divisions, team ability or the school. In that sense, you could be the best athlete in your sport but play on a relatively smaller university and compete against the best in the country.
Additionally, UK universities athletic programs have a tendency to have tiered levels with all their sports teams. For example, at Leeds Becketts, they have 8 tiers of teams for tennis, meaning 8 levels of teams based on ability. At Leeds Becketts, the players in the top 2 tiers will be world ranked. Players in say, 3rd and 4th tiers might be nationally ranking and so on, So, even though you go to Leeds Becketts to play tennis you may or may not be on their top tiuer but you absolutely have the opportunity over your degree to develop and move up those tier ranks.
Additionally, note that a range of scholarships are available depending on the university, type of sport and your athletic profile. It is not common to receive a full tuition athletic scholarship, however, there are benefits where students can receive partial scholarships to offset those costs. At the same time, the UK undergraduate degree (outside of Scotland) is only 3 years in duration and so in that sense a family is also saving costs with one less year of fees to cover.
EXAMPLES OF POSSIBLE SCHOLARSHIP OFFERINGS
Leeds Becketts University (Athletics or Track and Field) - up to 6,000 pounds reduction in tuition fees
Heriot Watt University (Football/Soccer) - up to 40% reduction in tuition fees
UWE Bristol (Basketball) - up to 30% reduction in tuition fees
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO BE ELIGIBLE?
Unlike the US and Canada, there is no eligibility center or other organization to join before applying to university in order to play sport at a competitive level in university in the UK. However, after you are accepted by a UK university and decide to attend (and play on a particlar competitive team), you will be required to register with the British Universities & Colleges Sports (BUCS). This is a requirement the enrolls you into the league and allows you to compete.
HOW DO I GET RECRUITED BY COACHES?
Work with your university counselor to develop a list of UK universities that appear to be a good fit for you as a student/student-athlete.
Typically you will want to reach out to each university's International Development/Recruitment officer. Your university counselor should be able to help you with those contacts but you also might be able to find that person on a university's website. These are also the same people that visit ISB to advertise their university.
Develop an introductory email for that international development/recruitment officer that will briefly explain your interest in the university and your sport. The email should include details that will help to qualify your abilities in your sports such as your physical measurements, personal bests, and national ranking (if you have that) etc.
You could attached an athletic resume with that email. Actual video footage of you playing or highlight footage is also possible to include.
The international development officer will in turn get that information to the coaches of your sport and advise next steps. In that sense, the process is simplified with only one initial point of contact for the student.
It is of course possible that follw communication will involve the actual coach(es) of your sport.