The “Partnerhochschule des Spitzensports” (Partner Universities of Top-Level Sport) initiative was launched in 1999 to support student elite athletes in combining their academic studies with high-performance sport. While initially involving only three universities, the network has since grown to include more than 110 higher education institutions (adh, 2023). These institutions provide a range of support measures aimed at enabling student-athletes to pursue excellence in both their academic and sporting careers. In doing so, they often cooperate with partners such as Olympic Training Centers, career counselling services, sport federations, and clubs. Balancing the demands of these two systems represents a considerable challenge for athletes, particularly in light of the tightly structured study programs introduced following the Bologna reform. In addition, changing conditions in both the sport and higher education systems, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, have created new pressures. Since the last comprehensive evaluation dates back to 2005, there is a clear need for updated empirical insights into dual careers in higher education. This study seeks to contribute to closing this gap.