Although few students may achieve an elite status in sports while pursuing academic qualifications, dual careers have many positive impacts including recognition to the country and the creation of better professionals. Understanding the strengths, challenges, weaknesses and opportunities in the existing system is essential in planning and implementing successful career transition programs. In the present study, undergraduate athletes categorized as elites on the basis of performance and competition participation, were interviewed on their motivation, and perception of factors associated with dual careers. 12 who expressed consent were selected from the University of Colombo and University of Peradeniya. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used as the approach to analyze the results obtained through semi- structured guided interviews on an online platform. Extrinsic and Intrinsic motivation were studied using Deductive Thematic Analysis based on Self-Determination Theory. The participants indicated a high level of motivation for a dual career during the undergraduate period, and several wished to continue their elite athletic career with an occupation based on their graduate qualifications. Many perceived that a dual career improved personal and professional development, but indicated difficulty in balancing their activities in the absence of sufficient support systems. Inflexible academic programs, lack of academic staff cooperation, financial constraints, social norms, disparity between sports, insufficient opportunities and lack of research based implementation were seen as major challenges. An absence of programs supporting dual careers has been a major obstacle for the student athletes of state universities of Sri Lanka, and future strategies require enhancing the strengths identified, while mitigating perceived challenges.

Keywords: Dual career, Career transition, Motivation.

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