european tour q school entry fee

Find out how to enter the 2020 Staysure Tour Qualifying School

The Staysure Tour has introduced a new entry process for Qualifying School this year.

This will be a two stage online process and will require entrants to pay the entry fee before filling in and submitting the application. Applicants wishing to enter the Staysure Tour Qualifying School should proceed as follows:

- Choose the currency you wish to use for payment (either Sterling or Euro) by selecting the appropriate link below.

- Make payment in your chosen currency using a credit card.

- Once payment has been processed you will be able to access the Conditions of Entry and the Application Form.

- If you have reason to believe that you might be eligible to go to Final Stage, complete the form as required, claim the relevant exemption and submit your application. If you are not exempt, complete the form as required, select your preferred 1st Stage venue (and alternative venue) and submit your application.*

*Amateur entrants will be required to attach and submit a handicap certificate during the application process.

The application deadline is Friday January 10, 2020 at 12pm.

Euro payments - 2020 staysure tour qualifying school entry form (euro payments), sterling payments - 2020 staysure tour qualifying school entry form (sterling payments).

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European Tour Q-School: The school of hard knocks

Published: 18 November 2019

Thousands apply, but only 25 players win a golden ticket to get on to the European Tour. And to earn it, they’ve got to battle through Q School – a place where dreams are made and hopes are crushed every year.

[The final stage of European Tour Qualifying School is currently underway – click here for the leaderboard ]

As one golfer throws his arms up in celebration, another trudges off in tears. Welcome to the cut-throat world of European Tour Qualifying School.  In the region of 1,000 hopefuls take part every year, praying that they can earn their place among the elite.

Since its inception in 1976, Justin Rose, Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington have all been through its doors, while others like Ian Woosnam and Miguel Angel Jimenez have been regular visitors. 

In total, 22 Major champions have been to Q School, and many more have gone on to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup. But for every success story, there are dozens of tales of amateurs gambling away their life savings and failing to make the grade.

The €1,800 entry fee has even been known to price some people out, ending careers before they’ve even started. As one club pro, who wishes to remain anonymous, told us: “Selling Mars Bars at a golf club and teaching kids at the weekend might be less glamorous, but it pays the bills and carries far less risk.”

Starting at stage one, a player without any status on Tour will have to withstand 252 holes of hard graft for the chance to win their place on the world’s second richest circuit. Their journey can begin as early as September and end with six rounds in as many days in November.

“It is grinding,” says Sam Horsfield, who was one of just two players to win his card in 2017 after progressing through all three stages. “What a lot of people don’t realise is that the Second Stage ends only a few days before the Final Stage starts. So, you’re actually playing 10 rounds in the space of about 14 days.

“It’s tough. I actually think the Second Stage is the hardest to get through because you only have four rounds and you’ve got to eliminate the big numbers. It’s definitely the most nerve-racking.”

Though he is perhaps best remembered for storming to an eight-shot victory in the Final Stage of Qualifying, Horsfield doesn’t mind reminding people that he was one shot away from missing out altogether. 

“I had to birdie the last hole of the Second Stage to make it through to a play-off. I then hit probably the best shot I’ve ever hit. The rest is history.”

Horsfield hasn’t been back to Q School since, which is more than can be said for all but four of his class of 2017. By comparison, only six graduates from last year managed to keep their card again for the 2020 season.

The rest are back at Lumine Golf Club in Spain for the Final Stage of Qualifying this week, battling to finish in the top 25 and ties so they could win their membership back.

They have the consolation of knowing that they could drop down to the Challenge Tour, but not everyone is so lucky. Failure to earn one of the 156 spots in the field for the Final Stage means you leave with nothing but regrets – and a hefty bill.

“There’s a black and whiteness to Q School which doesn’t exist in many tournaments,” explains Eddie Pepperell. “Nobody really wants to be there.It can really beat you up and you can beat yourself up. It can be nasty because it is all or nothing.”

Pepperell admits his lowest moment came when he lost his card in 2016, and spent the rest of the day “crying his eyes out” in his hotel room. Down but not out, he teed it up just weeks later and regained his card at Q School.

“There were a lot of tense players that week,” he says. “I wasn’t that uptight or anxious, whereas a lot of guys were and probably played themselves out of contention. I remember I played with Richard McEvoy in the sixth round and he was bleeding at the end. He made a great par on the last to get the last card, but to watch him go through that… I mean, bless him, he was struggling.”

Those who drop down to the Challenge Tour may still retain some status on the European Tour, and are eligible to win their card if they finish in the top 15 of the money list. It’s a situation Richard Bland found himself in this season, and has now worked his way back to the top table after finishing third or better five times.

“I do have great respect for guys who come back because it isn’t easy and really shows a lot of determination,” says Oliver Fisher, who has experienced both success and failure at Q School. “It just goes to show that Q School isn’t the be all and end all. You can still go and play well on the Challenge Tour and get your card back again.”

Simon Dyson, a six-time winner on the European Tour, had the chance to take up Challenge Tour membership after missing the cut at Q School last year, but opted against it and has now “semi-retired” from golf at the age of 41.

“I don’t regret it at all,” says Dyson, who has set up his own academy at Mottram Hall in Cheshire. “I gave it a go on the Challenge Tour but I’ve got so much going on now. I mean, what’s the point of doing something you don’t want to do?”

On the other hand, the decision to return to the Challenge Tour paid off for 46-year-old Richard Bland. Following his 15th place finish in the Challenge Tour Grand Finale, Bland ended the year in third place in the Race to Mallorca rankings to regain his European Tour card.

What doesn’t help is that only the top 15 on the Race to Mallorca earn European Tour membership. And then there’s the money to consider as well. The biggest purse this season on the Challenge Tour was €420,000, around half-a-million Euros less than the smallest payout on the European Tour this year.

“Motivation can be one of the biggest issues,” admits Nick Dougherty, who had full playing rights on the European Tour for 10 years. “For an up-and coming player, sitting it out on the Challenge Tour might not seem that bad. But when you’ve won three times on Tour, that’s a big come down, believe me.”

Dougherty spent half a decade trying to make his way back to the European Tour. By the time he retired in 2016, he’d failed to win on the Challenge Tour or make the cut in five attempts at Q School.

“It speaks volumes that I actually remember every experience at Q School as vividly as the tournaments I won,” says Dougherty. “When I turned up at Q School in 2011, I knew I would be playing with people who wanted to scalp me. Some were almost half my age, playing without fear, and it was soul destroying. My mind was frazzled and I didn’t even make it through to the last 36 holes.

“I went back to Q School another four times after that and didn’t fare any better. People liken it to a marathon, but it actually feels more like a sprint because you’ve got six rounds to decide your future. There are no second chances, at least not for another year, and the hardest competitor you face is yourself.” 

The finality of it all is what convinced former European Tour star Jamie Spence to sacrifice his chances of winning the 2003 Mallorca Classic, out of fear of losing his Tour card and going to Q School.

“I needed to finish in the top four in Mallorca, the last tournament of the year, to keep my card,” he told the Sky Sports Golf Podcast. “I stood on the last tee and had to birdie it to force a playoff against [Jose Maria] Olazabal and Jimenez. It was a 3-iron to get to the flag, but there was out of bounds long. I knew I couldn’t make two with a 4-iron, but I could have lost my card if I played 3-iron…” 

Spence chose the safer option and escaped with a bogey to finish third. He never did win again on the European Tour, but he did keep his card for another year. It’s the reason why he defended Bernd Ritthammer after he opted against going for the green in two at the par-5 72nd hole at the European Open, despite needing a birdie to force a play-off.

“Can you blame him when thousands of pounds and ranking points are on the line?” asked Spence. His argument was that while the difference between finishing second and third might mean little to a Rory McIlroy, it’s a big deal for many of the lower-ranked players.

Tour veteran Graeme Storm can relate to that, and told us last year that he had spent “many nights” worrying about where his next pay cheque was going to come from.

Everything came to a head in 2016 when he only kept his card because Patrick Reed failed to play in enough events to keep his. It meant Storm didn’t have to make the trip to Q School – an experience he describes as “a lot harder than competing in a Major” – and was able to play in the South African Open just weeks later, which he went on to win by beating McIlroy in a play-off. 

Storm considers his story to be something out of a fairytale, but you do not have to search too hard to find horror stories, too. Only last month, Paul Dunne, winner of the 2017 British Masters, missed his 12th cut in 14 starts at the Portugal Masters and had to give up his card alongside the likes of Ryder Cup star Jamie Donaldson and Lee Slattery.

All three are past winners on the European Tour, now facing uncertain futures: Dunne withdrew from Q-School with an injury prior to the tournament, Donaldson also withdrew after two rounds, while Lee Slattery currently sits at two-over-par after three rounds – making it a tough ask to get back to  Europe’s top table.

But Q School cares little for past glories or reputations. It’s the reason why many consider it to be the toughest test in golf. And the cruellest by far. 

How it works

The following categories are exempt from the First and Second Stages and automatically qualify for the Final Stage.

• 111th – 145th ranked European Tour members.
• 16th – 45th ranked Challenge Tour members.
• Winner of the last played Qualifying School.
• Winner of the 2018 Challenge Tour Rankings. Players whose eligibility as a Race to Dubai tournament winner has expired in the last two seasons.
• European Tour members ranked 75th or above in the career money list.
• The five leading entrants on August 21 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
• The three leading entrants on August 21 in the PGA Tour of Australasia, Japan Golf Tour and Sunshine Tour Order of Merits.

The hurdles you need to overcome to earn your European Tour card through Q School

Get down to scratch Any male amateur with a handicap of 0.4 or better can enter European Tour Qualifying School. Eligibility also covers anyone who has appeared between positions 1-2,000 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking in the same calendar year. 

Pay the entry fee All applicants must pay £1,800/$2,030. You also need to cover travel, accommodation and expenses on top of that.

First Stage of Qualifying   Played over 72 holes of strokeplay, applicants from around the world can choose from one of nine different venues in England, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Italy, France or Portugal. This year, a record-breaking 842 players participated, but only 183 progressed to the next stage (plus players exempt from First Stage). The required score varied from eight under par in Austria and Italy to level par in Sweden and one over par in Portugal.

Second Stage of Qualifying Four separate strokeplay tournaments are played over four rounds, across four different courses in Spain. Last year, 291 players teed it up and only 95 players qualified for the third and Final Stage.

Final Stage of Qualifying It all comes down to this. Six rounds to be played in as many days at Lumine Golf Club in Spain. Only 156 players make it this far, and half are eliminated after four rounds. Those who fail to make the cut must make do with a Challenge Tour membership for the following season.

36 holes from glory The leading 70 players (and ties) face a two-round fight to finish in the top-25 – and ties – to make it to Europe’s top tier. Rounds of 62 and 63 were registered last year and you could have shot six rounds in the 60s and still not made it. The only consolation is that those who miss out earn limited status on the European Tour.

Now for the hard bit… If you want to keep your membership, you’ll need to either win a tournament or earn enough Race to Dubai points across the season to finish in the top 110 on the Order of Merit. But be warned: The average number of Q-School graduates to retain their card over the past decade is seven.

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What Is The PDC Qualifying School? (And How It Works)

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The Professional Darts Association, or PDC as it is more commonly known, holds coveted player rankings, awards the sport’s highest honors, and oversees the world’s major darts tournaments and competitions. 

One of the most popular, highly anticipated, and exciting of these tournaments is the PDC Qualifying School.

Table of Contents

What is the PDC Qualifying School?

The PDC Qualifying School is an important event in the world of darts where just about everyone, including amateur dart players, can compete to qualify for a spot on the professional PDC Tour and a chance to earn the sport’s top prizes.

But what makes this tournament so special?

Follow me after the break to learn more about what the PDC Qualifying School is and how it works!

History Of The PDC Qualifying School

The PDC Qualifying School was created by the PDC in 2011 following that year’s World Championship. Since then, the Q-School, as it is commonly called, has served as an opportunity for amateur players and former ranking professionals to gain the ability to compete at the professional level of play for the next two years.

The Q-School is held over a few days every January, and the top performers are awarded what is known as a Tour Card, which entitles Tour Cardholders to compete in all player championships and open qualifiers.

When And Where is Q-School Held?

The Q-School is held at the beginning of each calendar year over a 4 day period. Due to the increasing popularity of the competition, and the sport itself, the Q-School is now held in two different locations:

• UK Q-SChool is held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. Before 2021, Q-School was held in Wigan.
• European Q-school is held at the H+ Hotel in Niedernhausen. European Q-School is for players hailing from all European nations, except the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Gibraltar.

It is worthy of note that players coming from outside the European continent can choose in which Q-School they’d like to compete.

The qualifying process behind Q-School is rather complex; however, I’ll do my best to explain it in straightforward terms.

Here Is How the PDC Qualifying School Works

A First Stage is set, where up to 128 players in the UK Q-School and 128 players in the Europe Q-School compete for their right to pass to the Final Stage.

32 players are exempt from the Final Stage in the UK Q-School and 19 players from the European Q-School. These players are chosen based on which players lost their Tour Cards the previous year, and the top 8 players from each region’s Challenge and Development Tours.

All other players play through a preliminary round that is used to allocate the remaining spots for the Final Stage. Only 8 players per day are able to make this jump from the First Stage to the Final Stage.

All further places are awarded to players from the First Stage Order of Merit held in each region.

The Final Stage offers participants a chance to win up to 32 Tour Cards, with each daily winner automatically receiving their card. The remaining 24 cards are split between the total participants of both regions.

Who Can Participate in Q-School?

Just about anyone can participate in the PDC Qualifying School, as long as they are 16 years old or older on the date of the opening round of the competition.

The entry fee for Q-School is £450, or just under $600. If a player wins a Tour Card, he or she must pay an additional fee of £100.

Any player who competes in Q-School but does not manage to qualify for a Tour Card will earn the PDPA Associate Member classification, which will allow them to compete in the following events for the year:

• PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour
• UK Open Qualifiers
• European Tour Qualifiers
• Players Championship Events 

Is Qualifying School Easy?

No. Even though everyone can sign up for the PDC Qualifying school, it doesn’t mean that the competition is easy pickings. Qualifying School can be a brutal tournament, with some very high-level competitors battling it out for their Tour Card.

Besides amateurs with big dreams and young up-and-coming talent, the PDC Qualifying School is home to a ton of seasoned professionals who lost their Tour Cards by dropping below the top 64 rankings.

This means that for all intents and purposes, the PDC Qualifying School is a tournament with professional-level play. Only the very best players will find success in the Q-School.

Nevertheless, very few other sports provide amateur players a chance as significant as the one accessible to dart players by the PDC Qualifying School.

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What is European Tour Q School?

Find out how to qualify for the European Tour.

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In order to secure a spot in the world of professional golf, you must pass Q school. This term was coined in the 1970s after the birth of the first school for the European Tour.

By Kylie Winkler

In order to secure a spot on the European Tour, you must first pass qualifying school. This term was coined in the 1970s after the birth of the first school for the European Tour.

The school determines whether or not players are eligible to make it to the tour. It is arguably one of the toughest golf examinations and has been faced by tens of thousands of players.

Related: How to become a PGA Professional

The European Tour Q school consists of three stages, each of which is made up of various tournaments. Over the years the school has expanded from a 72-hole test to a 252-hole examination.

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LUMINE WILL HOST THE 2017 Q SCHOOL - Check out what the players think of the course below

The first qualifying stage is held in different countries around Europe. There are eight tournaments that are each played over four rounds.

The second stage of the European Tour qualifying school is only four tournaments, each of four rounds. This stage of the school takes place at different courses in Spain.

Continues below

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For the school’s third stage, a single tournament is played over six rounds. Referred to as the Final stage, it takes place this year at Lumine GC for the first time after nine years at TPC Catalunya.

After all stages have concluded, the leading 25 players, and those who are tied, are granted category 17 membership to the European Tour and category 5 membership of the Challenge Tour.

Even after completing the difficult school, they do not have immediate access to the more prestigious stops on the tour.

Unless several players in higher categories are unable to make it, the European Tour Q school grads can’t attend. They instead are given access to other number of events on the European Tour.

Those who make the cut after the 72-hole course are given a category 7 status while those who don’t make it are granted category 12. If a player does not make it past the final stage, there still is the possibility to gain a membership with limited tournament access.

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By Andrew Wright Published 12 April 24

Traditionally, the previous winner of The Masters hands the new champion the Green Jacket - here's what happens when there's a back-to-back winner

By Mike Hall Published 12 April 24

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PRE-QUALIFIERS

Pre-Qualifier Asia

  8-10 November 2023

Classic Golf and Country Club, India

[Entry Deadline :Thursday, 28 th September 202 3 at 5:00pm UK time]

Pre-Qualifier Marrakech

10-12 December 2023

Noria Golf Club Marrakech

Palmeraie Rotana Resort Marrakech

SAMANAH Golf by Nicklaus

[Entry Deadline: Mon day, 30 th October 2023 at 5:00 pm UK time]

FINAL QUALIFYING

Final Qualifier Marrakech

  16-20 December 2023

Royal Golf Marrakech, Morocco

Al Maaden Golf Marrakech, Morocco (the final round will be played on this course).

About Lalla Aicha:  

The late Lalla Aicha was a member of the Moroccan royal family. She was the sister of King Hassan II and the aunt of the current King Mohammed VI.  

Lalla Aicha played a significant role in the development of golf in Morocco and the promotion of the sport among Moroccan women. She is often considered the pioneer of women’s golf in the country.  

Thanks to her efforts, Lalla Aicha contributed to the organization of numerous women’s golf tournaments in Morocco, including the Lalla Meryem Cup, an event on the Ladies European Tour named after her niece, Lalla Meryem. This tournament has attracted some of the world’s top women golfers and has helped increase the visibility and reputation of Moroccan golf internationally.  

Lalla Aicha was a strong supporter of sports in general and golf in particular. She was an inspiration to many young Moroccan golfers, advocating for gender equality in the sport.  

Her legacy lives on through the LET qualifying events that pay tribute to her dedication and commitment to the sport.  

About the golf courses:

Samanah Golf by Nicklaus – Samanah Golf Club in Marrakech is a distinguished 18-hole championship course covering 100 hectares, with a par 72 and a length of 6,800 meters. Crafted by Nicklaus Design, it combines Moroccan beauty with top-tier golf architecture. The course, set against the Atlas Mountains, features wide fairways and large greens, suitable for all skill levels. Its design includes strategic bunkers and native flora like olive trees, offering both a challenge and a visual delight. The clubhouse, with its panoramic terraces, overlooks the scenic course and mountains, providing a serene spot for relaxation.

Noria Golf, Marrakech – Noria Golf Club, spanning 72 hectares in Marrakech, is an 18-hole course with a par 72 and a length of 6,700 meters. Designed by Steve Forrest and Associates, it uniquely blends Moroccan aesthetics with modern golf design. The course features traditional elements like olive groves and lavender fields, with the iconic ‘Basin’ adding to its allure. Suitable for all players, it has elevated tees, water hazards, and varied greens amidst native vegetation. The clubhouse, with sunny terraces, offers splendid views of the course.

Palmerie Rotana – Located at the heart of Palmeraie Rotana Resort, the course spans 60 hectares and features undulating fairways dotted with seven glistening lakes. The 18-hole 72-par course has been designed and sculpted by renowned international golf-course architect, Robert Trent Jones Snr. Playing to almost 6214 metres, it ranks among the city’s top golf courses and boasts the peaks of the stunning Atlas Mountains as its backdrop.Golf Club Rotana Palmeraie has won multiple golf awards and hosted several major national and international golf events, including the Resorts Trophy, since 2010.

Classic Golf and Country Club – South Asia’s first ever 27-hole Signature Golf Course designed by the legendary Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus, Classic Golf & Country Club is the cynosure of the golfing community at the foothills of the Aravallis in the National Capital Region. It comprises an 18-hole Signature championship course – ‘Ridge and Valley’ – and a 9-hole executive course – ‘Canyon’ – spread over an expanse of 1.2 square kilometres. One of the best golf resorts near Delhi, the retreat is only 37 kilometres from the heart of India’s national capital and just 20 kilometres from the millennium city of Gurgaon.

The Royal Golf Marrakech – the favourite of the late His Majesty King Hassan II, the Royal Golf Marrakech is the second oldest course in the Kingdom of Morocco. Some holes are legendary and full of history. Its exceptional vegetation provides a unique setting. Designed by Gustave Golias and Arnaud Massy, it opened to the first players in 1927 with four holes. In 1928, Gustave Golias, golf champion and personal professor of the Pacha of Marrakech, completed the construction of the 9 first holes. In 1933, Golias and the famous Arnaud Massy, the first international player to win the British Open, in 1907, remodelled the course. The Royal Golf Marrakech has 27 holes. The New Course, a nine-hole par-36 course, opened in 2007.

Al Maaden Golf Marrakech – an 18-hole championship course that spans 72 hectares, with a par 72 and a total length of 6,569 meters (7,184 yards). It bears the signature of the famous architect Kyle Phillips who has blended a Moroccan and Scottish touch. At the heart of a hilly natural area, facing the summits of the Atlas Mountains, this course with varied design is suitable for all levels: with overhanging tees, water hazards, greens varied in height, highlighted by typical vegetation: palm trees, cypresses and almond trees. Al Maaden Golf is a real strategic challenge for the players while remaining affordable and fun. The clubhouse is surrounded by contemporary sunny terraces with superb views of the golf and mountains.

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The early stages of European Tour Q School is start of a long road for longshots

KELSO, Scotland -- Much as we might sometimes think the exact opposite, professional golf isn’t all about Ryder Cups, major championships and cozy on-air chats with Jim Nantz and Dan Hicks. Behind the endlessly glamorous existence of your household names there sits another dimension, a world occupied by thousands of dreamers yearning for a place at the game’s top table.

Located in the heart of the beautiful Scottish Borders region, the Roxburghe near the market town of Kelso is one of the most picturesque courses in the land that gave golf to the world. This week it is also one of eight venues for the first of the three stages that make up the European Tour Qualifying School. And, in what is an increasing trend, as many as 80 Americans will be teeing up over the next month in Scotland, England, Germany, Austria, Portugal, France and Italy in an effort to make it onto the world’s second-biggest circuit.

No one said it was going to be easy though, quite apart from the financial commitment of the €1800 entry fee. Starting from stage one, a player will have to compete as many as 14 rounds of golf in order to gain playing privileges for next season. As something of a consolation prize, those who make the 72-hole cut at November’s six-round final stage but do not qualify for full cards will be eligible to compete on the second-tier Challenge Tour in 2017.

All of which currently seems a ways off to all concerned, including one of those four-score Americans, Nathaniel James. The 30-year old Washington and Lee graduate, a veteran of the Adams Tour, the FairWay Tour and other assorted minor-league venues is making his third successive visit to the Roxburghe, having failed to advance in his previous two starts. He is nothing if not persistent though, as his rather unorthodox life in professional golf makes clear.

After a successful college career both on and off the course, James took the decision to commit to law school after graduation. Three years after that, he was working in a Forth Worth law firm. After three more years in a suit, James had been away from competitive golf for six whole summers. The urge to play was still there though. And, in the classic manner of all frustrated players, gazing out of the office window at the sunshine eventually made up his mind.

“I knew I was never going to be a lawyer my whole life, so I began exploring other options with my wife,” says James, who opened with a round of 70, two under par. “Playing golf for a living has always been my dream and thankfully I have had the support of my family and friends along the way. I turned professional in August 2014. My first event was actually the European Tour qualifying here at the Roxburghe.

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“Since then I’ve played a lot of mini-tours and Monday qualifiers. I’ve bounced around a lot, waiting for the opportunity to break through to the next level. That’s why I’m here. Getting all the way to the European Tour is too much to think of right now though. It’s one shot at a time, one round at a time. For me, it is just a privilege to be here. For a long time I never thought this would be my story. I don’t want to be looking back when I’m older wishing I had tried but never having done so. I really believe this is where I’m supposed to be.”

The latest chapter in James’ convoluted and as yet unfulfilled story will be written this week, at a place a long, long way - physically, mentally and geographically - from where he ultimately wants to be. In that at least, the only litigator in the 89-man field at the Roxburghe is the same as everyone else.

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Entries for 2024 Q-School are open now!

Entries are now open for the 2024 PDC Qualifying Schools, which will be held from January 8-14 in Milton Keynes and Kalkar.

The PDC Qualifying Schools give any ambitious darts player aged 16 and above the opportunity to win a two-year PDC Tour Card to compete full-time on the sport’s professional circuit.

Dutch youngster Gian van Veen has been the stand-out performer of the new PDC Tour Card winners in 2023, reaching one Players Championship final and two semi-finals, as well as progressing to the European Championship semi-finals on his debut in that event last month.

Qualifying School will see players competing at venues in the UK and Germany simultaneously across the three-day First Stage and four-day Final Stage from January 8-14 2024.

The UK Qualifying School will be held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, while the European Qualifying School will take place at Wunderland Kalkar in Germany.

First Stage will be played across three days, with the eight quarter-finalists from each day qualifying automatically for the Final Stage and the remaining places in the Final Stage – up to a total of 128 at each venue – decided from an Order of Merit.

Players who lose their Tour Card at the end of 2023 be exempt through to Final Stage in either the UK or European Qualifying School (entry is still required).

They will be joined at Final Stage by players in the top 16 from the respective 2023 Winmau Challenge Tour and Development Tour Orders of Merit who do not already have Tour Cards for 2024, who receive free entry.

Additionally, the top eight players from the final 2023 Women’s Series Order of Merit and 2023 PDC Nordic & Baltic Tour will be invited to compete in First Stage of Qualifying School at no cost.

Entries cost £475 per player, including the 2024 DRA Sanction Fee, and can be made now online through the PDC Entry System , with entries closing at 1400 GMT on Thursday January 4 2024.

New players must register their details at this link . Following your registration, you will receive an email to confirm that you are available to enter tournaments, and at this stage you can login to make your entry to the relevant events. This verification may take up to 48 hours.

Players from the UK, Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar will compete in the UK Qualifying School, with players from all other European nations competing in the European Qualifying School. Players from other nations may choose in which Qualifying School to compete.

Accommodation

Players wishing to book on-site accommodation for the UK Qualifying School in Milton Keynes can do so via this link .

Players wishing to book on-site accommodation for the European Qualifying School in Kalkar can do so via this link .

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2024 PDC EUROPEAN TOUR – EAST EUROPE QUALIFIERS ENTRIES OPEN

Qualifier - 30. January 2024

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Pdc qualifying school.

Entries are now open for the 2024 PDC Qualifying Schools, which will be held from January 8-14 in Milton Keynes and Kalkar.

The PDC Qualifying Schools give any ambitious darts player aged 16 and above the opportunity to win a two-year PDC Tour Card to compete full-time on the sport's professional circuit.

Dutch youngster Gian van Veen has been the stand-out performer of the new PDC Tour Card winners in 2023, reaching one Players Championship final and two semi-finals, as well as progressing to the European Championship semi-finals on his debut in that event last month.

Qualifying School will see players competing at venues in the UK and Germany simultaneously across the three-day First Stage and four-day Final Stage from January 8-14 2024.

The UK Qualifying School will be held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, while the European Qualifying School will take place at Wunderland Kalkar in Germany.

First Stage will be played across three days, with the eight quarter-finalists from each day qualifying automatically for the Final Stage and the remaining places in the Final Stage - up to a total of 128 at each venue - decided from an Order of Merit.

Players who lose their Tour Card at the end of 2023 be exempt through to Final Stage in either the UK or European Qualifying School (entry is still required).

They will be joined at Final Stage by players in the top 16 from the respective 2023 Winmau Challenge Tour and Development Tour Orders of Merit who do not already have Tour Cards for 2024, who receive free entry.

Additionally, the top eight players from the final 2023 Women's Series Order of Merit and 2023 PDC Nordic & Baltic Tour will be invited to compete in First Stage of Qualifying School at no cost.

Entries cost £475 per player, including the 2024 DRA Sanction Fee, and can be made now online through the PDC Entry System, with entries closing at 1400 GMT on Thursday January 4 2024.

New players must register their details at  this link . Following your registration, you will receive an email to confirm that you are available to enter tournaments, and at this stage you can login to make your entry to the relevant events. This verification may take up to 48 hours.

Players from the UK, Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar will compete in the UK Qualifying School, with players from all other European nations competing in the European Qualifying School. Players from other nations may choose in which Qualifying School to compete.

Accommodation

Players wishing to book on-site accommodation for the UK Qualifying School in Milton Keynes can do so via this link .

Players wishing to book on-site accommodation for the European Qualifying School in Kalkar can do so via this link .

First Stage will see the last eight players from each day qualify automatically for Final Stage, with the remaining places in Final Stage up to a limit of 128 players being decided from a First Stage Order of Merit, with one point being awarded per win from the first full round drawn without Byes.

The following players will be exempt to Final Stage of Q School in their respective region: * Players who lose their PDC Tour Card at the end of 2021 * The players who finished from second to fourth from each of the final 2021 UK & European Challenge & Development Tour Orders of Merit.

In addition, the top eight players from the 2021 PDC Women's Series Order of Merit and the top eight players from the 2021 PDC Nordic & Baltic Tour Order of Merit will receive free entry to First Stage in their respective region.

Players from the UK, Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar will play in the UK & Ireland Q School at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.

Players from all other European nations will play in the European Q School at the H+ Hotel in Niedernhausen.

Players from other nations outside of Europe may choose which Q School they compete in. Due to ongoing travel restrictions, the PDC may permit players to participate in an alternative Q School venue to the above criteria if it is more practical for them to do so.

Entry to the 2022 PDC Qualifying School is now available through the PDC Entry System , costing £450 (including £50 DRA Sanction Fee).

New players must Register their details at this link . Following your registration, you will receive an email to confirm that you are available to enter tournaments, and at this stage you can login to make your entry to the relevant events. This verification may take up to 48 hours.

Entries close at 1400 GMT on Wednesday January 5 2022.

European Qualifying School - Important Information Regulations in Germany have now been confirmed for the event at the H+ Hotel in Niedernhausen, with Qualifying School to be staged in a "bubble".

All participants will be required to reside in the on-site H+ Hotel for the duration of their participation, and all players will also be required to be fully vaccinated to compete.

This requires players to have received their second dose of a German government-approved vaccination (AstraZenica, Pfizer-Biontech, Johnson & Johnson or Moderna) at least 15 days before the start of their participation in the event.

Recovered persons who can present a corresponding certificate are also eligible to play.

Players who have not received the above vaccination will not be permitted to compete in the European Qualifying School. Any player who has already entered but does not fulfil the criteria above will be entitled to a refund of their entry fee.

Players will be required to present a negative Covid-19 Lateral Flow Test result upon their arrival at the hotel, which was undertaken on the day of their arrival.

The "bubble" will mean that players cannot leave the H+ Hotel complex until they have been eliminated from the event or the event concludes. Hotel bookings will only be accepted via [email protected] and must be made no later than Wednesday January 5 2022 at 1400 GMT.

UK Qualifying School - Important Information Although there is currently no requirement for players to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to participate, there may be specific regulations for ALL players, regardless of vaccination status. Players are not currently required to reside in the adjoining DoubleTree-by-Hilton Hotel.

Note for all players: * Players are advised not to make non-refundable or non-changeable travel or accommodation bookings.