University Sport

Hi, I am currently in year 12 and I am starting to think about which universities to apply to. A big part of what I enjoy is sport and I currently compete in 2 sports and I have a wider enjoyment of sport in general. I was hoping to find some guidance or information about general sporting opportunities in university both with competitive sport and just general, social sport.

Reply 1

QMUL Student Rep

7

Original post by JDuodu_20

Hi, I am currently in year 12 and I am starting to think about which universities to apply to. A big part of what I enjoy is sport and I currently compete in 2 sports and I have a wider enjoyment of sport in general. I was hoping to find some guidance or information about general sporting opportunities in university both with competitive sport and just general, social sport.

Hi there! There are loads of opportunities to enjoy sports while at university. At QMUL for example, there are of course loads of sports societies, but we also have free Get Active sessions for people to play sports such as basketball, badminton, table tennis and more. Most sport societies have the option of playing socially, or competitively as well, so thats completely up to you. Please do let me know if I can be of any further help!

Original post by JDuodu_20

Hi, I am currently in year 12 and I am starting to think about which universities to apply to. A big part of what I enjoy is sport and I currently compete in 2 sports and I have a wider enjoyment of sport in general. I was hoping to find some guidance or information about general sporting opportunities in university both with competitive sport and just general, social sport.

Hi there @JDuodu_20 !
Usually at university within your first few weeks of moving, you will find there is a sports fair event that you can book onto and attend where you can go and meet the teams and sign up to any sports societies that interest you. I'm not sure if it's the same for other universities but at Hallam, we have a main sports team and then there's the social team you can opt for instead.

Taking netball as an example, there's the main team which you have to take part in trials to get onto and there's around 4 teams you can try out to get onto. These teams play the competitive matches against other universities as well as hosting the main social events each week and there's roles in the team you can try out for such as social secretary (the one who plans the weekly nights out and socials). Attendance of matches and training each week is mandatory if you get picked for the team. Teams also organise trips and time away which you can pay to go to with the society if you'd like. It's a great opportunity to meet new people and play with people who enjoy the competitive side of it if that's what you like.

We also have the social netball team where you can join at any time and go along and play netball once a week.It's not competitive, it's just for people who enjoy the sport and want a chance to meet new people. You also don't have to go every week, you can go if and when you please. This is the same for all sports teams at the university so there will be the main football teams and then social football. There's also so many niche societies for you to have a go at including things you wouldn't think of like surf society. Even though there's nowhere to surf in Sheffield, it's a great social club and they regularly organise trips to the coast where you can go and surf. There really is something for everyone to have a go at in sports societies at university.

If you have any more questions, please let me know.
Lucy - Digital Student Ambassador SHU

Reply 3

University of Strathclyde Student Ambassador

Official Rep

14

Original post by JDuodu_20

Hi, I am currently in year 12 and I am starting to think about which universities to apply to. A big part of what I enjoy is sport and I currently compete in 2 sports and I have a wider enjoyment of sport in general. I was hoping to find some guidance or information about general sporting opportunities in university both with competitive sport and just general, social sport.

Hi @JDuodu_20

Depending which level you play at you may be able to apply for sport scholarships. Have a look at the websites for the Universities you might be interested to see the opportunities.
As the other Uni reps have said there are lots of sport societies to be involved in and you should be able to continue playing in your sport when you move to universities. Each club can be different with some being purely competitive or recreational or indeed a mix of both. For example at Strathclyde there is the basketball team and within the members there are scholarship athletes, those that are new to the sport at Uni and those that played at school. The club also have a competition training sessions and recreational sessions.
I encourage having a look at what sports societies each uni have and see if they have any social media or contact links as it could be beneficial to reach out to the teams and ask any questions.
All the best for your school exams and your Uni search.
Catherine - Strathclyde University Student Ambassador

Reply 4

University of Sunderland Student Ambassador

Official Rep

11

Original post by JDuodu_20

Hi, I am currently in year 12 and I am starting to think about which universities to apply to. A big part of what I enjoy is sport and I currently compete in 2 sports and I have a wider enjoyment of sport in general. I was hoping to find some guidance or information about general sporting opportunities in university both with competitive sport and just general, social sport.

Hello,
It's fantastic that you're interested in sports. Universities often provide a wide range of athletic options, both competitive and social. Depending on the university's size and location, these options may differ. University of Sunderland has over thirty clubs to pick from, so there is something for everyone. All clubs include weekly training sessions guided by trained instructors, as well as transportation (where necessary) and equipment. There are other clubs you may join, including ones for American football, netball, kickboxing, rowing, and even equestrian sports.
Every Wednesday, we have over twenty sports teams playing in BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) divisions, as well as various events during the year such as TeesWear Varsity versus Teeside University and Battle of the Minsters against York St. John. Depending on their talent level, students who want to compete at the varsity level can try out for these teams and get scholarships.
CitySpace Fitness overlooks the University of Sunderland. CitySpace Fitness provides a high-quality user experience and a wide choice of cardio, strength, functional, and performance training equipment to our members. It is the home of Team Sunderland for training, fixtures, and competition, as well as being accessible for casual appointments to play 5 a side, netball, table tennis, basketball, badminton, and short tennis.
We have recreational sports clubs, such as climbing. It is a distinct and dynamic sport that offers both physical and mental pleasures. Our 7m climbing wall is a terrific addition to the CitySpace Fitness facility, simulating the curve and intricacy of real rock.
Altogether, the University of Sunderland provides a diverse range of competitive and social sports opportunities for students.
I hope this was helpful. Please let me know if you have any more queries!
Kind regards,
Mrunali Kalbhor,
University of Sunderland Student ambassador.

Reply 5

Uni of Southampton Students

Official Rep

15

Original post by JDuodu_20

Hi, I am currently in year 12 and I am starting to think about which universities to apply to. A big part of what I enjoy is sport and I currently compete in 2 sports and I have a wider enjoyment of sport in general. I was hoping to find some guidance or information about general sporting opportunities in university both with competitive sport and just general, social sport.

Hi,

At university I found intra-mural sports a great way to be part of a sports team that is full of such lovely people, without the addition of try-outs. The nature of IM sports is that everyone is welcome to take part, even if you have never played the sport before, so it is a great way to try new things in a stress free environment! At Southampton I play in the IM netball league as a part of the English society, and it is a league made up of other academic societies and halls of residence teams. Notably, you do not have to study the subject to be on the team, on the English team there are people who study Education, Linguistics, Law etc, so if there is something similar at your uni, don't be put off.

I hope this helped!

Jasmine (an Official University of Southampton Rep) :smile:

Reply 6

University of Sunderland Student Ambassador

Official Rep

11

Original post by JDuodu_20

Hi, I am currently in year 12 and I am starting to think about which universities to apply to. A big part of what I enjoy is sport and I currently compete in 2 sports and I have a wider enjoyment of sport in general. I was hoping to find some guidance or information about general sporting opportunities in university both with competitive sport and just general, social sport.

Hi,

Good to know you enjoy sports. Sports in most universities is actually a crucial part as they compete with other schools in their area, it just depends on where you live, where you want to study, what particular sports you like and the university especially. Different unis have different range of sports clubs and societies and what clubs do really well. It's generally easy to find out about sports information, you can browse the uni and their clubs available or ask when applying and you would know what is available in that school. For example, in my school there are over 40+ clubs and societies and you can find out when the have club meetings, club social media handles and who to contact to join. Hope this helps you make a decision.

Benedicta,
University of Sunderland Student Ambassador.

Reply 7

University of Kent Reps

Official Rep

16

Original post by JDuodu_20

Hi, I am currently in year 12 and I am starting to think about which universities to apply to. A big part of what I enjoy is sport and I currently compete in 2 sports and I have a wider enjoyment of sport in general. I was hoping to find some guidance or information about general sporting opportunities in university both with competitive sport and just general, social sport.

Hi there

It's great to see that you're already thinking ahead about which unis to apply to. Some unis are a lot more sporty than others (i.e. have more sport related facilities) but in general most unis have a pretty big sports community. When i first moved to Kent, I was shocked at the amount of sports clubs and societies available to students. I can only really speak about my experience at Kent but i'm hoping that I can give you a little big of insight as to what the sports life is like here. Firstly, every student who lives on campus receives a free gym and sports membership. This gives you access to the 2 floored gym, a range of exercise classes and you are also able to play sports whenever (and borrow equipment). This was a highlight for me as my flatmates and I would choose a different sport every evening, bring a speaker and it was a great way to socialise and stay active. Alternatively if you're looking for club or society then there are plenty to choose from (I will leave a link below with the list of societies at Kent) and these can be played both socially (i.e. for fun regardless of your ability) or competitively (getting on the main team). There are tournament's and competitions throughout the year but the biggest one is probably varsity. This is where the Uni of Kent goes head to head with our biggest rivals CCU in lots of sport competitions. A scoring system keeps track of the winner and there is always a big celebration at the end of it all.

Varsity - https://canterburyvarsity.co.uk/
Societies - https://kentunion.co.uk/activities
Kent Sport - https://www.kent.ac.uk/sports

Best wishes

Joanna
-Uni of Kent Rep

Reply 8

mnot

Universities Forum Helper

20

Original post by JDuodu_20

Hi, I am currently in year 12 and I am starting to think about which universities to apply to. A big part of what I enjoy is sport and I currently compete in 2 sports and I have a wider enjoyment of sport in general. I was hoping to find some guidance or information about general sporting opportunities in university both with competitive sport and just general, social sport.

Are you interested in recreational or competitive sports?

The best place if you are interested in high performance is to look at BUCS sports rankings on BUCS play and see what universities are strong in your sports then have a look at the instagram pages of the universities (they will have a page for each specific sport at every uni).

The biggest sports unis in the UK are: loughborough, Nottingham, exeter, durham, Edinburgh, bath. But sports often varies on a specific sports level as some unis will invest heavily into specific teams/facilities.

Most universities tend to have a good option for competition and recreational sports in all major sports, the top end sports competition competing for National championships is more program specific and can be cyclic depending on individuals/coaches etc. And it is dependent on your level and interest.

Reply 9

Loughborough Student Community

Official Rep

11

Original post by JDuodu_20

Hi, I am currently in year 12 and I am starting to think about which universities to apply to. A big part of what I enjoy is sport and I currently compete in 2 sports and I have a wider enjoyment of sport in general. I was hoping to find some guidance or information about general sporting opportunities in university both with competitive sport and just general, social sport.

Hi @JDuodu_20

It's great to hear you're interested in sport - there are loads of ways to get involved at Loughborough. We have all levels of sport here from Performance (top level), to Competitive (representing the uni or your hall), to Recreation (more casual sport). There's lots of different sport on offer and I've linked a list here. We also have two gyms here on campus - Holywell and Power + Base which offer exercise classes as well as world class gym equipment. There are plenty of ways to stay fit and active and be involved in sport here to be able to make the most of the world class sport facilities!

I hope this was helpful :smile:

Jess

Reply 10

Anonymous #1

Hope you don’t mind me jumping on this thread but does anyone have experience of Uni cricket. Looking at Unis with the former MCCUs (now UCCEs I think) - Loughborough, Cardiff Met, Oxford Brookes and possibly Leeds and Leeds Beckett - plus Exeter. Bath looks great but not sure about cricket facilities (looks like the teams train with a local cc). Would love to hear views to help compare and contrast.

Original post by Anonymous

Hope you don’t mind me jumping on this thread but does anyone have experience of Uni cricket. Looking at Unis with the former MCCUs (now UCCEs I think) - Loughborough, Cardiff Met, Oxford Brookes and possibly Leeds and Leeds Beckett - plus Exeter. Bath looks great but not sure about cricket facilities (looks like the teams train with a local cc). Would love to hear views to help compare and contrast.

Hi there,

I'm no expert on this subject, but the Oxford Brookes cricket page should be of some help. There are a number of contact details which might be useful on the page. I recently hosted a webinar with some of our Sports staff and they mentioned that they are very active on Instagram and run most of their communication through that platform. I'm sure they could give you some more information and potentially put you in touch with current players etc. I hope this is helpful.

Best wishes,
Daniel

Admissions Office
Oxford Brookes University

Original post by JDuodu_20

Hi, I am currently in year 12 and I am starting to think about which universities to apply to. A big part of what I enjoy is sport and I currently compete in 2 sports and I have a wider enjoyment of sport in general. I was hoping to find some guidance or information about general sporting opportunities in university both with competitive sport and just general, social sport.

Hi there @JDuodu_20, :smile:

Great to hear that you are interested in sports!

University is a brilliant place for you to continue your love for sports. Joining sport clubs or societies is the perfect way to meet like-minded friends and get involved in social activities outside of your course. It sounds like you are already competing in sports so there may be opportunities for you to apply for a sports scholarship depending on which level you are at, it's definitely worth having a look into.

At UCLan we have over 70 different societies and over 35 clubs offering something for everyone from handball to badminton. New students have the opportunity during freshers week to join any clubs they are interested in. Students can decide if they want to play for fun or join a team.

Most of our sports clubs have teams who compete such as our Netball teams competing in BUCS against universities throughout the North West and beyond or our hockey team who are part of the BUCS League and play games on a Wednesday against other teams in the North West.

You can learn more about our range sports clubs here.

Let us know if you have any questions .

All the best, :smile:

Sarah

(edited 8 months ago)

University Sport

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