Sweat, Socials & Student Life: The Lowdown on Student Sport

Hi! I’m Freya, the current Team UWS Sports President at the University and I’m here to tell you why you should consider getting involved with student sport and physical activity during your time at UWS. 

Why Should I Give it a Go?

Between the 9 a.m. lectures, assessment deadlines and caffeine-fuelled study sessions, a bit of physical activity can be the well-deserved break you need. Research proves that students involved in sport and physical activity have greater academic performance than students who don’t. Cool, right?!

Also, joining a club or the gym is a great way to meet other students, make new friends, try something new and provide some time-off in your busy student schedule. Not only that, but it's also a great builder for your CV; from teamwork to time management and leadership skills (even if it's just organising the end-of-year social).

What If I’m Bad?

It’s not all about becoming gym crazy or being the best in your club, as student sport is for everyone. It’s just about finding the sport that’s right for you. I joined the archery team as a complete beginner to meet other students (and truthfully, because I thought it sounded cool). Through being involved with Team UWS, I’ve made friends for life, found a sport I love and had the opportunity to try a multitude of different sports including hockey, football, badminton, netball and volleyball to name a few.

The great thing about all the teams at UWS is they welcome all experience levels. So, whether you’re a performance athlete or trying something for the first time like I did, there’s a space for you at every club. 

And even if sport doesn’t interest you, being a student at UWS means you have FREE access to all the gyms across each of our Scottish campuses! Did you know UWS was the first University in Scotland to offer free gym access to all students? 

How Do I Get Involved?

If you’re thinking “Okay, maybe I’ll give it a try” here’s some ideas for how you can jump in:

  • West Fest: A lot of out clubs and committees attend the West Fest events that run throughout September, here you can ask the teams any questions you have without the pressure of going along to a session.
  • September Come and Try: Every club has free come and try events throughout the whole month of September which are chill, no-pressure training sessions where you can give the sport a try with zero commitment. And like I said before, even if you can’t make it along in September, you’re welcome to join the clubs and get involved at any time throughout the year. 
  • Social Media: All the club social media pages and the Team UWS account are active and super friendly. Drop us a message if you’ve got questions or just want to know when things happening.
  • Sports President: Message me! My job as the Sports President is to be the voice for all students currently active in sport and those looking to get active too. You can contact me either through the Team UWS social media or directly by emailing me at sportspresident@uws.ac.uk and I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.

If you’re even slightly curious, I encourage you to give it a go! Head along to one session, meet some new people and throw yourself into something new. Worst case? You decide it’s not for you. Best case? You find your new favourite way to de-stress, meet friends for life, and maybe even discover a hidden talent. Student sport can change your life for the better. Take it from me, I would know. 

If you want to read some more about sport and physical activity at the university, take a look at our website for all things Team UWS.

See you at training! 
#LetsGoWest

Last updated: 17/07/2025