If you’re a talented athlete with a competitive spirit, our Performance Sport programme is an opportunity for you to develop your skills and excel in your chosen sport while you study with us.
You will also have the chance to represent BU at a local, national and international level in British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) competitions.
We’re currently ranked 23rd overall in the BUCS league, out of 153 other UK universities – testament to our commitment to competitive sport.
Becoming part of TeamBU
BU Sports Scholars on TeamBU photo dayAs a Performance Sport athlete, you will be warmly welcomed into our vibrant community of like-minded athletes, TeamBU, who will share your sporting ambitions and desires.
Our expert coaches will be with you every step of the way – from advice on successfully balancing your studies alongside your sporting career, through to personalised training programmes.
We offer 22 competitive team sports including American Football, beach volleyball, golf, netball, swimming, tennis and numerous individual sports.
To be selected for TeamBU, you will need to attend trials – these are held in the first two weeks of the academic year and you can tell us about your sporting achievements before you get here.
Being a part of TeamBU means that you will access to a Level 2 (or higher) coach for regular sport-specific training, fitness and physical development training. You'll also have exclusive use of our high-performance gym – all geared at helping you be the best that you can be.
As the sporting season draws to a close, there are two events which every TeamBU athlete looks forward to in the calendar – our annual Varsity Day against Solent University and the black-tie Sports Ball which celebrates your commitment, effort and achievements.
TeamBU in numbers
Our focus sports: golf and volleyball
A game of beach volleyball featuring BU scholar and graduate, Issa Batrane. Together with his partner, Sam Allen, the pair are two-times BUCS beach volleyball champions Golf and volleyball are at the heart of our Performance Sport programme and receive significant investment for relevant coaching, training and support services.
At the end of the 2018/19 golf season, we were ranked second nationally and work closely with the R&A, the ruling authority of golf in the UK, to continuously develop our golf programme.
We’re a Volleyball England Silver Senior Academy and have close links with the National Super 8s team, Wessex Volleyball.
Our coastal location is the perfect setting for our beach volleyball programme. We run inclusive training programmes for both our beach and indoor volleyball athletes.
And when the weather’s not on our side, we have regular access to the only indoor beach training facility in the UK.
Sports clubs and societies
A Bobcats player running at the opposition during the 2019 Varsity match against Solent UniversityIf you’ve ever fancied trying your hand at a new sport or you’re keen to continue with a sport that you love, our sports clubs and societies, run via the Students’ Union (SUBU), can offer you just that. With over 20 clubs and societies on offer, there's bound to be something for you to enjoy.
What’s more, a handful of the sports clubs and societies offer a competitive side too, including the chance to compete in BUCS competitions.
These include; American Football (Bobcats), the Boxing Society, Equestrian Society, Surf Club, Swimming Club, Trampolining Club and the Ultimate Frisbee Society.
