At Bath there are lots of opportunities to get involved in sport, whether you are looking to try something new or aiming to compete on the international stage. We have 56 sport clubs, and you can check each of them out in our handy Sports Club list along with their offering. To represent the breadth and excellence of our offer here at Bath, the university was awarded Good University Guide 2026: Sport University of the Year. Though with lots of experiences and opportunities on offer sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start. Here is a handy and hopefully quick guide to all things sport at Bath.
Facilities
Let’s start with where you can do your sport here at the University of Bath. Many of our clubs run their sessions in a place we like to call the STV, or more formally the Sports Training Village. It is a wonderful facility located right here on campus, with all weather 3G pitches, an Olympic standard swimming pool and much more. There are also 3 separate gym spaces in this building which house everything from cardio equipment to strength training machines, free weights to two group exercise studios. Based on campus we also have the Founders Hall which can be accessed via the building where the Plug and Tub lives. Inside you will find squash courts and another indoor sports hall.
You can find a full list of the facilities in the STV on the Team Bath website. Wait hold up a minute who is Team Bath?
Who is Team Bath?
Team Bath put simply is the University’s Sport Department that looks after all the sport facilities, classes for the wider public and performance sport.
Student Sport Pass
Did you know that you are able to access some of the sport facilities at Bath for free? Yes, you heard that right. The Student Sport Pass allows you to access facilities such as the swimming pool, the outdoor athletics track, and outdoor tennis courts for free. Just make sure to activate your student sport pass in the STV when you arrive at Bath. Then all you have to do is book a slot online. You can find out more about the facilities available and how to book on the Student Sport Pass section of the Team Bath website.
Recreational Sport
We have a wide range of sport on offer here at Bath from sailing to American Football, Ice Skating to Futsal, Pilates to Netball, there is something for everyone. All our sports provide an offer from complete beginners to high level competition. So many students come to Bath and try a new sport for the first time and fall in love with it. What is stopping you from being that student?
During Freshers’ Week all our clubs attend the Sports Fair. The Sports Fair is an opportunity for you to meet the students running each sport and learn more about what they get up to, and how to get involved. Many of our sports run Give-it-a-Go sessions during the first few weeks of term, where you get to join in a session with no expectation of being good at the sport or committing to it long term. It is a great way to try something new.
Bath Active
Looking for a way to stay active without committing to a sports club? Bath Active is a programme of fun, social and inclusive activities designed to help students move more and meet new people.
Whether you enjoy fitness classes, social sport, outdoor activities or simply want to try something different, Bath Active offers a range of opportunities throughout the year. Sessions are designed to be welcoming and accessible, making them ideal if you are new to exercise, returning to sport after a break, or just looking for a relaxed way to stay active alongside your studies.
Activities are free, and no previous experience is required. Bath Active is all about giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of being active in a supportive environment.
Keep an eye on The SU and SU Sport channels throughout the year to find out what sessions and events are coming up.
BUCS and Competitive Sport
BUCS is the British Universities and Colleges Sport, and it is the largest provider of competitive sport for university students across the UK. Lots of the sport teams here in Bath will have teams entered at all different levels of BUCS competition. The majority of BUCS fixtures take place on a Wednesday afternoon both home and away. BUCS teams are open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, though the teams are selection based. The trials for these teams happen within the first few weeks of term. For some sports their BUCS competition takes place in the form of an event with all the competition happening over a few days at a central location, these tend to be the individual sports such as swimming, athletics and surfing. You can find out more about BUCS website.
BUCS isn’t the only competitive sport opportunity at Bath though. Some clubs choose to enter local leagues to provide more competitive opportunities to their members or because there isn’t currently a BUCS league or event for their sport. You can find out more about the competitive offer of each club and the competitions they play in by getting in contact with the individual clubs or looking at their webpages.
Performance Sport
The University of Bath offers a performance sport programme across 9 of our sports. The program is run by Team Bath but through our SU Sport Clubs. They are each led by an experienced full-time coach. To participate in one of these performance programmes you are required to register your interest via the methods outlined on the Sport-specific Performance Programmes page.
There are also specific performance opportunities like the breakthrough programme and a limited number of sport scholarships offered by the university.
Sport Membership
To participate in any club sport, you must have purchased a SU Sport Membership. This needs to be renewed each year. The membership allows you to join any of our sport clubs for only £10 each. The membership includes equipment hire, personal injury insurance cover, coaching and facility costs.
Once you have purchased your SU Sport Membership make sure to buy the club memberships for the clubs you want to join on their club page.
Student Leaders with Sport
All our sport clubs here are Bath are student led with the support of SU staff. This is done in the form of elected committee members. Each club will have a committee with roles of chair and treasurer and other roles ranging from kit secretaries to welfare officers.
Committee members play a vital role in shaping the experience of their club's members. They organise training sessions, manage budgets, coordinate fixtures and events, and help create a welcoming environment for everyone involved.
Elections take place in semester two and you can put yourself forward for a role in the club you are a part of. Being part of a committee is a fantastic opportunity to develop leadership, communication, teamwork and organisational skills, while making a real impact on your club.
For students who want to get involved in sport beyond their individual club, there is also the Sport Executive (Sport Exec). Sport Exec is a group of elected student representatives who work alongside SU staff to represent the interests of sport club members, help shape the direction of student sport at Bath, and support collaboration between clubs. It is a great opportunity for students who are passionate about sport and want to contribute to the wider sporting community.
Serving as a student leader can be one of the most rewarding parts of your university experience, giving you valuable experience that can strengthen your CV while helping future students get the most out of sport at Bath.
SU Sport beyond Participation
Want to be involved in sport without necessarily taking part. There are opportunities to coach and officiate for clubs if you hold the relevant qualification, get in touch with the individual clubs to find out more.
There are also a number of sport events you can attend throughout the year inclusion the Anniversary Rugby Game know as Rugby at the Rec and Varsity where we compete against Cardiff Met. Watch this space for more about these events soon. 