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It has been a triumphant period for Heriot-Watt sports teams, of late.
The men’s football first team has stormed its league table and secured the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Scottish 1A League title. This is the first time in 16 years the university has held the honour and the team can now look forward to the playoffs with the chance of moving into the BUCS Premier Tier at the end of March.
This success was swiftly followed by the men’s squash first team who secured a clean sweep victory against Warwick in the BUCS Men’s National Championship Quarter Finals. They now face Birmingham away in the semi-finals later this month.
This is a sign of things to come and I look forward to further successes in the years ahead.
The on the field success has been attributed, in part, to Heriot-Watt’s increasing presence in performance sport in partnership with Oriam, Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre. The introduction of specialist sport courses and scholarships last year means students are already benefiting from the excellent facilities allowing them to study for a degree while enhancing their athleticism.
Ross Campbell, Oriam Executive Director said: “I am delighted to recognise the recent achievements of two outstanding sporting teams. The dedication, hard work, and determination demonstrated by these athletes serve as an inspiration to all who seek to excel in their respective fields.
“This is a sign of things to come and I look forward to further successes in the years ahead. They have proven that with hard work, dedication, and a winning attitude, anything is possible. Their accomplishments serve as a reminder that excellence is achievable in any field, and I congratulate them.”
Sports scholarships
The University and Oriam, offer a yearly sports scholarship programme, designed to embed a high-performance training environment into a sports scholars weekly schedule from the Heriot-Watt Edinburgh campus.
The Club Performance Scholarships programme offers pathways for students to study at Heriot-Watt University while receiving specialist support to advance in either football or squash. In addition to accessing world-class training facilities, scholars on this programme receive a 40% reduction on their university fees. While the scholarships are initially for a 12-month period this can be extended to cover a student’s entire time at university based on their performance.
There are also individual sports scholarships available to anyone not competing in football or squash. Successful applicants will access the same wide range of support offered by the Club Performance Scholarships but it operates over a two tier system. Level 1 scholars are required to compete at a professional or international level before starting the course and they will receive a 25% reduction on their university fees.
Level 2 scholars are typically younger and, as part of their application process, must submit a written endorsement from their sport’s national governing body to indicate they are likely to reach a professional level.
For more information or to apply for a sport scholarship at Oriam visit the website.