University of Edinburgh Sport & Active Wellbeing marks record-breaking year in 2024/25

Sport & Active Wellbeing provides outstanding opportunities for our community to be more active, and continues to enhance the student and staff experience at Edinburgh.

This year, individual gym and sport membership reached an all-time high of 18,885, while participation in Active Lives free sessions grew by 22%. The Edinburgh University Sports Union also achieved record membership levels, 10,887 total members playing sport, training and competing across the country.

Among the year’s major milestones were:

• Top 5 finish nationally in BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) with British titles and medals across 10 sports.
• Over 1.2 million attendances across University sport and fitness facilities.
• Expansion of intramural and Active Lives programmes, with more than 500 students taking part weekly.
• Launch of new mental health and wellbeing workshops, a health screening pilot, and the restructured Edinburgh Sports Clinic specialising in sports medicine, health and physiotherapy.
• Record participation in volunteering and community engagement initiatives, supporting diverse local communities.
• Hosting major national and international events including Edinburgh City 7s, international hockey fixtures, and training camps for elite teams from South Africa, Australia, and Fiji.
• Launch of the Global Endurance Project, new partnerships across wellbeing and performance sport, and UoESportTV, a new digital platform showcasing Edinburgh sport.
• Recognition through 17 national award short listings and 6 UK award wins, including Gym of the Year for Scotland and Ireland at the National Fitness Awards.
• 123 individual student-athletes represented their country at international sporting events.

The year also marked the refresh of the EDINBURGH SPORT brand, strengthening collaboration between the University’s Sport & Exercise Department and the Edinburgh University Sports Union. This rebrand coincides with a renewed vision and mission for the next phase of Edinburgh’s sport and active wellbeing strategy.

Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, said:

Sport and Active Wellbeing plays a vital role in the life of our University – bringing people together, supporting physical and mental health, and helping our students to achieve their potential. These record-breaking results are a testament to the dedication of our staff, student-athletes, and volunteers who continue to make Edinburgh one of the UK’s leading universities for sport and active wellbeing.