Women’s performance basketball programme

University of St Andrews offers students a world-leading academic education alongside a holistic, athlete-centred performance basketball programme.

Led by Director of Basketball Callum Knox, we aim to deliver the very best support and a comprehensive programme of training and competition to enable our top female student players to harness their full potential and achieve sporting and academic excellence whilst studying at St Andrews.

Our aim is to provide a programme that allows players of all abilities to play the sport we all love, whilst pushing our athletes to reach new heights and become the best they can possibly be.

Scholarships are aimed at players who are already competing at a high level and who believe they have the necessary attributes to be part of a performance basketball programme whilst studying for their degree in St Andrews.

With world-class facilities, highly experienced coaches, and a comprehensive support programme, you’ll have access to a positive basketball environment, enabling you to flourish in both your academic and sporting endeavours.

Women’s Basketball Roster 2023

Find out more

• Scholarships

  

  The University is committed to attracting high academic achievers with a talent for basketball to come to study at St Andrews. There is nowhere more special that provides both a world-leading teaching experience combined with a professionally run basketball programme.

  The University’s sport scholarship programme supports exceptional student athletes from around the world to achieve sporting and academic excellence whilst studying at the St Andrews. Combining academics with a performance programme can be very demanding, but ultimately, extremely rewarding. We are looking for exceptional individuals who are able to balance these demands and strive for excellence.

  We have developed a range of offers at undergraduate and postgraduate level in order to attract and then support our very best athletic students.

  St Leonard’s Masters Scholarship

  Postgraduate taught one-year Masters applicants
  The St Leonard’s Masters Scholarship is open to national and international applicants for eligible postgraduate (taught) Masters degree programmes and based on academic excellence and/or financial need.

  The scheme aims to allow applicants to draw on their professional and life experiences to demonstrate resilience, resourcefulness, and commitment. Applicants are asked to explicitly articulate their potential using both academic and professional or life experiences. Excellence can be demonstrated in music and theatre or leadership in sports or civic duty as well as in formally assessed academic work.

  Eligibility
  We welcome applications from talented student athletes looking to extend their playing career, whilst continuing their studies.

  Did you know?

  There are no eligibility restrictions on playing sport and representing the University whilst studying for a postgraduate qualification at St Andrews.

  Saints Basketball Performance Scholarships

  Undergraduate/Postgraduate
  Saints Basketball Performance Scholarships are offered to students who are playing at a high, competitive level and who wish to pursue an elite level of basketball whilst studying in St Andrews.

  Scholarship players will be provided with a comprehensive support package and a wide ranging array of benefits including access to world-class facilities and highly experienced coaches. Players represent the University across Scotland and around the UK.

  Eligibility
  Scholarships are open to female players, and both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The number of scholarships awarded each year will be determined by the quality of the applicants.

  For more information and details on how to apply please visit the Sport Scholarships section of the Saints Sport website.

• Basketball programme

  The basketball programme at St Andrews ensures all players benefit from a holistic, athlete-centred programme, enabling them to compete at the highest level possible and reach their full potential.

  We aim to inspire our students and actively encourage every player to work hard, develop, improve and enjoy their basketball experience at university.

  Athletes on the performance basketball squad get access to a full support package including:

  • Specialist coaching focusing on skill development and team preparation
  • Weekly sport specific Strength & Conditioning sessions
  • Individual skills sessions with the Head Coach and Director
  • Physiotherapy support
  • Sports nutrition, recovery and time management
  • Access to a Sports Psychologist
  • Regular fitness testing to monitor progress
  • Individual meetings to discuss personal goals
  • Video analysis and game feedback
  • Access to off-season programming
  • Pre-season training
  • Leadership programme
  • Personal development workshops

• Competition

  

  British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) championships

  Saints Basketball currently supports two competitive Women’s teams and two Men’s teams that compete in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championship.

  British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) is the national governing body for higher education sport in the UK.

  Each squad competes on a weekly basis throughout term time in the tiered BUCS league structure and BUCS knockout competitions, contributing to the University’s overall standing in the BUCS points table.

  The Women’s performance squad currently competes in BUCS Scottish Division 1 (League Winners 21-22 & 22-23) and two knock out competitions – BUCS British Trophy and the SBC Scottish Senior Women’s Cup.

  Games are regularly scheduled against Scottish Senior National League teams to help prepare in both pre-season and during the season. The squad has also travelled to Spain and Austria in previous years to train with, and play against, local competition.

  2023-24 Fixtures and Results: BUCS Scottish Tier 1

• Facilities

  

  Performance Centre

  Following a multi-million pound redevelopment of the Performance Centre, students at St Andrews have access to some of the best sports facilities in Scotland.

  Saints Sport offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor sports facilities, which are available all year round.

  Indoor facilities

  • dedicated performance suite
  • modern, spacious gym
  • exercise studio
  • four-court sports hall
  • new technical climbing wall
  • eight-court arena
  • four-court indoor tennis centre

  Outdoor facilities

  • 13 grass pitches
  • full-size floodlit 3G synthetic pitch
  • sand-dressed synthetic pitch
  • four tennis courts
  • athletics track
  • additional multi-sport grass pitches
  • multi-sport courts

  Sports Arena
  The Sports Arena houses two basketball courts, which are utilised for both training and matches. Featuring fully embedded video analysis technology and movable bleacher seating the facility allows for a crowd of 400 spectators at showcase fixtures.

  Performance Suite
  Saints Basketball scholars make use of the top class Performance Suite – a dedicated Strength and Conditioning gym that provides a private space for the performance squad to train undisturbed. Sessions are run by expert Strength and Conditioning accredited coaches who develop basketball specific programmes for our athletes.