For hundreds of thousands of students across the UK, welcome week marks the start of an unforgettable higher education journey.
For those making sport central to their university experience, there is ample evidence of the friendships, connections and skills they will develop along the way.
Sports and active participation levels in higher education are thriving. According to Sport England’s Active Lives survey, students remain among the most active population segments in the country.
At British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), our ambition is to collaborate with our 155 member institutions to support one million students a year to be active by 2030. Data from the Complete Universities Guide shows that nearly 300,000 students participate in university club sports each year. Our partner Scottish Student Sport (SSS) reported a ten per cent growth in participation in 2024/25 compared with the previous year.
Traditionally, the “BUCS Points Table” and on-field results were the main drivers for investing in sports teams, facilities and coaches. That is changing. In my conversations with Vice-Chancellors and Principals across the UK, the more pressing question is now about sport’s contribution to broader student outcomes.
Sport shaping student success
The evidence we see when visiting our members, and from our own surveys, confirms that sport is a driver of inclusion, wellbeing and skill development. According to the BUCS Student Survey 2025:
- 85.4 per cent of responders agreed that being involved in BUCS sport has allowed them to culturally and socially interact with a wider group of students
- 90.3 per cent of responders agreed that taking part in a BUCS sport has helped support their mental wellbeing
- 82.8 per cent of responders agreed that they have been able to develop softer skills, with two thirds citing these skills to enhance their ability to study.
Welcome weeks and sports fairs are upon us, and sport has a proven track record of supporting student success. What’s more, the question universities increasingly ask is how sport can contribute to wider institutional goals such as retention, inclusion and student wellbeing, particularly as finances get tighter.
As the organising body for 55 sports and disciplines – from traditional campus staples such as rugby union and hockey to newer, highly popular additions such as surfing, basketball, and ultimate frisbee – BUCS is committed to facilitating safe, high-quality sporting experiences.
This commitment also brings responsibility, particularly at a time when risky behaviours such as initiations remain a concern.
While the vast majority of student sport experiences are positive, BUCS recognises the danger of some behaviours that manifest early on through initiation and hazing of club members.
We take these issues seriously and work with institutions to create safe and inclusive environments. A “problem initiation” is any activity that could reasonably result in physical or mental harm, regardless of what it is called, who participates, or where it takes place. Problem activities can occur outside traditional initiation events – for example, during sports tours or club social events – and may still pose risks to participants.
Embedding positive cultures
Working with our members, BUCS supports a proactive approach to tackling unsafe initiations and adverse behaviours. Student sport leaders receive targeted training, and our BUCS Student Officers network, made up of elected and nominated students across our membership, runs a dedicated working group focused on “student behaviours.”
Welcome weeks play a key role in shaping positive sporting cultures, and I am looking forward to visiting sports fairs this month to see this in action.
The link between safeguarding and enjoyment is simple: safe environments enhance the student experience. By embedding safety and respect at the heart of sport, students can enjoy the full benefits of active participation.
A successful welcome week sets the tone for students’ first term, whether they are commuting, living at home, or moving across the country, and supports safe integration into extracurricular and enrichment activities, including sport, the arts, or other interests.
We know that being involved in a club has multiple benefits outside of the initial enjoyment or participating. According to BUCS 2024/25 data:
- 47.2 per cent of participants said that being part of a sports club helped them stay at university
- 91.9 per cent felt proud to represent their university
- 94.4 per cent agreed that involvement in sport gave them a sense of belonging to their institution and community.
Often these stats speak to goals institutions are setting themselves around belonging and wellbeing, sport can be an easy driver of these when given support and improved accessibility.
Sport and active participation are powerful partners for universities in recruiting, retaining and graduating students. This welcome week let’s embrace the spirit of sport, challenging ourselves, supporting teammates and making safety and respect central to every introduction, social, game and training session.
