The 2026 Scottish Student Sport Conference, powered by Technogym, will take place on 10th – 11th June at the University of St. Andrews.

Always a highlight of the SSS calendar, the conference brings together our community to network, share best practice, and celebrate the success of student sport.

On the Wednesday evening we’ll all come together for the ever-popular SSS Awards Night. More information about categories and nominations will be released to institutions in due course.

New this year we are offering a special early bird price for members and partners who purchase their tickets before 30th March 2026. Standard tickets will remain available after this date.

Tickets are available here:

Conference 2026 Tickets

Pricing (Early Bird Prices until 30th March)

SSS Members

• All In! (x2 Day Conference, Awards & Accommodation) £305
• Full x2 Day Conference & Awards £215
• Full x2 Day Conference £145
• Conference Day 1 £75
• Conference Day 2 £75
• SSS Awards £75

Non-Members & SGBs

• All In! (x2 Day Conference, Awards & Accommodation) £330
• Full x2 Day Conference & Awards £240
• Full x2 Day Conference £165
• Conference Day 1 £85
• Conference Day 2 £85
• SSS Awards £85

External Attendees can contact SSS Business Manager Julia Stenhouse-Walton.

Accommodation

This year, accommodation will be available through our hosts the University of St. Andrews for a reduced event rate of £90 per person. You can book any rooms through the Conference sign-up form or by contacting Julia Stenhouse-Walton.

Rooms will be double beds with en-suite and includes a buffet breakfast.

Agenda

We’ll be releasing the first confirmed names very soon! If you have a topic or idea you would like to present on, drop Jordan Dawson a message.

Awards

The prestigious Scottish Student Sport Awards Dinner will take place on the evening of Wednesday 10th June where we’ll celebrate the students, staff, and volunteers that have made the season so successful.

This year we’re delighted to be hosting our Awards at the iconic Hotel du Vin in St. Andrews and we hope you will join us.

Tickets include a welcome drink, wine, and a three course dinner and can be purchased either separately, or in our discounted Conference package.

Scottish Student Sport (SSS) and Scottish Target Shooting (STS) are thrilled to have signed a new Partnership Agreement, running through to 2027.

The Agreement outlines areas for collaboration between both organisations with a focus on club recruitment, talent support, and integrating students in the wider STS community.

The Scottish Student Rifle Sports Group will also continue to be supported with a strong core of volunteers currently in place.

Already this season clubs have competed in a number of events across Scotland, including the STS Winter Grand Prix Series and Postal Competition.

This Saturday and Sunday (7th – 8th February), students will come together in St. Andrews for the third SSS Grand Prix weekend of the season.

The Grand Prix will be the final SSS event before the Scottish Student Rifle Outdoor Championships, taking place on Saturday 28th March in Aberdeen.

Julia Stenhouse-Walton, Rifle Lead at SSS, commented:

“We are delighted to sign this agreement with STS through to 2027.

“This partnership reaffirms our commitment to support student rifle in Scotland, collaborating with STS to offer students the platform to grow and develop in their sport.

“We look forward to working together to increase rifle participation and development opportunities for Scottish students.

Oliver Barsby Chief Operating Officer at STS said:

“STS are delighted to continue our relationship with SSS – it underlines the importance STS has on helping young people start and stay in our sport and the role tertiary education can play on that journey.

“This plan maps out the next stage of our journey working with SSS to support the rifle and wider target shooting network within universities and colleges and thank SSS for the support they continue to show to our sport.”

British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) and Scottish Student Sport (SSS) have announced a new partnership agreement running until 2030.

Built on a strong collaborative foundation, the partnership brings the two organisations closer together to maximise the benefits for Scottish institutions. The agreement provides enhanced opportunities for joint working and increased strategic value for both organisations and the institutions they support.

At the heart of the partnership is a shared mission to ensure that sport and active participation remain top table issues within the tertiary education sector. BUCS and SSS are united in their commitment to working with member institutions to ensure that all students can access the physical, mental and social benefits of sport and active participation throughout their higher education journey.

The agreement also recognises the long-standing and valued relationship between the two organisations and their predecessors.

As part of the continued collaboration, SSS will remain as the Delivery Partner for the BUCS Scottish Conference Finals, which return this year to the University of St Andrews on Wednesday 11 March.

Will Roberts, BUCS CEO, said: “This partnership marks an important step forward in how BUCS and SSS work together to support student sport in Scotland. By strengthening our collaboration and building on our long and positive history, we are creating greater clarity, opportunity and impact for our Scottish members.

“Together, we are committed to ensuring sport and active participation play a central role in the higher education experience.”

Stew Fowlie, COO, Scottish Student Sport, added: “It is with great pleasure that we are teaming up with our close colleagues at BUCS under this fresh five-year partnership.

“Within this new agreement we will be able to make the most of our collective strengths in order to provide an excellent service to all our shared Scottish members.

“All of us at SSS look forward to developing our joint work and deepening the great existing relationships we enjoy with our friends at BUCS.”

Scottish Student Sport (SSS) welcomes the Scottish Government’s announcement in Tuesday’s draft budget to uplift sports funding by £40m this year.

This week’s announcement shows that the Government has listened and clearly recognised how important sport is to public health, young people, and showcasing Scotland on a global stage.

The budget outcome follows close collaboration and consistent messaging across sportscotland, Scotland’s Governing Bodies of Sport (SGB’s) and other national partners including the Scottish Sports Association over the last year – all aimed at persuading the Government to honour its commitment to double annual funding to sport.

This academic year has been a challenging one for SSS as we have had to adapt to new ways of working following funding cuts in the summer. While this sport-wide increase in funding does not immediately solve this – and while the funding of tertiary education remains challenging – it does provide greater security for SSS as we pursue our key objectives this year which include:

• Running Scotland’s biggest multisport programme with 100+ events
• Supporting vital developments in colleges and universities, including promoting inclusive growth in sports clubs
• Advocating for the huge benefits sport and active wellbeing can bring to Scotland’s colleges and universities

Elsewhere, we are also delighted that the Government has shown its commitment by announcing plans for a Summer of Sport, which promises to be a celebration of all sports, and participation at all levels.

Welcoming the draft budget figures, SSS COO Stew Fowlie commented:

“Tuesday’s draft budget is undoubtedly good news for sport in Scotland. The fresh investment of around £40m is a result of unity of purpose and consistency of messaging across all major organisations in Scotland’s sports community and we are delighted that SSS and many of our key partners will benefit from enhanced support and the ability to pursue new opportunities.

“SSS will continue to work closely with members and partners – and most especially sportscotland – to position tertiary education well within any new developments. In so doing we trust that the enormous contribution Universities and Colleges make to young people, inclusive clubs, strong communities, accessible pathways and strong performance in Scottish sport can be enhanced yet further in the years to come.”

The Scottish Student Men’s Basketball National Squad are set to hold trials next month, open to all Scottish-based students.

After returning to action in 2025, we intend to bring together a Men’s Basketball National Squad to compete in fixtures later this year.

To support squad selection, we will be holding trials with students from across Scotland’s universities and colleges encouraged to attend.

While coaches and captains are encouraged to nominate players in the first instance, there is the ability for players to register themselves. This feature is intended for students at institutions without a formal basketball programme.

Please note all nominated students should be 1st team players.

Trial details are as follows:

When? Sunday 1st February, 14:00 – 16:00

Where? Strathclyde Sport, Glasgow

Who? Any student who is enrolled at a SSS member institution – that’s almost every Scottish university and college – who is a first team player?

How? Sign up here by 12:00 Monday 26th January

Please direct any questions to Head of Competitions Chris Purdie and Men’s Basketball Head Coach Johnathan MacLeod.

Scottish Student Sport (SSS) and RYA Scotland have agreed a new two year Partnership to support the sport across Scotland’s student sailors.

Both organisations will work collaboratively towards a number of targets, primarily in the areas of recruitment, event and volunteer support.

The volunteer-led Scottish Student Sailing Sports Group will continue to be supported, and will assist with the delivery of events and development opportunities for Scottish students.

SSS and RYA Scotland share a common aspiration of making sailing accessible, welcoming and inclusive for all participants and volunteers.

The Scottish Student Sailing competitive programme returns with our second League Weekend running from January 31^st – February 1^st.

Julia Stenhouse-Walton, Sailing Lead at Scottish Student Sport, commented:

“We are delighted to sign a new partnership with RYA Scotland, strengthening our shared commitment to creating a more visible, collaborative and engaging sailing environment for students.

“This agreement will help grow participation, enhance workforce development and raise the profile of student sailing through closer collaboration on events, club development and communication.

“We look forward to working closely with RYA Scotland to deliver meaningful opportunities and impact for student sailors across Scotland.”

Commenting on the agreement, Finlo Cottier, CEO at RYA Scotland said:

“Student sailing plays a vital role in helping young people continue their passion for our sport beyond school, and provides an opportunity for many to discover sailing for the first time.

“RYA Scotland is delighted to strengthen our partnership with Scottish Student Sailing and Scottish Student Sport, working together to deliver the highest quality instruction, racing, and leisure opportunities for university students across Scotland.

“Our strategy is built around People, Places, and Communities, and the student community brings incredible diversity and opportunity to those wishing to sail in Scotland.”

Scottish Student Sport (SSS) and Scottish Archery are delighted to have signed a new Partnership Agreement, running through to 2027.

The Agreement sets out the areas the two organisations will collaborate on with specific targets set across growing participation and talent identification, alongside supporting student clubs.

The Scottish Student Archery Sports Group will also continue to be supported with a strong core of volunteers currently in place.

Students have already been active this season as the Scottish Student Archery League has already enjoyed a successful start to the season with events held at Heriot-Watt, St. Andrews and Aberdeen in November.

More league meets are scheduled for early 2026 before our indoor and outdoor championship events, being held at the Universities of St. Andrews and Edinburgh respectively.

Julia Stenhouse-Walton, Archery Lead at SSS, commented:

“We are delighted to renew our partnership with Scottish Archery, marking an exciting step forward for both organisations.

“This agreement reflects our shared commitment to growing and supporting student archery in Scotland.

“We look forward to working together to increase student participation, develop the archery workforce, and create meaningful new opportunities for student archers in the coming years.”

Commenting on the agreement, Euan Murray Development & Engagement Officer at Scottish Archery said:

‘‘I would like to thank the present Scottish Student Archery Development Group volunteers (and past ones!) for all their hard work on getting the agreement in place and over the line.

“Having this in place ensures their is collaboration between all parties, which in turn will help achieve common goals, maximise impact and enhanced outcomes for student archery in Scotland.

“I am looking forward to seeing how things progress in the future’.’

Scottish Student Sport are thrilled to announce that this year’s Festive Gathering will take place on Wednesday 3rd December at UHI Perth.

Festive Gathering is our one day winter extravaganza of best practice, learning and connection across the SSS Network, sprinkled with a hint of festive cheer.

Expect to hear from figures across tertiary education, sport, and further afield. We also look forward to being joined by our partners with more details to be announced in due course.

UHI Perth host us for the second time having previously been the venue for Festive Gathering 2019. Its central Scotland location will hopefully make the single day event accessible for delegates from across the country.

Digital Programme

Wondering what the day will look like? Take a look at the digital programme here.

Agenda

We can now reveal the agenda for Festive Gathering 2025!

Get in Contact

Got a question about Festive Gathering? Reach out to our Head of Development Jordan Dawson with any queries.

This Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week, Scottish Student Sport are launching a new campaign to provide free period kits for student sports clubs.

Periods shouldn’t bench you. Claim Your Kit is a simple, Scottish Student Sport led campaign that seeks to put free period kits where our athletes and sports people already are – pitches, courts, mats and courses – so that nobody has to sit out because they don’t have the products they need.

We know there is a patchy access to period products despite the national commitment to free period product provision in Scotland. When someone doesn’t have readily accessible, affordable period products they may miss training, matches or social events. We don’t want anyone to have to leave a match, event or a training session because of they can’t access products easily. There is fantastic access to period products across our member institutions but we have only just crossed the start line in this race.

Grace & Green have designed accessible on the go period kits which ensure that period care is always accessible. The kits stacked with a variety of products stored in a waterproof durable kit bag are the perfect item to ensure your teams always have what they need where ever you are.

Access to products is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. We want to make this easier for everyone by providing free access to these period kits to student clubs and our members.

Who is this for?

This campaign is for anybody from one of our SSS member institutions. Due to funding arrangements from our governing body partner, we will be prioritising distribution through women’s football clubs. Distribution will then be based on demand and access across our membership.

Our aim at SSS is that every one of our members will receive at least one kit for their institution.

Applications are encouraged directly from both student clubs and institutions.

What’s in the Kit?

Each kit is designed to be taken with you from the changing room to the touchline. It fits in perfectly next to your teams first aid kit. Every kit provides:

• 1 Period Kit Bag (waterproof, durable, wipe clean and reusable)
• 20 x Liners
• 8 x Non-applicator Tampons (4 x regular and 4 x super)
• 8 x Applicator Tampons (4 x regular and 4 x super)
• 20 x Medium Pads
• 1 x pack of 25 biodegradable wipes
• 1 SSS Information Card containing direct links

This kit can be refilled. Information is provided inside the kit to support with this.

How to Claim a Kit?

We have tried to simplify the process as much as possible. Clubs can complete our dedicated link to submit their request directly to Scottish Student Sport.

To support us in delivering these kits as quickly as possible please only submit one request per institution club. There is an option to request more than one free kit (these will be provided where possible) if you have multiple teams who would benefit from this.

Claim your Kit Here

Timeline:

• Deadline for submission: 12:00 3^rd November 2025.
• Confirmation of request: 12:00 5^th November 2025
• Expected shipping date: w/c 10^th November 2025

Got Questions?

Any queries and questions can be directed to Head of Development, Jordan Dawson.

Who are Grace & Green?

Grace & Green are a world-leading B Corp creating zero waste reusables tampons, pads and liners with organic material. They aren’t just about the products though, they fight for access, inclusivity and education. Their experience in ethical production and commitment to dignity and sustainability ensures every kit supports students and athletes not just in the moment, but with care for their health and the planet. They were an ideal organisation for us to work with in the delivery of this campaign.

Scottish Student Sport have opened applications for the hugely popular Coach Like a Girl programme, which is returning for a second year.

After a successful pilot in 2024, the initiative is back – bigger and better – to continue supporting and inspiring the next generation of female coaches across Scotland’s colleges and universities.

Why Female Coaches?

Across the tertiary education sector in Scotland, 45% of the student population engaging in club sport identify as female, compared to 44% as male. This is a phenomenal statistic and while work is far from completed in the participation space, what can be seen across the nation is that women are hugely underrepresented in the coaching space.

Research shows that having female coaches benefits all participants; they challenge stereotypes about gender and leadership by offering diverse perspectives, insight and advice to their athletes. Furthermore, female coaches become role models which makes other females think about coaching as a legitimate and viable career; being visible in their role can inspire other females to participate.

At SSS, we recognise the largely untapped potential of female students as coaches and will continue to deliver a tailored coaching programme to play our part in inspiring the next generation of female coaches.

What is Coach Like a Girl?

Coach Like a Girl (CLAG) is a dedicated development programme designed to empower female student coaches and aspiring coaches. The project provides a safe supportive environment for participants to build confidence, share experiences and gain the skills needed to thrive as coaches in sport. CLAG was the name chosen by the participants on our pilot programme. The name empowers female coaches recognising the leadership and need for role models in sport whilst reclaiming words often used to demean women and girls ability within sport.

Why get Involved?

• Funded opportunities to engage in practical skills development activity across a range of sports
• Build confidence in your coaching practice
• Learn from experienced coaches and sport experts
• Connect with like-minded students across Scotland

Previous participants on the programme had this to say:

“YES. I would definitely recommend it. I really enjoyed the in-person sessions. They make it so much easier to connect with other women coaches and to talk about similar issues. It made me feel less alone with some problems I struggled with initially, and taught me ways on how to overcome them.”

“Being able to get advice and share experience with other female coaches that had similar experiences and/or could offer a wide range of advice”

Who can Apply?

This programme is open to women, trans and non-binary students from colleges and universities across Scotland whether they are currently coaching, have aspirations to coach or are just interested in what coaching could look like for them.

How to Apply:

Applications are open now! Spaces are limited, so don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting journey. Applications will close at 12:00, 14^th November 2025. The timeline for activity will be shared with those successful once all applications have been considered.

Apply for Coach Like a Girl Here