Performance swimming programme

Our performance swimming programme offers world-class coaching, training, competition and funding support to fit alongside your studies.

At Stirling we bring together high performance coaches, excellent facilities and unrivalled support service provision including sport science, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning and performance and lifestyle mentoring.

The programme allows you to focus on a dual career of study and sport, with a focus on preparing athletes for major Games and Championships. The programme enjoys a unique and relaxed atmosphere. It is individually tailored to help swimmers meet their goals. Our experience helps you establish an appropriate balance between study, training, competition, rest and recovery, creating longevity to your swimming career.

Our mission

Develop people. Deliver results. Inspire a generation.

We're proud to support performance swimming in Scotland and run a high performance programme based at the National Swimming Academy. Our facilities include a six lane 50m swimming pool which can be split into two 25m pools, high performance preparation room, state-of-the-art sports science laboratories, and strength and conditioning suites.

The University is also investing £20m in redeveloping our sports facilities which will include a new state-of-the-art high performance strength and conditioning suite connected directly to the swimming pool.

Duncan Scott

Swimming success at Stirling

Our long-established performance swimming programme has helped to produce Olympic, Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth medal winners including Duncan Scott, Aimee Willmott, Robbie Renwick, Danielle Huskisson, Ross Murdoch and Kathleen Dawson.

The University of Stirling continues to go from strength to strength, and when you put together the amazing facilities, staff and general support, it is the perfect place for a world-class performance programme.

Duncan Scott, Olympic medallist and World, European and Commonwealth champion

What our performance swimming programme offers you

  • Professional swimming coaching services from Head Performance Swim Coach Steven Tigg, Performance Swim Coach Brad Hay and Assistant Performance Swim Coach Josh Williamson
  • Access to the National Swimming Academy and other high performance facilities
  • Bespoke strength and conditioning programme
  • High performance support service provision including sports psychology and lifestyle mentoring
  • International training and competition opportunities
  • Subsidised training fees and contributions towards competition costs
  • Academic flexibility
  • Opportunity to stay on campus

Selection criteria

To be considered for the performance swimming programme, you must:

  1. Hold - or be in the process of applying for - a place on an undergraduate or postgraduate degree course at the University of Stirling.
  2. Have achieved at least 750 FINA points.
  3. Have competed at the British Championships in the year of University entry.

The above criteria are a guide and all applications will be subject to approval.

Applying for a scholarship

Please complete and return the ISSP application form before 31 July for a September start.

Scholarships are subject to applicants achieving relevant academic entry requirements.

See also

Scholarships for undergraduate students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, EU and International

The University of Stirling offers sports scholarships to undergraduate students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, EU and International with a value of £2,000 per year of study.

Contact us

If you would like to talk to us about our sport scholarships please contact David Bond.