Markus van der Westhuizen

Markus's Story

As a keen swimmer, Markus chose to study at Stirling after learning about its status as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence – and its ties with Scottish Swimming.

The 22-year-old, from South Africa, praised the support offered at Stirling. He said: “I learned transferable skills which can be applied to a wide variety of fields. The ability to shape your own career using the skills taught at Stirling is such a valuable asset.”

During his studies, Markus completed a placement with Hamilton Academical Football Club, supporting sport science in their academy, and undertook a strength and conditioning internship at the University, working with high-performance athletes.

“Through the experience of the internships, I was able to quickly progress and learn the skills required to be a more effective practitioner.”

Markus – who founded the University’s Fitness Society and coached in the Powerlifting Club – describes his time at Stirling as “competitive, supportive and influential”. He hopes to progress his career as a strength and conditioning coach and achieve a Masters.