Performance Sport Academy
Performance Sport Academy
We are passionate about supporting athletes. If you are involved in sport at a regional, national or international level, then you can apply for our Performance Sport Support programme.
Based on over ten years experience of supporting student athletes from a wide range of sporting backgrounds including swimming, fencing, snow sports and disability/ para sport, we have developed an impressive package to help you achieve your best on, and off, the pitch.
In return, we want you to represent us as a sporting ambassador for the University by keeping us informed of your success and representing the university in BUCS competitions.
TASS accredited
This scheme is made possible by our status as an TASS accredited university. We already host up to 50 athletes as part of the TASS scheme. Having seen the positive affects of this programme on TASS athletes, BNU decided to create its own separate programme which is only for you as BNU students.
This programme has been accredited by TASS for offering excellent support to equivalent levels. If you play a sport competitively then BNU gives you the opportunity to continue doing what you love with our support, something you won’t find in every university.
Benefits of the Performance Sport Programme
- Support to balance your studies and sport
- Enhanced academic flexibility to allow you to train and compete at the highest level
- Tailored strength and conditioning programmes delivered during regular group sessions
- Access to regular sports therapy consultations and massage in the Sports & Wellbeing Clinic
- Fitness assessments in the Human Performance Laboratory
- Performance lifestyle support and group workshops
- Nutritional analysis and group workshops
- Sport psychology support and group workshops
There is a lot of support with sport psychology, nutrition and physiotherapy.Stephen Smith
How to Apply
Simply send us your sporting CV and details of the course that you will study at Buckinghamshire New University.
For more information about this, please contact Mark.Homer@bucks.ac.uk
The university has provided me with a great S&C coach who I see once a week. My coach writes my gym schedule so I can reach the goals I have set out to achieve and, most importantly, he understands the sport I’m in and supports my decisions.Marli Jessops
Our Athletes
Rowing is Noah’s passion, and he has been able to continue it while at Buckinghamshire New University. He’s been representing England Rowing at the Home International Regatta, with two gold medals. In 2023 he competed at the Henley Royal Regatta coming in second. He also obtained a silver at the British junior rowing championships, competing in over 20 national regattas, gaining 2nd place in the B final National school regatta. He has 307 rowing and 226 sculling ranking points.
In his first year at university, Stephen qualified in first place at the BUCS Regional Snow Sports Championships in November 2022, going on to win gold at the Championships Finals in the following year. Stephen's second year at BNU witnessed him maintain his record of strong performances, winning silver at the BUCS Snowboarding Freestyle Championship Finals. In his third year, Stephen's unwavering dedication and hard work culminated in another gold medal at the BUCS National Snowboarding Freestyle Championship Finals.
Max has swam competitively since he was 8 years old, including the elite club at Bath University where he medalled at Somerset County, SW region and English Nationals. He also competed at British Nationals in several events and distances, making several finals. He was selected by Swim England for Age Development Camps, Diploma in Sporting Excellence. Having been a TASS athlete, Max now competes for Wycombe Swimming Club while studying a Sustainable Product Design BSc at the High Wycombe campus.
Harley is a talented footballer from Gibraltar. She plays primarily as a defender, and is known for her versatility, often taking on roles as a right winger or right back. She has represented Gibraltar in various international competitions, including the UEFA Women's U19 qualifiers. Harley is studying Sports Therapy with a foundation year and representing the BNU women’s football team in BUCS competitions. Studying at BNU has allowed her the option to continue what she is doing in football while at university.
Abigail is a para-athlete, born with a rare form of dwarfism. She competes in the F41 classification for athletes with short stature. Abigail has excelled in multiple track and field events, including javelin, shot put, and discus. In 2017, she represented GB at the World Dwarf Games in Canada, where she won five bronze medals and one silver. Success continued as she competed in the National Schools Games Final in Loughborough, securing both gold and silver medals. Abigail is studying Sports Therapy while training to achieve her goal of representing Team GB at the Paralympic Games.
Tomasz is a third-year Strength and Conditioning student at Buckinghamshire New University. An experienced ice hockey defenceman, Tomasz played professionally in Poland for GKS Katowice, Sanok, and Unia Oświęcim. He also represented Poland at the U18 and U20 national team levels. After recovering from a significant knee injury in 2020, he joined Unia Oświęcim in 2021 before moving to England in 2022, where he signed with Streatham IHC in London, competing in the NIHL 1 South division. Currently, he balances his course at BNU with playing for Streatham IHC.