Women’s performance hockey programme

University of St Andrews offers students a world-leading academic education alongside a holistic, athlete-centred performance hockey programme.

Led by Director of Hockey Jamie Carnegie, we aim to deliver the very best support and a comprehensive programme of training and competition to enable our top female student players to harness their full potential and achieve sporting and academic excellence whilst studying at St Andrews.

Our vision is to create a programme in which every player competes to the highest level, works hard and enjoys their hockey experience at university.

Scholarships are aimed at players who are already competing at a high level and who believe they have the necessary attributes to be part of a performance hockey programme whilst studying for their degree in St Andrews.

With world-class facilities, highly experienced coaches, and a comprehensive support programme, you’ll have access to a professional hockey environment enabling you to achieve a world-class education while also fulfilling your sporting ambitions.

Women’s Hockey Roster 2023-24

Find out more

• Scholarships

  

  The University is committed to attracting high academic achievers with a talent for hockey to come to study at St Andrews. There is nowhere more special that provides both a world-leading teaching experience combined with a professionally run hockey programme.

  The University’s sport scholarship programme supports exceptional student athletes from around the world to achieve sporting and academic excellence whilst studying at the St Andrews. Combining academics with a performance programme can be very demanding, but ultimately, extremely rewarding. We are looking for exceptional individuals who are able to balance these demands and strive for excellence.

  We have developed a range of offers at undergraduate and postgraduate level in order to attract and then support our very best athletic students.

  St Leonard’s Masters Scholarship

  Postgraduate taught one-year Masters applicants
  The St Leonard’s Masters Scholarship is open to national and international applicants for eligible postgraduate (taught) Masters degree programmes and based on academic excellence and/or financial need.

  The scheme aims to allow applicants to draw on their professional and life experiences to demonstrate resilience, resourcefulness, and commitment. Applicants are asked to explicitly articulate their potential using both academic and professional or life experiences. Excellence can be demonstrated in music and theatre or leadership in sports or civic duty as well as in formally assessed academic work.

  Eligibility
  We welcome applications from talented student athletes looking to extend their playing career, whilst continuing their studies.

  Did you know?

  There are no eligibility restrictions on playing sport and representing the University whilst studying for a postgraduate qualification at St Andrews.

  Saints Hockey Performance Scholarships

  Undergraduate/Postgraduate
  Saints Hockey Performance Scholarships are offered to students who are playing at a high, competitive level and who wish to pursue an elite level of hockey whilst studying in St Andrews.

  Scholarship players will be provided with a comprehensive support package and a wide ranging array of benefits including access to world-class facilities and highly experienced coaches. Players represent the University across Scotland and around the UK.

  Eligibility
  Scholarships are open to female players, and both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The number of scholarships awarded each year will be determined by the quality of the applicants.

  For more information and details on how to apply please visit the Sport Scholarships section of the Saints Sport website.

• Hockey programme

  

  The performance hockey programme at St Andrews is designed to encourage athletes in their sporting opportunities and ambitions, whilst still enabling them to achieve a world-class education.

  Our Vision is to create a programme in which every player competes to the highest level, works hard and enjoys their hockey experience at university.

  Athletes on the performance hockey squad benefit from an holistic athlete-centred hockey curriculum and get access to a full support package including:

  • Specialist coaching focusing on skill development and team preparation
  • Weekly hockey specific Strength & Conditioning sessions
  • Video analysis sessions focusing on both individual and team performance
  • Regular fitness testing to monitor progress
  • Physiotherapy support
  • Individual meetings to discuss personal goals
  • Access to off-season programming
  • A week-long, full time pre-season training camp
  • Leadership programme
  • Personal development workshops

• Competition

  

  British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) championships

  

  The women’s performance squad currently competes in Premier North of the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championship.

  British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) is the national governing body for higher education sport in the UK.

  The squad competes on a weekly basis throughout term time in the tiered BUCS league structure and BUCS knockout competitions, contributing to the University’s overall standing in the BUCS points table.

  2023-24 Fixtures and Results: BUCS Premier North

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  Scottish Hockey Premiership League

  Players within the performance programme also have opportunities to develop their game outwith the university system, competing weekly in the Scottish Hockey Premiership League.

  2023-24 Fixtures and Results: Scottish Hockey Women’s Premiership League

• Facilities

  

  Performance Centre

  Players within the hockey programme have access to world-class facilities at St Andrews which enhances our ability to offer a professional environment allowing players to maximise their potential.

  Saints Sport offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor sports facilities, which are available all year round.

  Indoor facilities

  • dedicated performance suite
  • modern, spacious gym
  • exercise studio
  • four-court sports hall
  • new technical climbing wall
  • eight-court arena
  • four-court indoor tennis centre

  Outdoor facilities

  • 13 grass pitches
  • full-size floodlit 3G synthetic pitch
  • sand-dressed synthetic pitch
  • four tennis courts
  • athletics track
  • additional multi-sport grass pitches
  • multi-sport courts

  

  Sand-dressed pitch (SDP)
  The hockey pitch at St Andrews is one of the few dedicated university pitches in the country allowing access to the pitch at all times of the year. The sand-dressed pitch, which was resurfaced in 2012, is playable at any time of day, almost all year round.

  Performance Suite
  Players also make use of the top class Performance Suite – a dedicated Strength and Conditioning gym that provides a private space for the performance squad to train undisturbed.

  Sessions are run by expert Strength and Conditioning accredited coaches who develop hockey specific programmes for our athletes.