°µÍø½ûÇø

Sports and Fitness at °µÍø½ûÇø

Join our sports teams

Go for Gold, achieve your personal best or just have fun

We've got something for everyone interested in playing sport and keeping fit at °µÍø½ûÇø — from Olympic medal winners to those of you wanting to learn new skills.

Our sports facilities are top class and our expert staff are here to train and support you.

Whether you're a serious competitive athlete, you want to make friends doing something more casual, or you're looking to improve your fitness and mental health, you’ll have loads of options here.

A group of individuals in red and black uniforms stand together, looking directly at the camera, ready for a team photograph.

Join our sports teams

We have over 20 sports teams at °µÍø½ûÇø competing in student leagues and competitions. Our sports teams have been very successful at regional and national competitions and our students have represented Great Britain in international competitions, such as the World Student Games and even the Olympics.

"What helped me make my university experience outstanding was joining the volleyball team. We are not only teammates but also very good friends."
Georgia, BSC Psychology with Human Resource Management

Our teams compete in all the most popular sports like football, basketball and tennis, as well as some more unusual sports like futsal, cheerleading and taekwondo.

Come along and join in our free taster sessions at the start of term. You can play for one of our sports teams, or join in with our recreational sports on offer.

See us in action

A group of students playing basketball. ">
Dancers gracefully performing on stage during a mesmerizing performance. ">
A group of young men smiling and posing for a photo on a soccer field. ">
A group of women wearing red and black rugby uniforms, ready to compete in a match. ">
Our sports facilities

Sports facilities

Use our excellent outdoor and indoor sports facilities on campus including:

  • 2x 3G 7-A-Side football pitches
  • 3 floodlit outdoor courts (MACS), which can be used for tennis, basketball, netball and 5-A-Side football and cricket
  • Bouldering wall
  • Table tennis tables and basketball hoops which are free to use
  • A real tennis court
  • Fitness Pod gym
  • Fitness Studio

Plus as a °µÍø½ûÇø student, you'll have access to local facilities for sports including rugby, golf, hockey, athletics, canoeing and swimming.

Join MDX Moves

MDX Moves is our very own physical activity tracker. Walk, run, cycle, or swim to stay active and earn points. Your points can be redeemed for a variety of goodies from on campus retailers such as free coffee, food vouchers, gym memberships and merchandise, plus lots more. All you need is a mobile phone to join in.

The Fitness Pod gym

The Fitness Pod gym

Our gym has an exciting multi-functional rig alongside our range of resistance machines and free weight areas including an Olympic weight lifting area. The changing facilities in MDX House also have showers, lockers and vanity areas.

Live locally? A fantastic offer for our community members

Join The Fitness Pod at °µÍø½ûÇø. At The Fitness Pod we’re not just a gym, we’re a community and we can't wait to welcome you to our friendly and professional facility located in the heart of the university campus on the lower ground floor of MDX House on campus.

If you live locally and want to join our friendly Fitness Pod family, you can do so for just  for just £19.50 per month, with no contract and no joining fee.  Your membership includes access to our Fitness Pod gym and our class programme. Plus enjoy reduced rates on our outdoor Multi Activity Courts and 3g pitches.

Contact The Fitness Pod reception on 020 8411 6343 for more information or email thefitnesspod@mdx.ac.uk

Using The Fitness Pod app for class bookings

Members will be required to pre-book their classes via the . Your login details will be as follows:

  • Username: your email address
  • Password: Date of Birth (DDMMYYYY)

Should you have any difficulty with downloading or using the app,  please call the Fitness Pod on 020 8411 6343.

Get in touch

For all enquiries, please email our Fitness Pod team or call the reception desk on 020 8411 6343.

Opening times

We are open 7 days a week with late closing to ensure you have time to fit in a workout or a class.

  • Monday to Friday: 6.15am to 10pm
  • Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 5pm

The Fitness Pod leisure classes programme and membership information

Week Day Activity Timing Location
Monday
Morning Blast 7.45 - 8.15am The Fitness Pod
Boot Camp 12.15 - 12.45pm The Fitness Pod
Zumba 6.15 - 7.15pm Fitness Studio
Tuesday
Morning Blast 7.45 - 8.15am The Fitness Pod
Yoga 7.45 - 8.45am Fitness Studio
Boxing 5.00 - 6.30pm Fitness Studio
Wednesday
Morning Blast 7.45 - 8.15am The Fitness Pod
Boot Camp 12.15 - 12.45pm The Fitness Pod
Yoga 1.30 - 2.30pm Fitness Studio
Thursday
Morning Blast 7.45 - 8.15am The Fitness Pod
Boxing Circuit 12.15 - 12.45pm The Fitness Pod
Zumba 5.15 - 6.15pm Fitness Studio
CIRCL Mobility 6.15 - 7.15pm Fitness Studio
Friday
Morning Blast 7.45 - 8.15am The Fitness Pod
Boot Camp 12.15 - 12.45pm The Fitness Pod
Saturday
Circuits 9.30 - 10.15am The Fitness Pod
Yoga 9.15 - 10.15am Fitness Studio
Sunday Circuits 9.30 - 10.15am The Fitness Pod

Please reserve your place in advance by booking via The Fitness Pod app.

Category Period MU Student MU Staff/Ex student General Public
Student Off Peak Annual (academic) £30 N/A N/A
Full Fitness Annual £160 £180 £195
  Monthly £16 £18 £19.5
'Mavericks' Competitive Annual £60 N/A N/A
Pay & Play Registration £30 £30 £30
  Session fee £6 £6 £6
No Ties Monthly £35 £35 £35

Student Off Peak Annual: MDX students only. £30 for the entire academic year, no catch! Memberships run September - May Mon - Fri 6.15am-4.00pm and 9.00am - 5.00pm weekends.

Full Fitness: Anytime use of gym, leisure classes, free pitch and court booking at off peak times (student only). Pay annually or monthly by Direct Debit. Mon - Fri 6.15am - 10.00pm and 9.00am - 5.00pm weekends. Full Fitness Members can access over 60 University gyms across the UK under ‘BUCS Universal Gym’.

'Mavericks' Competitive Sport: Join a sports team. Does not include access to the gym or classes. Mavericks members receive £5 off a Fitness Pod Off Peak membership when purchasing their Mavericks membership at the same time. Off Peak memberships just £25.00.

Pay & Play: One off registration fee and pay each time you use the gym or attend a leisure class. Please note this can work out more expensive for regular users.

No Ties: This entitles the user to Full Fitness membership benefits. Great if you are only here for a month or two or just want to try us out.

A gym goer smiling with a dumbell in their hand, in the Fitness Pod.
A gym goer working out in the Fitness Pod.
A gym goer working out in the Fitness Pod.
Get active

Get active

Try a new sport or activity at these sessions for complete beginners where you can learn the basics and meet other students at the same level. Our activities change each term to bring you new and exciting opportunities. Recent activities include badminton, tennis, weightlifting, trampolining, Jiu Jitsu, boxing and volleyball.

Free social activity programme

Join one of our free social sports sessions on campus. You don’t even have to book – just turn up and get involved. Have fun, get fit, save money and meet new people.

Sport for everyone

We'll help you use our facilities. If you have a disability which you feel may prevent you from using a facility or service, please email the fitness pod or call us on 020 8411 6343 and we will our best to support you.

Meet our Olympic Legends

Our Olympic Legends

Find out more about °µÍø½ûÇø's Olympic and Paralympian athletes who studied at °µÍø½ûÇø and used our Sports and Fitness facilities.

JJ is a 27-year-old MDX Psychology student who has been competing for GB since the age of 14.

He is ranked as British number two and has his sights set on fencing for Great Britain at the Paris Olympics. He picked up gold medals in both the individual and team senior events in August 2022, after the hardest season of his career.

JJ Webb in fencing attire with his arms in the air celebrating his win.

Having just missed out of qualification for Tokyo 2020, lockdown gave JJ time to assess what he wanted. He said: “I looked at how I can best manage the Olympic cycle in the lead up to Paris.

He applied to MDX as a mature student and was accepted on a scholarship programme.

“Our fencing national training centre is in Hendon and from my experience of working and training, I knew that having everything localised would be the least draining option for me,” JJ said.

He said: “Competing at Paris would be my ultimate goal. That’s where I want to be.” Stay tuned!

Olympios is a first year economics student, was competing in the under 20 junior category for the last time.

Finishing at the top of the podium was especially satisfying after a niggling ankle injury hampered his early season.

Olympios Gougoulias in fencing attire holding his foil in the arena.

A scholarship student, Olympios trains five times a week, using the campus facilities and the Leon Paul Fencing Centre in Hendon.

“°µÍø½ûÇø has really helped in terms of training and the scholarship has been brilliant. Obviously there's the financial help but more importantly it has been the support, having people there that I could speak to or if I ever needed help with changing deadlines. I've had access to physiotherapy all year too which has been great, it's a large network that you can rely on.”

Application: Sport Scholarship Scheme

The °µÍø½ûÇø Sport Scholarship Scheme

When you start studying at °µÍø½ûÇø either as an undergraduate or postgraduate student if you are competing at a regional or national level in your sport, you could be eligible for support and funding through the °µÍø½ûÇø Sport Scholarship Scheme.

This is for talented sports performers, who are keen to continue their sporting endeavours and compete for the University.

There are three levels of scholarship available with financial support ranging from £200 to £1,000 in any academic year. The decision on the level of financial support offered to successful applicants will be made by the Scholarships Committee, whose decision is final.

Applications must be supported by a written reference and evidence relevant to your sporting achievements.

For more information about sports scholarships please email us or call +44 (0)208 411 5415.

The deadline to apply for these scholarships is Friday 8 September 2024.

Find out how our scholarship programme has helped JJ Webb and Olympios Gougoulias win gold at Commonwealth Fencing Championships

"°µÍø½ûÇø was the only university that offered me a scholarship for competing as an international judo player. It has an amazing set up of support for athletes and sports students and has been fantastic at understanding both my academic and athletic commitments." - Sophie Sandy

Sports Injury Clinic

Sports Injury Clinic

We offer everything from sports massages to a full injury rehabilitation programme. We run two sports injury clinics on campus. Choose from an appointment with our qualified practitioner in The Fitness Pod Clinic, or book a sessions with our sports rehabilitation students' clinic which is supervised by qualified practitioners. Call The Fitness Pod on 020 8411 6343 for booking and information.

Sport for the local community

As a member of the local community, you're welcome to use our excellent sports facilities. Whether you want to join the gym, get treated for a sports injury, hire a pitch to play get with your friends, make sure you do it here on campus. Call The Fitness pod on 020 8411 6343.

People exercising at a gym with various fitness equipment.
Coaching and volunteering

Coaching and volunteering

°µÍø½ûÇø Sport and Recreation offers different National Governing Body coaching and officiating awards, as well as first aid qualifications. Get sports or fitness-related qualifications in exchange for volunteering when you can use your skills for real-life projects. It's great experience for future paid part-time work as a sports coach or match official.

Volunteering abroad

We have an exciting international volunteering programme, providing you with opportunities abroad on local projects including event management and leadership training. For example, you could get the chance to travel to China or Mauritius where you'll join staff to deliver sports coaching to local communities.

"I travelled with the sports department to Mauritius and the trip was one of the best experiences of my life. The feeling of helping inspire dreams is incredible. There really are no words." Lara Singleton, Theatre Arts BA

Join our Volunteer Mauritius Programme at °µÍø½ûÇø video thumbnail

Join our Volunteer Mauritius Programme at °µÍø½ûÇø