We have a dedicated rowing gym with over 50 rowing machines, bikes and conditioning equipment. On the water, our main training facility is an international-standard rowing lake with a large, modern fleet. In Edinburgh, our beginner training fleet is based at the Meggetland Boathouse, a short cycle from campus, where several international athletes took to the water for the first time.

Height and long levers help, and so does a high standard in another sport, but that only tells part of the story. What we really look for is the right attitude and a willingness to give something new a go and work as hard as possible. Some of our most successful beginners have come from very untypical backgrounds. If you're not sure, come to an introductory session and speak with a coach.

We race as far north as Inverness and as far south as London: processional time trials in winter, side-by-side regattas from April to July, often in a Beginner category against people who started when you did. Major races: BUCS Head (Newcastle, February), Head of the River (London, March), BUCS Regatta (Nottingham, May), Scottish Championships and Henley (June and July).

Coxes are essential to our programme; a lot of our major successes have been in coxed boats. A cox steers safe and fast at races, motivates the crew and develops the knowledge to become a coach in the boat. New coxes are fully supported and can join the learn-to-row course to understand the stroke. Coxing suits those who are naturally around 55kg.

It is not first come, first served. We run an open training period over the first few weeks where you can try us out and we get to know you, after which testing determines who joins the main programme. The recruitment window stays open until the end of October. The programme runs September to early July, so it is not suitable if you are here for one semester.